Agenda and minutes

www.swansea.gov.uk/disclosuresofinterests

In accordance with the Code of Conduct adopted by the City & County of Swansea, no interest(s) were declared.

To approve & sign the Minutes of the previous meeting(s) as a correct

record.

Resolved that the Minutes of the Joint Committee held on 11 February 2021 be signed and approved as a correct record.

The Chair welcomed the recent announcement from UK Government regarding the new accelerated funding arrangements for the City Deal. This will allow money to be received for schemes far more quickly than previously.

Questions must be submitted in writing, no later than noon on the working day prior to the meeting.  Questions must relate to items on the agenda. Questions will be dealt with in a 10 minute period.

There were no public questions.

Chris Moore (Swansea Bay City Region Section 151 Officer) presented a report which informed the Joint Committee of the year end forecast outturn position in respect of the Joint Committee and the Portfolio Investment Fund.

Resolved that the annual accounts of the Joint Committee and the forecast outturn position of the Portfolio Investment Fund be received and approved.

Jonathan Burnes ( Swansea Bay City Region Programme Director) presented a “for information” report which updated the Joint Committee on the progress of the various programmes and projects that form part of the Swansea Bay City Deal Portfolio.

He outlined the current situation relating to the following areas:

·       Digital Infrastructure

·       Pembroke Dock Marine

·       Homes as Power Stations

·       Supporting Innovation and Low Carbon Growth

·       Life Science & Well-being Campuses

·       Pentre Awel

·       Swansea City & Waterfront Digital District

·       Skills & Talent

·       Yr Egin

Chris Moore (Swansea Bay City Region Section 151 Officer) presented a report which updated the Joint Committee in respect of the risks of recruiting staff for regional programmes, prior to the approval of business cases.

He outlined the options and proposals for the sharing of the risks amongst the four authorities.

Resolved that

1) contents of the report were reviewed and noted.

2) the proposed officer recommendations of option 2 and option B (to the report) in respect of the risks relating to the recruitment of regional programme management teams prior to the approval of business cases be approved.

Phil Ryder (Portfolio Management Office Manager) presented a verbal update to the Joint Committee which outlined that the narrative of the report had been circulated to Members, Officers and Partners for comments by the 18 March 2021.

Contained within the report are a review of the last twelve months activities, activities planned for the next twelve months, progress reports from each of the projects, a governance structure update, risk summary and monitoring and evaluation information.

Following comments and feedback the report can then be finalised and professionally designed before an anticipated release in May.

Jonathan Burnes (Swansea Bay City Region Programme Director) and Ian Williams (Portfolio Development Manager) presented a report which provided the Joint Committee with an updated City Deal Portfolio Business Case for consideration and approval.

The document is required to be submitted to both Welsh and UK Governments.

They outlined and referred to the following areas contained with the document:

·       Purpose of report and 5 case model;

·       Main changes;

·       Economic viability;

·       Investment & Impact Summary;

·       Affordability;

·       Deliverability;

·       Project timeline and progress;

·       Priorities moving forward:

They indicated the report should be considered in conjunction with agenda item 12 which provides the Joint Committee with additional commercially sensitive appendices to the updated City Deal Portfolio Business Case.

Resolved that the latest iteration of the SBCD Portfolio Business Case be approved and submitted to both Welsh and UK Governments.

The Committee was requested to exclude the public from the meeting during the consideration of the item(s) of business identified in the recommendation to the report on the grounds that it involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as set out in the exemption paragraph of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) (Wales) Order 2007, relevant to the item(s) of business set out in the report.

The Committee considered the Public Interest Test in deciding whether to exclude the public from the meeting for the item(s) of business where the Public Interest Test was relevant as set out in the report.

Resolved that the public be excluded for the following items of business.

(Closed Session)

Ian Williams (Portfolio Development Manager) presented a “for information” report which was considered in conjunction with agenda item 10.

The report provided the Joint Committee with additional commercially sensitive appendices to the updated City Deal Portfolio Business Case which had been agreed.