Agenda item

Alwen Williams, Interim Chief Executive and Iwan Evans, Monitoring Officer to present the report.

DECISION:  

1.     To agree to enter into a Delivery and Funding Agreement whereby the role of Accountable body, responsibility for the delivery of the North Wales Growth Deal and funding arrangements for the Growth Deal are transferred to the North Wales Corporate Joint Committee on or before the 31 March, 2025.

2.     To agree to novate and assign as required the delivery of the North Wales Growth Deal and rights and obligations in all incoming funding agreement held by Cyngor Gwynedd as Accountable Body on behalf of the North Wales Economic Ambition Board transfer to the North Wales Corporate Joint Committee on or before 31 March, 2025.

3.     To agree to transfer and novate and/or assign all interests in the portfolio of projects funded by the North Wales Growth Deal together with any ancillary agreements, charges and leases from Cyngor Gwynedd as Accountable Body on behalf of NWEAB to the NWCJC on or before 31 March, 2025.

4.     To agree to the transfer and/or assignment of all financial balances, monies due and assets as held on behalf of the North Wales Economic Ambition Board by Cyngor Gwynedd to the North Wales Corporate Joint Committee on or before 31 March, 2025.

5.     To delegate authority to the Interim Chief Executive, in consultation with the Monitoring Officer and Section 151 Officer, to agree and execute the final form agreements, deeds and all other legal documents necessary to implement the transfers referred to in paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 above by or before 31 March, 2025.

6.     To agree to the transfer of accountability to the CJC and that the CJC accept responsibility for decision making for the implementation of the North Wales Growth Deal subject to novation of the Growth Deal and approval of additional Standing Orders incorporating the key terms of the Joint Working Agreement between the 6 Constituent Councils and 4 Education parties.

The report was presented by the Interim Chief Executive of the CJC and the Monitoring Officer.

RESOLVED:

1.     To agree to enter into a Delivery and Funding Agreement whereby the role of Accountable body, responsibility for the delivery of the North Wales Growth Deal and funding arrangements for the Growth Deal are transferred to the North Wales Corporate Joint Committee on or before the 31 March, 2025.

2.     To agree to novate and assign as required the delivery of the North Wales Growth Deal and rights and obligations in all incoming funding agreement held by Cyngor Gwynedd as Accountable Body on behalf of the North Wales Economic Ambition Board transfer to the North Wales Corporate Joint Committee on or before 31 March, 2025.

3.     To agree to transfer and novate and/or assign all interests in the portfolio of projects funded by the North Wales Growth Deal together with any ancillary agreements, charges and leases from Cyngor Gwynedd as Accountable Body on behalf of NWEAB to the NWCJC on or before 31 March, 2025.

4.     To agree to the transfer and/or assignment of all financial balances, monies due and assets as held on behalf of the North Wales Economic Ambition Board by Cyngor Gwynedd to the North Wales Corporate Joint Committee on or before 31 March, 2025.

5.     To delegate authority to the Interim Chief Executive, in consultation with the Monitoring Officer and Section 151 Officer, to agree and execute the final form agreements, deeds and all other legal documents necessary to implement the transfers referred to in paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 above by or before 31 March, 2025.

6.     To agree to the transfer of accountability to the CJC and that the CJC accept responsibility for decision making for the implementation of the North Wales Growth Deal subject to novation of the Growth Deal and approval of additional Standing Orders incorporating the key terms of the Joint Working Agreement between the 6 Constituent Councils and 4 Education parties.

DISCUSSION

Members were reminded that the date set for the transfer of the functions of the North Wales Economic Ambition Board and the Growth Deal to the North Wales Corporate Joint Committee was 1 April 2025. It was confirmed that the procedures of all relevant Local Authorities had approved the transfer stating that the Report detailed the steps that needed to be taken in order to finalise in a timely manner.

It was explained that the Joint Committee would receive agreement imminently from the Growth Deal partners for this transfer.

It was noted that there had been a delay in the arrangements for receiving agreement from the Welsh Government to relieve Cyngor Gwynedd of its responsibilities and the Growth Deal funding agreement allowing the North Wales Corporate Joint Committee to take responsibility for it from 1 April 2025. It was emphasised that this agreement was crucial for the transfer. It was explained that a draft agreement had been sent to the Welsh Government in February 2025. Gratitude was expressed that the Welsh Government had confirmed on 21 March 2025, following lengthy discussions, that this agreement was acceptable for finalising the transfer. It was advised that the Joint Committee could approve the transfer, subject to the Welsh Government's commitment that officers would receive an agreement to be signed by 25 March 2025, to ensure that the proposed timetable was adhered to.

It was highlighted that the decisions set out within the Report referred to the winding up of the functions of the North Wales Economic Ambition Board on 31 March 2025. It was also noted that the North Wales Corporate Joint Committee would take on those functions from 1 April 2025.

All officers were thanked for their work in striving to ensure that everything was in place for this transition in a timely manner, and Welsh Government was also thanked for its co-operation on the matter.