Issue - meetings

As detailed in the recommendations.

Councillor Shotton introduced the North Wales Economic Growth Bid Progress Report.

            In September 2016 Cabinet adopted the Growth Vision for the Economy of North Wales and supported the progress of the development of a competitive Growth Deal Bid due to be submitted to the UK and Welsh Governments (WG) by the end of November 2017.   Details of the Bid were contained in the appendix.

            The first meeting of the Shadow Joint Committee had met the previous week where Council Leaders were joined by representatives from the private sector, Higher Education (HE) and Further Education (FE).  The Growth Deal Bid was complimentary to, and would support the following:

·         UK and WG economic and social policy;

·         UK Government policy to develop the competitiveness of economy of the Union post BREXIT negotiations;

·         WG policy for regional governance and devolution;

·         The UK Government Industrial Strategy;

·         The UK Government and WG Sector Plans specifically for nuclear, energy, manufacturing (Automotive and Aerospace) and digital;

·         The Wales Infrastructure Plan;

·         Cross-border planning and connectivity; and

·         The imminent WG Economic Strategy.

The Chief Executive added that the Shadow Joint Committee would be the focal point for negotiations with Councillor Shotton being the Chair of that Joint Committee, supported by the Leader of Gwynedd County Council as Vice Chair.  Officer support was from himself and Iwan Trefor Jones, Director, Gwynedd Council. There was an objective to reach the first stage of the agreement, knows as ‘Heads of Terms’ by late spring 2018.

On potential Flintshire benefits to the Growth Deal, there were a number of proposals to support business growth which would be of benefit to existing Flintshire businesses and the Chief Executive commented on Warren Hall in Broughton and employment sites such as Deeside Industrial Park and Enterprise Zone.

Councillor Butler commented on the successful cross border working which had enabled speedy progress on the Growth Deal for North Wales and welcomed the WG policy for regional governance and devolution.

Councillor Shotton said transport was at the heart of the Bid to provide access to people for opportunities, commenting in particular on addressing worklessness and unemployment.

RESOLVED:

(a)       That the Growth Deal Bid submitted to the UK and Welsh Governments be supported and the timescales for each of the next stages of bid development be noted; and

(b)       That the priority schemes which could provide local benefit in Flintshire be noted and supported.