Agenda item

To consider a report by Councillor Hugh Evans, Leader and Lead Member for Economic Development (copy enclosed) which details the new regeneration framework from Welsh Government – Vibrant & Viable Places and outlined proposals for how regeneration funding would be prioritised going forward.

RESOLVED - that Cabinet:-

(a)          supports the development of a bid focussed around Rhyl Town Centre; and

(b)          the submission of a Stage 1, Strategic Outline Programme, by the deadline of the 12^th July, 2013.

The Leader presented the report, circulated previously, which sought Cabinet’s endorsement for the development and submission of a bid for funding under the Vibrant and Viable regeneration programme for Rhyl Town Centre.

He explained that Denbighshire had been successful in securing funding for a number of initiatives and projects including Rhyl Harbour, West Rhyl Housing Improvement Project (WRHIP) and the Bee and Station Hotel refurbishment.  However, funding for the programme would end in March, 2014.  Future regeneration funding would be secured through a competitive process under the Viable and Vibrant Places Framework.

The Vibrant and Viable Places Bidding Guidance, which had been appended to the report, set out some of the key principles and approaches which would be expected, along with the key priorities for regeneration investment and these had been included in the report.  Significant expenditure had been planned in Rhyl through Regeneration, Highways and other services which could be counted as match.  Private sector investment would be eligible as match, and there was already considerable private investment planned in the timeframe of the programme through the new hotel development and the proposed Aquatic Centre.  Further private sector investment would be levered through the programme.  Given the existing match funding detailed outlined in the report, it was proposed to develop a bid within the existing resource base and as such there would  not be a need to allocate further Denbighshire capital funding to support the bid.

Initial discussion at officer level had considered looking at a County wide bid focussed on town centres, but following a very strong steer from Welsh Government officers that this approach was unlikely to be successful, a more focussed approach around one town centre had been considered appropriate.  Within the Rhyl Going Forward Programme the town centre had already been identified as a significant issue and the next priority to be addressed.  On this basis, and that of the existing published guidance and subsequent steer from Welsh Government, it is considered that a bid focussed around Rhyl town centre would have the strongest chance for the reasons highlighted in the report.  The Leader expressed his disappointment that, because of the guidance and strong steer from Welsh Government, other towns in the County would not have the opportunity to benefit from this new programme.

If advanced, it had been proposed that the bid should prioritise business development, entrepreneurship and creating new job opportunities in the town centre.  This would focus on retail, particularly within the independent sector and looking at under-represented sectors such as food, but in consideration of the changing retail context would also consider how the town centre can support a more diverse housing offer and a broader range of services.  It was explained that funding would be for capital rather than revenue, but this would provide an opportunity to potentially secure funding for property acquisitions and refurbishment, grant schemes, environmental improvements and possibly improvements to car parks.  Any capital schemes would need to be supported by appropriate business support and training initiatives.

The report detailed how the decision would contribute to the Corporate Priorities, how costs would affect other services and provided an outline of the  risks and the measures implemented to reduce them.  Members were informed that further endorsement of the approach would be sought from other relevant Committees and Partner Agencies, and formal approval for the submission of the Stage 2 bid, subject to approval by Welsh Government, would be considered by Cabinet on the 3^rd September, 2013, as detailed in Section 7 of the report.

In reply to issues raised by Councillors Barbara Smith and Jeanette Chamberlain-Jones, the Rhyl Going Forward Programme Manager explained that a signage and access strategy for Rhyl was currently being prepared, and that work to address the condition of the road in the Lower High Street had been included in the Highways Maintenance Programme.   (TB to Action)  

In response to a question from Councillor Huw Jones, the Leader explained that details of the submission of the bid had been referred to MAG’s in the South of the County with a view to explaining the reasons for the focus of the bid being in Rhyl.  The Chief Executive highlighted the importance of recognising that the decision to include items for consideration on the MAG’s agenda should remain with the respective MAG’s.  The Corporate Director: Economic and Community Ambition explained that the issue of the dissemination of information could be addressed at the Council Briefing in September which had been arranged to consider the Regeneration Economic Development Strategy.

RESOLVED - that Cabinet:-

(a)          supports the development of a bid focussed around Rhyl Town Centre; and

(b)          the submission of a Stage 1, Strategic Outline Programme, by the deadline of the 12^th July, 2013.

(TB to Action)