Agenda item

To consider the Annual Report of the Ambition North Wales Board (copy attached) and comment on its performance, priorities and future objectives.

10:10am – 10:45am

The Council Leader in his role as Lead Member for Economic Growth & Tackling Deprivation introduced the report (previously circulated) and explained that this was an annual report brought before the Committee. It was advised that the objective of the Board was to bring in private sector investment through these projects and introduce high quality jobs into North Wales. It was noted that this report was the third report of the 15-year cycle plan. The Lead Member also thanked his predecessor, Councillor Hugh Evans, for all the work conducted in the previous term.

The Head of Operations and the Land and Property Programme Manager gave a PowerPoint presentation which illustrated all the work that the Ambition Board had conducted in its third year and throughout its existence. This presentation emphasised that the aim of Ambition North Wales was to realise a confident and cohesive region by focussing on improving economic, social and environmental factors of North Wales. Projects that the Board had facilitated focussed on a number of varied themes, including language, culture and heritage. There were five programme areas which included 23 projects in total with a £1 billion target for investment with the aim of creating over 4000 new jobs for North Wales.  During 2023-24 two key projects had made significant progress and another five new projects had joined the Growth Deal, all of which were detailed within the report.

The meeting opened up to members and questions surrounding the former North Wales Hospital site were raised. It was suggested by members that it did not seem much work had been done towards this.  Officers advised members that this was not the case, the Levelling Up Fund (LUF) had been secured.  Whilst the change in government had caused an inevitable delay in relation to an announcement on the funding, things had continued behind the scenes such as the Board approving the Outline Business Plan submitted by Jones Brothers. Officers advised that many new homes as well as commercial premises would, subject to planning approval be built on the site.  Jones Brothers already recruited and provided apprenticeships and graduate schemes for young people and had relocated its training department to the site.

Other work that had been undertaken regarding the former North Wales Hospital included ensuring legal documents were in place such as the s106 and preparations to legally transfer the land and buildings from the local authority to Jones Brothers. Bats were also present on site, so licenses and relevant bat facilities had to be constructed. Next steps included to manage demolition of parts of the site and to deal with asbestos present. Officers advised they were looking to protect and enhance the project where possible and ensuring biodiversity was preserved.

Members asked questions surrounding employment with this project. It was advised that with regard to full time employment, 70 full time roles were expected to be based at the site during the project development stage but with regard to construction as well as apprenticeships, it was advised that at least 300 jobs would be created, but it was possible than this figure could be exceeded.

Questions arose from members regarding a lack of tourism and transport in Rhyl, particularly the train links. Members were advised as follows:

• both Welsh Government and UK Government had determined that transport should not form part of the Growth Deal, therefore the Plan did not encompass transport matters.
• That, whilst the Board had no formal role in relation to the proposed new National Park in North East Wales, its Agri-food and Tourism ambition did support the enhancement of tourism skills across all areas and facilitated targeted training and retraining to improve this.

Following an in-depth discussion, the Committee:

Resolved:  subject to the above observations, to receive and endorse the progress made by the Ambition North Wales Board during both Quarter 4 and the 2023/24 financial year in delivering the third year of the North Wales Growth Deal.

The Committee adjourned for a break at 11.55am and re-convened at 12pm.

As a number of members had left the meeting by this juncture the Committee was inquorate for the purpose of formulating recommendations.  Consequently,   those members still in attendance agreed to continue to transact the remainder  of the Committee’s  business on an informal basis.