Venue: Council Chamber, Bodlondeb, Bangor Road, Conwy. LL32 8DU
Contact: Eirian Roberts 01286 679018
No. | Item |
---|---|
APOLOGIES To receive any
apologies for absence. Minutes: Councillor Mark
Pritchard (Wrexham County Borough Council), Professor Iwan Davies (Bangor
University), David Jones (Coleg Cambria), Colin
Everett (Flintshire Council), Judith Greenhalgh
(Denbighshire Council) and Ian Bancroft (Wrexham Council). |
|
DECLARATION OF PERSONAL INTEREST To receive any declarations of personal interest Minutes: No declarations of
personal interest were received. |
|
URGENT BUSINESS To note any items
that are a matter of urgency in the view of the Chair for consideration. Minutes: None to note. |
|
MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETINGS PDF 61 KB The Chair shall propose that the minutes of the meetings held on 6th and 20th September, 2019 be signed as true records (attached). Additional documents: Minutes: The Chair signed
the minutes of the previous meetings of the NWEAB held on 6 and 20 September
2019 as a true record. |
|
UPDATE ON THE EAB WORK PROGRAMME AND PROGRAMME OFFICE PREMISES PDF 185 KB Report by Jane Richardson – Chair of the NWEAB Executive Officers Group. Additional documents:
Minutes: The report was
submitted by Jane Richardson, Chair of the Executive Officers Group. RESOLVED 1.
To accept the report on the Work
Programme subject to reviewing and updating the RAG status of each task within
the Work Programme by the next meeting, and asking the Executive Officers Group
to review the format of the table when the Programme Director is in post. 2.
To confirm the intention to re-advertise
the post of Chair of the Business Delivery Board. 3.
To approve the Transitional Plan. 4.
To authorise the Accountable Body to
enter into a lease of the premises at Conwy Business Centre in accordance with
the report and to agree other terms on the basis of advice from the Accountable
Body's Head of Property Department, in consultation with the Monitoring Officer
and Chief Finance Officer. REASONS FOR THE DECISION Update progress of the Work Programme tasks
and ensure that the table content is clearer. Report on the Transitional Plan as a
supporting document to the Work Programme until the Programme Director had
started in post. The NWEAB needed to identify a suitable
office space for the Programme Office. DISCUSSION Further to
preparing the report, the Chair of the Executive Officers Group noted that both
the UK and Welsh Governments were now happy with the Heads of Terms and were
awaiting confirmation around arrangements to formally sign the Heads of
Terms. A press release had been drafted
and an internal press release was also being prepared. During the
discussion the following matters were raised: ·
The
Leader of Flintshire Council noted that he had not been invited to the first
meeting of the Transport sub-group. ·
The
Chief Executive of Gwynedd Council noted that a sufficient pool of candidates
had not been received for the post of Chair of the Business Delivery Board. It
was recommended that the post be re-advertised, and to notify the original
candidates that their applications would still be considered. It was agreed to
review the advertisement and the information about the role to ensure that they
hit the right note. The importance of appointing a leader who was well-known in
the area and regionally was stressed, and it was suggested that a discussion be
held with the Chair of the Shadow Board to see how best to attract candidates.
The business community was encouraged to promote this opportunity also. ·
It
was noted that the officers were aiming to submit the Business Plan for ESF
funding to WEFO by 31 October, but it was asked what would happen should
Britain leave the European Union on that date. The Chair of the Executive
Officers Group was asked to discuss this with her colleagues at Conwy Council
who specialised on Brexit matters. · Concern was expressed that the private sector did not understand the timeframe and, although they were ready to start their plans, they were unable to develop the five case business models for the Growth Deal projects until the Heads of Terms had been signed formally. It was noted that ... view the full minutes text for item 5. |
|
REVENUE BUDGET 2019-20 - SECOND QUARTER REVIEW (SEPTEMBER 2019) PDF 532 KB Report by Dafydd L.Edwards, Host Authority Statutory Finance Officer. Additional documents: Decision: DECISION 1.
To receive the Joint
Committee's (North Wales Economic Ambition Board) Second Quarter Review for
2019/20. 2.
To obtain the Joint
Committee's approval for the budget virements set out in the last column of
Appendix 1. 3.
To note and accept the
present position on the 2020/21 Budget. Minutes: The report was
submitted by Dafydd Edwards, Statutory Finance Officer of the Host Authority. RESOLVED 1.
To receive the Joint Committee's (North
Wales Economic Ambition Board) Second Quarter Review for 2019/20. 2.
To obtain the Joint Committee's approval
for the budget virements set out in the last column
of Appendix 1. 3.
To note and accept the present position
on the 2020/21 Budget. REASONS FOR THE DECISION There was reduced forecast expenditure on
project planning (less work commissioned externally and lower cost of employing
staff) than originally estimated, but it appeared that capitalisation of
salaries would not now be possible in 2019/20. The consequent net expenditure of
the NWEAB was affordable within the current partner contributions, but was
dependent on obtaining the ESF grant funding from WEFO. |
|
REGIONAL BUSINESS SUPPORT PDF 244 KB Report by Jane Richardson, Strategic Director Economy and Place, Conwy CBC, and Janet Owen Jones, Head of Strategic Development and Delivery (Business) WG. Additional documents: Decision: To accept that the
preparatory work continues as outlined in the report but, in the meantime, send
a message to the Minister for Economy and Transport expressing that the
proposed model does not meet the needs of the private sector in North Wales. Minutes: The report, as
well as a PowerPoint presentation, was submitted by Jane Richardson, Chair of
the Executive Officers Group. RESOLVED
to accept that the preparatory work continues as outlined in the report but, in
the meantime, send a message to the Minister for Economy and Transport
expressing that the proposed model does not meet the needs of the private
sector in North Wales. REASONS FOR THE DECISION The business community wished to see one
delivery body for North Wales and the proposed model did not comply with the
aspirations of the region's businesses. DISCUSSION During the
discussion, the following matters were raised: ·
The importance of engaging with the private sector and
not repeat past mistakes was stressed. ·
Several members expressed concern that the proposed
model did not comply with the aspirations of the region's businesses, who
wished to see one delivery body for North Wales. It was noted that there was a
need to be far more adventurous and ambitious and invest in a more suitable
model. It appeared that the Minister did not want that, but it was stressed
that he should be challenged on that. It was agreed to send a message to the
Minister expressing that the proposed model did not meet the needs of the
private sector in North Wales. In the meantime, it was accepted that the
preparatory work outlined in the report should proceed. |