Agenda, decisions and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from:-

·       Councillor Nia Jeffreys (Cyngor Gwynedd) with Councillor Menna Trenholme deputising.

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

·       Graham Boase (Denbighshire County Council)

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

·       Yana Williams (Coleg Cambria).

·       ⁠Elliw Hughes (Growth Deal Programme Manager).

·       ⁠Sian Pugh (Assistant Head of Finance).

To receive any declaration 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.

The Chair shall propose that the minutes of the meeting held on 11 April 2025 be signed as a true record.

The Chair signed the minutes of the previous meeting, held on 11 April 2025, as a true record.

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

1.     To co-opt a Member of the Eryri National Park Authority (without a vote) on the Economic Well-being Sub-Committee to support its functions and responsibilities.

2.     That the following member of Eryri National Park Authority be co-opted to the Economic Well-being Sub-Committee relevant to strategic planning matters only:

·       Cllr Edgar W. Owen, Chair of Eryri National Park Authority ⁠

The report was presented by the Monitoring Officer.

DECISION

1.     To co-opt a Member from the Eryri National Park Authority (non-voting) on the Economic Wellbeing Sub-Committee to support its functions and responsibilities.

2.     That the following member from Eryri National Park Authority be co-opted to the Economic Well-being Sub-Committee relevant to strategic planning matters only:

·       Councillor Edgar W. ⁠Owen, Chair of Eryri National Park Authority

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

Members were reminded of the decision to postpone the co-option of a Member of the Eryri National Park Authority during this Sub-committee meeting, held on 11 April 2025 to verify technical matters. It was noted that it was pleasing that those matters had now been resolved. It was confirmed that Councillor Edgar Owen had been nominated to be a Co-opted Member (non-voting) of this Sub-committee. It was elaborated that the Co-option arrangements would be confirmed by the Monitoring Officer should Members confirm this nomination.

To consider the report.

1.     To note the NWEAB out-turn report for 2024/25 which includes the use of £714,395 from the North Wales Growth Deal grant to demonstrate a neutral position for the year.

2.     To note the position of NWEAB's funds.

3.     To note NWEAB's end of year capital review on 31 March 2025.

The report was presented by the Statutory Finance Officer.

RESOLVED

1.     To note the NWEAB out-turn report for 2024/25 which includes the use of £714,395 from the North Wales Growth Deal grant to demonstrate a neutral position for the year.

2.     To note the position of NWEAB's funds.

3.     To note NWEAB's end of year capital review on 31 March 2025.

REASONS FOR THE DECISION

To inform the Economic Well-being Sub-Committee of the financial position of the NWEAB for revenue and capital in 2024/25.

The role and function of the NWEAB was transferred to the CJC on 1 April 2025, which included staff, resources, commitments and financial assets, including the Growth Deal and funding.

DISCUSSION

The Report was presented for information purposes to the Sub-committee, confirming that it would be presented to the Corporate Joint Committee at its meeting on 13 March 2025 for approval.

It was reported that the final revenue out-turn position for the year 2024/25 was an underspend of approximately £386,000. It was explained that this underspend was an increase on the underspend anticipated when reporting on the position in December 2024, which was approximately £205,000. Details were provided on the main headings of the budget as follows:

·       Portfolio Management Office - It was explained that the final net underspend on this heading is £75,140 as a result of an underspend on employee expenditure. It was elaborated that the true salary inflation in 2024/25 was 3%, where an increase of 6% had been budgeted. Attention was drawn to the fact that an extension to the Shared Prosperity Fund budget until the end of March 2025 had allowed three officers to be funded within the UKSPF heading instead of the core budget as budgeted.

·       Employee Expenditure - It was noted that part of the underspend within this heading had been used to fund temporary advisory staff whilst work was being done to appoint a Programme Manager after the post became vacant.

·       Support Services by the Accountable Body - Reference was made to the underspend of £41,730 which mainly derived from underspend on support from the Finance Service.

·       ⁠Joint Committee - It was reported that there was an underspend of £48,935 in this heading, with an underspend seen on every relevant line of the budget within the heading.

·       Projects - It was explained that the final net underspend on this heading was £65,034 as a result of capitalised costs previously considered within the 'Developing Project Business Cases' budget line. ⁠Despite this, it was acknowledged that a high demand for external legal advice on many projects had led to overspending within the 'Developing Project Business Cases' line.

·       Grants - It was noted that an overspend was seen in the Local Area Energy and the Shared Prosperity Fund projects. It was elaborated that an extension on both projects until the end of March 2025 had led to a net overspend of £96,820. It was explained that the overspend associated with the Local Area Energy project was being funded by the remaining  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

To consider the report.

1.     To note the Quarter 4 Performance Report and the updated Portfolio Risk Register.

2.     To approve the submission of the Quarter 4 Performance Report to the Welsh and UK Governments, along with local authority scrutiny committees.

The report was presented by the Head of Operations.

RESOLVED

1.     To identify the Quarter 4 Performance Report and the updated Portfolio Risk Register.

2.     To approve the submission of the Quarter 4 Performance Report to the Welsh and UK Governments, along with local authority scrutiny committees.

REASONS FOR THE DECISION

To submit the Quarter 4 Report (January to March) of the Growth Plan and updated Portfolio Risk Register.

Quarterly reporting on progress against the North Wales Growth Deal is one of the requirements of the Final Growth Deal Agreement. Following consideration by the Sub-Committee, the reports will be shared with the Welsh Government, the UK Government and local authority scrutiny committees.

DISCUSSION

            A number of the Growth Deal's developmental highlights were reported, namely the approval of the Outline Business case for the Responsible Adventures projects, the approval of Full Business Cases of the Cydnerth and Parc Bryn Cegin projects and also presenting a case for change on the Glynllifon project. It was elaborated that renovation work on the Henfaes site had been delivered on time to develop a Centre for Environmental Biotechnology. It was pleasing to note that a grant Funding Agreement had been signed for the Tourism Talent Network. It was also noted that the Shared Prosperity Fund (SPF) project had now closed, looking back on many successes such as the launch of a skills portal, purchasing mobile survey equipment and providing grants to 16 small community organisations.

Attention was drawn to the fact that many projects currently reported as red on the Portfolio Risk Register, namely Connecting the Last Few %, Full Fibre, NEW H2, Trawsfynydd, Holyhead Port and Kinmel Studio.

It was explained that many projects were operational by now, noting that it was possible to report on some of the resulting advantages. It was detailed that a £15.32million investment had been made within the Growth Deal during the last year, with the total investments being £16.61million. It was acknowledged that these numbers were lower than the targets but it was emphasised that the situation had significantly improved since the previous year as more projects had received approval.

It was elaborated that the projects approved had secured £4.712million in revenue as well as creating 35 posts to date. It was elaborated that 261 individuals had received Training and completed courses to gain qualifications.

It was assured that it was possible to report on this type of data regularly when considering quarterly updates, to review the wider impact that the Growth Deal was having on the region.

The officers were thanked for their work to ensure that these aspects of the Growth Deal were achieved.

Concern was expressed from the Welsh Government on the speed of achieving the Growth Deal as there was approximately 10 years left on the Deal and that there was a need to significantly increase investment statistics to reach the Deal's targets. However, pride was expressed that there had been progress on the Plan's projects over the last year. In response, the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

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

IT WAS RESOLVED to exclude the press and public from the meeting during the discussion of Item 9-11 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.

To consider the report.

1.     To note the progress made by Zip World towards addressing the recommendations and the company's intention to submit a request for change to remove the e-bus aspects of the project.

2.     To invite Zip World to submit its request for change at the next meeting and to provide a further update on the engagement plan and the Local Benefits Plan as a part of this report.

The report was presented by Zip World and QUAD Consultancy officers.

RESOLVED

1.     To note the progress made by Zip World towards addressing the recommendations and the company's intention to submit a request for change to remove the e-bus aspects of the project.

2.     To invite Zip World to submit its request for change at the next meeting and to provide a further update on the engagement plan and the Local Benefits Plan as a part of this report.

REASONS FOR THE DECISION

To provide an update against the three requirements set by the Economic Ambition Board in approving the project's Outline Business Case.

DISCUSSION

The Report was discussed.

To consider the report.

1.     Agree the recommendations arising from the results of the Expression of Interest (EOI) assessment and invite those projects to join the Growth Plan Reserve List.

2.     Agree on the proposed process for managing reserve list projects.

3.     Agree on the proposed simplified assurance and approval process and to delegate for the Portfolio Director to make any necessary amendments to secure the approval of the Welsh Government and UK Government, in consultation with the Chair and Vice-chair.

4.     That:

a.     The sub-committee agrees to initiate a process to assess and review the scope and case for extending the current growth plan to include transport projects.

b.    The Sub-Committee commissions the Portfolio Director to prepare a detailed options report in consultation with the Welsh and UK Government and officials from the Constitutional Councils and Education Partners.

c.     The options report to be submitted with the Sub-committee with the intention of deciding whether the formal change process should be commenced to ensure agreement for the extended Growth Deal to include Transport projects.

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

RESOLVED

1.     To agree on the recommendations arising from the results of the Expression of Interest (EOI) assessment and invite those projects to join the Growth Plan Reserve List.

2.     To agree on the proposed process for managing reserve list projects.

3.     To agree on the proposed streamlined assurance and approval process and to delegate for the Portfolio Director to make any necessary amendments to secure the approval of the Welsh Government and UK Government, in consultation with the Chair and Vice-chair.

4.     That:

a.     The sub-committee agreed to initiate a process to assess and review the scope and case for extending the current growth plan to include transport projects.

b.    The Sub-Committee commissions the Portfolio Director to prepare a detailed options report in consultation with the Welsh and UK Government and officials from the Constitutional Councils and Education Partners.

c.     The options report to be submitted to the Sub-committee with the intention of deciding whether the formal change process should be commenced to ensure agreement for the extended Growth Deal to include Transportation projects.

REASONS FOR THE DECISION

The decision sought responds to the application made by the Economic Well-being Sub-committee in April 2025 to initiate the Expression of Interest (EOI) process and submit the recommendations at this Sub-committee in line with the agreed timetable.

DISCUSSION

The Report was discussed.

To consider the report.

1.     To approve the Full Business Case for the Clean Energy Fund, Fund Management Plan including Investment Strategies and the Delegated Decision Matrix for the project.

2.     Approve the Delegated Decision Matrix for the project.

3.     To delegate to the Portfolio Director, in consultation with the Chair, the Vice-Chair, the Section 151 Officer and the Monitoring Officer to confirm the completion of the matters not identified in section 7 and to agree the formal launch of the Fund.

4.     That the Economic Well-being Sub-Committee appoints the Portfolio Director to be the accountable officer for the delivery of the project.

5.     To approve that capital repaid during the operation of the fund be earmarked for the Sub-Reserve to be reinvested in accordance with the Investment strategies. Approve that surplus revenue generated by the project once operating costs have been paid is allocated to fund the operation of the Portfolio Management Office.

6.     To request a further update in 6 months' time in order to review relevant partnerships.

The report was presented by the Head of Operations and the Energy and Net Zero Project Manager.

RESOLVED

1.     To approve the Full Business Case for the Clean Energy Fund, Fund Management Plan including Investment Strategies and the Delegated Decision Matrix for the project.

2.     To approve the Delegated Decision Matrix for the project.

3.     To delegate to the Portfolio Director, in consultation with the Chair, the Vice-Chair, the Section 151 Officer and the Monitoring Officer to confirm the completion of the matters not identified in section 7 and to agree the formal launch of the Fund.

4.     That the Economic Well-being Sub-Committee appoints the Portfolio Director to be the accountable officer for the delivery of the project.

5.     To approve that capital repaid during the operation of the fund be earmarked for the Reserves Sub-fund to be reinvested in accordance with the Investment strategies. To approve that surplus revenue generated by the project once operating costs have been paid is allocated to fund the operation of the Portfolio Management Office.

6.     To request a further update in 6 months' time in order to review relevant partnerships.

REASONS FOR THE DECISION

To seek the Sub-committee's approval of the full business case for the Clean Energy Fund Project.

DISCUSSION

The Report was discussed.