7 ANNUAL REPORT 2021-22 PDF 346 KB
Alwen
Williams, Portfolio Director, to present the Annual Report for 2021-22.
Additional documents:
Decision:
To consider
and note the Annual Report for
2021-22.
To approve the submission of the Annual Report for
2021-22 to Welsh Government and
UK Government as well as the local
authority scrutiny committees.
Minutes:
The report was submitted by Alwen
Williams, Portfolio Director.
RESOLVED
To
consider and note the Annual Report for 2021-22.
To
approve the submission of the Annual Report for 2021-22 to Welsh Government and
UK Government as well as the local authority scrutiny committees.
REASONS
FOR THE DECISION
Quarterly and annual reporting on progress
against the North Wales Growth Deal is one of the requirements of the Final
Deal Agreement. Following the North Wales Economic Ambition Board's
consideration, the reports would be shared with Welsh Government, UK Government
as well as the local authority scrutiny committees.
DISCUSSION
The report was submitted and the
Councillors were congratulated for being elected following the election. It was
noted that the report highlighted the successes of the Growth Deal over the
past year. Attention was drawn to the delivery tracker which noted where each
project had reached by 31 March 2022. It was explained that there had been some
low points and challenges over the year, such as the Morlais project which was
now operational, but it was funded via WEFO funding rather than through the
Growth Deal. Attention was also drawn to the fact that some projects were
behind their initial schedule.
The year's highlights were outlined, which
included receiving a grant of £200,000 to develop low carbon technologies for
homes, a grant of £500,000 to innovate to assist farmers to decarbonise, and
£387,000 to undertake feasibility studies for the Smart Local Energy Systems.
It was noted that visits had been held with Welsh Government and UK Government
Ministers, and it was explained that further visits would be made over the next
year in order to highlight the projects and benefits that can be seen across
the area. It was noted that an Energy Strategy had been published with Welsh
Government, and it was explained that further work needed to be carried out by
implementing the Local Energy Action Plans.
It was explained in December that the
first Full Business Case had been approved, namely the Digital Signalling Processing
Centre in Bangor University. Some specific projects were explained in more
detail. It was noted that much work had been done over the past twelve months,
and that creating the report had been an opportunity to reflect on this work.
In moving forward, it was explained that there would be an opportunity to be
more visible across the counties and to build on the relations which had
developed over the past two years.
Observations arising from the discussion
¾ Thanks were given for the report and it
was asked who would present the annual report to the relevant scrutiny
committees in the authorities. It was noted that the report could be presented
by the Portfolio Director and the Operations Manager.
¾ The need to sell the projects and disseminate the good work undertaken
was stressed.