Neath Port Talbot Council will change its approach to the Swansea Bay city deal after reviews found progress was ‘unduly slow'.

The £1.3bn city deal for the Swansea Bay region, which involves Swansea, Carmarthenshire, Neath Port Talbot and Pembrokeshire councils, was expected to create 10,000 new jobs over the next 15 years.

However, two recent reviews of the city deal – one by the Government and the other an internal review – found that progress had been ‘unduly slow' compared to other deals.

There were also concerns over transparency and trust.

Neath Port Talbot leader Rob Jones yesterday said that in light of these reports a ‘different approach' was ‘essential to securing real progress'.

Deputy leader, Cllr Anthony Taylor, added: ‘We must now aim for clear and rapid progress so that people in Neath Port Talbot can begin to see the tangible difference it can make to our local economy.'