Agenda item

Members received an amendment to the commitment of revenue as detailed in paragraph (e).  The amount should have read £200,000 and not as stated in the circulated report.

Members thanked all officers and partners for all the work undertaken and congratulated them on the success of the Freeport Bid.

Having due regard to the Integrated Impact Assessment:

(a)     The success of the Celtic Freeport in achieving Freeport   status be noted.

(b)     That the Memorandum of Understanding included at Appendix 1 be approved subject to the amendment received to amend the commitment of revenue to £200,000.

(c)     That the Chief Executive (in consultation with the Leader and relevant Cabinet Member) be granted delegated authority to agree any minor variations to the proposed Memorandum of Understanding that maybe necessary.

(d)     That the Chief Executive of Neath Port Talbot Council be identified as the representative to the project board established pursuant to the Memorandum of Understanding and be granted delegated authority to make any decisions necessary pursuant to the objectives of the project board detailed in this report.  Also be granted delegated authority to nominate an alternative to attend in her place, who shall be entitled to make any decisions necessary pursuant to the objectives of the project board as detailed in this report.

(e)     That approval be granted to commit £200,000 revenue to prepare the Outline Business Case and Financial Business Case and notes any requests for additional financial commitment will be brought back to Cabinet for further approval.

(f)      Approval be granted to enter into discussions with UK and Welsh Government for the preparation of Outline Business Case and Full Business Cases.

(g)     That approval be granted to enter into any grant agreement between the Council and the UK/Welsh Government to receive public funds from the Government.

(h)     That the establishment of a company limited by guarantee be noted.  That a report be brought back to Members to agree the mechanism of any legal interest that the Council will have in such a company and the nomination an officer of the Council as a director of the company limited by guarantee.

(i)      That the appointment of Mr. Roger Maggs MBE as Chair of the Celtic Freeport during the production of the Outline and Full Business cases be approved.  That the appointment of Mr.David Gwynne as interim Chief Executive of the Celtic Freeport be approved.

(j)      That approval be granted for the procurement and appointment of external consultants necessary to produce the Outline Business Case and Full Business Case on behalf of Celtic Freeport on a cost recovery basis, with financial contributions being as identified in this report and where deemed appropriate by the Chief Executive (in consultation with the Leader and relevant Cabinet Members) to exclude requirements of the Contract Procedure Rules in the interests of ensuring appropriate individuals with experience of Freeports can be appointed.

(k)     That the requirements to establish suitable governance mechanisms to allocate seed capital and retained business rates be noted and a further report be provided in due course to confirm the details of such mechanisms.