Agenda and minutes

Items
No. Item

27.

Welcome and Apologies

Minutes:

The Chairperson welcomed the following officers to the meeting: 

 

Chair of the Cardiff Capital Region City Deal

Director of the CCR City Deal.

 

Apologies

Cllr Jon-Paul Blundell – Bridgend CBC

Cllr Paul Jordan – Monmouthshire CC

Cllr Richard Roden - Monmouthshire CC

Cllr James Clarke - Newport Council

Cllr Ramesh Patel - Cardiff Council

28.

Declarations of Interest

To receive disclosures of personal interest from Members in accordance with the Code of Conduct Note:

 

1. Members are requested to identify the item number and subject matter that their interest relates to and signify the nature of the personal interest: and

 

2. Where Members withdraw from a meeting as a consequence of the disclosure of a prejudicial interest they must notify the Chairman when they leave.

Minutes:

Cllr V Crick (Torfaen) declared a personal interest as she is a member of the the CSC Foundry Board

29.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 242 KB

To receive for approval the minutes of 2nd July 2021

Minutes:

RESOLVED:

 

To approve the minutes of the Cardiff Capital Region City Deal Joint Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on the 28 July 2021.

30.

To receive an update from the Chair of the Cardiff Capital Region City Deal

Minutes:

The Chair of the Cardiff Capital Region City Deal (CCRCD) thanked the Chair and Members for the invite and explained he would give an overview of the CCRCD and he looked forward to developing a productive relationship as Members looked to scrutinise their performance. He viewed his role to ensure every Local Authority in the CCRCD felt they were able to make the most of their input and to get questions answered when they had them.

 

He continued that he saw the CCRCD as a region, not just as a one-off City Deal, so developing relationships and that positive culture had been key. That extended beyond the 10 Councils to external partners as well as developing those relationships with different levels of Government, so making sure the principal of subsidiarity rules, was key. In terms of the values, he hoped to bring an awareness of the original targets of the CCRCD but accepting that the aims and ambitions for the region, but also to reach all parts of the region to ensure no community was left behind.

 

A lot of work was being undertaken on inclusive growth and sustainability.  There was a need to look at every community and issues, like the foundation economy, and how to maximise the benefit felt by supply chains of investments that were made, not just the headline investments. He acknowledged there was a need to do things differently looking beyond the old model of economic regeneration and just attracting outside investment, but looking much more to try and get an evergreen concept working, by using the strengths of the region to build and then reinvest the money back in the future.

 

As a group of 10 Leaders it was recognised, they were not going to solve the problems of the region, but they could act as the catalyst to help others in the business.   He looked forward to working with Scrutiny Members, recognising this was a difficult job, as the City Deal was so broad.

 

The Chairperson thanked the Chair of CCRCD for his comprehensive introduction and stated it was reassuring to hear those things said and Members shared the enthusiasm this brought in having an opportunity to move forward. The CCRCD had been in place for some time but nevertheless he sensed there was a momentum being gained now and that was critically important.

 

He acknowledged that the Chair of CCRCD had mentioned how difficult Members might find it as a Scrutiny Committee, which was true, as views varied and differed, but they were there to play their own part and the role was quite clear as to how they could support.

 

The Chair of CCRCD recognised the momentum and felt this was a much better phase, as a Scrutiny Committee because there were bricks appearing above the surface, that could begin to be seen, so it was much easier to scrutinise some of the things coming through the pipeline.

31.

2021-22 Quarter 1 April – June 2021 - Performance Report pdf icon PDF 530 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Service Director, Democratic Services and Communications reminded Members that a summary of the high-level information, very much to support members questions and challenge, had been provided, in respect of what was an important report in terms of the performance information. This was an approach that would be developed moving forward, around some of those key issues that had already been touched upon.

32.

Verbal Update: Establishment of Corporate Joint Committee pdf icon PDF 498 KB

Minutes:

The CCRCD Director explained that the CCRCD had been in progress for the last four years and there were some real shoots of growth now appearing above the surface but the CCRCD couldn’t standstill and the Corporate Joint Committee CJC represented an important next stage of development. The report set out the background to the CJSs and what the legislation meant, the core principles, the proposed governance option, functions, and some of the issues around the transition process. She felt the CCRCD was in a good position when looking at a map of the region, with dots all across it, because a two-pronged approach to the investment strategy had been taken, by trying to serve all the basic needs of the region in terms of access to a transport scheme, a housing scheme, digital connectivity etc, but at the same time keeping the door open to some of the market driven propositions which the CCRDC tried to spread across the region.

 

To date over £200 million worth of projects were in the bag, leveraging around £2.5 billion pounds over the long term, and on target to deliver 6900 new roles. There was a lot there, but equally a lot in the pipeline including taking reports to Cabinet to acquire a power station, developing a regional hydrogen hub and a full business case for a £50 million innovation investment fund.  There was also a £20 million renovation hub cluster proposal crystallising, and something similar coming forward for Fintech Wales to take forward the Insurtech industry, two strength in places programmes with UK government that brings in nearly £100 million of additional investment for compound semiconductors and the creative industry and a lot more work was being done around marrying up capital investment with some of the investment needed in people and skills through the venture skills hub.

 

The CCR City Deal was currently governed by a joint committee but didn't exist as an organisation in its own right, only existing because it was backed up by the lead Council accountable body.  This meant not being able to act in its own right e.g., not being able to go to UK Government or Welsh Government (WG) and receive money directly, but through very complex back-to-back arrangements with the 10 stake holding authorities. Therefore, the current model was narrow and limiting and the operating model was probably unsustainable and unviable. There was a need to make sure the region was equipped and open to access all the opportunities available, whether they sat with WG, UK governmental, or beyond. That was an important principle, which needed the levers to maximise investment into communities. The CJC, or corporate entity, establishment recommendations and regulations were seen as a good thing by the CRC Cabinet overall, because they would help fill some of those gaps and develop beyond some of the limitations e.g., a balance sheet, act directly, borrowing, hold assets etc.

 

What was agreed by Cabinet was that the CJC would be established in the mould  ...  view the full minutes text for item 32.

33.

Information reports

Minutes:

No questions were raised by Members in relation to the Information reports.

34.

Urgent Items

To consider any items, which the Chairman, by reason of special circumstances, is of the opinion should be considered a the meeting as a matter of urgency.

 

Minutes:

None received