Agenda item

To consider a report by Councillor Hugh Evans, Leader and Lead Member for the Economy (copy enclosed) setting out a review of progress with the Rhyl Going Forward Regeneration Programme and an assessment of where the Programme needs to go next.

RESOLVED that Cabinet –

 

(a)       note the progress made with regeneration projects in Rhyl;

 

(b)       approve the proposals for the next phase of regeneration activity in Rhyl set out within the report and illustrated in Appendix 2 to the report and agree that they should be used to inform priorities for any regeneration funding that may become available, and

 

(c)        approve the programme management and governance arrangements set out within the report and illustrated in Appendix 3 to the report.

Councillor Hugh Evans presented the report setting out a review of progress with the Rhyl Going Forward Regeneration Programme and proposals for future regeneration activity.  Rhyl had been a regeneration priority for over ten years.

 

Councillor Evans summarised the report which provided some historic context to the demise of seaside resorts and assessment of previous regeneration activity in Rhyl.  A collaborative approach to future regeneration activity was required with particular support welcomed from the Welsh Government on a number of initiatives, most recently the Waterfront project, together with private sector partnerships and investment.  The aim was to recreate Rhyl as a desirable place to live, work and visit and although it was a huge challenge, Councillor Evans felt there was now a coherent plan in place and progress could be made through the regeneration strategies and proposals for the next phase as detailed within the report.

 

The Corporate Director: Economy and Public Realm highlighted a number of successes and referred to those areas where further work was required and outcomes had not been as expected.  She advised that the focus should be on activities that improved footfall to the town, attracted more economically active residents to live in Rhyl, addressed negative perceptions, and nurture business confidence and growth.  Consequently three work streams had been proposed containing projects focusing on Tourism & Visitors, Town Centre and Living & Working in Rhyl.  It was recommended that Cabinet approve those proposals together with programme management and governance arrangements.

 

Cabinet welcomed the plan to tackle regeneration in Rhyl and the proposals to draw people back into the town across the three work streams.  It was hoped that the original success of the Sun Centre could be emulated with a series of attractions as any improvements in the retail offer alone would not be enough to entice people back into Rhyl.  The need for sustainable income generation was also highlighted together with continual investment in facilities to keep the leisure offer fresh and exciting.  The Corporate Director agreed that a retail offer alone would not sustain the town and elaborated upon the Waterfront project to provide activities, events and facilities and increase footfall within the town impacting positively on its regeneration.  She also apologised that reference to progress on entering Rhyl beach for a seaside award had been omitted and agreed to circulate that information to members.

 

Councillor Joan Butterfield reported that Rhyl Members fully supported Rhyl as a regeneration priority but expressed a number of concerns as follows –

 

·         the lack of input from Rhyl Members when formulating the regeneration plan and their lack of involvement in the project boards overseeing particular initiatives

·         the lack of investment in maintaining Rhyl facilities such as the Skytower and Sun Centre but investment being made to facilities in other areas of the county

·         concerns regarding the delay on the part of Pennaf Housing Group (including Clwyd Alyn Housing Association) in delivering the housing development aspect of the West Rhyl Housing Improvement Project (WRHIP)

·         highlighted the significant investment made in Rhyl West which had resulted in little or no impact on outcomes and lack of investment in other areas

·         welcomed the investment in the Rhyl New School but noted no further progress with the new Faith School.

 

The Lead Members and Corporate Director responded to issues raised as follows –

 

·         the report had been shared with Rhyl Members prior to submission to Cabinet and any new regeneration proposals would be welcomed and considered

·         the governance structure highlighted the involvement of Rhyl Members in the Rhyl Reference Group and Scrutiny Committees and they would also be involved in various dedicated project boards – membership of the Coastal Facilities Board and WRHIP Board also included Rhyl Members

·         advised of the significant investment in Rhyl over recent years including the Foryd Harbour, Apollo, Honey Club, Rhyl New School, Flood Defences and Housing and the recently announced Waterfront Development 

·         it was accepted that the impact of particular investments and their outcomes was not always clear or easy to quantify

·         Pennaf Housing Group was being called into scrutiny to discuss why the WRHIP was taking longer than expected with a view to accelerating delivery of the housing development;  Pennaf was aware of the Council’s view that the houses built should be marketed for sale and not for rent

·         education was also crucial to regeneration and the Rhyl New School would act as a catalyst to bring people into the town.

 

Councillor Jeanette Chamberlain-Jones voiced concerns regarding the impact on town centre businesses and asked for more to be done in terms of reducing business rates and car parking fees to try and increase footfall in the town.  Councillor Barry Mellor welcomed much within the report but highlighted the need for appropriate timescales for particular developments and maintenance programmes for facilities.  He also advocated the Council building houses for its own housing stock which would have a positive impact on economic regeneration.

 

The following responses were provided –

 

·         there was currently a temporary reduction of business rates in Rhyl High Street due to slow trading conditions and the signs were that a forthcoming revaluation of rateable values would likely lead to a reduction to reflect lower rental values resulting in lower business rates for town centres businesses, hopefully from 2017

·         car park charges had been subsidised previously by the Town Council in Ruthin but there was no evidence that it had increased footfall within the town.  It remained open, however, for Rhyl Town Council to subsidise parking charges if they wished as was currently happening in Prestatyn through its Town Council.  The County Council needed to be able to balance its parking budget, hence the recent increase in charges across the county

·         reported upon the potential acquisition of property and land for redevelopment for social housing in areas of Rhyl to add to the Council’s housing stock, and

·         referred to the inherited problems from Clwyd Leisure Limited and assurances regarding ongoing assessment of the Council’s coastal leisure facilities.

 

The Leader emphasised the Council’s commitment to Rhyl’s regeneration adding that the regeneration proposals provided huge opportunities for Rhyl.

 

RESOLVED that Cabinet –

 

(a)       note the progress made with regeneration projects in Rhyl;

 

(b)       approve the proposals for the next phase of regeneration activity in Rhyl set out within the report and illustrated in Appendix 2 to the report and agree that they should be used to inform priorities for any regeneration funding that may become available, and

 

(c)        approve the programme management and governance arrangements set out within the report and illustrated in Appendix 3 to the report.

 

At this juncture (11.20 a.m.) the meeting adjourned for a refreshment break.