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The Chair welcomed Sue Balsom the newly appointed chair of the Economic Advisory Group and he thanked the outgoing chair Steve Lesbirel for his service. Apologies for absence were received from Gareth Ashman Gareth Ashman, Head of Regional and Local Growth, UK Government, Daniel Burgess, Head of Economy & Climate PCC, Clive Pinney Head of Legal and Monitoring Officer PCC and Diane Reynolds Head of Economic Development and Growth PCC.
None.
The Chair was authorised to sign the minutes of the last meeting held on 25th July 2025 as a correct record.
DP provided an update on the objectives agreed by the Board. He confirmed that work had begun on creating a library of sector-specific films for schools, aimed at providing accessible careers information for both students and teachers. These films would cover sectors such as engineering and construction, and the team had begun engaging with filmmakers to deliver the content by the New Year. The “Careers in 360” platform was reported to be nearly ready for launch in September. This interactive tool was designed to help young people explore career pathways. It had been developed in collaboration with both Powys and Ceredigion education departments and had received positive feedback from school heads and students during testing. DP also outlined plans to connect students with local employers through school-based events, initially focusing on construction, manufacturing, and engineering. Six schools, three in each county, had volunteered to participate in the pilot during the next academic year. Regarding training provision, DP acknowledged that businesses had expressed concerns about the relevance of current offerings. In response, the team had worked with Welsh Government, schools, and the new post-16 body, Medr, to improve alignment. Progress had been made, particularly in leadership and management qualifications and personal learning accounts. On apprenticeships, DP reported that the Senedd scrutiny panel had adopted five key recommendations, including introducing apprenticeships earlier in schools, giving them equal status to academic routes, and launching a national campaign to inform employers. A centralised apprenticeship hub was also proposed to simplify access to information. DP explained that the team had begun modelling workforce needs to meet net-zero targets, including estimating the number of electricians, plumbers, and heat pump engineers required. This data would inform training providers and young people about future opportunities. In response to members’ comments on energy sector engagement, DP confirmed that meetings had taken place with Bute Energy, EDF, and Scottish Power. An energy group was being established to coordinate skills planning with distribution network operators. Councillor Jake Berriman highlighted the Post 16 review being undertaken in Powys and highlighted the issue of pupils attending courses in England. DP confirmed that it had been raised with Medr and was under discussion with local colleges. He also confirmed that the RSP was represented on the Post 16 Board in Powys.
Part of an issue followed across 9 meetings
Carwyn Jones-Evans reported that the team had been focused on preparations for the Royal Welsh Show and ongoing delivery of the Growth Deal. He noted that while some early projects faced technical delays, overall progress was positive. The strategic portfolio business case had been submitted to government, and £12 million remained unallocated. The team was exploring options to expand the Commercial Property Investment Fund due to strong demand. CJE confirmed that preparatory work was underway to present members with options in the autumn, including potential new sectors and fund sizes. Digital Programme Dave Owen provided updates on several digital projects: • Mobile Coverage Capacity Project: Prioritisation of intervention areas had been completed. Public and commercial improvements were largely exhausted, so future upgrades would rely on local authority and GMW efforts. • Fibre Connectivity Project: Previously referred to as the “Very Hard to Reach” project, it was being renamed due to concerns about negative connotations. A visual platform had been developed to identify properties needing intervention. Procurement was expected to begin within a month. • LoRaWAN Project: Locations for additional gateways were being finalised. Procurement documentation was being prepared. • Open Access Agreement: Progress had been delayed due to staff turnover in Ceredigion’s legal team, but support had resumed and momentum was improving. • Streetwave Contract: The mobile coverage mapping contract had been extended by six months. DO noted that procurement and legal issues had initially been flagged as red risks but were now improving and could be downgraded to amber. Standalone Projects & Governance Peter Jones reported that six active standalone projects were progressing, with two others on hold. He noted that some projects had rated themselves harshly and encouraged more balanced self-assessment. The Elan Valley Lakes project was progressing well, with the Celtic Rainforest component on track for completion by late August. Work on the visitor centre was informing the next work package, due by the end of the month. The Horeb and Newtown sites had been combined under a single project management structure, with Big Innovation providing support. Governance arrangements were being finalised, and a paper would be circulated to the Portfolio Delivery Panel (PDP) shortly. PJ also highlighted the new checkpoint process for business case development, which included early feedback from assessors. This approach had been well received and was expected to reduce risks at formal submission stages. He acknowledged funding gaps but expressed confidence that the phased approach would allow projects to secure match funding for each stage. Commercial Property Investment Fund John Collingwood reported that the fund had received 54 expressions of interest, with 22 projects progressing to the viability stage. Ten submissions had already been received ahead of the early deadline, with the remainder expected by 8 August. The evaluation panel, comprising economic and finance officers from both councils, would assess the applications. A report would be presented to the PDP on 4 September. Delegated authority had been granted to the PDP to approve projects for the next stage. JC noted that the fund was oversubscribed, with £5.7 million in potential liabilities against a £4.4 million budget. Some projects might need to be deferred or rejected to stay within budget. He confirmed that lessons from this phase would inform potential expansion in the autumn.
Duncan Hall presented the outturn report for the 2024–25 financial year. The approved budget had been £642,000, with actual expenditure totalling £617,000, resulting in a £25,000 underspend. This was primarily due to savings in the Portfolio Management Office. Income from Ceredigion and Powys councils totalled £200,000, with the remaining £392,000 funded through a 3.3% top slice of Growth Deal funding—below the 4% cap. The interest equalisation reserve had grown to £298,000, providing a buffer for future cash flow challenges. DH confirmed that the underspend had not been rolled into a general reserve but had been balanced through the top slice mechanism.
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The dates of future meetings were noted.
Part of an issue followed across 8 meetings
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