Agenda item

To submit the report of the Director of Place and Community Well-being.

The report of the Director of Place and Community Well-being incorporating the North Anglesey Regeneration Plan was presented for the Executive’s consideration.

The Portfolio Member for Major Projects and Economic Development reported that the North Anglesey Place Plan has been created as a direct result of the responses received from members of the public based on their priorities for regenerating the area. The objectives of the plan are to provide a clear direction of travel and provide a platform to bring about sustainable jobs, investment and opportunities for the North Anglesey area against the backdrop of Hitachi’s suspension of Wylfa Newydd and the closure of Rehau’s Amlwch factory. An initial public and stakeholder consultation process was carried out over the summer 2018 to identify views, issues, ideas and priorities. This process drew over 600 responses reflecting local people’s concern about the future of their area and their desire to see something done to improve it. The draft plan was published in April, 2019 and a public and stakeholder consultation on the plan produced 48 responses which were overwhelmingly supportive of the plan and its contents. Since the Council’s available resources are limited, an external funding application was developed to secure additional external support from the Nuclear Decommissioning Agency’s (NDA) socio-economic fund. Recognising the impact of Hitachi and Rehau’s announcements, the NDA pledged funding support of £450k to help progress the Council’s North Anglesey Regeneration Plan and support the creation of new economic opportunities on the Island. The funding will be used to further develop and advance some of the concepts and ideas in the Plan to the next stage and to draw down funding/grants from other sources. It must be noted however that it is intended that the Plan should form only one small part of an overall homogenous strategy to regenerate and redevelop the North Anglesey area in collaboration with partners and stakeholders.

The Director of Place and Community Well-being advised that in order for the funding to be released (around £165k per annum for 3 years) the Council has to submit a programme annually which the NDA must approve. Given that at the time of writing this report the Regulation and Economic Development Service has been approached by a number of groups and individuals requesting funding for their projects/ideas the Council will have to take a firm and disciplined approach to how the funding is used and must prioritise those projects/activities that will have a long-term impact on the area in terms of attracting employment and investment opportunities.

The Executive welcomed the report and Plan as providing a good foundation for redeveloping the North of the Island with the objective of creating jobs and prosperity for the area at a time when the region has suffered serious economic setbacks. The Executive thanked the communities of the North of the Island for their response to the consultation and the Regeneration Plan and for committing to work with the Council on its delivery.

It was resolved –

•           To endorse and support the North Anglesey Economic Regeneration Plan.

•           To delegate to the Director of Place and Community Well-being and Portfolio Holder the authority to –

• Update the Plan accordingly

• Make funding bids, accept funding offers, and award funding for the projects that will support the delivery of the plan, subject to agreement by the Director of Function (Resources).

•           That a report on progress be made to the Executive and the Partnership and Regeneration Scrutiny Committee on an annual basis.