Decision details

The Chief Executive provided Members with an overview of his report which provided an update in respect of Corporate Joint Committees (CJC’s).

Members were reminded that the formation of CJC’s was provided for in the Local Government and Elections (Wales) Act adding that over time, CJCs would alter the landscape and governance of some strategic economic well-being, strategic planning and transportation functions currently undertaken by the constituent councils making up the CJC across the South East Wales Region or Welsh Government or another Welsh Government sponsored public body.  It was advised that Welsh Government hope that they act as the catalyst to the development and implementation of collaborative arrangements across local government, where regional planning and delivery makes sense, using them as a means of maximising outcomes for the people of Wales by maintaining local democratic accountability, reducing complexity and making the best use of resources.

The Chief Executive continued by advising that in South East Wales, the Cardiff Capital Region Joint Committee Cabinet had sought to be proactive and agreed to transfer the functions under the City Deal agreement, previously approved by UK Government, Welsh Government and the ten councils in March 2016, to the South East Wales Corporate Joint Committee on 28^th February 2022, the date when the economic well-being, strategic planning and transportation functions come into being for the new CJC.

The Leader thanked the Chief Executive for the update and advised that updates in respect of CJCs would be taken forward to Council in addition to Cabinet.  The Leader spoke positively of the benefits of joint working, especially through the City Deal arrangements and referenced the many positive projects delivered through such working.

At this juncture in the meeting and with the permission of the Leader, County Borough Councillor P Jarman addressed the Cabinet on this item.  In response to some of Councillor Jarman’s comments in respect of City Deal the Chief Executive advised that the benefits of the arrangements were significantly over and above what could have been delivered without such working arrangements, referencing projects such as zipworld.

The Leader echoed these comments in respect of collaborative working and provided reassurance that the formation of CJCs would be taken forward only if it worked for the Authority.

Following discussions, it was RESOLVED:

1.    To note the new regulations that have established the South East Wales CJC and the future development of the following functions across the region from 1 March 2022; (1) economic well-being, (2) strategic development planning, and (3) developing transport policies;

2.    To note the decision of the Cardiff Capital Region Joint Committee on 20^th December 2021 to transfer its existing functions, that are principally in respect of the City Deal agreement as committed to by the ten South East Wales councils in March 2016, to the South East Wales Corporate Joint Committee on 28^th February 2022. The transfer of the City Deal from the existing Joint Committee to the new Corporate Joint Committee, enables the smooth transition of the City Deal functions, which include existing regional economic well-being and transportation functions.

3.    That additional updates are provided to Cabinet and Full Council, where appropriate as further detail is provided by Welsh Government into the powers and responsibilities of the South East Wales Corporate Joint Committee and the potential devolution of powers and functions from Welsh Government to the Corporate Joint Committee

The need to update Members on the introduction of Corporate Joint Committees (CJCs) as provided for in the Local Government and Elections (Wales) Act 2021.