A multi-million pound plan for mid Wales could be signed off this week, Ceredigion councillors were pleased to hear.

Council leader Cllr Ellen ap Gwynn said she will be “extremely pleased” when the Growing Mid Wales inter-authority agreement three is signed, telling cabinet that this was due to be done “by this time on Thursday.”

At Tuesday’s (January 11) meeting Cllr ap Gwynn said it had been a long and at times “difficult” process “but lets hope we will now be able to move on with this agreement.”

Ceredigion County Council is partnering with Powys County Council with a portfolio business case submitted to Welsh Government last year developing  a framework for the growth deal that includes an initial set of programmes and projects which can be developed and considered further as the work progresses.

There is the potential to generate capital investment of between £280million and £400million over the next 10 to 15 years, as well as increasing job numbers and economic benefits for the region.

A report to cabinet sates: “To ensure there is continued good and robust governance for the delivery phase of the Mid Wales Growth Deal, it is necessary to further revise and evolve the existing arrangements between both Powys and Ceredigion councils. This takes the form of a third iteration of the Inter-Authority Agreement in relation to the delivery of the MWGD.”

The agreement was unanimously approved by cabinet, with Cllr ap Gwynn saying “that is a huge step ahead as far as all the work that has been done in order to establish the Growth Deal".