Agenda, decisions and minutes

To appoint a Chair for 2024/25.

To appoint Councillor Dyfrig Siencyn as Chair for 2024/25.

RESOLVED to appoint Councillor Dyfrig Siencyn as Chair for 2024/25.

To appoint a Vice-chair for 2024/25.

To appoint Councillor Mark Pritchard as Vice-chair for 2024/25.

RESOLVED to appoint Councillor Mark Pritchard as Vice-chair for 2024/25.

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from:-

·       Councillor Ian B. ⁠Roberts (Flintshire County Council);

·       Councillor Jason McLellan (Denbighshire Council);

·       Councillor Llinos Medi Huws (Isle of Anglesey County Council) with Gary Pritchard deputising;

·       Professor Edmund Burke (Bangor University) with Paul Spencer deputising;

·       Professor Maria Hinfelaar (Wrexham University)

·       Yana Williams (Coleg Cambria)

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

·       Neal Cockerton (Flintshire County Council) with Andrew Farrow deputising;

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

·       Graham Boase (Denbighshire Council)

The Chair welcomed the deputies to the meeting.

Thanks was given to Dafydd Evans (Grŵp Llandrillo Menai) for his work and his contribution to the Board over the last few years, as he attended his final meeting. Aled Jones-Griffith was welcomed to the Board as his successor. In the same manner, Professor Joe Yates was welcomed to the meeting as the joint representative of Wrexham University following his appointment as the Vice-chancellor of the university.

To receive any declarations of Personal Interest

A declaration of personal interest was received from Alwen Williams (Portfolio Director) for Item 8 following her appointment as interim Chief Executive of the North Wales Corporate Joint Committee. It was noted that it was a prejudicial interest and she withdrew from the meeting for the item.

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

No urgent matters were raised.

The Chair shall propose that the minutes of the meeting held on 17 May, 2024 be signed as a true record.

The Chair signed the minutes of the previous meeting, held on 17 May 2024, as a true record.

Alwen Williams (Portfolio Director) to present the report.

1.     To note the Annual Report for 2023/24.

2.     To approve the submission of the Annual Report 2023/24 to the Welsh Government and UK Government as well as the local authorities' scrutiny committees.

The report was presented by the Portfolio Director with support from Ambition North Wales officers.

RESOLVED

Noted and accepted:

1.     To note the Annual Report for 2023/24.

2.     To approve the submission of the Annual Report for 2023/24 to the Welsh Government and UK Government, as well as the local authorities' scrutiny committees.

REASONS FOR THE DECISION

⁠Quarterly and annual reporting on progress against the North Wales Growth Deal is one of the requirements of the Final Growth Deal Agreement. Following consideration from the North Wales Economic Ambition Board, the reports would be shared with the Welsh Government, UK Government and the local authorities' scrutiny committees.

DISCUSSION

It was explained that the report provided an overview of the Growth Deal and the progress that had been made when fulfilling projects, expressing thanks to the Ambition North Wales officers for their quality work throughout the year.

The Members were guided through the Report's main points, drawing specific attention to:

·       2023/24 Highlights - It was acknowledged that challenges had prevented Outline and Full Business Cases from being approved during the first half of the year and the officers were thanked for their work to ensure that those business cases developed in a timely manner to be considered later in the year. Additionally, it was confirmed that they were working on alternative projects such as the Hydrogen Sponsor challenge and they had managed to introduce five new projects to join the Growth Deal. It was emphasised that many Outline Business Cases, such as the Tourism Talent Network and Former North Wales Hospital, and Full Business Cases, such as the Deeside Anaerobic Digestion Work had been approved by the Board during the second half of the year. It was elaborated that the Former North Wales Hospital Full Business Plan had now been approved by the Board.

·       Digital Signals Processing Centre (DSP) - It was confirmed that this was the first project to reach the aim of fulfilment and that 2023/24 was its second year doing so. They were proud that the project had led to creating 13 jobs and had produced an additional GVA of £1.275m. It was elaborated that the project had now secured additional funding of £1.5m. It was noted that the project continued to collaborate with 18 partners and that 53 people had attended the skills and training sessions during the year.

·       Enterprise Engineering & Optics Centre - Pride was expressed that the work of building the centre had commenced since February 2024 and that the work continued to develop ahead of schedule. They were reminded that the centre was an innovative building to develop business cooperation and develop skills in optics, photonics and composites, as light alternative choices for manufacturing. It was also noted that the development would integrate hydrogen as an alternative fuel source, contributing to sustainable practices in industry by reducing the carbon emissions of regional companies. It was emphasised that a key part of the project was attracting investment to north Wales and creating local employment, emphasising that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

Dylan J Williams (North Wales Councils’ Lead Chief Executive for the Economic Ambition Board) to present the report.

1.     To note the progress update on work to establish the North Wales CJC and to respond to the tasks required by its statutory functions.

2.     To note the updated plan and revised timetable for the transfer of the North Wales Growth Deal to the North Wales CJC.

3.     To approve the extension of the temporary arrangement to release the Portfolio Director’s time for two days per week to undertake the Interim Chief Executive role until 31 October 2024.

4.     To agree that a further report would be submitted to the Board should there be a slippage in the timetable, in order to seek the approval of the Members for an alternative timetable to transfer the North Wales Growth Deal to the North Wales CJC.

The report was presented by the Chief Executive of the Isle of Anglesey County Council.

RESOLVED

1.     To note the progress update on work to establish the North Wales CJC and to respond to the tasks required by its statutory functions.

2.     To note the updated plan and revised timetable for the transfer of the North Wales Growth Deal to the North Wales CJC.

3.     To approve the extension of the temporary arrangement to release the Portfolio Director’s time for two days per week to undertake the Interim Chief Executive role until 31 October 2024.

4.     To agree that a further report would be submitted to the Board should there be a slippage in the timetable, in order to seek the approval of the Members for an alternative timetable to transfer the North Wales Growth Deal to the North Wales CJC.

REASONS FOR THE DECISION

In December 2021/January 2022, the Cabinet and Executives in each of the six Local Authorities agreed, in principle, that the functions of the North Wales Economic Ambition Board should be transferred by way of a delegation agreement to the CJC. The statutory framework and the establishment of the CJC meant that the proposed transfer needed to be progressed. Approval from partner organisations and governments was required before a transfer could take place.

The 1^st July had been identified as the provisional target date to transfer functions from the Economic Ambition Board to the North Wales Corporate Joint Committee. However, this date was provisional on the grounds that it could be affected by several factors, including the need for partner and government agreement to transfer the Growth Deal; Decision and timetable requirements; Internal capacity limitations and TUPE considerations. Key decisions needed to be made to complete the transfer which could lead to some transfer areas being carried out during the autumn 2024 period. Consideration was given to whether the proposed transfer date of 1 July 2024 was achievable. This report and the decisions required set out the revised plan and timetables.

DISCUSSION

All the officers associated from Ambition North Wales and the Host Authority were thanked for their work in preparing a clear report of the current situation. It was acknowledged that it was not an ideal situation, noting that the Report detailed those challenges that had contributed towards the current situation. It was also elaborated that officers' capacity had contributed to the challenges faced.

Attention was drawn to the complexity of the tasks that needed to be completed, as well as the key arrangement of when all the tasks should be completed. Details were given on this information by referring to Appendix 1. Examples of the detail of the tasks were shared by confirming that all of the region's local authorities and the Government needed to agree on each step of the processes, as well as develop robust processes and policies. It was acknowledged that ambiguity regarding financial matters was also a challenge that had been faced recently. The need to ensure that each  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.