Agenda, decisions and minutes

www.swansea.gov.uk/disclosuresofinterests

In accordance with the Code of Conduct, no interests were declared.

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

record.

Approved.

Resolved that the Minutes of the Swansea Bay City Region Joint Committee held on 27 July 2023 be approved and signed as a correct record.

Noted.

The following announcements were made:

1)             The Chair thanked Professor Medwin Hughes who had recently retired from the University of Wales, Trinity St. David’s for his support and work in contributing to the delivery of the Swansea Bay City Deal. His successor Professor Elwen Evans would be invited to future meetings.

2)             The Chair also conveyed his thanks and best wishes to Mark Hackett, Chief Executive of Swansea Bay University Health Board who had also stepped down from his role.

Questions can be submitted in writing to Democratic Services democracy@swansea.gov.uk up until noon on the working day prior to the meeting. Written questions take precedence. Public may attend and ask questions in person if time allows. Questions must relate to items on the open part of the agenda and will be dealt within a 10 minute period.

None.

There were no public questions.

Approved.

Chris Moore, Section 151 Officer presented a report to provide the Joint Committee with an update on the latest financial position of the Swansea Bay City Region.

Resolved that the Joint Committee approves the financial monitoring update report.

For Information.

Jonathan Burnes, Swansea Bay City Deal Director provided a “For Information” update report to the Joint Committee on the programmes / projects progress that form part of the Swansea Bay City Deal Portfolio as outlined in Annex A.  Updates were provided in respect of:

·                Business Engagement & Communications;

·                Yr Egin;

·                Pentre Awel;

·                Digital Infrastructure;

·                Homes as Power Stations (HAPS);

·                Swansea City & Waterfront Digital District;

·                Pembroke Dock Marine.

In respect of Pembroke Dock Marine, it was noted that a new risk had been identified due to the unsuccessful contracts of difference auction round for offshore wind by UK Government.  However, the risk was being mitigated and managed and a work plan had been devised in order to deliver the PDM outcomes, particularly around innovation infrastructure, which would serve energy transition ambitions for decades to come.

For Information.

Jonathan Burnes, Swansea Bay City Deal Director provided a “For Information” report to inform Joint Committee of the Construction Impact Assessment Summary as outlined in Appendix A.

The Director clarified information in the report which stated that the risk status remain unchanged, however he explained that the costs associated with two projects had increased in respect of SBCD Campuses and Pembroke Dock Marine.  He explained the work ongoing in respect of both projects and outlined the mitigations that were being put in place to lower the risks.

Councillor Darren Price requested that HAPS in particular be considered in a different format or report to ensure that the Committee could track the impact of future inflationary pressures on the scheme.

Noted & approved.

Ian Williams, Swansea Bay City Deal Portfolio Development Manager presented a report to inform Joint Committee on the outcome of the Portfolio Gateway Review and to agree the Action Plan in response to the review recommendations.

Resolved that:

1)             Joint Committee notes the outcome of the Portfolio Gateway Review and approves the Action Plan attached at Appendix B and the response to the Review recommendations (Appendix A).