Agenda and minutes

To confirm the position of the Chair of the Cheshire and Warrington Joint Committee for the municipal year 2026-27.

RESOLVED:

That Councillor Dawn Clark be confirmed as the Chair of the Cheshire and Warrington Joint Committee for the municipal year 2026-27.

To confirm the position of the Vice Chair of the Cheshire and Warrington Joint Committee for the municipal year 2026-27.

RESOLVED:

That Councillor Nathan Sudworth be confirmed as the Vice Chair of the Cheshire and Warrington Joint Committee for the municipal year 2026-27.

To receive any apologies for absence from Members.

There were no apologies for absence from Members.

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 from Members.

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 30 March 2026 as a correct record.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 30 March 2026 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 registered public speakers.

To receive a report which invites the Joint Committee to note the 2025/26 Performance Report, which summarises the achievements of Enterprise Cheshire and Warrington during 2025/26.

The Joint Committee received a report which invited Members to note the 2025/26 Performance Report, which summarised the achievements of Enterprise Cheshire and Warrington during 2025/26.

The committee were updated of the following highlights:

-       Liverpool Hope Award for Outstanding Achievement for Social Mobility which focussed on a small number of young people in Crewe who were at high risk of leaving school and not being in employment, education or training.

-       The Skills Bootcamps which delivered almost 3,000 places for 2025/26.

-       World Town Cries Tournament to be held in Chester in 2026

-       Completion of £20.7 million Vortex Scheme in Ellesmere Port creating 450 new jobs.

-       Construction of £58 million Enviroo Plastic Recycling Plant in Ellesmere Port.

RESOLVED:

That the updates be noted.

To receive an update report on the Enterprise Cheshire and Warrington Transition Programme.

Report to follow.

The Joint Committee received an update report on the Enterprise Cheshire and Warrington Transition Programme.

The committee was updated that a significant amount of due diligence was taking place and financial and legal implications would be outlined in detail as part of an options analysis going forward, and a further report to the committee would be scheduled for Autumn 2026.

Members were updated that as part of the governance programme, the officers would ensure that All Committee briefings would take place to keep Members updated of the progress, and a Steering Group of which the Chief Executive Officers of each Council were a member of, would provide feedback to Members.

RESOLVED:

That the updates be noted.

To consider a report which seeks approval to changes to the senior level staffing of Enterprise Cheshire and Warrington.

Steve Wilcock, Sandra Rothwell and Roy Newton left the room for the discussion of this item.

The Joint Committee considered a report which sought approvals to changes to the senior level staffing of Enterprise Cheshire and Warrington.

The Joint Committee were updated that due to the transformation phase which Enterprise Cheshire and Warrington was currently in, the changes to staffing would be on an interim basis which would ensure the stability of the organisation during the transition period.  

It was noted that the proposed appointment of these roles had been made with appropriate due diligence and the input of the Councils’ Monitoring Officers.

RESOLVED:

That the Cheshire and Warrington Joint Committee:

1. Agree to the appointment of Roy Newton as Managing Director of Enterprise Cheshire and Warrington on an interim basis for the duration of the transition programme.

2. Agree to the appointment of Steve Wilcock as Enterprise Cheshire and Warrington’s Senior Finance Lead on secondment from Cheshire East.

3. Note it is proposed that Sandra Rothwell be contracted by Enterprise Cheshire and Warrington as Senior Transition Adviser.