Agenda, decisions and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from:-

·        Councillor Ian B. Roberts (Flintshire Council); ⁠

·        Professor Edmund Burke (Bangor University) with Chris Drew deputising;

·        ⁠Ian Bancroft (Wrexham County Borough Council) with David Fitzsimon deputising;

·        Dr Maria Hinfelaar (Wrexham University);

·        Dewi A. Morgan (Statutory Finance Officer) with Sian Pugh deputising; ⁠

·        Dafydd Gibbard (Cyngor Gwynedd) with Sioned Williams deputising.

The Chair welcomed the deputies to the meeting.

To receive any declarations of Personal Interest

No declarations of personal interest were received. 

To note any items that are a matter of urgency in the view of th Chair for consideration.

No urgent matters were raised.

The Chair shall propose that the minutes of the meeting held on 15 March 2024 be signed as a true record.

The Chair signed the minutes of the previous meeting, held on 15 March 2024, as a true record.

Dewi Morgan (Host Authority Head of Finance and Statutory Finance Officer) and Sian Pugh (Host Authority Assistant Head of Finance) to present the report.

Noted and accepted:

1.     The Ambition Board's revenue out-turn report for 2023/24 (Appendix 1)
which includes using £561,454 from the North Wales Growth Deal grant to show a neutral position for the year.

2.     The Ambition Board’s reserves situation (Appendix 2).

3.     Capital End of Year Review on 31 March 2024 (Appendix 3).

The report was presented by the Host Authority's Head of Finance Department.

RESOLVED

Noted and accepted:

1.     The Ambition Board's revenue out-turn report for 2023/24 (Appendix 1)
which includes using £561,454 from the North Wales Growth Deal grant to show a neutral position for the year.

2.     The Ambition Board’s reserves position (Appendix 2).

3.     Capital End of Year Review on 31 March 2024 (Appendix 3).

REASONS FOR THE DECISION

To inform the Ambition Board of its financial position for both revenue and capital in 2023/24.

DISCUSSION

Members were guided through the report which provided an overview of the revenue and capital out-turn position for 2023/24. Reference was made to Appendix 1 drawing attention to the last column in the table which showed the overspend / underspend for each heading. ⁠It was noted that the final underspend on the Portfolio Management Office heading was £75,000 which was mainly due to staff turnover during the year. It was reported that the Support Services heading showed an underspend of £39,000.

It was noted that the final underspend on the CJC heading was £41,000 and was due to underspend on the External Legal Support, External Financial Fees and the Business Delivery Board headings. It was expressed that the final underspend on the Projects heading was £129,000. ⁠ It was explained that the expenditure under the Grants heading included schemes that were funded by certain grants from Welsh Government. It was added that the Transfers to Reserves section showed the partners' interest contributions for 2023/24.

Members were referred to the second page of Appendix 1 where the main income streams for 2023/24 were listed and the final net out-turn position for 2023/24 was shown, namely an underspend of £460,000. It was explained that this demonstrated an increase in the underspend from the £341,000 that had been forecast in the end of December review. It was noted that the underspend derived from the success of the Portfolio Management Office with its regional application to the Shared Prosperity Fund along with a reduction in spending on several headings in the budget. 

The Board was asked to approve a reduced amount of £561,000, compared with the original budget of £1,000,000 from the Growth Deal grant to be used to fund revenue expenditure in 2023/24 in order to leave a neutral position for the year.

Reference was made to Appendix 2 which showed the movements in the funds during the year and the balances on 31 March 2024.  It was noted that the total of the reserve fund on 31 March 2024 was £278,000 and that £67,000 had been allocated for the 2024/25 budget and a further £61,000 for the 2025/26 budget. It was reported that the balance of the projects fund on 31 March 2024 was £152,000 and the balance of the interest fund on 31 March 2024 was £4.7 million. It was noted there had been a significant increase here due to the interest received on the Growth Deal grant during the year.

To close, reference was  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

Hedd Vaughan-Evans (Head of Operation) to present the report.

To note the Quarter 4 Performance Report and updated Portfolio Risk Register.

To approve the submission of the Quarter 4 Performance Report to the Welsh Government and UK Government as well as the local authority scrutiny committees.

The report was submitted by the Head of Operations and the Programme Managers elaborated on the highlights of individual programmes.

RESOLVED

To note the Quarter 4 Performance Report and updated Portfolio Risk Register.

To approve the submission of the Quarter 4 Performance Report to Welsh Government and UK Government as well as the local authority scrutiny committees,

REASONS FOR THE DECISION

To submit the Growth Deal’s Quarter 4 Report (January to March) and updated Portfolio Risk Register. ⁠

Quarterly reporting on progress against the North Wales Growth Deal is one of the requirements of the Final Growth Deal Agreement. Following the North Wales Economic Ambition Board's consideration, the reports are shared with the Welsh Government, UK Government as well as the local authority scrutiny committees.

DISCUSSION

⁠The Growth Deal's Quarter 4 Performance and Risk Report was outlined and a presentation was given by the programme managers who provided a summary of the progress in relation to their individual programmes. An update was provided on the Digital Programme where it was noted that the outline business case for the 4G Connected Key Sites and Corridors had now been approved by the Economic Ambition Board. There was reference to the LPWAN project noting the need to carry out more work on the economic case before mentioning the appointment of Annog Cyf. by the Economic Ambition Board.

·        ⁠Members asked about the appointment of Annog Cyf. and whether there was an announcement or a launch in the pipeline. It was confirmed that the company would hold a public launch the following week and that they were working on the messages and regional balance. ⁠It was reported that social media would publicise it and there would be direct contact with the rural communities. It was noted that the Project Management Office would update the Board on any developments.

An update was provided on the Low Carbon Energy Programme which explained the position of each project such as the Hydrogen Hub and Cydnerth amongst others up to the end of quarter 4. It was noted that the Trawsfynydd project had not been included as there was not much to report on up to the end of Quarter 4. It was added that this project remained under red status due to the uncertainty whether the project would be realised within the Growth Deal period. It was noted that the Project Management Office was in discussions with Cwmni Egino and would ask for an explanation from the Government as it began mapping potential options for the Board to consider should the project be withdrawn from the Growth Deal.

·        Disappointment was expressed in relation to the Trawsfynydd project and there was concern that the Government was making political decisions rather than decisions based on fact or technology. It was noted there would be further considerations on what would replace the Trawsfynydd project should it be withdrawn.

A report was provided on the Land and Property Programme and an update was provided on projects such as Parc Bryn Cegin  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

The Chair shall propose that the press and public be excluded from the meeting during the discussions on the following items due to the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 14 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).

There is an acknowledged public interest in openness in relation to the use of public resources and related financial issues. It is also acknowledged that there are occasions, in order to protect the financial and commercial interests that matters related to such information need to be discussed without being publicised. The reports deal specifically with financial and business matters and related discussions. Publication of such commercially sensitive information could adversely affect the interests of the bodies and the Councils and undermine the confidence of other Growth Deal participants in sharing sensitive information for consideration. This would be contrary to the wider public interest of securing the best overall outcome.

RESOLVED to exclude the press and public from the meeting during the discussion on the following item for the reasons stated below:

·        Item 10: Paragraph 14, Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 (Information about the financial or business transactions of any specific person (including the authority that retains that information)). ⁠This item contains confidential and commercially sensitive information about the Former North Wales Hospital project including information about the project's risks. This is relevant to Jones Bros.

David Mathews (Land and Property Programme Manager) to present the report.

The Full Business Case for the Former North Wales Hospital project was approved.

The Portfolio Director was authorised, in consultation with the Section 151 Officer and the Monitoring Officer to agree and enter into a funding agreement with Jones Brothers Ruthin Development Holdings Ltd to deliver the Project.

It was noted that the funding agreement would be carried out following completing the steps in paragraph 7.7 satisfactorily in consultation with the Chair, Vice-chair, Section 151 Officer and the Monitoring Officer.

Gratitude was expressed to everyone who had contributed to the success of this project.

The report was submitted by the Land and Property Programme Manager. ⁠

RESOLVED

The Full Business Case for the Former North Wales Hospital project was approved.

The Portfolio Director was authorised, in consultation with the Section 151 Officer and the Monitoring Officer to agree and enter into a funding agreement with Jones Brothers Ruthin Development Holdings Ltd to deliver the Project.

It was noted that the funding agreement will be carried out following completion of the steps in paragraph 7.7 satisfactorily in consultation with the Chair, Vice-chair, Section 151 Officer and the Monitoring Officer.

Gratitude was expressed to everyone who has contributed to the success of this project.

REASONS FOR THE DECISION

To seek the Board's approval to the Full Business Case for the Former North Wales Hospital project. ⁠

The Board had approved the Outline Business Case for the project on 2 February 2024. The project had undertaken a Gateway 3 Review in April 2024 and received an Amber rating from the review team with 9 recommendations. These recommendations were currently being reviewed by Ambition North Wales, Denbighshire Council and Jones Bros, with a view to agreeing on actions between the parties.

Jones Brothers Ruthin Development Holdings Ltd would be the grant recipient and would commission Jones Brothers Ruthin Civil Engineering Limited to undertake the Phase 1 works using their approved sub-contractors when required. The company was now publishing a Full Business Case for the Board to make a final investment decision.

DISCUSSION

The report was discussed.