Issue - meetings

As detailed in the recommendations.

The Chief Executive introduced the report on the North Wales Economic Growth Deal Bid which, following adoption by Cabinet of the Growth Vision for the Economy of North Wales, provided details of the regional work that was running in parallel to the development agreement of growth bids in selected regions of England and in South Wales.

            Work was advanced on the Strategy for inclusion in a formal bid under the four inter-connected themes of strategic employment and housing sites; business growth and innovation; transport infrastructure and services; and skills, workless-ness and social reform.

            A preferred regional governance model of a statutory joint committee was set out in the report. Interim arrangements were needed for the political management of the first stage of negotiations pending the formation of a joint committee.  Therefore, a ‘shadow’ joint committee, without any formal decision making powers, was proposed.

            Councillor Shotton welcomed the report and commented on the growing momentum within North Wales Councils on making the Growth Deal Bid a success.  Once all partner authorities had approved similar reports on the content of the Growth Deal Bid, meetings would commence from October. 

            Councillor Attridge concurred and said this was another good example of collaborative working.

            The Chief Executive said the Community and Enterprise Overview and Scrutiny Committee had received a private briefing on this topic and it had been well received.

RESOLVED:

(a)       That the progress of the development of a competitive Growth Deal Bid for the region be noted and supported;

(b)       That the preferred governance model of a statutory Joint Committee model for further development be supported in principle with a full report on a recommended constitution and terms of reference, supported by an Inter-Authority Agreement, to follow later in the year;

(c)        That the Leader of the Council be authorised to act as a member of a ‘Shadow’ Joint Committee in the interim period;

(d)       That the Leader of the Council, as one of the Leaders of the six partner Councils represented on the Shadow Joint Committee, be granted authority to enter into collective first stage negotiations with Governments over the scale and outline content of a Growth Deal Bid, noting that no financial or other commitments will be entered into at this first stage of negotiations; and

(e)       That the Chief Executive be granted delegated authority to authorise an initial revenue contribution from 2017/18 expenditure for the detailed development of the Growth Deal Bid up to a maximum of £50,000.