The Cardiff City Region Cabinet is set to back the final details of a Corporate Joint Committee (CJC), which will become the main decision-making body for the city region from next year (pdf).
While regulations in the Senedd setting up the South East Wales CJC have already come into effect, the City Regional Cabinet has been asked to approve a model for how the new CJC will work.
The 10 local authorities that make up the city region will retain their current role in providing services.
The goal of the CJC will be to act as a strategic regional authority. The CJC will be required to prepare a Regional Transport Plan, Strategic Development Plan and will also use the economic development powers currently delegated to the city region.
Other powers could be delegated to the CJC by the Welsh Government in the future. Some of those mentioned include tourism, inward investment, the Valleys Regional Park, regional bus services, housing, research & development and energy planning.
In practice, there’ll be very little noticeable change. The CJC will be made up of the leader of each of the local authorities plus one member from the Brecon Beacons National Park Authority (much like the current City Region Cabinet) . Decisions will be made by majority vote. Budget contributions from the 10 local authorities are also set to remain unchanged.
The biggest difference is that instead of Cardiff Council being the “accountable body” for the city region (generally taking the lead role in administration, entering into agreements, overseeing project delivery etc.), the CJC will do this in its own right.
If agreed, the city region will transition to the new CJC on 28th February 2022 with £500,000 set aside to fund the background work. The political make-up of the CJC could then change depending on the results of the 2022 local elections.
The move may also (re)ignite the debate over establishing an elected mayor for the region – similar to those in England – or elected mayors for each of the 10 member authorities.
