Issue - meetings

The Chief Executive and the Regional Strategic Planning Officer to present the report.

To approve the funding issues and options set out in the attached briefing note and to recommend that the Corporate Joint Committee considers all options for funding the SDP, including making further representations to the Welsh Government. The officers were asked to revise the wording of the Report to highlight budgetary expectations between the Government and the CJC and encourage a steady financial contribution from the Government in order to avoid the need for temporary grants when setting the long-term budget.

The report was submitted by the Regional Strategic Development Planning Officer.

RESOLVED

To approve the funding issues and options set out in the attached briefing note and to recommend that the Corporate Joint Committee considers all options for funding the SDP, including making further representations to the Welsh Government. The officers were asked to revise the wording of the Report to highlight budgetary expectations between the Government and the CJC and encourage a steady financial contribution from the Government in order to avoid the need for temporary grants when setting the long-term budget.

REASONS FOR THE DECISION

Ensure that the Strategic Planning Sub-Committee is fully aware of the funding issues and options relating to the SDP to inform their recommendations to the CJC.

DISCUSSION

It was explained that the report highlighted options relating to funding the production of the Strategic Development Plan, prior to the preparation of budgets for the autumn term. A group of North Wales' chief planning officers were thanked for their work in investigating various financial issues associated with the Plan. It was noted that further consideration could be given to the financial issues that had been prepared by Officers to date, as Members had approved the submission of a draft version of the Strategic Development Plan to the Corporate Joint Committee earlier during this meeting.

Members were reminded that the Corporate Joint Committee had a legal duty by statute to develop a Strategic Development Plan as well as its funding. It was noted that officers had received a number of comments considering whether the Welsh Government should fund the Plan and the process of setting it up but in response, it was confirmed that no long-term plan had been submitted by the Government for the funding making it a requirement for the Joint Committee to comply with the statutory requirements.

Although no long-term budget had been earmarked by the Welsh Government, it was reported that they had identified a budget of approximately £400,000 which applied to all Welsh Corporate Joint Committees. It was noted that this funding would not be shared equally between the Joint Committees, , it would be allocated in accordance with the performance of the Joint Committees to develop their Delivery Plan for approval. It was explained that the North Wales Corporate Joint Committee was keen to ensure that progress was made on the Strategic Development Plan Delivery Plan during this financial year to be able to attract this funding to contribute to the funding of the Plan. It was estimated that approximately £100,000 of this funding could be applied for following the 19 September 2025 meeting of the Corporate Joint Committee, if members approved the draft Delivery Plan. It was explained that if an additional financial commitment to contribute to the Plan's budget could be confirmed within the current financial year, it would be possible to apply for an additional £200,000 of this grant funding offered by the Welsh Government.

Pride was expressed that the Joint Committee's budgeting work had been  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6