Issue - meetings

Alwen Williams, Chief Executive and Iain Taylor, AMION Consulting to present report.

The following items were considered for approval:

• The investment allocations of the Annual Delivery Plan;

• The Investment Zone Programmes as set out in Section 3 of this report; 

• The Terms of Reference for the Flintshire and Wrexham Investment Zone Working Group (Appendix 1);

• That the CJC's Section 151 Officer is permitted to sign and issue the Annual Delivery Plan documents to UK Government and Welsh Government and make any further non-material amendments necessary to agree the ADP with both Governments.

The report was presented by Alwen Williams, Chief Executive and Iain Taylor, AMION Consulting.

RESOLVED:

The following items were considered for approval:

• The investment allocations of the Annual Delivery Plan

• The Investment Zone Programmes as set out in Section 3 of this report

• The Terms of Reference for the Flintshire and Wrexham Investment Zone Working Group (Appendix 1)

• That the CJC's Section 151 Officer is permitted to sign and issue the Annual Delivery Plan documents to the UK Government and Welsh Government and make any further non-material amendments necessary to agree the ADP with both Governments.

DISCUSSION

The Year 1 Annual Delivery Plan for the Flintshire and Wrexham Investment Zone was reported. It was noted that this was an exciting opportunity for Flintshire and Wrexham, and for the whole of north Wales. It was elaborated that this would achieve enhanced global status in the Advanced Manufacturing sector in north Wales.

It was reported that the Investment Zone was now in the delivery phase. Members were reminded that a delivery plan must be set each year, and the intention was to deliver the output of the programme in each year. Members were informed that approval was being sought for the current year's delivery plan, which had commenced in April 2025.

It was explained that approval would enable the CJC to submit the Year 1 Annual Delivery Plan, which would trigger the signed final Memorandum of Understanding and the grant offer letter for year one funds. It was elaborated that preparatory work would commence on the Year 2 Annual Delivery fund, and would be starting in April 2026. It was explained that this would be submitted to the Flintshire and Wrexham Working Group and also to the CJC.

It was detailed that the programme was well established, and that it covered skills, business support, infrastructure, etc. An intention was noted to work with partners across north Wales, and for partners to deliver innovation development programmes and proposals for key partnerships with manufacturing companies and for the further design and development of the decarbonisation programme.

It was reported that proposals from Coleg Cambria and Wrexham University had been received for the first phase of the skills programme, and these would be shared with the Regional Skills Partnership. It was stated that the CJC would decide on the skills programme as it progressed. It was elaborated that the intention was to enter into funding agreements to launch a business support programme in Flintshire and Wrexham, which would see businesses there apply for grant and support.

It was stated that the report noted high-level activities and financial allocations for the first two years. The need to consider year one allocations was emphasised at this meeting.

It was added that decisions regarding the Investment Zone would be evaluated and agreed with the leaders of Flintshire and Wrexham, but the report would be finally agreed by the CJC. A mandate would be given to the CJC's Statutory Finance Officer to sign-off on the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10