Meetings

6.1 The Committee agreed its draft report ‘The Effectiveness of European Structural Funding in Wales'. 

9.1 Members considered its draft report on the Effectiveness of European Structural Funding in Wales.

6.1 The Committee agreed to defer consideration the draft report on the Effectiveness of European Structural Funding in Wales until its meeting on 21 November 2012.

5.1 The Committee discussed its draft report ‘The Effectiveness of European Structural Funding in Wales’ and suggested amendments.

5.2 The Committee agreed to consider the draft report further at a future meeting.

FIN(4) 12-12 – Paper 1- Value Wales

Alison Standfast, Deputy Director Value Wales (Procurement), Value Wales

Paul Williams, Strategic Procurement Executive, Value Wales

2.1 The Chair welcomed Alison Standfast, Deputy Director (Procurement) Value Wales; and Paul Griffiths, Strategic Procurement Executive, Value Wales.

2.2 Owing to technical problems, the Committee agreed to suspend the evidence session and write to Value Wales with questions which were not reached by the Committee.

5.1 The Committee discussed the evidence received on its inquiry into the Effectiveness of European Structural Funding in Wales.

Alun Davies, Deputy Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries, Food and European Programmes

Jonathan Price, Chief Economist

Damien O'Brien, Chief Executive WEFO

2.1 The Chair welcomed Alun Davies, Deputy Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries, Food and European Programmes; Jonathan Price, Chief Economist; and Damien O’Brien, Chief Executive, WEFO.

2.2 The Committee scrutinised the Deputy Minister.

The Welsh Government agreed to provide:

·         Details on the training undertaken by WEFO staff to provide advice to project sponsors on procurement processes.

·         A note updating the Committee on the progress of negotiations between the Welsh Government and the European Commission to address legal and technical issues relating to the JESSICA funding stream.

·         More detail on forthcoming discussions with the Programme Monitoring Committee exploring the impact that rate of exchange could have on projects and how to manage potential risks.

8.1 The Committee discussed the evidence on its inquiry into the Effectiveness of European Structural Funding in Wales.  

Tidal Energy Ltd

FIN(4) 07-12 – Paper 3

Chris Williams, Development Director, Tidal Energy Ltd

Furnace Farm Ltd (Via Video Conference)

FIN(4) 07-12 – Paper 4

Katherine Himsworth, Furnace Farm Ltd

4.1 The Chair welcomed Chris Williams, Development Director, Tidal Energy Ltd. and Katherine Himsworth Director of Furnace Farm via Video Conference.

4.2 The Committee questioned the witnesses.

6.1. The Committee discussed the evidence on its inquiry into the Effectiveness of European Structural Funding in Wales.

FIN(4)-05-12 Paper 2 – Welsh Social Enterprise Coalition

John Bennett, Chief Executive, Welsh Social Enterprise Coalition

Linda Davies, Chief Executive, Too Good To Waste

3.1 The Chair welcomed John Bennett, Chief Executive, Welsh Social Enterprise Coalition and Linda Davies, Chief Executive, Too Good to Waste.

3.2 The Committee questioned the witnesses.

Action point:

The Welsh Social Enterprise Coalition agreed to provide:

·         A report highlighting the social return on investment model used by Social Enterprises.

FIN(4)-05-12 Paper 1

Ben Cottam, Head of ACCA Cymru

2.1 The Chair welcomed Ben Cottam, Head of ACCA Cymru.

2.2 The Committee questioned the witness.

Action point:

ACCA Cymru agreed to provide:

·         Further information on how the implementation of structural funds in Wales compares with other regions in the UK.

7.1 The Committee postponed its discussion of the evidence received in its inquiry into the Effectiveness of European Structural Funding in Wales.  

FIN(4)-04-12 : Paper 2 

Alun Davies, Deputy Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries, Food and European Programmes    

Damien O'Brien - Director WEFO

Peter Ryland - Deputy Director, Programme Performance & Finance, WEFO   

3.1 The Chair welcomed Alun Davies, Deputy Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries, Food and European Programmes.      

Damian Obrien

Peter Ryland

Action Points:

The Welsh Government agreed to provide notes:

·       Comparing the effectiveness of structural funds in Wales against those achieved by EU15 regions, particularly in terms of Growth and Jobs.

·       Comparing the effectiveness of structural funds in Wales against those achieved by other UK regions, particularly in terms of Growth and Jobs.

·       Setting out the consideration that WEFO gives to the future sustainability of projects during the application process.

·       Setting out whether lesser funding is now available to further education colleges, than under the old objective-2ESF funding.

·       Setting out the number of projects which will be funded via JESSICA which Local Authority are either leading, or partners in.

FIN(4)-04-12 : Paper 1

Professor Richard Davies, Higher Education Wales 

Berwyn Davies, Wales Higher Education Brussels  

2.1 The Chair Welcomed Professor Richard Davies, Berwyn Davies, Head of Welsh Higher Education Brussels. 

Action Points:

Higher Education Wales agreed to provide a note to clarify whether the need for external evaluations, and wider financial discipline, were required only in Wales, or more broadly across Wales.

Dr Mark Drakeford AM, Chair, Programme Monitoring Committee

5.1 The Committee welcomed Dr Mark Drakeford, Chair of the Programme Monitoring Committee.

5.2 The Committee questioned the witness.

Pembrokeshire College

FIN(4) 02-12 – Paper 4

·       Nicky Howells, External Funding Manager, Pembrokeshire College

·       David Evans, Director of Finance  

Coleg Morgannwg

FIN(4) 02-12 – Paper 5

·       Judith Evans, Principal, Coleg Morgannwg

·       Karen Phillips, Deputy Principal, Coleg Morgannwg

4.1 The Committee welcomed Nicky Howells, External Funding Manager, Pembrokeshire College; David Evans, Director of Finance, Pembrokeshire College; Judith Evans, Principle, Coleg Morgannwg; and Karen Phillips, Deputy Principle, Coleg Morgannwg.

4.2 The Committee questioned the witnesses.

FIN(4) 02-12 – Paper 3

·         Lowri Gwilym, Team Manager Europe and Regeneration

·         Neville Davies, WLGA European Adviser and Head of European Policy and External Funding, Carmarthenshire County Council

·         Peter Mortimer, WLGA European Adviser and Regeneration Manager, Rhondda Cynon Taff County Borough Council

3.1 The Chair welcomed Lowri Gwilym, Team Manager, Europe and Regeneration, WLGA; and Neville Davies, WLGA European Adviser and Head of European Policy and External Funding, Carmarthenshire County Council.

3.2 Members questioned the witnesses.

Action point:

·         The WLGA agreed to provide details of how many local government-led projects in Wales have utilised higher intervention rates.

Video Conference: European Commission

FIN(4) 02-12 – Paper 1, Paper 2

·         Guy Flament, DG Regional Policy Officer, European Commission

·         Marc Vermyle, DG Employment, European Commission

·         Agnes Lindemans, Head of unit -UK and Ireland, DG Regional Policy

2.1 The Chair welcomed Guy Flament, DG Regional Policy, European Commission; Agnes Lindemans, DG Regional Policy; and Marc Vermyle, DG Employment to the Committee meeting via video conference.

2.2 Members questioned the witnesses.

Action points:

·         DG Regional Policy agreed to provide verification of their evidence which stated that Wales’s economy is highly reliant on the public sector.

·         DG Employment agreed to provide information on the use of higher intervention rates to support new projects in Wales since 2009.

FIN(4) 01-12 – Paper 1

Matthew Brown, Communities Investment Fund Manager, WCVA

Phil Fiander, Director of Programmes, WCVA

Richard Morgan, Director of Funding, Valleys Kids

2.1 The Committee welcomed Matthew Brown, Communities Investment Fund Manager, WCVA; Phil Fiander, Director of Programmes, WCVA; and Richard Morgan, Director of Funding, Valleys Kids.

2.2 The Committee questioned the witnesses.

Action points

The Welsh Council for Voluntary Action agreed to provide:

·         Further details on the timeline for the establishment of the Communities Investment Fund.

FIN(4)-09-11 (P3)

5.1 The Committee discussed ways of handling its inquiry into the Effectiveness of European Structural Funding in Wales.

6.1 The Committee commented on and agreed its call for evidence for the inquiry into the Effectiveness of European Structural Funds.

(11.20-11.30)

6.1 The Committee discussed its potential inquiry into the effectiveness of European Structural Funds in Wales.