Issue - meetings

Iwan Evans, Monitoring Officer – Lead Authority, to inform the Sub-Board of the ongoing consultation on CJC’s.

Followed by an update presentation from Welsh Government Officials.

RESOLVED to accept the information.

RESOLVED to accept the information.

The Monitoring Officer noted that the purpose of the item was to inform the Sub-Board of the consultation that was underway. 

The Monitoring Officer referred to the paper he had prepared which noted that Welsh Government was currently undertaking a consultation on proposals to establish Corporate Joint Committees (CJCs) in the four areas of Wales based on footprint (North Wales, Mid Wales, South-West Wales and South-East Wales).

Within the Bill, there were two categories of CJC: CJCs by Regulation and CJCs by Request.  The possible areas for a CJC by Regulation are limited to four, namely improving education, transportation (Regional Transportation Plan), the function of preparing a Strategic Development Plan and the economic well-being function.

It was confirmed that the CJCs were separate corporate bodies, established through Councils - i.e. were corporations in their own right, and operated semi-independently from the Councils.

In terms of the transport field, the mandatory membership for the six Leaders of North Wales Councils (with the right to co-opt) was confirmed.  It was noted that there would be an option here to establish Sub-committees.

In terms of finance and funding matters, it was confirmed that the Councils funded the CJCs by agreement, along with arranging scrutiny and audit matters, again by agreement.

The following questions arose from the discussion:

·         What would the formal relationship be with the Authorities?

·         In terms of matters such as scrutiny, code of conduct etc., under what arrangement would these matters fall?

Gratitude was expressed for the report and the following observations were received:

·         The CJCs would take powers from the Councils.  It was noted that Welsh Government officers had already contacted some members of the Sub-Board, noting that this was a vehicle for Local Government to shape and build on the work that has already been done.

It was reiterated that the intention was to strengthen the situation and include Members, giving them an opportunity to share their views fully and with honesty on these draft regulations.

·         How did Transport for Wales and the Trunk Road Agency fit in?

Appointing officers was a matter of concern, especially in reading that the roles would take up 1-5 days of an officer's time.

Was there a misconception here that this would save money?  Councils did not now have officers duplicating work.

How were they to be funded?

Giving Local Authorities the power to run their own bus transportation was very difficult without local expertise.

Concerns were also noted relating to governance matters.

A Welsh Government Officer responded, confirming that the only function being transferred to the CJC was the Local Transportation Plan, that the activities around buses remained with the Local Authorities, and that transferring other functions would be optional.

In terms of Transport for Wales, it was confirmed that this was a delivery body, and that it would fit in wherever the CJC wished for it to fit in.

The Transport for Wales Officer noted that Transport for Wales had agreed to a set of principles  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6