Agenda item

Henry Aron to seek agreement for Ambition North Wales to deliver Local Area Energy Plans (LAEPs) in North Wales. 

1.    To agree to adopting a coordinated, regional approach to delivering the Local Area Energy Plans across north Wales local authorities led by the Portfolio Management Office (via Gwynedd Council as Accountable Body).

2.    To agree to the recruitment of a project manager and two project officers to deliver the LAEPs to be funded by Welsh Government and delegate authority to the Portfolio Director in consultation with the s151 Officer and the Monitoring Officer, to agree the grant funding agreements with Welsh Government and implement the proposal.

3.    To note that, subject to a grant funding agreement, Welsh Government will provide grant funding to cover the costs of delivering the plans and for the project management resource.

4.    To note that the appropriate project governance arrangements will be implemented in all local authorities to submit and approve the plans.

The report was submitted by Henry Aron (Energy Programme Manager).

DECISION

(1)       To agree to adopting a coordinated, regional approach to delivering the Local Area Energy Plans across north Wales local authorities led by the Portfolio Management Office (via Gwynedd Council as Accountable Body).

(2)       To agree to the recruitment of a project manager and two project officers to deliver the LAEPs to be funded by Welsh Government and delegate authority to the Portfolio Director in consultation with the s151 Officer and the Monitoring Officer, to agree the grant funding agreement with Welsh Government and implement the proposal.

(3)       To note that, subject to a grant funding agreement, Welsh Government will provide grant funding to cover the costs of delivering the plans and for the project management resource.

(4)       To note that the appropriate project governance arrangements will be implemented in all local authorities to submit and approve the plans.

REASONS FOR THE DECISION

To seek the agreement of Ambition North Wales to deliver Local Area Energy Plans (LAEPs) in North Wales.

Welsh Government had made a commitment to support Local Area Energy Planning (LAEP) across Wales and had proposed a coordinated regional approach to delivery.  North Wales’ local authority Chief Executives had confirmed their support for this approach and for delivery to be coordinated by Ambition North Wales’ Portfolio Management Office.
 

DISCUSSION

Details were provided about the background and relevant considerations and the consultations held.

With reference to the decisions sought, the Energy Programme Manager asked the Board to consider making the following additional decision, following engagement with the chief executives:-

“To note that the appropriate project governance arrangements will be implemented in all local authorities to submit and approve the plans."

The Monitoring Officer asked the Board to consider adapting decision 2 as follows, in order to allow the establishment of grant arrangements between Gwynedd and the individual councils also, should they be needed.

"To agree to the recruitment of a project manager and two project officers to deliver the LAEPs to be funded by Welsh Government and delegate authority to the Portfolio Director in consultation with the s151 Officer and the Monitoring Officer, to agree the grant funding agreement and implement the proposal.

The following matters were raised by members:-

·         It was noted that Conwy Council had gone through the process, and that the feedback showed that the exercise had been beneficial, was a benchmark of where we had reached, and had set a pathway for where we needed to be.  It was believed that it was sensible to operate regionally, because, although some things were relevant to specific counties, the main schemes, such as hydrogen, tidal lagoons and transport, would have to be undertaken regionally.

·         In response to a request for more clarity regarding the amendment to decision 2, the Monitoring Officer explained that, although grants were received by the Board, an element of their implementation was in the hands of the individual authorities, therefore, there was a need to secure the mechanism for establishing the accountability line between implementing and signing the grant, should that be needed.