Agenda item

Alwen Williams, Chief Executive, and Iain Taylor, AMION Consulting, to present the report.

·       To approve the Annual Delivery Plan's investment allocations for Year 2 and note the Year 1 allocations that will be used as a part of the Year 2 programme.

·       To approve the Investment Zone Programme, including a £4m allocation to the Wrexham University Business Gateway.

·       To authorise the CJC's Section 151 Officer to sign and issue the ADP documents to the UK Government and Welsh Government and make any further non-material amendments necessary to agree the ADP with the UK Government and Welsh Government.

 

The report was presented by the Chief Executive and IMT Consulting advisor.

 

DECISION

 

·       To approve the Annual Delivery Plan's investment allocations for Year 2 and note the Year 1 allocations that would be used as part of the Year 2 programme.

·       To approve the Investment Zone Programme, including a £4m allocation to Wrexham University's Business Gateway project.

·       To authorise the CJC's Section 151 Officer to sign and issue the ADP documents to the UK Government and Welsh Government and make any further non-material amendments necessary to agree the ADP with the UK Government and Welsh Government.

 

REASONS FOR THE DECISION

 

Investment Zones were required to agree on an Annual Delivery Plan with the UK Government and Welsh Government in the final quarter of the financial year to secure the annual payment from the Welsh Government in April in every financial year.

 

DISCUSSION

 

It was explained that the report noted the proposed Flintshire and Wrexham Investment Zone Year 2 Annual Delivery Plan programme for the 2026/27 financial year. Details were provided on work that had been undertaken during the first year and it was reported on the allocations that had been submitted to the UK Government and Welsh Government for Year 2, confirming that it was expected to be received in April 2026. Pride was expressed that this development ensured the continuity of development and momentum of the first year.

 

Members were reminded of the developments achieved within the first year, including establishing the governance structure of the Programme, forming the Programme's planning infrastructure as well as the initial development of the priority projects.

 

Members were guided through the allocations that had been submitted for Year 2, as well as the developments that were expected to be achieved for the Programme. It was emphasised that these targets had been formulated in line with the objectives of the Investment Zone as they related to the themes of infrastructure, skills, innovation and business support.

 

It was highlighted that this plan placed an emphasised on delivery, and that it reflected the change from the first year which had focused on establishing a robust procedure. A busy year was anticipated of incorporating the projects and procedures during Year 2.

 

It was reported that the proposed scheme incorporated minor changes agreed within the first year such as allowing £4 million to support Wrexham University's Business Gateway project.

 

It was confirmed that consultation had been undertaken with the leaders of Flintshire County Council and Wrexham County Council and that their input was having an impact on the governance of the Investment Zone. It was elaborated that consultations were a very important element of the Investment Zone, with every effort being made to ensure that it inspired young people, business owners and that all individuals who could benefit from the Investment Zone were aware of how they could do so. It was noted that some of the projects would be presented to Members to be able to sharpen the best way to promote them more widely.

 

It was announced that a Business Support Programme had recently been launched which was a Programme where Flintshire County Council and Wrexham County Council made the final decision on the projects selected. It was confirmed that the North Wales Corporate Joint Committee would continue to receive business cases for the major projects, with a Business Case for a bus network transformation project expected soon. It was noted that the Regional Skills Board would receive proposals from Wrexham University and Coleg Cambria before Members decided which proposals the Investment Zone could support.

 

It was detailed that several projects had been in development over the last 18 months, while the Investment Zone was being formed. It was explained that a Memorandum of Understanding was expected from the Governments to be able to co-ordinate the approval of the Investment Zone programmes to be able to develop a grant proposal to assist the Programme.

 

During the discussion, the following observations were made:

 

It was confirmed that this was the first Investment Zone to be made outside of England. Gratitude was expressed to everyone who had developed it on a rapid scale, in the hope that the development would continue at the same pace in future.

 

Pride was expressed that the Investment Zone was being developed and that there was close collaboration between Flintshire County Council, Wrexham County Council and all partners who were developing it. Comments on the need to ensure that the work undertaken was effectively promoted were echoed.

 

Details were provided on allocations within the Investment Zone's 'Infrastructure' theme, noting support to increase capital contribution to up to £6 million to the Padeswood Siding project, subject to the change request process between the Welsh Government and the Ambition North Wales Growth Deal.

 

Gratitude was expressed to everyone who had worked to develop the Investment Zone so far, looking ahead to continuing to work together in future.

 

Gratitude was expressed for the report.