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• Sewta Leaflet

Sewta is an alliance of 10 local authorities in South East Wales, which prepares and co-ordinates regional transport policies, plans and programmes on behalf of its constituent councils.

Sewta prioritises the regional capital transport programme and formulates funding applications in pursuit of the programme. While local authorities implement individual capital schemes, and manage and maintain the assets created, Sewta manages the overall programme, and monitors progress of implementation and expenditure.

Sewta provides guidance to member councils on scheme development and monitoring. It also provides advice to member authorities on transportation issues and responds to related consultations. 

The members of Sewta are the following local authorities:

• Blaenau Gwent
• Bridgend
• Caerphilly
• Cardiff
• Merthyr Tydfil
• Monmouthshire
• Newport
• Rhondda Cynon Taf
• Torfaen
• Vale of Glamorgan

The local authorities work in partnership with:

• Sustrans
• Passenger Focus
• Arriva Trains Wales
• First Great Western
• Network Rail
• Bus Users UK
• Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT)

Sewta came into being in 2003-4 when the previous local authority groupings of SWIFT - South Wales Integrated Fast Transit and TIGER - Transport Integration in the Gwent Economic Region were brought together to create the South East Wales Transport Alliance (Sewta).

The Board of Sewta is formally constituted as a joint committee of the local authorities in the area. Newport City Council has the official role of Clerk and Legal Adviser to the Board.

Sewta function, Core Aim & Objectives

The functions of the Alliance are:

1. to prepare regional strategies comprising transportation policies, proposals and programmes;
2. to apply for external funding in pursuit of those regional strategies (including formulating public transport capital and revenue programmes for that purpose);
3. to the extent only that the functions are resourced through such external funding and subject to clause 5, to discharge the Councils’ transportation functions in implementation of those regional strategies, and for the avoidance of doubt this includes obtaining advice and services and the appointment of staff;
4. to respond to consultations which have regional transportation implications;
5. to provide advice to the Councils on strategic, regional and local policy and operational transportation issues relating to the area of South East Wales; and
6. to do such other things as are agreed by the Councils to be dealt with by the Alliance.

The Alliance shall exercise its functions so as to achieve the following core aim and objectives:

• Core aim: Working for better co-ordinated and more effective transport for people and businesses in South East Wales
• Objective 1: To work in partnership with the people and organisations with a stake in transport in South East Wales
• Objective 2: To co-ordinate the delivery of an integrated transport strategy for South East Wales, seeking influence the modal choice through an appropriate mix of transport projects and supporting policies in the transport and related fields. 
• Objective 3: To promote the essential role of transport in economic and land use planning and to influence land development to make the necessary provision for transport, and in particular public transport.
• Objective 4: To ensure that full account is taken of safety, sustainability and social inclusion in transport plans and schemes.
• Objective 5: To seek to increase the resources for transport for Wales, and to maximise the share available for South East Wales.
• Objective 6: To pursue common standards for transport across the whole of South East Wales, based on best practice; to seek cost-effective use of resources; and to identify and monitor targets to judge the success of its strategy.
• Objective 7: To drive the policy debate as a champion for transport, and in particular public transport; and to raise awareness of the role of local government in transport.

Partnership working

Sewta recognises the importance of working in partnership with people and organisations with a stake in transport, and of driving the policy debate as a champion for transport in the region. In addition, Sewta seeks to raise public awareness of the role of local government in transport. Sewta will also continue to liaise with the other regional transport consortia in Wales, and with neighbouring English authorities, to facilitate joined up transportation systems and services. As well as the partners on the Sewta Board (see above), Sewta will continue to interface with stakeholders including the Welsh Assembly Government (WAG), the Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA), the South East Wales Economic Forum (SEWEF), the South East Wales Strategic Planning Group (SEWSPG), the regional tourism partnership Capital Region Tourism (CRT), Traveline Cymru, the Community Transport Association (CTA) in Wales and other transport providers and user organisations.

Sewta working arrangements

The leadership of Sewta comprises of two Members from each of the ten authorities forming the Board (normally including the Cabinet Member for transport), together with non-voting representatives from partners. The Directorate, with officers from each authority and WAG, provides senior management support for the Board. The Board and Directorate meet quarterly.

Local authorities, the transport industry and user groups work together through the technical working groups, which lead further development of transport policy, planning and projects, coordination of the regional capital transport programme, initiating specific technical work and liasion with member councils, partner organisations and other stakeholders. Through membership of Sewta technical working groups, member councils provide a substantial resource input.

The Sewta working groups are:

• Directorate (Chair: John Duddridge, Bridgend CBC)
• Policy Group (Chair: Clive Campbell, Caerphilly CBC)
• Programme Management Group (Chair: Emma Harvey, Vale of Glamorgan Council)
• Walking & Cycling Working Group (Chair: Matt Gilbert, Bridgend CBC)
• Rail Working Group (Chair: Mark Youngman, Monmouthshire CC)
• Bus Working Group (Chair: Clare Cameron, Vale of Glamorgan Council)
• Integration Working Group (Chair: Gemma Thomas, Caerphilly Council)
• Highways Working Group (Chair: Roger Waters, Rhondda Cynon Taf CBC)
• Road Safety Working Group (Chair: Chris Howell, Torfaen CBC)

The working groups receive support from a small core of dedicated staff at the Sewta Central Support Unit (CSU):

• Secretary & Programme Manager - Martin Buckle
• Planning Manager - Christian Schmidt
• Transport Planner - Simon Nicholls
• Administration - Sian Isgrove
• Travel Plan Coordinator - Deborah Stux