Issue - meetings

To receive the Q2 performance report from Ambition North Wales.

That the Committee considered and noted the Quarter 2 Performance Report.

The Chief Officer (Planning Environment & Economy) introduced the report which presented the Quarter 2 (July to September 2023-24) Growth Deal Performance Report.  It was reported that £120m was provided by the UK and Welsh Government to support a series of capital projects.  The Ambition North Wales team provided an Annual Report on progress with quarterly updates provided the Chief Officer to committee.

The Chief Officer (Planning Environment & Economy) referred members to point 1.4.2 in the report which outlined the changes  to the projects which had dropped out. This had enabled  six new projects to be invited to join the Growth Deal. Point 1.4.4 in the report included an update on the five red projects for Quarter 2 and the Chief Officer highlighted the traffic issues around the Wrexham Gateway project. He then referred to the reclamation of land within the Holyhead Harbour Project and the granting of the Harbour Revision Order by Welsh Government. It was explained that Appendix A of the report provided a brief summary of each of the projects.

Councillor Mike Peers raised several questions which were answered by the Chief Officer (Planning Environment & Economy).

In response to the site compliance point at Warren Hall, it was explained that a Development Brief was required to set parameters for the site. He referred to the Airfields Safety Report which was received in October and had raised concerns around the glide path of the larger aircraft going into Broughton.  The report had confirmed that no earth works were required at Warren Hall which was a positive step in moving this development forward.

            In response to the question on the impact of the LDP at Warren Hall, the Chief Officer (Planning Environment & Economy) confirmed that this was also a positive step forward. He outlined how the Planning Strategy Group would bring forward the supplementary Development Planning Brief for the site and would then push Welsh Government to develop this site.

In responding to the point on the RAG status against investment and risk, the Chief Officer (Planning Environment & Economy) said the risks were reflected in the summary risks profile and mostly related to obtaining consent. He referred Members to point 1.4.4 in the report which provided detail on the five project which were currently showing as red and provided more information on this.

In response to the scrutiny point the Chief Officer it was explained that Ambition North Wales were not only scrutinised by Overview & Scrutiny Committees but also by the Wales Audit Office and Auditors on behalf of the UK Government with a review undertaken every year. 

            In response to the comment made concerning the Welsh dates in the English version of the document, the Chief Officer (Planning Environment & Economy) agreed to feed this back to the Ambition North Wales team.

Councillor Mike Peers moved the recommendation in the report and this was seconded by Councillor David Coggins Cogan.

RESOLVED:

That the Committee considered and noted the Quarter 2 Performance Report.