Issue - meetings

To submit a report by the Head of Regulation and Economic Development.

It was RESOLVED to :-

·         Recognise the role of the Council in the development of the Anglesey Freeport, including the submission of the Outline and Full Business Cases;

·         Recognise the robust governance arrangements and transition from Shadow Board to Full Board;

·         Note the next steps in the confirmation of the Freeport, including the need to approve a Memorandum of Understanding with both UK and Welsh Governments prior to the Freeport becoming operational (MoU).

The report of the Head of Regulation and Economic Development was presented for consideration by the Committee.

The Leader and Portfolio Member for Economic Development said that both UK and Welsh Governments invited bidders to submit proposals for Freeports in Wales in 2022.  Freeports are designated areas where a range of economic incentives are available to boost the local economy and encourage growth and investment. The Anglesey Freeport has been developed fully aligned to the vision, objectives and values of the Council Plan 2023-2028, with particular focus on collaboration, the Welsh language, championing the Island and promoting opportunities that will deliver jobs and growth to the economy.  The Freeport presents an opportunity to attract new private sector investments which is especially important given the context in that a number of major job losses have impacted the Island over the last 10 years.  He stated that there are other designated sites on the Island that can benefit from the Freeport status .

The following were points of discussion by the Committee :-

·      Questions were raised as to the potential employment and training opportunities that will arise from the Freeport and whether the Island’s infrastructure can support the influx of workers.  The Leader and Portfolio Member for Economic Development responded that the Authority has been realistic and not to raised expectations from the start as to the potential employment opportunities that will result from the Freeport; it is envisaged that around 3,000/4,000 employment opportunities will materialise from the Freeport project over the years.   He noted that the employment and training opportunities will be dependent on the companies that choose to locate their businesses in the designated areas on the Island.  Grwp Llandrillo Menai, Msparc and Bangor University, the Regional Skills Partnership and the Ambition Board are involved in discussions of the potential of the Freeport and will be ready to afford training opportunities when information is available as to what businesses will be locating into the designated area. 

·      Questions were raised as to whether the proposed £600k annual budget will be sufficient to meeting Anglesey Freeport’s operational needs.  The Leader and Portfolio Member for Economic Development responded that it is considered that the £600k annual budget will be sufficient as the Freeport is relatively small compared to other Freeports and funding will materialise from the companies that will establish within the designated areas. 

·      Reference was made that attracting an influx of workers into a rural Welsh speaking area could have an effect on the Welsh language.  The Leader and Portfolio Member for Economic Development said that securing employment opportunities will secure the Island’s future with affording young people work that will protect the Welsh language.  Future generations of families relocating to the Island will afford their children to be educated in Welsh in the local schools and will secure the Welsh language within the local communities. The Head of Regulation and Economic Development said that the one of the three strategic objectives within the Freeport project is the commitment to the Welsh  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5