To receive apologies for absence from Members.

P Jones, R Patel, P Pavia and D Roberts

To receive Declarations of personal and prejudicial interest (if any) from Members / Officers.     

None

To receive for approval the Minutes of 05/02/2019

RESOLVED:   That the minutes of the CCRCD JOSC of the 5 February 2019 were approved as a true and accurate record of the meeting.

Invitees:

Kelly Beirne – CCRCD Programme Director

Cllr Andrew Morgan – Chair CCRCD Cabinet

The Programme Director CCRCD presented a report to the JOSC in respect of the effective operation of its wider Investment Fund. She explained to members that the WIF totalled £495m and comprises HM Treasury Grant Funding amounting to £375m over 20 years and Council contributions of £120m.  She advised members that the UK Competitive index was set out earlier this week and showed that Caerphilly was out of the bottom 10, however Merthyr and Blaenau Gwent were still there and this had not changed for 25 years. The City Deal has three major targets to meet – a 5% GVA increase, 25,000 new high skill jobs and leverage of £4bn additional private investment. 

The Programme Director advised that within the report there were 40 activities in accordance with the provisions of the JWA in relation to the delivery of the Cardiff Capital Region City Deal that were deliverable.

A member asked how the impacts of the CCRCD can be measured against other planned projects.

The Programme Director stated that they were unable to differentiate targets, however they can look at interventions and undertake economic impact assessments and competitive assessments so they are able to measure the impact on GVA.  The Programme Director advised that leverage was easier to calculate and relate back to the CCRCD

A member asked what the CCRCD are going to do differently to previous investments to improve impact.  The Programme Director advised that the Business Plans set out what we have to do differently and that included competing for new funds to unlock wider regeneration.  She added that installing a digital infrastructure would also maximise the benefits of the CCRCD. 

A member stated that within the plans there were no markers, targets or figures and asked how we would be able to mark ourselves

The Programme Director stated that National Government would mark us on the investment and intervention framework and there was certain criteria and targets that needed to be met.  She advised that the Framework and impacts would be set out to the Joint Cabinet on the 10 June 2019.  She added that specific figures and targets would be included in the individual business plans once individual projects had been approved by the Joint Cabinet.

The Chair of the Joint Cabinet added that the model for the CCRCD was different in that there was no set list of projects but that the funds were open for people to approach them with propositions.

A member asked what the key risks were with regards to internal resources and what was needed for the CCRCD to succeed.

The Chair of the CCRCD Joint Cabinet advised that additional resource had just been approved by the joint Cabinet and the advertising of posts had already begun. 

A member asked how the high level of social exclusion would be managed.  The Programme Director explained that the Regional Skills Partnership were exploring this through investing into targeted industry based apprenticeship schemes.  She added that whilst there was a gap currently she  ...  view the full minutes text for item 15.

The Scrutiny Officer presented the report to Members.

Members recommended that the Joint Overview and Scrutiny Committee have pre-meetings before the officers come in for discussion.

Members requested that fan executive summary should be included on all future reports to the JOSC. 

Members also requested that at the next meeting that the Committee revisit their Terms of Reference.

Members requested that the following items are explored to be included in the Forward Work Programme:

•            Developing a skilled workforce

•            Performance reports alongside business plans

•            Investment and Intervention Framework

•            Structure and Governance of City Deal

The Report relating to the following items are not for publication as it contains exempt information as defined in Paragraph 12 of Part 4, and Paragraph 21 of Part 5 of Schedule 12A of 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.

RESOLVED:   That under Section 100A (4) of the Local Government Act 1972 as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) (Wales) Order 2007, the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following items of business as they contain exempt information as defined in Paragraph 12 of Part 4, and Paragraph 21 of Part 5 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) (Wales) Order 2007.

Following the application of the public interest test it was resolved that pursuant to the Act referred to above to consider the following items in private, with the public excluded from the meeting, as it was considered that in all the circumstances relating to the item, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighed the public interest in disclosing the information.  

Invitees:

Kelly Beirne – CCRCD Programme Director

Peter Davies – CSC Project Executive, Monmouthshire Council

Cllr Peter Fox – Vice Chair CCRCD Cabinet