Bwrdd Tyfu Canolbarth Cymru / Growing Mid Wales Board

CJE provided a strategic update to the Board on the MWGD Portfolio. It was reported that the MWGD Portfolio would imminently move into the delivery phase with the approval of the Local Intervention Fund at the last GMW Board meeting in December 2024, and subject to a positive decision on the Elan Valley Lakes Phase 1 proposal today. As the newly appointed Portfolio Senior Responsible Owner (SRO), he explained that most of the work since the last Board meeting had focused on internal arrangements and following a review, any changes were in the process of being implemented. Resourcing proposals were being progressed and consulted upon, to ensure that the Growth Deal had the right capacity and capability to respond to the challenges of managing a complex, multi-million-pound capital Portfolio that was about to enter into the delivery phase. It was reported that a key achievement since the last Board meeting in December was the positive outcome from the Welsh City and Growth Deal Implementation Board (WCGIB). The Portfolio SRO and the Section 151 Officer for the MWGD provided the annual update report to both the UK and Welsh Governments. The report was received very positively, and the next tranche of funding (circa £11.5m) was anticipated to be released imminently, subject to Ministerial advice. GA advised that UK Government ministers had given their approval. CJE provided an overview of significant work undertaken on reviewing the MWGD and the projects as outlined in the report. A briefing paper would be circulated to the Board prior to the Growth Deal Portfolio Business Case Viability Workshop on 18 February 2025. RESOLVED: To note the salient points within the report and provide comment/direction as relevant.

CM provided an overview of the MWGD’s Portfolio Highlight Report for 26/11/24 – 29/01/25. It was reported that the Risk Register had been updated, and a detailed description of each risk, issue and consequence should matters not be addressed were included. In summary, 5 risks (2 red and 3 amber) and 11 issues (9 red and 2 amber) were currently placed on the register. CJE explained that there were a lot of red and amber on the register due to the level of risk and the number of assumptions and dependencies across projects. There were also challenges to manage the spend profile, and to work with the Government payment schedule. Expenditure would increase as the portfolio moved to the delivery phase therefore working collectively was key. RESOLVED To note the report.

CJE explained that following a review of the cycle of meetings, it was proposed that Portfolio Delivery Board meetings be held monthly and Growing Mid-Wales Board meetings every two months. This was deemed necessary to support the portfolio as it moved into the delivery phase. The changes would ensure that the Growth Deal would be actively monitored and that issues were identified swiftly, escalated and actioned appropriately. It would also ensure that the key decisions upcoming on business cases were not bottlenecked or held back – so that projects could obtain the approvals they needed to continue into delivery swiftly but with proper scrutiny and decision-making. An overview of the Governance Structure as outlined in the Governance & Reporting Strategy was provided. CP confirmed that subject to availability, the Board could meet more frequently than proposed if required. RESOLVED To approve the proposals set out in the Strategy. This will mean changes to GMW Board meetings to meet bi-monthly, rather than quarterly.

DH provided an overview of the proposed 2025/26 revenue budget for the delivery of the MWGD to the Board. As per the Grant Award Letter for the Growth Deal, capital funding would be released on an annual basis for delivering the Deal. To date, £4m was received during 2023/24. A request had been submitted to Welsh Government (WG) and to the UK Government to reprofile the remainder of the £110m funding – it was anticipated that a response to the request would be received before year-end. The request for 2024/25 should result in a payment of circa £11.5m dependent on how exactly WG profiled their element. The investment interest earned related to this and subsequent grant payments would, on a net basis (e.g. after allowing for top slice costs), be set aside and allocated to the Growing Mid Wales accounts. Reference was provided to the latest profile presented to the Welsh City & Growth Deals Implementation Board in December 2024. If Growth Deal capital funding payments were to continue to be released in full by WG on an annual basis, it would be critical to see delivery progress that was broadly aligned with the profile as outlined in the report. For the 2024/25 Revenue Budget, it was anticipated that spend would be £600,000 compared to the budget of £642,343. It was therefore assumed that the top slice funding required would reduce to £375,000 compared to the budgeted figure of £417,343. The proposed revenue budget for 2025/26 for the GMW Board totalling £869,000 was outlined in Appendix 1 of the report. Staffing costs accounted for the largest component of the budget and the proposed 25/26 Budget reflected the outcome of the review of resources and capacity requirements as the Growth deal moved into the delivery phase. The proposed PoMO budget for 25/26 would provide for 8.8 FTEs as compared with 5.8 FTEs in the 24/25 Approved Budget. A formal HR staff consultation process had commenced, therefore any amendments would need to be reflected in the Budget as an in-year consideration. The proposed 2025/26 Budget assumes top slice funding of £669,000 which was a c5.8% top slice based on the anticipated Year 3 Growth Deal Funding of £11.5m from both governments during 25/26 - this was subject to annual performance and approval from governments. It was anticipated that by the end of 2025/26, £27m of Growth Deal Funding would have been received with £1.173m being used to fund the revenue budget – being c4.3% of the funding over the three years. RESOLVED To approve the Annual Budget for 2025/26 of £869,000 as outlined in Appendix 1, which included a £100,000 contribution each from both Ceredigion County Council and Powys County Council.

EXCLUSION OF PUBLIC Members were requested, when dealing with the following item on the agenda to consider whether to exclude the public from the Meeting. RESOLVED To exclude the public and press from the meeting. The Board considered a report on the Elan Valley Lakes project. RESOLVED a) To approve the Business Justification Case for Elan Valley Lakes Work Package 1, subject to the conditions in Section 7. b) To award Growth Deal funding of £565,500 to Dwr Cymru for the Elan Valley Lakes Work Package 1, at a grant intervention rate of 40%. JGW noted that the decisions agreed by the Board during the agenda item were a significant moment in the Growth Deal's history.

None.

· 11 February 2025 (3 - 5pm) - GMW Management Group (Portfolio Delivery Board) · 18 February (1 - 4 pm) Growth Deal Portfolio Business Case Viability Workshop – In person (Penmorfa, Aberaeron) · 20 February 2025 (10 - 11.30am) – Sites & Premises Programme Board · 20 February 2025 (2 - 4pm) – Digital Programme Board