Agenda item

To consider a report by the Strategic Regeneration Manager (copy enclosed) which outlines the Council’s performance to date in delivering its town plans and seeks members to identify any slippages and actions to improve delivery in order to assist the Council to come closer to its communities.

9.40am

The Strategic Regeneration Manager (SRM) submitted a report (previously circulated) outlining the Council’s performance to date in delivering its town plans and seeking members’ views on progress.  The quarterly performance report for town plans (Annex A); commentary about individual actions with red/orange status (Annex B) together with a summary of the principal outcomes for the first year of the Plans (Annex C) had been attached to the report.

The process developed for monitoring the performance of Town and Area Plans involved quarterly reports presented to Member Areas Groups (MAGs) highlighting delivery confidence attached to priority actions.  That information would also be aggregated and included in quarterly performance reports to Cabinet.  A recent funding allocation for delivering the corporate priority for improving the local economy had enabled priority actions identified for early implementation to proceed and would feature in the next quarterly reports to the MAGs.  Work had also started on the process of developing Town Plans into Town & Area Plans in order to address the needs and priorities of smaller and more rural communities.

Councillor Hugh Evans, Leader and Lead Member for Economic Development highlighted the important role of the Town Champions within the process and his hopes that the Plans would evolve and become more ambitious in the future to create a vision for each town and its surrounding area.

During consideration of the report members commented as follows –

·         it was encouraging that most projects were on track for delivery but there was also a need to report upon clear outcomes and impact

·         the importance of funding being available when required to deliver projects as planned was highlighted

·         acknowledged the plans were still in the early stages and would take time to develop to reach their full potential

·         suggested that the straightforward projects, particularly those with visual impact, be undertaken at an early stage

·         highlighted the importance of local members in progressing their town/area plans together with interaction with the Town Champion and Link Officer

·         stressed the need for plans to provide a true reflection of the overall investment and benefits within the different areas together with identified funding sources for projects/actions to ensure transparency and accountability

·         there was a need to ensure the delivery of identified actions were not beyond the Council’s control

·         emphasised the important role of the Rural Champion within the process and his interaction with local area members

·         Councillor Cefyn Williams referred to the report reference that the Edeyrnion area educational review had supported improvements in educational attainment and he wished to clarify that there was no evidence to support that statement which was a matter of opinion and still an issue of contention.

In responding to members’ comments officers advised that the funding allocation to progress priority actions for improving the local economy had only recently been endorsed and given the lead time for capital projects reporting on delivering those projects would feature in the next report to the MAGs in July.  Work was ongoing to broaden the existing town plans into town and area plans following which the content and detail would be further developed.  It was the responsibility of the local members and Town Champions to set their own priorities for actions identified.  In terms of measured outcomes it was agreed to supplement the report on delivery confidence with additional information regarding the number of projects completed and their subsequent impact.  Councillor Huw Jones, Rural Champion reported upon the work he was undertaking to ensure the interests of all rural communities were incorporated into the emerging Area Plans.

RESOLVED that, subject to the members’ comments above, the progress made with the delivery of Town Plans in their first year be noted.

At this juncture (10.15 a.m.) the committee adjourned for a refreshment break.