Agenda item

To consider a report by Councillor Hugh Evans, Leader and Lead Member for the Economy and Corporate Governance (copy enclosed) presenting the North Wales Regional Regeneration Plan and proposals for Targeted Regeneration Investment for approval to submission to the Welsh Government.

RESOLVED that Cabinet –

(a)       approves –

·         submission of the final North Wales Regional Regeneration Plan (and broad priorities contained within it) to Welsh Government in order to access Targeted Regeneration Investment funds

·         the outline projects proposed for submission by the Council to the Targeted Regeneration Investment

·         delegated authority for the Corporate Director, Economy and Public Realm in consultation with the Lead Member for the Economy and Corporate Governance, Head of Legal, HR and Democratic Services and Head of Finance (Section 151 Officer) to –

o   make any project funding applications necessary to secure resources from the Targeted Regeneration Investment programme for the period of its operation

o   accept and undertaken expenditure on projects accessing Targeted Regeneration Investment programme support, including award of grants to third parties

o   negotiate and enter into agreements with other North Wales councils where this is necessary to bid for or receive Targeted Regeneration Investment programme funds

(b)       notes that there will be an annual review of the Regional Regeneration Plan in line with governance and monitoring arrangements (set out in Appendix 1 to the report) offering opportunity for changes in strategy and direction that may focus resources on other towns/areas)

(c)        confirms that it has read, understood and taken account of the Well-being Impact Assessment (Appendix 4 to the report) as part of its consideration.

Councillor Hugh Evans introduced the report and presented the North Wales Regional Regeneration Plan 2018 – 2035 (RRP) and proposals for Targeted Regeneration Investment (TRI) for approval to submission to Welsh Government.

The TRI programme had been launched by Welsh Government to provide funding for regeneration projects over three years with £22m allocated to North Wales.  A collaborative approach was necessary as funding was conditional upon submission of a prioritised RRP agreed by all six North Wales councils.  In line with funding requirements twelve areas across the region had been proposed as priority areas based on deprivation rankings which included Rhyl and Denbigh, with four priority areas (including Rhyl) identified for the initial three year funding period.  The reasoning behind the focus on Rhyl as a priority area was explained given the funding criteria set by Welsh Government and Rhyl’s ranking as the most deprived town in North Wales, and given the Council’s investment and commitment to the regeneration of Rhyl it was appropriate that potential funding avenues be used to help deliver that aim.  The report acknowledged both poverty associated with larger urban settlements and the need to address poverty and regeneration in small towns and rural areas which it was hoped would be realised during the course of the Plan.

Cabinet welcomed the funding allocation for the regeneration of areas within the region but recognised the constraints for accessing that funding given the criteria set by Welsh Government in terms of the methodology for prioritising regeneration areas and the need for a regional approach leading to consensus across all six North Wales councils which required a degree of negotiation and compromise on all parts.  Cabinet also noted that the criteria and thematic approach of the RRP was broadly aligned with other corporate priorities and highlighted the need for Denbighshire to maximise opportunities from regional working in that regard.

In response to questions the Lead Member and officers advised that –

·         the RRP had been approved by three councils and would likely be approved by the remaining councils given that the funding would otherwise be lost

·         in terms of monitoring baseline figures had been identified for different regeneration areas to measure progress and outcomes at a programme level and individual projects emerging from the Plan would have their own targets subject to scrutiny by Welsh Government prior to funding being allocated

·         there were further opportunities outside of the Plan to support other priorities and tap into a wide range of different Welsh Government initiatives and work was being undertaken to guide those other sources of support and investment over the long term

·         there had been positive engagement at officer level with agreement and commitment to key issues across the region – having worked collectively to agree priorities the RRP was considered a good and reasonable compromise

·         Rhyl had been ranked first in order of deprivation and had been identified for targeted investment in the first three years, however some funding may also be attracted to Denbigh in the short term across the thematic proposals of housing and key buildings and in the longer term Denbigh was well positioned to benefit given that it was ranked tenth in terms of deprivation

·         there was also an issue around smaller communities and rural poverty identified in the Plan and work was ongoing as to how best to address and prioritise those needs in the future whilst also complying with Welsh Government criteria

·         the TRI programme required match funding for projects of 30% which could come from a range of sources including officer time, public and private sector sources, and through the usual council processes.

During further debate the background and rationale behind the Council’s priority for the regeneration of Rhyl was discussed.  Whilst it was disappointing to note Rhyl’s position in the deprivation rankings the significant investment in the waterfront and infrastructure projects was highlighted together with the next stage to focus on the wider issues and outcomes for local people, improving health, employment and life opportunities.  Officers also elaborated upon other regeneration work and plans for the town centre and referenced work within the wider Rhyl Regeneration Programme.  Whilst criteria for the RRP funding stream was capital based around delivering specific economic and housing outputs, projects emerging through the TRI programme would link to other elements of regeneration, including addressing barriers to employment and community benefits to create work opportunities.

RESOLVED that Cabinet –

(a)       approves –

·         submission of the final North Wales Regional Regeneration Plan (and broad priorities contained within it) to Welsh Government in order to access Targeted Regeneration Investment funds

·         the outline projects proposed for submission by the Council to the Targeted Regeneration Investment

·         delegated authority for the Corporate Director, Economy and Public Realm in consultation with the Lead Member for the Economy and Corporate Governance, Head of Legal, HR and Democratic Services and Head of Finance (Section 151 Officer) to –

o   make any project funding applications necessary to secure resources from the Targeted Regeneration Investment programme for the period of its operation

o   accept and undertaken expenditure on projects accessing Targeted Regeneration Investment programme support, including award of grants to third parties

o   negotiate and enter into agreements with other North Wales councils where this is necessary to bid for or receive Targeted Regeneration Investment programme funds

(b)       notes that there will be an annual review of the Regional Regeneration Plan in line with governance and monitoring arrangements (set out in Appendix 1 to the report) offering opportunity for changes in strategy and direction that may focus resources on other towns/areas)

(c)        confirms that it has read, understood and taken account of the Well-being Impact Assessment (Appendix 4 to the report) as part of its consideration.