Proposals for a new Corporate Joint Committee to run the Cardiff City Region have hit problems due to issues around tax and borrowing liabilities (pdf).
At the moment, Cardiff Council is the accountable authority for the city region and is responsible for most of the backroom administration.
In September, the City Region Cabinet representing all 10 member local authorities put forward a proposal to create a stand-alone Corporate Joint Committee (CJC) to run the city region instead.
However, ongoing issues around the VAT status of the proposed CJC and how borrowing would work require further discussion with HMRC and the UK Treasury.
It’s now proposed that the city region establish a CJC on a do minimum/in name only basis to get a budget passed by the end of January 2022 – which will be significantly scaled back from original plans. The report raises the possibility that CJC committees could be established but not hold any meetings.
It’s possible that these “do minimum” arrangements could be in place until as late as 31st March 2023 unless the financial issues are resolved earlier.
The Welsh Government has also agreed to push back the date for the city region to start work on strategic plans (like a regional transport plan and strategic development plan) from 28th February 2022 to 30th June 2022.
