Julie James (born February 1958)[1] is a Welsh Labour politician currently serving as Counsel General and Minister for Delivery since September 2024.

[16] On 5 May 2016, James was re-elected as the Assembly Member for Swansea West by a higher majority than her previous term[4] and was tipped at the time to be a likely candidate for a cabinet position.

[19] After the election of Vaughan Gething to the leader of Welsh Labour and subsequently First Minister Julie James was appointed Cabinet Secretary for Housing Local Government & Planning.

[22] Julie James set out the Welsh government’s plans for legislative reform to ensure people’s time without a home is “rare, brief and unrepeated” in 2017.

Wales pioneered the creation of a statutory prevention duty, mandating local authorities to help individuals at risk of losing their homes.

A Bill is expected within the current Senedd term, with Wales and Scotland continuing to share insights as both pursue advancements in homelessness prevention.

The Rhondda Cynon Taff Local Development Plan and Planning Policy Wales mandated a minimum 10-year landbank of rock aggregate reserves & the Regional Technical Statements for North and South Wales further required a minimum allocation of 9.295 million tonnes of new crushed rock reserves, also supporting the appeal according to the inspector.

The report also stated that the development would also enhance biodiversity, improve access to the countryside, and provide Public Rights of Way, adding further justification for allowing the appeal, according to an FOI request made of the Welsh Government.

[27] This is likely due to the appeal including the implementation of a comprehensive restoration scheme for the site to "establish amenity grassland, woodland and nature conservation uses".