Issue - meetings

Robyn Lovelock, Agri-food and Tourism Programme Manager, to present the report (which has been circulated to Board Members only).

1.         That the Board approve the Full Business Case for the Enterprise Engineering and Optic Centre project reflecting the approved change requests at OBC stage and authorise the Portfolio Director, in consultation with the Chair, Section 151 Officer and the Monitoring Officer to agree and enter into a funding agreement with Wrexham University for the delivery of the project, on the basis of Wrexham University addressing the outstanding issues set out in section 7 of the report.

2.         That the Board note that the later phases of the project will be subject to Wrexham University producing a Business Justification Case for each expenditure phase.

3.         That the Board delegate to the Portfolio Director, in consultation with the Chair, Section 151 Officer and Monitoring Officer authority to approve the subsequent Business Justification Cases for the later phases of the project where expenditure and benefits are within the parameters of the Full Business Case presented.

The report was submitted by Robyn Lovelock, Growth Deal Programme Manager.

RESOLVED

1.       That the Board approve the Full Business Case for the Enterprise Engineering and Optic Centre project reflecting the approved change requests at OBC stage and authorise the Portfolio Director, in consultation with the Chair, Section 151 Officer and the Monitoring Officer to agree and enter into a funding agreement with Wrexham University for the delivery of the project, on the basis of Wrexham University addressing the outstanding issues set out in section 7 of the report.

2.       That the Board note that the later phases of the project will be subject to Wrexham University producing a Business Justification Case for each expenditure phase.

3.       That the Board delegate to the Portfolio Director, in consultation with the Chair, Section 151 Officer and Monitoring Officer authority to approve the subsequent Business Justification Cases for the later phases of the project where expenditure and benefits are within the parameters of the Full Business Case presented.

REASONS FOR THE DECISION

To seek the Board’s approval of the Full Business Case for the Enterprise Engineering and Optic Centre Project.

The Board approved the Outline Business Case for the project on the 29 April 2022 along with a change request covering a reduction in match funding for the project.  The project subsequently received the approval of the assurance process from Welsh Government.  This enabled Wrexham University to progress with the procurement phase and development of the Full Business Case.

Wrexham University have now completed the procurement for phase 1 of the project and are now presenting to the Board, a Full Business Case for a final investment decision.

DISCUSSION

The item was discussed.