Agenda item

It was agreed to:

·         finance the funding gap for Canolfan Dolfeurig (£600,000)

·         finance the funding gap for the former Llanrug school house site (£150,000) and recoup the majority of the initial investment by selling the house and part of the land for affordable housing to local people and to make improvements to the primary school

·         that a further £2m is provided to commence work on constructing industrial units in the county

·         wait to see what the outcome of the discussions held with Welsh Government regarding Barmouth Promenade will be, before considering any further allocations in the Asset Plan.

The report was submitted by Cllr Ioan Thomas

DECISION

It was agreed to:

·         finance the funding gap for Canolfan Dolfeurig (£600,000)

·         finance the funding gap for the former Llanrug school house site (£150,000) and recoup the majority of the initial investment by selling the house and part of the land for affordable housing to local people and to make improvements to the primary school

·         that a further £2m is provided to commence work on constructing industrial units in the county

·         wait to see what the outcome of the discussions held with Welsh Government regarding Barmouth Promenade will be, before considering any further allocations in the Asset Plan.

DISCUSSION

The report was submitted noting that the Full Council had adopted an Asset Plan for a ten year period back in March 2019. It was highlighted that the plan anticipated the resources the Council would have for the 10 years and prioritised all of the plans proposed by the Departments. It was emphasised that the Plan was live and flexible and that the resources situation had changed somewhat since the plan had been approved.

It was stated that there had been an awareness at the time of preparing the Plan that it would be possible that additional schemes could come forward   and it was agreed to reserve £0.5m per year in order to address the requirements for small schemes mainly. It was reiterated that substantial schemes needed consideration for 2021/22. Attention was drawn to Canolfan Dolfeurig in Dolgellau explaining that when the scheme was initially considered, a request had been made for £1.2m, but after undertaking further work, costs were nearer to £1.8m.

The demand for industrial units across the county in recent years was highlighted, and although the North Wales Growth Deal ensured strategic sites, the need for smaller units to meet local demand was noted. On the basis that  units would cost approximately £200,000 each (excluding land costs), it was asked for the Cabinet's support to add funding in order to ensure it.

It was originally stated that the Council had anticipated that £1.6m would need to be spent on the restoration of the promenade in Barmouth as a result of damage. Also, as a result of undertaking much more detailed work, it was highlighted that the cost of restoring would likely be between £16m and £22.5m, which meant that the Council would need to find £3.75m as a contribution in order to deliver the work.

At its meeting in October 2017, the Cabinet agreed to purchase a piece of land near Ysgol Gynradd Llanrug, in case it would be required for educational purposes in the future. By now, it was noted that only an element of the land would be required and that it would be possible to re-claim an element of the cost by selling pieces of the land for affordable housing but it was highlighted that a likely gap would need to be funded.

Since the plan had been approved, it was explained that the Council had received various grants that could be used rather than using the Asset Plan resources, and along with a higher than anticipated capital settlement, over £5.5m was available for the Cabinet to consider how they wished to use it.

Observations arising from the discussion

¾  Support was given to Canolfan Dolfeurig as there was a real need for a new building and it was an excellent asset for the south of the county.

¾     Support was noted for industrial buildings as specific support was needed for small businesses.

¾     In terms of Barmouth Promenade and after undertaking further work, it was noted that there was a real need to undertake the work to ensure that the Council kept residents safe, but the additional pressures on coastal councils to fund work of this type were highlighted.