Issue - meetings

Appendix 1 is separate for Cabinet Members only. The Appendix is exempt under Paragraph 14 of Schedule 12 A of the Local Gofernment Act 1972 – Information relating to the Financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the Authority holding that Information). The contents of the item includes confidential and commercially sensitive Information on a number of projects. This is relevant to the situation of a number of organisations.

To agree to commit up to £7,901,000 from the Gwynedd 2025/26 allocation from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund to the 14 schemes listed in the report.

To authorise the Head of Economy and Community Department - in consultation with the Head of Legal Service, the Head of Finance Department and the Chief Executive - to confirm the details and the financial contribution.

The report was submitted by Cllr. R. Medwyn Hughes 

DECISION

To agree to commit up to £7,901,000 from the Gwynedd 2025/26 allocation from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund to the 14 schemes listed in the report. 

To authorise the Head of Economy and Community Department - in consultation with the Head of Legal Service, the Head of Finance Department and the Chief Executive - to confirm the details and the financial contribution.  

DISCUSSION

The report was presented stating that the fund was financed by the UK Government in order to develop the economy and communities as part of the schemes created to secure funding after leaving Europe. It was highlighted that the Council had 3 roles in dealing with the fund; the Council was the lead body for north Wales, it decided on which schemes were funded here in Gwynedd and led on projects as well. It was noted that £8.19m was available for Gwynedd, with £7.9m available for projects.

It was explained that the projects that had been presented had been before the fund panel and had been discussed in the Leadership Team, and as a result had been scrutinised in detail. It was expressed that the projects brought the greatest value to the residents of Gwynedd.

The Economic Development Services Manager added that the package of projects that had been proposed were ones that build on what had been learned along with the successes over the past three years. It was explained that this year was a period of financial transition and that the schemes had been fairly spread geographically and in terms of cohorts of society in Gwynedd. It was noted that seven schemes were in operation in Gwynedd alone with a further seven schemes operating in conjunction with other counties. Attention was drawn to projects that were smaller funds to support a range of smaller schemes for people across Gwynedd.

Observations arising from the discussion:

·         Thanks were given for the report and pride was noted in seeing specific schemes to work with young people along with partnerships with communities in order to grow and develop them.

·         It was highlighted that the schemes had clearly been scrutinised and that it was good to see balanced projects. The need for funding for more than short periods of time was noted as well as the need for long-term projects.

·         It was asked if the language had been taken into account when deciding on plans. It was explained that the language was central to all decisions and that there were conditions in terms of receiving funding from the fund to comply with the Council's language policy as well as the promotion of the language. It was noted that many of the schemes were to develop employment opportunities, and therefore the language was an integral part as well as contributing to the development of the language.