Agenda, decisions and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Councillors Jason McLellan (Denbighshire Council), Ian B. Roberts (Flintshire Council) and Annwen Hughes (Snowdonia National Park).

To receive any declaration of Personal Interest.

A declaration of personal interest was received for item 5 from Alwen Williams, CJC Chief Executive. She withdrew from the meeting during the discussion.

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

None to note.

The Chair shall propose that the minutes of the previous meeting held on 13 January, 2023 be signed as a true record.

The Chair signed the minutes of the meetings held on 13 January 2023 as a true record.

To extend the appointment of Ambition North Wales’ Portfolio Director as the CJC’s part-time Chief Executive, on a temporary secondment basis, up to the end of September 2023.

Agreed to extend the part-time secondment period of Ambition North Wales’ Portfolio Director to the role of the North Wales Corporate Joint Committee Chief Executive until the end of September, 2023.

The report was presented by Dafydd Gibbard (Cyngor Gwynedd Chief Executive).

DECISION

Agreed to extend the part-time secondment period of Ambition North Wales’ Portfolio Director to the role of the North Wales Corporate Joint Committee Chief Executive until the end of September 2023.

DISCUSSION

The report was presented and the intention of incorporating the North Wales Economic Ambition Board to be a part of the Corporate Joint Committee in the near future was reiterated. It was explained that the relevant steps could be started in order to transfer staff through the TUPE process shortly. It was noted that there were processes to follow in relation to the employment field which had slowed down any progress, but the aim was to transfer as soon as possible and to move towards a permanent appointment. It was added that a plan had been put in place in order to realise this.

The decision sought was reiterated, namely, to extend the part-time secondment period of the Corporate Joint Committee Chief Executive temporarily until the end of September, 2023. 

Alwen Williams, Interim CJC Chief Executive to present the report.

Approval was received for the Corporate Joint Committee (CJC) delivery model for statutory functions.

To approve the initial staff structure set out in Appendix 2 of the report.

To delegate authority to the Interim CJC Chief Executive, in consultation with Cyngor Gwynedd Human Resources Service, and in accordance with the Corporate Joint Committee's Pay Policy Statement and in relation to the Planning and Transport posts:

·       Complete the necessary Job Descriptions and Personal Specification for the posts

·       Confirm the evaluated salary scale

·       Advertise and recruit the posts

To endorse a virement of the remained transport staffing budget equivalent to 1 x FTE Transport Officer approved in January to costs associated with the consultative requirements of the Regional Transport Planning process.

To agree for the Corporate Joint Committee to receive a future paper to recommend a preferred option for the delivery of an ‘Economic Wellbeing’ function, which will include the option for the transitioning of staff associated with the current Ambition North Wales Portfolio Office.

The report was submitted by Alwen Williams (CJC Chief Executive).

DECISION

Approval was received for the Corporate Joint Committee (CJC) delivery model for statutory functions.

To approve the initial staff structure set out in Appendix 2 of the report.

To delegate authority to the Interim CJC Chief Executive, in consultation with Cyngor Gwynedd Human Resources Service, and in accordance with the Corporate Joint Committee's Pay Policy Statement and in relation to the Planning and Transport posts:

·         Complete the necessary Job Descriptions and Personal Specification for the posts

·         Confirm the evaluated salary scale

·         Advertise and recruit the posts

To endorse a virement of the remained transport staffing budget equivalent to 1 x FTE Transport Officer approved in January to costs associated with the consultative requirements of the Regional Transport Planning process.

To agree for the Corporate Joint Committee to receive a future paper to recommend a preferred option for the delivery of an ‘Economic Wellbeing’ function, which will include the option for the transitioning of staff associated with the current Ambition North Wales Portfolio Office.

DISCUSSION

The report was submitted, which sought the Joint Committee's approval for the Corporate Joint Committee's delivery model for statutory functions, 'immediate duties' noted in the legislation.

It was noted that the proposed model had been outlined in Appendix 2, including the Strategic Management capacity to supervise the work programme as well as professional specialists in the Transport and Planning field.

It was explained that, in Transport terms, the Corporate Joint Committee should prepare and submit a Regional Transport Plan which would set out the visions, priorities and objectives for the Transport Sub-committee. It was noted that the Plan should consider National policies and strategies as well as local needs. It was anticipated that the Plan would take approximately 18 months to complete before being submitted to Welsh Government for their approval with intended implementation in 2025.

In terms of Planning, it was noted that the Strategic Development Plan was a more long-term plan. It was explained that it would set out the vision, objectives and policies for using lands and buildings in a specific area or region. It was anticipated that the work of preparing a Regional Strategic Development Plan would take at least 5 years. It was added that the Options Evaluation set out in Appendix 1 sought to determine the way forward.

It was noted that the financial implications had already been addressed since the 13 January 2023 meeting of the Corporate Joint Committee where the budget needed for recruitment had been approved. It was added that the recommendation to recruit directly to the North Wales Corporate Joint Committee had been planned and considered within the approved budgets.

Observations arising from the discussion

¾     Members gave thanks for the presentation and a willingness to support the recommendations noted in the report was expressed.

To adopt a pay Policy statement for the North Wales Corporate Joint Committee in respect of 2023/24.

Agreed to adopt the North Wales Corporate Joint Committee pay policy statement for 2023/24.

The report was submitted by Alwen Williams (CJC Chief Executive).

DECISION

Agreed to adopt the North Wales Corporate Joint Committee pay policy statement for 2023/24.

DISCUSSION

The report was presented which requested that the North Wales Corporate Joint Committee adopted the Pay Policy Statement for 2023/24. It was explained that there was a statutory duty on all public authorities to adopt a pay policy statement annually. It was noted that the Pay Policy for 2023/24 was attached to the report and was easy to understand; it was added that this item was a technical matter.