Speaking in the Senedd today, North Wales MS Mark Isherwood has raised North Wales concerns that Corporate Joint Committees are “replicating and disempowering the work of the North Wales Economic Ambition Board”.
Questioning the Minister for Finance and Local Government on the creation of Corporate Joint Committees, he said:
“Speaking at Stages 3 and 4 of the Local Government and Elections (Wales) Bill, I stated that, given their role in terms of regional infrastructure and economic development, the ability to allow Welsh Ministers to mandate the creation of Corporate Joint Committees undermines the internal devolution and local partnership working established in areas by bodies such as the North Wales Economic Ambition Board - a coalition involving both Governments, all six north Wales councils, business and academia.
“However, whilst acknowledging that principal councils have a wealth of experience in delivering economic functions, including at a regional level through, for example, the City and Growth Deals, the Minister stated that she was hoping that regions will transition their current regional arrangements into the Corporate Joint Committees once established.
“How, therefore, would you respond to the concern expressed in North Wales that the Corporate Joint Committees are instead replicating and disempowering the work of the North Wales Economic Ambition Board, now named Ambition North Wales, when, instead, the former Minister for Economy and Transport here has now joined his voice with theirs and mine in calling for internal devolution to a transport body in North Wales.”
In her response, the Minister said: “Rather than undermining joint working and regional working, I do think the CJCs rather facilitate it and they are a tool for local authorities to be using.”