Agenda, decisions and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from:

·       Councillor Nia Jeffreys (Cyngor Gwynedd)  

·       Councillor Gary Pritchard (Isle of Anglesey County Council) with Councillor Robin Williams deputising.

·       ⁠Ian Bancroft (Wrexham County Borough Council) with Linda Roberts deputising

·       Graham Boase (Denbighshire County Council) with Gary Williams deputising.

·       David Hole (Corporate Joint Committee Implementation Programme Manager).

To receive any declaration of Personal Interest.

Item 5: A declaration of personal interest was received from Alwen Williams, Interim Chief Executive of the CJC for the last part of the report that related to extending her secondment in the role. She was of the opinion that it was a prejudicial interest and 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 the 11th of October, 2024 be signed as a true record.

The Chair signed the minutes of the previous meeting, held on 11 October 2024, as a true record.

Alwen Williams (Portfolio Director and CJC Interim Chief Executive) and Geraint Owen (Corporate Director, Cyngor Gwynedd) to present the report.

To accept the update on work to establish the North Wales CJC including the transfer of the Growth Deal and progressing on tasks required to carry out the statutory duties of the CJC.

To agree to receive a report from the Portfolio Director at the next meeting of the Corporate Joint Committee providing a further update on the progress of the transition with reference to the Strategic Development Plan.

To authorise the Portfolio Director to agree a revised programme and transfer date with the Local Authorities and Higher and Further Education partners within the target date of 1 April 2025.

To approve an extension of the interim arrangement for the Portfolio Director of the Economic Ambition Board to assume the role of Chief Executive of the Corporate Joint Committee on an interim basis for two days a week up to 31 March 2025 or the transfer date, depending on which comes first.

The report was presented by Alwen Williams, Interim Chief Executive of the CJC and Dafydd Gibbard, Chief Executive, Cyngor Gwynedd.

RESOLVED:

To accept the progress update on work to establish the North Wales CJC including the transfer of the Growth Deal and progressing on tasks required to fulfil the statutory duties of the CJC.

To agree to receive a report from the Portfolio Director at the next meeting of the Corporate Joint Committee providing a further update on the progress of the transfer with reference to the Strategic Development Plan.

To authorise the Portfolio Director to agree a revised transfer programme and date with the Local Authorities and Higher and Further Education partners within the target date of 1 April 2025.

To approve an extension of the interim arrangement for the Portfolio Director of the Economic Ambition Board to assume the role of Chief Executive of the Corporate Joint Committee on an interim basis for two days a week up to 31 March 2025 or the transfer date, whichever comes first.

DISCUSSION

A summary of the report was provided, which presented a further update on the progress made to establish the Corporate Joint Committee and seeking approval to extend the arrangement whereby the Portfolio Director assumes the role of Interim Chief Executive for two days a week up to 31 March 2025 or the transfer date.

The CJC was reminded of the current arrangements, highlighting that the functions and arrangements of the Ambition Board were set out in GA2 which included the governance arrangements and financial support for the Growth Deal. It was explained that the Growth Deal and financial arrangements would transfer to the CJC, and the importance of regional joint working was emphasised so that partners agreed on arrangements for undertaking regional functions as part of establishing the CJC. It was confirmed that a precise transfer model would be agreed with partners as part of the next steps.

The officers detailed the key legal issues being developed in order to execute the transfer as set out in part 3.3 of the report, and they referenced the key areas of focus.

They explained why the provisional target date of 1^⁠st November that had been set for transferring functions from the Ambition Board to the North Wales Corporate Joint Committee was not achievable, and highlighted the key decisions that were required before transferring. They elaborated on the next steps of dealing with the legal, financial and governance arrangements to enable a successful transfer in future.

Reference was made to part 4.6 to 4.8 of the report which summarised the revised timetable which proposed that the Growth Deal be transferred by 1^⁠st ⁠April, 2025 at the latest.

The Chair thanked the Interim Chief Executive of the CJC for the comprehensive report and asked whether there were enough resources available to fulfil the requirements as set out in the report against the revised timetable. In response it was noted that not all the resources were available, and gaps did exist,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

Alwen Williams (Interim CJC Chief Executive) to present the report.

To review and approve the Tax Sites identified (Deeside Gateway, Warren Hall and Wrexham Industrial Estate) and Retained Rate Areas (Deeside Gateway and Wrexham Industrial Estate).

To review and approve the proposed Common Model of Governance.

To review and approve the Investment Zone Themes (Innovation, Skills and Transport) and high-level interventions, which will be refined as part of Gateway 4 (Interventions) and consider the inclusion of 'Business Support' as the fourth theme, which addresses the intention to invest directly in advanced manufacturing businesses with advice and grant funding.

The report was presented by Alwen Williams, Interim Chief Executive of the CJC.

RESOLVED

To review and approve the Tax Sites identified (Deeside Gateway, Warren Hall and Wrexham Industrial Estate) and Retained Rates Areas (Deeside Gateway and Wrexham Industrial Estate).

To review and approve the proposed Common Model of Governance.

To review and approve the Investment Zone Themes (Innovation, Skills and Transport) and high-level interventions, which will be refined as part of Gateway 4 (Interventions) and consider the inclusion of 'Business Support' as the fourth theme, which addresses the intention to invest directly in advanced manufacturing businesses with advice and grant funding.

DISCUSSION

It was noted that the report provided the latest information on the progress of securing a new Investment Zone designation in Flintshire and Wrexham which would focus on Advanced Manufacturing.

Iain Taylor, AMION Consulting Adviser, was welcomed to the meeting. It was noted that Iain was working on developing the proposal for the investment zone. It was added that Iain had recent and very relevant experience of successfully leading Liverpool City region on delivering their investment zone which focused on life sciences, and that the contacts Iain had had been invaluable to the CJC in helping them to develop a firm proposal.

The AMION Consulting Advisor elaborated on the good progress being made on developing the proposal, and that they had begun confirming the basis of why they think these interventions could lead to a significant change in the growth of the manufacturing sector. It was believed that this would enable the employment of around 6,000 more people by the end of the programme.

He referred to the identified Tax Sites namely Deeside Gateway, Warren Hall and Wrexham Industrial Estate and referred to the benefits of these sites and the desire to move forward with the sites after gaining the CJC's approval.

The proposed Governance Structure as set out in part 7.9 of the report was outlined, detailing the partnership between the Corporate Joint Committee and the two Councils which was vital to the structure as well as the work of the Economic Well-being sub-committee. Reference was made to the functions of the Flintshire and Wrexham Investment Zone Working Group as well as the Investment Zone Shadow Advisory Board.

The Core Themes were detailed as set out in part 8.1 of the report, reporting that the Investment Zone would cluster investment across three core themes namely Skills, Innovation and Transport. The development of a fourth theme, Business Support, was proposed to provide a thematic foundation for advice and grant support to co-invest in advanced manufacturing businesses in Flintshire and Wrexham.

The AMION Consulting Adviser was thanked for the presentation, and the Interim Chief Executive of the CJC was thanked for the report. A member enquired about part 10.3 of the report, the Intervention Allocations, asking whether the figures and percentages stated in the table were correct in terms of the balance and if there will be flexibility in the future should another opportunity present itself. It was  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.