Venue: Council Chamber - Port Talbot Civic Centre. View directions
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Report of the Chief Executive re the Swansea Bay City Deal Minutes: The
Committee received information in relation to the latest update on the Swansea
Bay City Deal as contained within the circulated report. Members
were clear that the financial information in relation to the City Deal and the
Joint Working Agreement (JWA) needs to be made clearer before it is signed up
to and that any agreement reached cannot put the Council at risk. The Committee
agreed that the Joint Working Agreement (JWA) needs to include all information
and stated that all commitments expected from the City Deal are written down
for clarity and transparency, Members
noted that any conclusions from the ongoing Valleys Task and Finish Group would
be fed into the City Deal process as it is important that the project delivers
benefits for the whole of the County Borough. Members
were pleased to note that they will sign off the final version of the Joint
Working Agreement if it is reached and any of the business cases for Neath Port
Talbot projects. Members
were concerned that any deal the Council enters into must represent good value
for money and not put the Council at risk. Members felt that whilst the
delivery of a vibrant and successful City Deal is in the interest of the
Council it does represent a significant commitment in terms of time, money and
resources against the current climate of austerity alongside the Council’s own
Forward Financial Plan and budget situation. Members were clear that the
correct balance needs to be struck and felt that they were being ‘prudent’
rather than ‘risk averse’ in their careful analysis. It
was noted that the final decision on the City Deal and the Joint Working
Agreement would be taken to Cabinet and then to Council for endorsement. Members
thanked the officers for the valuable update and noted their support in
principle to sign the Joint Working Agreement but only if the issues identified
in the report can be resolved satisfactorily and reflected in the Joint Working
Agreement itself. Members
looked forward to receiving further information on the detail of the City Deal
proposal as negotiations continue. Following
scrutiny, the Committee were supportive of the proposals to be considered at
Cabinet. |