Agenda, decisions and minutes

To appoint a Chair for 2024/25.

To elect Councillor Mark Pritchard as Chair for 2024/25.

RESOLVED to elect Councillor Mark Pritchard as Chair of the Sub-committee for 2024/25.

In the absence of the Chair, it was resolved to elect Councillor Charlie McCoubrey as Chair for this meeting.

To appoint a Vice-chair for 2024/25.

To elect Councillor Charlie McCoubrey as Vice-Chair for 2024/25.

RESOLVED to elect Councillor Charlie McCoubrey as Vice-chair of the Sub-committee for 2024/25.

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from:-

·       Councillor Mark Pritchard (Wrexham County Borough Council) with Councillor Nigel Williams deputising.

·       Councillor Gary Pritchard (Isle of Anglesey County Council) with Councillor Nicola Roberts deputising.

·       Aled Jones-Griffith (Grŵp Llandrillo Menai) with Gwenllian Roberts deputising.

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

To receive any declarations of personal interest.

There were no declarations of personal interest.

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

No urgent matters were raised.

To review the Terms of Reference for the Economic Well-being Sub-Committee.

To adopt the Terms of Reference

The report was submitted by the Monitoring Officer.

DECISION

To adopt the Terms of Reference.

REASONS FOR THE DECISION

The Sub-committee must implement those rules and procedures as adopted by the CJC and set out in the Terms of Reference – these are the powers delegated to the Sub-committee. Any amendment to these terms must be approved by the Corporate Joint Committee.

DISCUSSION

A formal Terms of Reference was presented for the Sub-committee, which had already been adopted by the North Wales Corporate Joint Committee. It was explained that the document significantly reflected North Wales’ previous Economic Ambition Board Terms of Reference. It was noted that it is intended to continue with the previous arrangements, explaining that the only addition to the Terms of Reference is the statutory power that the Corporate Joint Committee and this Sub-committee has over the Region’s economic well-being, noting that details on these duties would be added in due course.

To consider the co-option of a member representative from Eryri National Park Authority to be appointed onto the sub-committee.

To postpone the discussion and decision on this matter until the next Meeting.

The report was submitted by the Monitoring Officer.

RESOLVED

To postpone the discussion and decision on this matter until the next Meeting.

REASONS FOR THE DECISION

On 21 March, the North Wales Corporate Joint Committee agreed that the membership of the Economic Well-being Sub-committee would consist of six Council Members of the North Wales Corporate Joint Committee, together with a representative from each of those bodies represented on the North Wales Economic Ambition Board to be appointed as non-voting co-opted members.

DISCUSSION

It was considered to postpone the discussion on Co-opting a member of the Eryri National Park Authority to this Sub-committee, as well as the decision on the matter, to the next meeting. It was explained that this would provide officers with the opportunity to check technical matters within the co-opted regulations, before bringing a proposal for a member to the attention of the Sub-committee.

To consider the Forward Work Plan for the Economic Well-being Sub-Committee.

To agree on the Forward Work Programme

To confirm that the Chair may amend the Plan to consider variations in scheduling work subject to the Plan being brought to the following meeting of the Sub-Committee for agreement.

The report was presented by the Head of Operations.

RESOLVED

To agree on the Forward Work Programme

To confirm that the Chair may amend the Plan to consider variations in scheduling work subject to the Plan being brought to the following meeting of the Sub-committee for agreement.

REASONS FOR THE DECISION

The Forward Work Programme sets out the calendar of meetings, and additionally outlines the work to be carried out by the Sub-committee following its delegated functions as set out in its terms of reference.

DISCUSSION

It was reported that the Forward Work Programme notes all the projects which had been programmed for the current financial year so far. It was noted that additional business cases would be added to the Forward Work Programme when it would be timely to do so.

To present the nomination for the new Senior Responsible Owner (SRO) for the Growth Deal.

1.     That the Sub-Committee appoints Dylan Williams (Chief Executive of the Isle of Anglesey County Council) as the new Senior Responsible Owner (SRO) for the Growth Deal.

2.     That the Sub-Committee agrees to review the arrangements in 12 months' time.

The report was presented by the Head of Operations.

RESOLVED

1.    That the Sub-committee appoints Dylan Williams (Chief Executive of the Isle of Anglesey County Council) as the new Senior Responsible Owner (SRO) for the Growth Deal.

2.    That the Sub-committee agrees to review the arrangements in 12 months’ time.

REASONS FOR THE DECISION

To seek to confirm the appointment of the SRO of the Growth Deal in line with the decisions made by the Economic Ambition Board in February 2025, to separate the role of the SRO and the Portfolio Director in response to the new requirement from the Government.

DISCUSSION

It was explained that this Item derived from the meeting of the North Wales Economic Ambition Board, where it had been agreed to separate the posts of the Portfolio Director and the Senior Responsible Owner (SRO). It was noted that an application had been made at that time for a nomination from the Chief Executives of the Local Authorities to be able to appoint the Growth Deal’s Senior Responsible Owner.

It was confirmed that Dylan Williams, Chief Executive of the Isle of Anglesey County Council, had been nominated to deliver the role of the Growth Deal’s Senior Responsible Owner. It was noted that the report enquired whether the Sub-committee was eager to approve this nomination, with the confirmation that the appointment would be reviewed every 12 months.

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 defined in Paragraph 14 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972: Information relating to the financial 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 report deals specifically with financial and business matter 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 of Item 10 as it is likely that exempt information will be disclosed as defined in Paragraph 14 of Annex 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 – Information regarding the financial or business transactions of any particular person (including the authority holding such information).

There is an acknowledged public interest in openness in relation to the use of public resources and related financial issues. However, it was acknowledged that there were occasions, in order to protect the financial and commercial interests, that matters related to such information needed to be discussed without being publicised. The report is specifically regarding financial and business matters together with associated discussions. The 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.

Alwen Williams (CJC Interim Chief Executive / Portfolio Director) and Hedd Vaughan-Evans (Head of Operations) to present the report.

That the Sub-Committee agrees to the project-specific recommendations, as set out in section 5 and Appendix 1 of this report following the completion of the portfolio review.

To approve the establishment of a Reserve List as set out in section 7 and Appendix 2 of this report, together with the criteria and timetable for the Expression of Interest (EOI) process to appoint projects to the reserve list. 

To add an alternative scheme for Trawsfynydd to the formal Reserve List of the Growth Deal.

That the Sub-Committee asks the Office of Portfolio Management (PMO) to agree to a streamlined assurance and approval process with the Welsh and UK Governments to enable decisions on new projects to be made in an effective and efficient manner.

he report was submitted by the interim Chief Executive of the North Wales Corporate Joint Committee and the Head of Operations.

RESOLVED

That the Sub-committee agrees to the project-specific recommendations, as set out in section 5 and Appendix 1 of this report following the completion of the portfolio review.

To approve the establishment of a Reserve List as set out in section 7 and Appendix 2 of this report, together with the criteria and timetable for the Expression of Interest (EOI) process to appoint projects to the reserve list. 

To add an alternative scheme for Trawsfynydd to the formal Contingency List of the Growth Deal.

That the Sub-committee asks the Portfolio Management Office (PMO) to agree to a streamlined assurance and approval process with the Welsh and UK Governments to enable decisions on new projects to be made in an effective and efficient manner.

REASONS FOR THE DECISION

The decision is in response to the request made by the Economic Ambition Board in February 2025 to review projects in the Growth Deal that are at risk of not being delivered, and to put forward clear recommendations for consideration.

DISCUSSION

The Report was discussed.

Stuart Whitfield (Digital Programme Manager) and Kirrie Roberts (Digital Connectivity Project Manager) to present the report.

That the Economic Well-being Sub-Committee approves the Full Business Case for the 4G+ (Connected Key Sites and Corridors) project stating that the initial phase of grant scheme design after approval of the Full Business Case will require a final subsidy management assessment of the proposed Subsidy Scheme.

That the Economic Well-being Sub-Committee delegates the right to the Portfolio Director, in consultation with the Chair, the Vice Chair, the Section 151 Officer and the Monitoring Officer to agree on the final design of the grant scheme. 

That the Economic Wellbeing Sub-Committee delegates the submission of the project to the Portfolio Director including subsequent individual grant awards in accordance with the final grant scheme up to £500,000.

The report was presented by the Digital Programme Manager.

RESOLVED

That the Economic Well-being Sub-committee approves the Full Business Case for the 4G+ (Connected Key Sites and Corridors) project stating that the initial phase of grant scheme design after approval of the Full Business Case will require a final subsidy management assessment of the proposed Subsidy Scheme.

That the Economic Well-being Sub-committee delegates the right to the Portfolio Director, in consultation with the Chair, the Vice-chair, the Section 151 Officer and the Monitoring Officer to agree on the final design of the grant scheme. 

That the Economic Well-being Sub-committee delegates the submission of the project to the Portfolio Director including subsequent individual grant awards in accordance with the final grant scheme up to £500,000.

REASONS FOR THE DECISION

To seek Sub-committee approval of the Full Business Case for the 4G+ Project (Connected Key Sites and Corridors).

The Ambition Board approved the Outline Business Case for the project on 15 March 2024. The project subsequently received assurance process approval from the Welsh Government. This enabled the Portfolio Management Office to move forward with the development of the Full Business Case.

DISCUSSION

The Report was discussed.