Agenda and minutes

An Apology for absence was received from Cllr Rob Jones, Leader of Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council, and the Committee conveyed its best wishes to Cllr Jones for a quick recovery.

Apologies were also received from Mr Steve Phillips, Chief Executive of Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council, Prof Richard Davies of Swansea University, Prof Andrew Davies of Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board and Bernadine Rees of Hywel Dda University Health Board.

There were no declarations of Personal Interest made at the meeting.

The Joint Committee was informed that in accordance with Schedule 1 of the Joint Committee Agreement the Chair of the Joint Committee should be an elected representative of a Council and elected for a two year term in the first instance, reviewed annually thereafter.

Following nominations, it was

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that Cllr Rob Stewart be appointed Chair of the Joint Committee for the period 31st August 2018 – 30th August 2020.

The Joint Committee was advised that Schedule 1 of the Joint Committee Agreement, set out the procedure for the appointment of Deputy Chairs.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED to confirm that in accordance with the Joint Committee Agreement, the three Leaders of the remaining local authorities (those who did not hold the position of Chair of the Joint Committee) be appointed as Deputy Chairs.

The Joint Committee was informed that Schedule 1 of the Joint Agreement allowed the Joint Committee to co-opt non-voting members for a period of 5 years.

The Joint Committee having considered the report,

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED

1.            that the following nominees,  be appointed as co-opted non-voting members on the Swansea Bay City Region Joint Committee for a 5 year period in accordance with the terms detailed within the report:-

Members:

- Swansea University –Professor Richard Davies

- University of Wales Trinity St David – Dr Jane Davidson

- Hywel Dda University Health Board – Bernadine Rees

- Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board- Professor   Andrew Davies

2.         that in the absence of the above members the following named substitutes be permitted to attend on their behalf:-

Named substitutes:

- Swansea University – Dr Fiona Harries

- University of Wales Trinity St David – Gwyndaf Tobias

- Hywel Dda University Health Board – Steve Moore

- Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board – Tracey Myhill

3.         that the Chair of the Economic Strategy Board be  co-opted onto the Joint Committee as a non-voting member.

The Joint Committee was advised that under the terms of the Joint Agreement the Accountable Body “Carmarthenshire County Council” was required to establish a ‘Regional Office’ to be responsible for the day to day management matters relating to the Joint Committee and the Swansea Bay City Deal.

As part of the agreement the Joint Committee was also required to formally designate the Head of Paid Service of the Accountable Body as Lead Chief Executive to act as its principal adviser and Accountable officer to manage and oversee the work of the regional office staff.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that in accordance with the Joint Committee Agreement, to designate the Head of Paid Service of Carmarthenshire County Council as Lead Chief Executive and to act as the Committee’s Principal Adviser and Accountable Officer to manage and oversee the work of the Regional Office

The Joint Committee, in accordance with the terms of the Joint Agreement, considered a report which set out the arrangements for the establishment of a Programme Board to implement the Swansea City Deal and the Councils’ obligations in relation to the Swansea Bay City Deal.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED

1.            To formally establish a Programme Board (“PB”) in accordance with the terms of reference detailed within the Joint Committee Agreement (Schedule 2).

2.            That Membership of the Programme Board shall consist of the Head of Paid Service from each of the Councils or another officer nominated by the Head of Paid Service.

3.            That the following additional representatives be co-opted to the Board:-

Dr Fiona Harris - Swansea University

Gwyndaf Tobias - University of Wales Trinity Saint David

Sarah Jennings - Hywel Dda University Health Board

Sian Harrop-Griffiths - Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board

4.            That Mark James, Head of Paid Service for Carmarthenshire County Council be appointed as Chair of the Board for the next 12 months.

The Joint Committee was informed that under Part 10 of the Joint Committee Agreement it was required to approve the implementation plan at its first meeting.   The Plan set out the high level activities which would support the delivery of the Swansea Bay City Deal and included details of the nature of each of the projects,  their outcomes and  benefits, key tasks and the indicative timeline and interdependencies between the projects.

The Joint Committee was advised that the Plan was to be reviewed annually by the Joint Committee, with the first review taking place no later than one year after the approval of the Implementation Plan. Reviews, in later years were required to take place no later than one year after the previous review.

The Joint Committee was advised that the Implementation Plan, in order to be adopted, also required approval by the Welsh and  UK Governments, the Lead Chief Executive suggested that, as both Governments had not yet confirmed approval of the Plan,  that the Joint Committee approve the plan in principle and formally ratify at its next meeting.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED to approve, in principle,  the implementation plan in accordance with the requirements of the Joint Committee Agreement, and that the final plan be ratified at the next Joint Committee meeting.

The Joint Committee was informed that, as part of the Joint Agreement, the four participating Council had agreed that Carmarthenshire County Council would act as the Accountable Body responsible for discharging the Councils’ Obligations in relation to the Swansea Bay City Deal.

As part of this agreement Carmarthenshire County Council was required to provide an annual costs budget for approval as stipulated within Clause 19.

The Joint Committee considered the draft operational budget which included project funding contributions based on a 1.5% contribution, plus partner contributions as detailed in the report.

RESOLVED To approve the 2018/19 to 2020/21 3-year rolling budget as set out in the Joint Committee Agreement and to approve indicative budgets for the following 2 years 2021/22 and 2022/23.

The Joint Committee received an update from each Lead Authority on the following local and regional projects:-

·         Digital Infrastrucutre

·         Swansea City Waterfront Digital District

·         Yr Egin

·         CENGS

·         Skills and Talent

·         Life Science and Well-being Campuses

·         Lief Science and Well-being Village

·         Homes as Power Stations

·         Pembroke Dock Marine

·         Factory of the Future

·         Steel Science

Concern was expressed that the population criteria for the Shared Prosperity Fund, which was established to replace EU funding after Brexit, could prevent areas of Wales from qualifying for funding.  The Lead Chief Executive advised that discussions were being held directly with both Welsh and UK Government Ministers to seek an assurance that parts of Wales would not be excluded based on the Fund’s criteria.

The Chair advised that, although not part of the City Deal, Welsh Government had provided an assurance that it was still mindful to invest in Tidal Lagoon technology.  A Task Force had been established with an agreed terms of reference and work programme in order to develop projects. It was hoped that the Task Force meetings would coincide with the dates of the JC and he suggested that the JC receive for information, details of the proposed Task Force Projects prior to submission for approval by the Welsh Government.  Rhodri Griffiths (Deputy Director in Economic Infrastructure) of the Welsh Assembly would sit on the Task Force in an observer capacity.

It was reported that Rhodri Griffiths had also been appointed as the lead official for the Swansea Bay City Deal, the Lead Chief Executive suggested that a discussion paper be submitted to a future meeting on how the Joint Committee could assist the Welsh Government in regional working and distribution of funds.

RESOLVED

1.    that the current status of the projects funded under the Swansea Bay City Deal, be  received.

2.    That a discussion paper be considered at the next meeting on the role of the Joint Committee in regional working and distribution of funds.

The Joint Committee considered a proposed schedule of meetings for the period September 2018 – February 2019.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED to approve the Schedule of meetings for the Joint Committee for the next 6 months.

THE REPORT RELATING TO THE FOLLOWING ITEM IS  NOT FOR PUBLICATION AS IT CONTAINS EXEMPT INFORMATION AS DEFINED IN PARAGRAPH 12 OF PART 4 OF SCHEDULE 12A TO THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT 1972 AS AMENDED BY THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT (ACCESS TO INFORMATION) (VARIATION) (WALES) ORDER 2007. IF, FOLLOWING THE APPLICATION OF THE PUBLIC INTEREST TEST, THE COMMITTEE RESOLVES PURSUANT TO THE ACT TO CONSIDER THIS ITEM IN PRIVATE, THE PUBLIC WILL BE EXCLUDED FROM THE MEETING DURING SUCH CONSIDERATION.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED, pursuant to the Local Government Act 1972, as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) (Wales) Order 2007, that the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following item as the report contained exempt information as defined in paragraph 12 of Part 4 of Schedule 12A to the Act.

Following the application of the public interest test it was UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED, that pursuant to the Act referred to in Minute 12 above, to consider this matter in private, with the public excluded from the meeting as the report contained the names of candidates for membership of the Economic Strategy Board. Although the public interest would normally favour openness and transparency, this was outweighed by the public interest in maintaining confidentiality in this case because candidates ought not to be put off from applying for positions by the potential for being publicly identified as having been unsuccessful. The names of the successful candidates would be made public after the meeting.

The Joint Committee was informed that under the terms of the Joint Committee Agreement (clause 17) the Committee could facilitate the establishment of an Economic Strategy Board (“ESB”) which would have  terms of reference as set out in Schedule 6.

The process for recruitment of the Economic Strategy Board’s membership was subject to the unanimous agreement by members of the Joint Committee and UK and Welsh Governments. The UK and Welsh Governments had approved the process put forward by the Shadow Joint Committee which was attached to this report.

The Committee considered the nominations received as part of the recruitment and nomination process and also considered a recommendation from the Shadow Joint Committee that the in view of the expertise of the candidates, that the 5 private sector representatives be increased to 6 representatives

The Joint Committee noted that  Mr Hamish Laing - Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board would shortly be leaving their employment and was advised that a replacement member would be put forward for consideration  at the next meeting.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED

1.    To formally establish an Economic St rategy Board (“ESB”) in accordance with clause 17.1 of the Joint Committee Agreement and terms of reference detailed within schedule 6 thereof.

2.    That the proposals for the recruitment and selection process as agreed by the Welsh Government and UK Government be formally endorsed by the Joint Committee

3.    To appoint Edward Tomp as Chair of the Economic Strategy Board in accordance with the recruitment process agreed with UK and Welsh Government.

4.    To increase the number of private sector representatives from 5 to 6 members; and 

5.    To appoint the following persons as members of the Economic Strategy Board, in accordance with the recruitment process agreed with UK and Welsh Government.:-

Private Sector Chair & other suitable representative x 1

Edward Tomp - Valero UK

Private Sector Representatives x 6

James Davies - Industry Wales

Chris Foxhall - Private Investor

Alec Don - MHPA – Chief Executive

Nigel Short - Browns Hotel and Three Mariners in Laugharne – Owner

Simon Holt - Recently retired Head of Department and Consultant Surgical Oncologist at Peony Breast Care Unit, Prince Phillip Hospital. NHS

Amanda Davies - Pobl Group Chief Executive

Higher Education or further education representatives x 2

Mark Clement - Swansea University

Barry Liles - University of Wales Trinity Saint  ...  view the full minutes text for item 13.