Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absense 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.

In the interests of openness and transparency, the following declarations were made:

Eleanor Blackburn, Director of Place at Warrington Borough Council, declared that she was a non-executive Director of Enterprise Cheshire and Warrington.

To note the minutes of the meeting held on 29 August 2025, which have been proposed, seconded and signed by the previous committee members, as a correct record.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 29 August 2025 be noted.

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 confirm the position of the Chair of the Cheshire and Warrington Joint Committee for the remainder of the municipal year 2025-26.

RESOLVED: (Unanimously)

That Councillor Carol Gahan be appointed as Chair of the Cheshire and Warrington Joint Committee for the remainder of the municipal year 2025-26.

To confirm the position of the Vice Chair of the Cheshire and Warrington Joint Committee for the remainder of the municipal year 2025-26.

RESOLVED: (By Majority)

That Councillor Dawn Cark be appointed as Vice Chair of the Cheshire and Warrington Joint Committee for the remainder of the municipal year 2025-26.

To consider a report which seeks approval for the proposed Budget and Business Plan for Enterprise Cheshire and Warrington including Marketing Cheshire for 2026/27.

The committee considered a report which sought approval for the proposed Budget and Business Plan for Enterprise Cheshire and Warrington including Marketing Cheshire for 2026/27.

RESOLVED: (Unanimously)

That the Cheshire and Warrington Joint Committee:

1. Approve the Budget and Business Plan for Enterprise Cheshire and Warrington (ECW), including Marketing Cheshire (MC), for 2026/27.

2. Agree that officers can sign the Grant Offer Letter for the Skills Bootcamp programme for 2026/7 from the Departments for Education and Work and Pensions [para 10].

3. Note that it is proposed to ringfence £1.6 million of the balance in the Enterprise Zone (EZ) reserve for further work to support sub-regional economic priorities during 2026/7 to be agreed jointly by CWCA and the JC. [para 12]

4. Delegate authority to receive additional income for programmes already being delivered by ECW (Skills Bootcamps, Careers Hub, Growth hub and the Net Zero programme funded by North West Net Zero Hub) if offered by grant providers, to the ECW CEO, in consultation with Cheshire East Council (CEC) Finance Manager and the Chair of the Joint Committee (JC) subject to maintaining a balanced budget and on the understanding that any sums agreed will be reported to the next JC.

5. Agree that if ECW or Marketing Cheshire receives more commercial income during the year than currently budgeted, it can deploy this in consultation with Growth Directors, officers from CWCA, CEC Finance Manager and the Chair of the JC on projects of up to £50k that will strengthen C&W’s ability to deliver the sub-regional vision, subject to maintaining a balanced budget [para 15].

6. Note that 2026/27 will be a transitional year as CWCA builds up its staffing and operations. Future meetings of the JC may be asked to approve transfers of some or all of ECW’s functions and assets during the year along with consequential changes to its business plan.

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

RESOLVED: (Unanimously)

That the following items be added to the Forward Plan:

-       Enterprise Cheshire and Warrington Outturn and Deliverables 2025/26

-       Planning for the Transition of the Programme

To consider a report which seeks approval for the appointment of three new members of the Cheshire and Warrington Business Advisory Board.

The committee considered a report which sought approval for the appointment of three new members of the Cheshire and Warrington Business Advisory Board.

It was noted that the ambition of the Business Advisory Board (BAB) was to keep the Joint Committee informed of the current business environment. It was noted that the Initial focus of the BAB had been to change to current situation in Cheshire and Warrington, which initially was to pursue devolution over the line, and the BAB Terms of Reference would be changing to represent the voice of businesses for the new Combined Authority.

Members were updated that there were three nominations of new appointees to replace members who had stepped down:

·         Sally Garratt - Chief Executive Officer, Petty Pool Trust

·         Jasbir Dhesi OBE - Principal and CEO, Cheshire College - South & West

·         Chris Belsham - Chief Executive Officer, NWF Group PLC

RESOLVED: (Unanimously)

That the Cheshire and Warrington Joint Committee:

1. Approve the appointment of the BAB members listed at Appendix 1.