Agenda item

To consider a report by the Corporate Director: Economic & Community Ambition and the Economic & Business Development Manager (copy attached) which monitors the Council’s performance in delivering its town plans and their benefit to the towns themselves and outlying communities.

10.55 a.m. – 11.35 a.m.

The Economic and Business Development Manager introduced the Town & Area Plans report (previously circulated) to monitor the Council’s performance in delivering its Town Plans and their benefit to the towns themselves and outlying communities.

All Town & Area Plans (apart from Bodelwyddan) would be adopted by the end of the financial year.

The Chief Executive had requested a full review of the town plans to review the impact how it measured against cost resource.  The review would take place early in the financial year.

All allocations had been agreed by Cabinet.  There had currently been an additional funding allocation of £356,000 towards town & area plans in 2014/15 for which a bid could be submitted.

The approach had been consistent across each rural area.  Funding which had been allocated from the town & area budget was a year 1 priority.  The plans were a multi-year scheme, not just a one year plan.

Another source of funding was external grant funding.  Town and Community Councils were putting a lot of effort into exploring alternative funding streams for projects.  There was also a possibility of match funding.

Councillor Bobby Feeley requested it be recorded that the “Open Doors” weekend in Ruthin should be continued as it attracted a large amount of visitors into the town.

RESOLVED that the Communities Scrutiny Committee note the progress made with the delivery of Town and Area Plans.