Cyflwynwyd gan:Cyng / Cllr Ioan Thomas
Decision:
Resolved to:
-
Approve
the draft Regional Regeneration Strategy in order to submit to Welsh Government
-
Require
that commitment within the draft Strategy regarding work to identify and
respond to issues involving rural deprivation receives attention during 2018/19
-
Undertake
further work to consider possible opportunities arising from the TRI Programme
with the intention of submitting a further report to Cabinet outlining the
proposals.
-
Ask
officers to review the governance arrangements to ensure that it is more
explicit
Minutes:
The item was submitted by Cllr Ioan Thomas
RESOLVED
Resolved to:
-
Approve
the draft Regional Regeneration Strategy in order to submit to Welsh Government
-
Require
that commitment within the draft Strategy regarding work to identify and
respond to issues involving rural deprivation receives attention during 2018/19
-
Undertake
further work to consider possible opportunities arising from the TRI Programme
with the intention of submitting a further report to Cabinet outlining the
proposals.
-
Ask officers to review the governance
arrangements to ensure that it is more explicit
DISCUSSION
The report was submitted noting that it was a regional item
and it would need to be discussed in every Council across North Wales. It was
added that Welsh Government had noted the need for a Regional Regeneration
Plan, and that the Plan would need to be submitted and approved before the
Government would accept applications for investment. It was noted that the aim
of the plan was to support projects that promoted economic regeneration, and
that the plan would be able to consider a capital investment contribution of up
to 70%.
Identified priorities for the Regeneration Strategy were
elaborated upon, noting that in order to identify areas of need, the draft
Strategy mainly referred to the Index of Multiple Deprivation data for Wales.
It was emphasised that the strategy recommended the priorities of the town
centre regeneration projects of four settlements, namely Rhyl, Wrexham, Bangor
and Colwyn Bay.
It was added that as part of the preparation work in Bangor,
the Bangor City Partnership had been set up, and further work had been done to
prepare a regeneration strategy for the city, based on three main themes. It
was noted that further preparation work was required in advance to develop
outline proposals into detailed projects, and it was added that the work
programme was being reviewed by the Partnership.
Observations arising from the
discussion
-
With regard to the financial allocation that had
been divided into three parts, it was asked whether it would be possible for
funding to be divided across the county for the second or third part, and it
was noted that it would be possible to develop projects beyond the locations
noted as priorities.
-
The Project Development Fund was discussed for
each region, which would provide a contribution of 50% for early project costs,
and it was asked whether it would be the Council that would need to find the
other 50%. A response was given, noting that the money did not have to come
from the Council, depending on the project, it would be possible to ask another
organisation that was part of the partnership to contribute the 50%.
-
The fact that 30% of the cost of any plan would
need to be found was outlined, and therefore, if this fell on the Council, it
would have to compete against other plans in the Assets Plan.
-
It was noted that the structure in the strategy
seemed to be complex, and it was expressed that further work was to be done and
that there would be an element of accountability on each Council. It was noted
that the Structure needed to be clearer.
-
The intention to submit a further report to the
Cabinet was noted, which would note specific proposals and the financial
package in order to be able to consider whether the Council would give any
equivalent funding to these plans.
Awdur:Llyr B Jones
Supporting documents: