Decision details

Cabinet considered a report regarding the next steps for the Cardiff Capital Region City Deal.  The report seeks the approval of the establishment of the Cardiff Capital Region Joint Committee, the Joint Working Agreement, Assurance Framework, Implementation Plan and details Cardiff’s role as the Accountable body that will enable the establishment of the Cardiff Capital Region City Deal. 

In response to a question in relation to how the funding attached to the City Deal will be spent the Chief Executive confirmed that there has been no prior selection of projects.  Projects will be subject to examination of evidence based business plans and will be assessed against benchmarking criteria to demonstrate the economic impact to the city-region.  It was also noted that the UK Government aspect of the Investment fund is dependant on five-yearly gateway reviews to ensure the money is being spent correctly and delivering the key objectives of the City Deal.   Furthermore, before Local Authority contributions are accessible to the Investment Fund, all 10 participating Local Authorities will need to agree a business plan which is expected to be brought back to Councils within 12 months. 

RESOLVED: that subject to the terms of the Joint Working Agreement the Cabinet agree the following in so far as it applies to their functions:

a)    Approve the Joint Working Agreement (Appendix C) as the legal document that formally establishes the Cardiff Capital Region Joint Cabinet (the Regional Cabinet) as a Joint Committee, with delegated functions, with a Commencement Date of the 1^st March 2017.  The elected member representative to the Regional Cabinet shall be the Leader of the council, or his/her nominated Deputy.

b)    Approve, the financial contributions towards the collective £120m total, (together with such associated costs e.g. carry costs), as detailed in paragraph 94 of this report.

c)    Approve the carry forward of any remaining revenue funds from 16/17, contributed by each Council, into 17/18 in order that the support structure for the Joint Committee continues.

d)    Approve the collective revenue contributions of up to £1 million (inclusive of recommendation (c) above, on a proportionate basis as set out in the Joint Working Agreement) to the 17-18 budget, in order that the support structure for the Regional Cabinet continues.

e)    Approve that the City of Cardiff Council acting as the Accountable Body with the responsibilities as set out in the Joint Working Agreement.

f)     Approve the Assurance Framework as the open and transparent, robust decision making process for considering all proposals requiring support from the Cardiff Capital Region City Deal Wider Investment Fund.

g)    Approve the Implementation Plan in the form attached to the Joint Working Agreement, subject to each council approving the Joint Working Agreement Business Plan.

h)   That the Chief Executive in consultation with the Leader of the Council, the Monitoring Officer and s151 Officer be granted delegated authority to agreesuch amendments as are necessary to the Joint Working Agreement, Assurance Framework and Implementation Plan (as are appropriate) from the date of acceptance of these recommendations to the Commencement Date of the 1^st March.

i)     That the Chief Executive in consultation with the Leader of the Council, the Monitoring Officer and s151 Officer be granted delegated authority to decide whether the Council should continue to explore the opportunity in the CCR City Deal in the event that one or more of the 10 Constituent Councils fail to agree any of recommendations (a) to (g)above.

j)      That the Leader of the Council or his/her nominated Deputy be granted delegated authority to sign the Joint Working Agreement on behalf of the Council.