Agenda item

To report to the Scrutiny Committee on the performance of the Economy Department.

·       To accept the report and note the comments;

·       That consideration needs to be given to scrutiny of the benefit of the Growth Deal for Gwynedd including the alternative project in Trawsfynydd

·       To ask the Economy and Community Department to provide three-year rolling data on numbers who have received return to work support

·       To ask the Department to make a request to Byw'n Iach Company for user data;

To request that the department seeks funding and wider support for the Caernarfon Food Festival and to show more clearly in the report that there is funding for social enterprises.

The report was submitted by the Cabinet Member, noting that it had been a very busy period for the department, with one grant cycle coming to an end whilst another was starting. It was highlighted that the department had 4 priority schemes in the Council Plan, three in the A Prosperous Gwynedd section and one as part of the A Caring Gwynedd programme. It was noted that good progress had been made against the milestones, but the risk common for the four was uncertainty about the future of the budgets as they were funded by grant funding. 

Members were guided through the plans, giving them a taste of the ongoing work, drawing attention to fields such as the significant work made to complete expenditure of the ARFOR programme and the Shared Prosperity Fund projects. It was highlighted that there was 49% less funding available for Gwynedd and the counties of north Wales whilst looking at the Shared Prosperity Fund, but work to identify the 2025/26 priorities had already started.

In terms of the department's day-to-day work, it was highlighted that there was concern that the number of pupils receiving swimming lessons in leisure centres continued to reduce as well as the dredging challenges in Pwllheli Hafan and Harbour. It was noted that the customer satisfaction level was high in many fields in the department, namely the archives service, museums, the arts and the libraries service.

During the discussion, the following observations and questions were presented:- 

Attention was drawn to the reduction in the number of pupils receiving swimming lessons, highlighting that this was likely as a result of high transport costs to the centres. It was noted, although this was a problem seen in many rural areas, that the same picture was also seen in urban schools, specifically in deprived areas. It was asked for an analysis of swimming statistics to see the extent of the problem. In the discussion about swimming, it was also asked for an analysis of the users of Byw'n Iach leisure centres to see what the patterns were in terms of which areas used the facilities and in what areas. It was agreed to share the information with the members.

It was asked about the Growth Deal developments in north Wales, as it appeared that there was no progress. The department explained that many things were happening but there had been changes to various projects for many reasons. In terms of Gwynedd projects, it was noted that the Trawsfynydd project submitted by the Egino company back in 2019 had now been withdrawn as the site was not favoured by the Welsh Government for further nuclear developments. Although the Leader attempted to divert the funding to an alternative project, it was resolved that it would not be possible to do this with any withdrawn project and a principle was set that a new application would have to be submitted. Consequently, it was noted that a new application to develop a Science Park on the site was in the process of being submitted.

Another application seen in Gwynedd as part of the Growth Deal was the Glynllifon application to develop a Rural Innovation Hub. As it was such a large project, there was a need to submit a planning application for a new entrance. As a result of opposition to the application by statutory organisations, it was noted that Coleg Llandrillo Menai was also looking at submitting another project.

Although the two projects above were not progressing, it was emphasised that two projects were progressing at Parc Glan Cegin, Bangor, as well as a Bangor University Project. It was expressed that projects were developing and the department was confident that Gwynedd would benefit from being part of the project. It was acknowledged that the projects were moving slower than anticipated when the agreement was signed.

Disappointment was noted that projects were progressing so slowly, and it was expressed that there was a desire for the Committee to look at the matter in more detail, looking specifically at costs and the benefit for Gwynedd. 

One member expressed that they were unaware of the plans in Trawsfynydd and the department agreed to send the original project to them, noting they were now dated and it was emphasised that Gwynedd was not part of the original project.

One member highlighted that Growth Deal projects were not seen in the south of the county where there was a true need for jobs and developments.

Attention was drawn to the good work being done by the Creating the Best Possible Circumstances in Gwynedd for Community Enterprises and Business to Thrive Scheme, and Support the People of Gwynedd into Work, with 184 supported to return to work this year and 232 received help to increase their ability to earn a good salary. It was asked whether there were figures for the previous years to see the figures in their context. The department explained that the team was doing excellent work, but it was entirely dependent on grant and the financial situation was fragile. It was expressed that figures were available and they would be shared with the committee.

The Committee asked about collaboration between departments, and how much discussion there was with departments such as Education in terms of swimming lessons, funding with the impact of the letting threshold of 184 days on small businesses and holiday accommodation, as well as the environment department with minor improvements to Gwynedd infrastructure in terms of making it attractive, e.g., car parks and pavements. The department explained that there was collaboration, highlighting the work associated with the Shared Prosperity Fund. It was detailed that there was very close collaboration with the Highways and Environment department to identify plans to improve city centres, and that workshops had been held with representation from Council departments to prioritise plans.

It was noted that there was a sense that there had not been much collaboration between the Planning department and the department in terms of developing tourism plans, highlighting the Glynllifon Growth Deal project for example. It was highlighted that there was close collaboration with the planning officers being members of project boards, such as the Slate Plan, but a planning application on the Glynllifon site had been refused following objections by statutory organisations beyond the Council, therefore it was not lack of collaboration that was the problem in this case. 

Attention was drawn to the Caernarfon Food Festival committee's announcement that they would be taking a break for a year, partly due to the pressures on the small committee, and the department was asked for their support to help in the future. Support was expressed to hold discussions and to see whether the department could do more.

It was highlighted that Libraries were now more than a place to borrow books and they were community hubs. It was asked, with Neuadd Dwyfor thriving, what had caused such a positive change. The department responded, noting that libraries such as Tywyn was an example of what libraries could offer, and the department was developing a new strategy for the future which would incorporate the agenda of supporting people. In terms of Neuadd Dwyfor, it was noted that the substantial investment programme, as well as being accountable to the needs of the area and a good team had led to a positive change. It was highlighted, although the building was used much more, that it had not led to an increase in income as a result of increase in costs. It was noted that there were many lessons to be learned but it highlighted that co-locating services was vital.

RESOLVED

·       To accept the report, noting the observations;

·       That consideration needs to be given to scrutiny of the benefit of the Growth Deal for Gwynedd including the alternative project in Trawsfynydd

·       To ask the Economy and Community Department to provide three-year rolling data on numbers who have received return to work support

·       To ask the Department to make a request to Byw'n Iach Company for user data;

·       To request that the department seeks funding and wider support for the Caernarfon Food Festival and to demonstrate more clearly in the report that there was funding for social enterprises.