Agenda, decisions and minutes

To elect Chair for 2021/22

To elect Cllr Dyfrig Siencyn as Chair of the North Wales Corporate Joint Committee.

Resolved to elect Cllr Dyfrig Siencyn as Chair of the Joint Committee. 

To elect vice chair for 2021/22

To elect Councillor Mark Pritchard as Vice-chair of the North Wales Corporate Joint Committee.

Resolved to elect Cllr Mark Pritchard as Vice-chair of the Joint Committee.

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Cllr Wyn Ellis Jones from Snowdonia National Park Authority and it was noted that Cllr Annwen Hughes was present to deputise on his behalf.

To receive any declaration of Personal Interest.

A declaration of personal interest was received from Iwan Evans, Dewi A Morgan and Dafydd Gibbard for Item 6: Appointment of Statutory Officers.

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

None to note. 

To appoint the following Statutory Officers for the North Wales Corporate Joint Committee, effective from 14 January 2022 at least until arrangements are revised in June 2022:

a)     Chief Executive

b)     Chief Finance Officer (‘Section 151 Officer’)

c)     Monitoring Officer and Proper Officer

To appoint the following Statutory Officers for the North Wales Corporate Joint Committee, effective from 14 January 2022 at least until the arrangements are reviewed in June 2022:

a) Chief Executive - Dafydd Gibbard (Gwynedd Council)

b) Chief Finance Officer ('Section 151 Officer') - Dewi Morgan (Gwynedd Council)

c) Monitoring Officer and Proper Officer - Iwan Evans (Gwynedd Council).

The report was presented by Dafydd L Edwards (Lead Officer Joint Committee Project).

DECISION

To appoint the following Statutory Officers for the North Wales Corporate Joint Committee, effective from 14 January 2022 at least until the arrangements are reviewed in June 2022:

a)    Chief Executive - Dafydd Gibbard (Gwynedd Council)

b)    Chief Finance Officer ('Section 151 Officer') - Dewi Morgan (Gwynedd Council)

c)    Monitoring Officer and Proper Officer - Iwan Evans (Gwynedd Council).

DISCUSSION

The report was submitted noting that Welsh Government legislation established the North Wales Corporate Joint Committee and, consequently, it was noted that the Joint Committee must make appropriate arrangements at its first meeting. It was explained that amongst the first appropriate arrangements, the Joint Committee must appoint its Statutory Officers. 

It was explained that the Corporate Joint Committees (General) (No. 2) (Wales) Regulations 2021 require the CJC to appoint three statutory officers, comprising a Chief Executive, a Chief Finance Officer and a Monitoring Officer. It was stated that the Establishment Regulations allow flexibility regarding how the CJC may employ staff i.e. they may be employed directly or it may enter into arrangements with constituent authorities. It was noted that Gwynedd Council already provided the Chief Finance Officer and Monitoring Officer
for the North Wales Economic Ambition Board, whose functions could transfer to the Corporate Joint Committee during 2022/23. It was added that Gwynedd Council also already provided the CJC Project Lead Officer.

It was stressed that in order to enable the Corporate Joint Committee to proceed, it was recommended that the statutory officers should be provided by Gwynedd Council for now, while the Corporate Joint Committee was being established, noting that these temporary arrangements may be revised thereafter and present a further report on the possible options for appointment to these roles on a permanent basis.

Observations arising from the discussion

¾     Gwynedd Council was thanked for taking the role on behalf of the Region. 

To consider and adopt CJC’s standing orders and constitution

1.    To adopt the Initial Standing Orders for the Corporate Joint Committee and accept the proposed direction for the Constitution.

2.    Delegate the power to the Monitoring Officer to make editorial changes to the Standing Orders for their publication and note the need to revisit the Standing Orders once the Government's guidelines have been confirmed.

The report was presented by Iwan Evans (Monitoring Officer).

RESOLVED

1.    To adopt the Initial Standing Orders for the Corporate Joint Committee and accept the proposed direction for the Constitution.

2.    To delegate the power to the Monitoring Officer to make editorial changes to the Standing Orders for their publication and note the need to revisit the Standing Orders once the Government's guidelines have been confirmed.

DISCUSSION

The report was submitted noting that the North Wales Corporate Joint Committee Regulations 2021 required the Joint Committee to make Standing Orders to regulate its proceedings and business. Including the Regulations establishing the CJC on the 1st of April 2021, there were already 3 sets of governance regulations in force. It was added that 2 sets of General Regulations had been adopted with the consultation on the General Regulations (No 3) closed just before Christmas. It was anticipated that the additional Regulations would come into force in the Spring. It was explained that establishing the governance arrangements must respond and develop against a legal situation which was still evolving.

Members were guided through the Standing Orders and it was highlighted that the Membership included the six Constituent Authority Leaders who had power to act on all functions, the Snowdonia National Park Authority representative who had power to act on matters involving the Strategic Development Plan Function only, together with Co-opted Members appointed by the Joint Committee who would have power to act in accordance with the appointment agreement. It was explained that the meetings would be open and the press and public would be given access, and it was added that a calendar of meetings would need to be created. It was highlighted that five members needed to be present to be quorate and the members would need to designate a substitute.

It was explained that, in relation to voting arrangements, a simple majority system would be followed, but that a unanimous vote would be needed in order to determine budget contributions and changes in voting arrangements. It was also noted that a casting vote would not be used other than on Strategic Development Plan matters. It was explained that statements of the decisions would be published but that they would not be subject to calling-in arrangements. However, it was noted that the regulations on overview and scrutiny arrangements were yet to be published and may mean that this could change.

Observations arising from the discussion

¾     It was enquired how the Joint Committee would create Sub-committees. It was noted that it would be a Joint Committee decision and that Terms of Reference would need to be created for the Sub-committee together with delegated rights.

¾     It was expressed that having a scrutiny procedure was extremely important and that firm arrangements and development mechanism needed to be in place. It was stressed that the Standing Orders would continue to evolve over time.

¾     It was emphasised that initial Standing Orders were submitted to the Joint Committee and it was explained that they would  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

To consider and approve the North Wales Corporate Joint Committee’s Forward Work Programme

To approve the North Wales Corporate Joint Committee’s Forward Work Programme.

The report was presented by Dafydd L Edwards (Lead Officer Joint Committee Project).

RESOLVED

To approve the North Wales Corporate Joint Committee’s Forward Work Programme.

DISCUSSION

The report was submitted noting that the Forward Work Programme acted as a notice of what would be discussed over the coming months. It was noted that the next meeting would need to approve its budget for 2022/23 by 31 January 2022, in accordance with Welsh Government legislation. It was explained that there were several items to be discussed over the coming months and that the Forward Work Programme would be adapted as time went on.