Julie James MS Cabinet Secretary for Housing, Local Government and Planning

• Housing and housing-related activities of Local Authorities and housing associations, including housing management and the allocation of social and affordable housing
• Supply and quality of market, social and affordable housing
• Second Homes
• Homelessness and housing advice
• Matters relating to housing provided by the private rented sector and regulation of registered social landlords
• Aids and adaptations, including Disabled Facilities Grants and Physical Adaptation Grants
• The provision of housing-related support (but not the payment of Housing Benefit)
• National Infrastructure Commission
• Oversight and implementation of the Planning Acts and all aspects of planning policy and the determination of called-in planning applications and appeals
• Planning gain – Section 106 Agreements contained in the Town and Country Planning Act 1990
• Developments of National Significance: determination of planning applications and connected consents
• Building regulations
• Fire safety in high-rise buildings
• Land Division
• Future Wales: the national plan 2040
• Regeneration, including Strategic Regeneration Areas; legacy regeneration; Transforming Town Centres and provision of sites and premises, derelict land and environmental improvements relating to regeneration
• Structural, democratic, financial and constitutional reform of Local Authorities including co-ordination of regional collaboration models
• The Local Government Partnership Council
• Local Government performance, governance and constitutional matters, scrutiny arrangements, cabinets, elected mayors, the role of councillors, their diversity, conduct and remuneration.
• Coal tip safety
• National Parks
• Fire and Rescue Services including community fire safety
• Local Government electoral arrangements, sponsorship of the Local Democracy and Boundary Commission for Wales and the timing of Local Authority elections
• Local Government finance policy including financial reform
• The un-hypothecated funding of Local Authorities and Police and Crime Commissioners through the Local Government revenue and capital settlements
• Financial governance, financing and accounting relating to Local Government
• Public Service Boards
• Public libraries
• Local archive services
• Local Government workforce matters
• One Wales Public Service, including Academi Wales

*The Cabinet Secretary is responsible for Local Government policy, performance, finance and governance but not for day-to-day functions of Local Government which should be addressed to Local Government directly.

Julie James was born in Swansea but spent significant portions of her youth living around the world with her family. Julie spent her early career in London and then moved back to Swansea with her husband to raise their 3 children and to be closer to her family. Julie is a committed green campaigner, environmentalist and a keen swimmer and skier.

Until she was elected as Member of the Senedd for Swansea West, Julie was a leading environmental and constitutional lawyer. Prior to this, she was assistant chief executive at Swansea Council. She spent most of her legal career in local government, working as a policy lawyer with the London Borough of Camden before returning to Swansea to work for West Glamorgan County Council and then the City and County of Swansea.

Since being elected Julie sat on the Constitutional and Legislative Affairs Committee, Enterprise and Business Committee and Environment and Sustainability Committee. Julie published the ‘Influencing the Modernisation of EU Procurement Policy’ Report as Chair of the Enterprise and Business Committee’s Procurement Task and Finish Group. Julie also sat as Chair of the Environment and Sustainability Committee’s Common Fisheries Policy Task and Finish Group.

Julie James was appointed Deputy Minister for Skills and Technology in September 2014. In May 2016 Julie was appointed as Minister for Skills and Science. Julie was appointed Leader of the House and Chief Whip on 3 November 2017. On 13 December 2018 Julie was appointed Minister for Housing and Local Government. Julie was appointed Minister for Climate Change on 13 May 2021, and Cabinet Secretary for Housing, Local Government and Planning on 21 March 2024.