Agenda item
Report by Jane Richardson – Chair of the NWEAB Executive Officers Group.
Minutes:
The report was
submitted by Jane Richardson, Chair of the Executive Officers Group.
RESOLVED
1.
To accept the report on the Work
Programme subject to reviewing and updating the RAG status of each task within
the Work Programme by the next meeting, and asking the Executive Officers Group
to review the format of the table when the Programme Director is in post.
2.
To confirm the intention to re-advertise
the post of Chair of the Business Delivery Board.
3.
To approve the Transitional Plan.
4.
To authorise the Accountable Body to
enter into a lease of the premises at Conwy Business Centre in accordance with
the report and to agree other terms on the basis of advice from the Accountable
Body's Head of Property Department, in consultation with the Monitoring Officer
and Chief Finance Officer.
REASONS FOR THE DECISION
Update progress of the Work Programme tasks
and ensure that the table content is clearer.
Report on the Transitional Plan as a
supporting document to the Work Programme until the Programme Director had
started in post.
The NWEAB needed to identify a suitable
office space for the Programme Office.
DISCUSSION
Further to
preparing the report, the Chair of the Executive Officers Group noted that both
the UK and Welsh Governments were now happy with the Heads of Terms and were
awaiting confirmation around arrangements to formally sign the Heads of
Terms. A press release had been drafted
and an internal press release was also being prepared.
During the
discussion the following matters were raised:
·
The
Leader of Flintshire Council noted that he had not been invited to the first
meeting of the Transport sub-group.
·
The
Chief Executive of Gwynedd Council noted that a sufficient pool of candidates
had not been received for the post of Chair of the Business Delivery Board. It
was recommended that the post be re-advertised, and to notify the original
candidates that their applications would still be considered. It was agreed to
review the advertisement and the information about the role to ensure that they
hit the right note. The importance of appointing a leader who was well-known in
the area and regionally was stressed, and it was suggested that a discussion be
held with the Chair of the Shadow Board to see how best to attract candidates.
The business community was encouraged to promote this opportunity also.
·
It
was noted that the officers were aiming to submit the Business Plan for ESF
funding to WEFO by 31 October, but it was asked what would happen should
Britain leave the European Union on that date. The Chair of the Executive
Officers Group was asked to discuss this with her colleagues at Conwy Council
who specialised on Brexit matters.
·
Concern
was expressed that the private sector did not understand the timeframe and,
although they were ready to start their plans, they were unable to develop the
five case business models for the Growth Deal projects until the Heads of Terms
had been signed formally. It was noted that the delay had been caused by both Governments
and that the North Wales Growth Deal had faced more obstacles than other deals
in other regions. It was emphasised that the message regarding the timeframe
needed to be communicated to the business community and the Chair of the
Executive Officers Group agreed to include a note to that effect in the press
release.
·
It
was noted that the information on the columns of the table noting the progress
on the various plans in the work programme was ambiguous and a request was made
for the format of the document to be reviewed and, possibly, to set it out in
more of a narrative format. It was agreed to pass on this comment to the
Executive Group.
·
It
was noted that the work programme did not refer to the process following the
signing of the Heads of Terms and that it would be beneficial to know what the
timeframe was over the next 12 months.
·
Concerns
were expressed about the gaps in the National Development Framework which was
out to consultation by Welsh Government at present, and it was agreed to
include the matter on the agenda of the Board meeting on 15 November.
·
It
was suggested that the Transitional Plan was more of a work plan than a
transitional plan. It was explained that the document would evolve to be a work
plan in due course, but that it would only be in use for a few months.
Supporting documents:
- Update on the EAB Work Programme and Programme Office Premises, item 5. PDF 185 KB
- Appendix 1 - Work Programme, item 5. PDF 136 KB
- Appendix 2 - List of NWEAB Decisions, item 5. PDF 69 KB
- Appendix 3 - Transitional Plan, item 5. PDF 68 KB