Agenda item

Hedd Vaughan-Evans (Head of Operations) to present the report.

1.     To note the Quarter 3 Performance Report and updated Portfolio Risk Register. 

2.     To approve the submission of the Quarter 3 Performance Report to Welsh
Government and UK Government, as well as the local authority scrutiny committees.

3.     To ask the Portfolio Management Office for a further report on projects that it is anticipated will not be deliverable within their proposed timeframes, at the next Board meeting which is programmed for 4 April 2025. ⁠ ⁠

The report was presented by the Head of Operations in the absence of the Portfolio Director.

RESOLVED

1.     To note the Quarter 3 Performance Report and updated Portfolio Risk Register. 

2.     To approve the submission of the Quarter 3 Performance Report to the Welsh
Government and UK Government, as well as the local authority scrutiny committees.

3.     To ask the Portfolio Management Office for a further report on projects deemed not to be deliverable within their proposed timeframes, at the next Board meeting which is programmed for 4 April 2025.

REASONS FOR THE DECISION

Quarterly reporting on progress against the North Wales Growth Deal is a requirement of the Final Growth Deal Agreement. Following consideration by the Ambition Board, the reports would be shared with the Welsh Government, UK Government and the local authority scrutiny committees.

DISCUSSION

A number of events were reported that had been highlights over the past few months, such as the approval of requests for change and Outline Business Cases, good progress in constructing and renovating sites, the appointment of Umi and WCVA consultants to develop projects, receiving valuable responses to consultations and starting on the engagement work for new projects.

Attention was drawn to the fact that six projects currently reported red, including:

·       Connecting the Few Last %

·       NEW – H2

·       Trawsfynydd

·       Holyhead Gateway

·       Kinmel Studio

·       Glynllifon Rural Economy Hub

It was confirmed that the Risk Register continued to be consistent with what was seen in the second quarter of 2024/25. It was elaborated that the residual risk on the public sector investment had reduced as a result of Full Business Cases under the guidance of public sector sponsors, being approved by this Board recently.

A report was requested at the next meeting for a further update on those projects that the officers did not believe could be achieved within their proposed timetables.

The external agencies and partners were thanked for their cooperation to attempt to find ways to develop these projects, especially on the Holyhead Gateway and Holyhead Hydrogen Hub projects.

The 'Communication and Engagement' performance status within the Risk Register was challenged, drawing attention to the fact that it currently performed as green. It was elaborated that it referred to press releases, social media and the website, and the actual communication was taken into account, considering whether the residents of north Wales were aware of the importance and work of the Ambition Board. In response to the observations, the Head of Operations confirmed that thorough engagement and communication work had been achieved, namely through events, podcasts and social media, noting that this was balanced carefully with the work of the Board. It was acknowledged that capacity and availability were challenging when considering undertaking more duties in this field and therefore that partners also worked together to promote the work of the Board. It was felt that the public's understanding of the Board's work had improved over the last few years, emphasising that it would continue to improve as more projects were delivered in the future.