Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence from Members.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Jean Flaherty.

To provide an opportunity for Members and Officers to declare any disclosable pecuniary, other registerable interests, and non-registerable interests in any item on the agenda.

There were no declarations of interest.

To approve the minutes of the previous meeting held on 31 January 2025 as a correct record.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the previous meeting held on 31 January 2025 be approved as a correct record.

In accordance with Cheshire East Council’s Committee Procedural Rules and Appendix on public speaking, a total period of 15 minutes is allocated for members of the public to put questions to the Joint Committee on any matter relating to this agenda.  Each member of the public will be allowed up to two minutes each to speak, and the Chair will have discretion to vary this where they consider it appropriate.

Members of the public wishing to ask a question at the meeting should provide at least three clear working days’ notice in writing in advance of the meeting and should include the question with that notice. This will enable an informed answer to be given.

There were no public speakers.

To consider a report requesting approval of the proposed Budget and Business Plan for Enterprise Cheshire and Warrington, including Marketing Cheshire, for 2025/26.

The Joint Committee received an update on the Enterprise Cheshire and Warrington Business Plan 2025 – 2026 from Councillor Michael Gorman.

The Joint Committee were updated that Enterprise Cheshire and Warrington’s proposed budget for 2025 / 2026 was £14.4 million, 80% of which was for programmes funded by grants. It was noted that a number of projects were being funded by central government at a level similar for 2024 / 2025, with the exception of the Skills Bootcamp which would see its budget increase to over £9 million for 2025 / 2026.

It was noted that income from capital balances would be used to support the Sustainable and Inclusive Economic Strategy, Managing the Enterprise Zone, Plastic Recycling Site in Ellesmere Port, and ensuring Cheshire and Warrington residents feel the economic benefits offered by the Hynet Programme, supporting Marketing Cheshire and a provision of a £500,000 fund to cover the cost of subregional work which the Joint Committee wished to commission.

Trade Unions requested that the Fair Employment Chater work should be co-designed with the Trade Unions, that standards be codified into commissioning and procurement policies, and asked for information be provided on what checks were in place to ensure that the Skills Bootcamp providers meet the high employment standards, and for information on the schools and hospitals decarbonisation scheme, and how the scheme would promote inclusive growth and ensure that funding, investment and opportunities reach the most deprived areas and communities in Cheshire and Warrington.

Officers committed to providing a written response to the above.

Members noted that Trade Unions had been engaged with the Fair Employment Charter, and the government had identified Cheshire and Warrington as a pilot area for the Skills Bootcamp.

RESOLVED:

That the Joint Committee:

1.    Approve the Budget and Business Plan for Enterprise Cheshire and Warrington (ECW) including Marketing Cheshire (MC) for 2025/26.

2.    Delegate authority to accept additional income for programmes already being delivered by ECW should it be made available, to the ECW CEO, in consultation with CEC Finance Manager and the appropriate lead member of the Joint Committee (JC) on the understanding that any sums agreed will be reported to the next JC.

3.    Agree that if ECW receives more commercial income during the year than currently budgeted, it can deploy this in consultation with Growth Directors and the CEC Finance Manager on projects of up to £100k that will strengthen C&W’s ability to deliver the sub-regional vision.

4.    Note that for any additional items of funding offered to the sub region, outside the scope of ECW programme, it will be for the Joint Committee to consider how it wants those funds to be deployed

5.    Note that ECW will be transferring to the North East Combined Authority the remaining NP11 assets it holds.

Verbal update / report to follow.

The Devolution Work Programme and Budget 2025/26 item was deferred to the next meeting of the Cheshire and Warrington Joint Committee on 30 May 2025.

It was noted that work was continuing to progress the workstreams and devolution.

To receive an update and seek direction on the Cheshire and Warrington Joint Committee Forward Plan.

Members received an update and sought direction on the Cheshire and Warrington Joint Committee Forward Plan, from Councillor Louise Gittins.

RESOLVED:

That the reports on the Forward Plan be adopted and approved.