Issue - meetings

Report by Alwen Williams, Programme Director.

(a) To note the status of the current relations and engagement channels with the Private Sector.

(b) To note the intention of the North Wales Mersey Dee Business Council to withdraw as a partner of the North Wales Economic Ambition Board.

(c) To note the draft Terms of Reference submitted by the Acting Chair of the Business Delivery Group and request a further report from the Programme Director, in consultation with the Authority's Monitoring Officer, on the proposed amendments to the terms of reference of the Business Delivery Group adopted by the Ambition Board.

(ch) To confirm the next proposed steps and actions to improve the engagement and understanding of the private sector.

(d) To correspond with the Minister for Economy, Transport and North Wales to see whether or not Welsh Government could make a contribution to support the North Wales Mersey Dee Business Council, and to submit a much more detailed report regarding private sector engagement organisation to the next meeting.

The report was submitted by Alwen Williams, Programme Director.

RESOLVED

(a)     To note the status of the current relations and engagement channels with the Private Sector.

(b)     To note the intention of the North Wales Mersey Dee Business Council to withdraw as a partner of the North Wales Economic Ambition Board.

(c)     To note the draft Terms of Reference submitted by the Acting Chair of the Business Delivery Group and request a further report from the Programme Director, in consultation with the Host Authority's Monitoring Officer, on the proposed amendments to the terms of reference of the Business Delivery Group adopted by the Ambition Board.

(ch)   To confirm the next proposed steps and actions to improve the engagement and understanding of the private sector.

(d)     To correspond with the Minister for Economy, Transport and North Wales to see whether or not Welsh Government could make a contribution to support the North Wales Mersey Dee Business Council, and to submit a much more detailed report regarding private sector engagement organisation to the next meeting.

REASONS FOR THE DECISION

A decision was required in order to enable the Programme Office to invest in the design and delivery of mechanisms to improve private sector engagement in North Wales.

DISCUSSION

The report was submitted which:-

·         Provided an overview of the current relations and engagement channels between the NWEAB and the private sector in North Wales (Appendix 1).

·         Provided an update to members on the status of the North Wales Mersey Dee Business Council as a partner of the North Wales Economic Ambition Board (Appendix 2).

·         Provided proposed draft Terms of Reference submitted for consideration by the Acting Chair of the Business Delivery Group (Appendix 3).

·         Proposed the next steps and method of strengthening relations, engagement and involvement of the private sector in the North Wales Growth Deal (Appendix 4).

Details were provided about the background and relevant considerations, legal implications and the consultations held.

Reference was made to the decision of the North Wales Mersey Dee Business Council to withdraw from the North Wales Economic Ambition Board and the Business Council's resignation letter was shared with members in its entirety. Ashley Rogers, in particular, was thanked for his contribution over the years to the work of the Board in developing projects and moving the entire deal forward. It was noted that, in the current climate, it was recognised that the main focus of the Business Council needed to be on the businesses they represented. However, though this was a sad situation, this could open the door for the Board to review and strengthen its relationship with the private sector by creating something new and innovative, which would offer a significant contribution from the private sector once more. It was added that the private sector in North Wales would be supportive of the Growth Deal's objectives, and the fact that something positive came out of a particularly difficult situation was welcomed.

It was further noted that a meeting had already been held with Ashley Rogers  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7