Issue - meetings

To consider a report by Councillor Huw Jones, Lead Member for Community Development (copy enclosed) recommending approval of funding allocations for Town and Area Plan projects following evaluation.

RESOLVED that Cabinet approve the funding allocations recommended in Appendix 1 of the report.

Councillor Huw Jones presented the report recommending approval of funding allocations for Town and Area Plan (TAP) projects following evaluation.

Cabinet had endorsed the TAP review recommendations in January 2015 and agreed to invite Member Area Groups to nominate remaining projects for funding.  The evaluation of those projects had been set out in the report against criteria intended to test benefit, value for money and deliverability.  Review dates had been set for each project and a contingency allocation made for the Bodelwyddan Town Plan.  Councillor Huw Jones commended the work of the Town Champions in their evaluations and presented their funding recommendations.

The Leader welcomed the investment in communities and community benefits arising from the TAPs.  He also reported upon future intentions to align TAPs more closely with the economic strategy and highlighted the importance of service departments supporting the plans delivery.  Cabinet was satisfied clear processes had been established with an assessment criteria to promote fairness and transparency in funding allocations but sought further assurances regarding the swift progression of projects and match funding elements.  The Corporate Director: Economy and Public Realm reassured members regarding the robust monitoring processes in place to oversee the progression of projects within appropriate timescales.  It was suggested further regular monitoring could be undertaken via an appendix to Cabinet’s regular finance report to show progress against spend and funding could be reallocated if projects failed to progress.  Most of the recommended schemes had identified or secured match funding and the introduction of review dates would enable the match funding element to be assessed.  Councillor Eryl Williams suggested a report back to the Town Champions or Group Leaders to ensure councillors were kept up to date with progress of particular projects.  In terms of future funding of TAPs reference was made to the Rural Development Plan, windfarms and European funding as potential sources to continue the investment in towns/villages.

As an aside Councillor Eryl Williams highlighted that local government reorganisation proposals would impact on the availability of external funding.  In order that Denbighshire did not lose out in that regard he suggested clarification be sought on the financial implications directly from the Minister and Assembly Members.  The Deputy Monitoring Officer/Solicitor agreed to draft a letter in that regard in consultation with the Head of Legal, HR and Democratic Services.

Members thanked officers for their hard work on various projects and highlighted the important role of the Town Champions within the process.  Members also commented on various projects submitted for evaluation and expressed disappointment in cases where they had not been supported with no appeal mechanism in place.  Councillor Huw Jones advised that projects not currently recommended for funding may have a further opportunity to bid from reallocated funding if other projects failed to progress.  Work was underway to examine different ways of working and potential external funding sources to enable TAPs to continue in the future.

RESOLVED that Cabinet approve the funding allocations recommended in Appendix 1 of the report.