Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on the achievements of the corporate joint committee agreements over the last two financial years?
Corporate Joint Committees (CJCs) are a flexible way for councils to work together. It is at the discretion of the constituent councils of each CJC how they wish to make use of this opportunity to improve the economic well-being of their areas.
The CJCs have statutory requirements to produce a Regional Transport Plan and a Strategic Development Plan. They have been provided with financial and other support from the Welsh Government to take these requirements forward. All four CJCs have made progress towards delivering these statutory requirements.
In addition, two are making use of the flexibility provided by the CJC model and power to promote the economic well-being, to streamline a range of existing regional collaborations. Most notably, the South-East Wales CJC has undertaken a ‘lift and sift’ exercise to bring Cardiff Capital Region growth deal governance arrangements alongside the statutory strategic planning for the region. The North Wales CJC is in the process of undertaking a similar exercise. This creates a streamlined governance structure and opportunities for stronger coherence in support of regional development.