Issue - meetings

Andy Roberts, Regional Strategic Planning Officer to present report.  

To formally approve the submission of the SDP Delivery Agreement to Welsh Government for approval in accordance with Regulation 11(2) of the Town and Country Planning (Strategic Development Plan) (Wales) Regulations 2021. 

To provide delegated authority to the Chief Executive of Ambition North Wales in consultation with the Chair of the Strategic Planning Sub-committee to make any minor editorial or formatting amendments to the Delivery Agreement to prepare it for formal submission to Welsh Government.

The report was submitted by Andy Roberts, Regional Strategic Planning Officer.

RESOLVED:

To formally approve the submission of the SDP Delivery Agreement to the Welsh Government for approval in accordance with Regulation 11(2) of the Town and Country Planning (Strategic Development Plan) (Wales) Regulations 2021. 

To provide delegated authority to the Chief Executive of Ambition North Wales in consultation with the Chair of the Strategic Planning Sub-committee to make any minor editorial or formatting amendments to the Delivery Agreement to prepare it for formal submission to Welsh Government.

DISCUSSION

The report was presented noting that the Joint Committee, back in September, had approved the Delivery Agreement for the Strategic Plan ready for submission to the Welsh Government, subject to a decision being made on funding for the Strategic Development Plan. Since that meeting, it had been expressed that the process of setting a budget was underway and that a budget had been set for programme 1 of the delivery programme, without affecting the levy. It was emphasised that the submission of the Delivery Agreement to the Government committed the CJC to complete the Plan within 5 years.

The cost of producing the SDP was estimated at £3.276m over the five-year process, or an initial average of £655,272 per annum. However, after considering the revenue overspend, a budget of £597,650 was proposed. It was explained that the position reached with the budget in terms of the very limited impact on the Local Authority levy was a significant achievement, providing the certainty that Members were looking for, and the potential to repeat this at least, as part of the budget-setting exercise for 2027/28. Although a Medium-Term Financial Strategy had not yet been agreed for the CJC, this position was considered to be the best that could be achieved for next year, providing the assurances required to commit to formally submitting the SDP Delivery Agreement for approval by Welsh Ministers.

Thanks were given for the report, and it was noted that this requirement was statutory, and therefore funding was mandatory. It was highlighted that a second look at the budget indicated that they were committed to being as efficient as possible, moving forward. It was reiterated that the Medium-Term Financial Plan would be sumittedsubmitted in the autumn.