Agenda and decisions

To note any apologies for absence.

To receive any declarations of Personal Interest

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

The Chair shall propose that the minutes of the meeting held on 19 July 2024 be signed as a true record.

Dewi Morgan (Host Authority Head Of Finance and Statutory Finance Officer) and Sian Pugh (Host Authority Assistant Head of Finance) to present the report.

1.     To note and accept the NWEAB's end of August 2024 revenue review.

2.     To note and accept the NWEAB’s reserves update.

3.     To agree the NWEAB’s revised capital expenditure profile.

To present the Detailed Audit Plan for the NWEAB Joint Committee provided by Audit Wales.

To accept the Audit Wales report which highlighted the NWEAB's Audit Plan for 2024.

Stuart Whitfield (Digital Programme Manager) to present the report

1.     To approve the Outline Business Case for the Advanced Wireless project subject to Welsh Government and UK Government approval of the assurance process undertaken, subject to the Portfolio Management Office addressing the outstanding issues set out in Section 7 of the report, and request that a Full Business Case is prepared for the Board to consider.

2.     To delegate to the Portfolio Director, in consultation with the Chair and Vice Chair, final approval of the procurement specification and social value criteria prior to project funders commencing procurement.

3.     To authorise the Portfolio Director in consultation with the Host Authority Section 151 Officer and Monitoring Officer to agree draft terms in accordance with this report for approval by the NWEAB as a basis for the final funding arrangements for the project which will form the basis of the Grant Offer Letter which will be agreed by the Board at the Full Business Case stage.

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 as defined in Paragraph 14 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 Information relating to the financial or 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 reports deal specifically with financial and business matters 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.

Dafydd Owen Jones (Agri-food and Tourism Project Manager) and ColinDavid Mathews (Growth Deal and and Property Programme Manager) to present the report.

1.     To approve the Full Business Case for the Tourism Talent Network project.

2.     To authorise the Portfolio Director, in consultation with the Chair, Vice Chair, Section 151 Officer and Monitoring Officer to agree and enter into a funding agreement with Grŵp Llandrillo Menai for the delivery of the project, on the basis that Grŵp Llandrillo Menai satisfactorily addresses the 'outstanding issues' set out in section 7.1 of the report.

3.     To delegate final approval of the remaining procurement in Phase 1 to the Portfolio Director, in consultation with the Chair, Vice Chair, Section 151 Officer and Monitoring Officer where expenditures and benefits are within the parameters of the Full Business Case presented.

4.     To delegate authority to the Portfolio Director, in consultation with the Chair, Vice Chair, Section 151 Officer and Monitoring Officer to approve the subsequent Business Justification Case for Phase 2 of the project, the fourth spoke, where expenditure and benefits are within the parameters of the Full Business Case presented.