Cyflwynwyd gan:Cyng / Cllr Ioan Thomas a Dafydd Meurig
Decision:
Resolved to
1. Support the principle that Gwynedd
Council takes the role of the Leading Body for the project
2. Subject to
receiving a confirmation of the other contributions:
i.
That the Cabinet gives its approval to the
Economy and Community Department's decision to commit £250,000 of its Joint
Funding Fund towards a plan of approximately £25,000,000 to develop appropriate
infrastructure to support the development of the Snowdonia Aerospace Centre in
Llanbedr.
ii. That Gwynedd Council commits another £250,000 to the plan in advance of the proposed Asset Management Plan.
Minutes:
The item was submitted by Cllr Ioan Thomas
RESOLVED
Resolved:
1. To support the principle that Gwynedd Council is taking on the role of Lead Body for the project
2. Subject to receiving a confirmation of the other contributions:
i. That the Cabinet gives its approval to the Economy and Community Department's decision to commit £250,000,000 of its Joint Funding Fund towards a plan of approximately £25,000 to develop appropriate infrastructure to support the development of the Snowdonia Aerospace Centre in Llanbedr.
ii. That Gwynedd Council commit another £250,000 to the plan in advance of the proposed Asset Management Plan.
DISCUSSION
The report was submitted as there was a need for further investment on the location. It was estimated that developing the Snowdonia Aerospace Centre, Llanbedr to be a centre for excellence for developing and trialling remotely-piloted vehicles could lead to the creation of 100 jobs. It was noted that in order to enable the development of the site, further investment was needed, including improvements to the facilities on the airfield and a new access road which would by-pass Llanbedr village centre.
It was emphasised that the Airfield was a significant asset which could develop the economy of Meirionnydd by creating high value jobs. The site was also part of the Snowdonia Enterprise Zone, and the Council had been working closely with the company that operated the site and Welsh Government to develop it. It was emphasised that Welsh Government owned the site and they had leased the site to the Snowdonia Aerospace company on a long-term contract.
It was emphasised clearly that Gwynedd's contribution was going entirely towards improving access to the site, which would include improvements to local roads.
Observations arising from the discussion
- It was noted that many individuals and organisations had asked whether there would be an investment into the companies that were located on the site, as there were companies that developed weapons. It was emphasised again that the Council's funding would be used to develop the road and not the location itself.
- It was noted that Meirionnydd had seen a decrease in the number of high value jobs in recent years, and it was noted that there was a need to invest in infrastructure in order to attract high value jobs and enable local people to stay in the area. It was added that 10 local companies used the site and the existing road was poor; there was a need to invest in the road in order to enable a local company to expand.
- It was asked why it would be Gwynedd Council taking the Lead role - it was noted because Welsh Government received the funding from Europe, and therefore could not give them finance themselves, and the Company running the site had no experience and therefore the Council was the only option.
- It was asked what the company who owned the lease was doing - it was noted that the company was in the process of developing a business plan in order to be able to lease parts of the location to local companies, to upgrade places on the site and they were making an application to become an Aerospace Centre. It was noted that they were aiming to maintain the site and to increase the value of the site and acquire more tenants.
- A discussion was held for the management of the future and whether the developments would continue to have to follow the Council's planning rules - it was noted that they would and that the investment on the road would not impact the arrangement.
- It was noted that there was no mention of a Plan to develop weapons / drones in the report, asked whether anyone had any plans to do this. It was noted that the QinetiQ company, who carried out work in the field of drones, was a tenant on the site but that the site was not specifically for them.
- In terms of the Council, it was noted that making improvements to the road was a good deal as it contributed towards creating more jobs locally.
- It was asked about the opinion of the local people of Llanbedr to the application - it was noted that they had been asking for a bypass to the village since the 1950s, and that they encouraged the Council to move forward with the application.
Awdur:Sioned Williams a Dafydd Williams
Supporting documents: