Decision details

The sub-committee received a report which detailed the proposed Devolution Work Programme for Cheshire and Warrington, from Councillor Michael Gorman.

The sub-committee were updated that to ensure continuity, there was a request to extend the rotation of the current Chair of the Cheshire and Warrington Joint Committee by a further 12 months to May 2026.

Members were updated that the Cheshire and Warrington Joint Committee would act as the Programme Board for the Devolution Programme, any formal decisions from the Joint Committee would be recommended to the three Council’s for approval and regular meetings would take place with Council Leaders and Chief Executives, the Police and Crime Commissioner, and the Chair of the Business Advisory Board. A Devolution Steering Group would be established to make operational decisions, which would comprise of Growth Directors, Programme Team, workstream leads, and would oversee all operational programme delivery.

Members were updated that in the first quarter of 2025, there would be 5 priority activities:

·         Communications and engagement

·         Governance

·         Workforce

·         Finance

·         Local Growth Plan

The importance of Trade Union engagement in the process was noted.

An amendment to recommendation 3 was proposed by Councillor Hans Mundry and seconded by Councillor Nick Mannion:

3. Approve the initial implementation workstreams, with the addition of a workforce development stream, to include full engagement with trade unions, consideration of good practice from other areas and, the headline priorities for all workstreams between January and March 2025.

RESOLVED: (Unanimously)

That the Cheshire and Warrington Joint Committee:

1. Approve the programme management reporting structure as outlined in the report, noting that the Joint Committee will receive detailed and regular reporting across all elements of the work programme for direction and oversight.

2. Note the anticipated overall programme timeline.

3. Approve the initial implementation workstreams, with the addition of a workforce development stream, to include full engagement with trade unions, consideration of good practice from other areas and, the headline priorities for all workstreams between January and March 2025.

4. Approve the devolution programme budget to March 2025 as outlined in the report and note the anticipated future budget to March 2026 which will be brought back to the Joint Committee in detail at its February 2025 meeting.

5. Approve initial programme costs to March 2025 as detailed in the report, including the use of a Programme Director.

6. Request each of the Councils of Cheshire East (CEC), Cheshire West and Chester (CWaC) and Warrington (WBC) amend the Cheshire and Warrington Joint Committee Terms of Reference to extend the rotation of the current Chair (CWaC) for a further 12 months to May 2026 and amend accordingly the dates for the following rotations by the same period namely CEC until May 2028, WBC until May 2030 and that it then continue in that rotation.