Agenda item

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

 Submitted – a report by the Head of Regulation and Economic Development on the Anglesey’s Town Centres Improvement Strategy for consideration by the Committee.

The Deputy Leader and Portfolio Member for Finance, in the absence of the Leader of the Council at the beginning of the meeting, said that over the years the town centres in most towns and cities in the UK have changed.  He noted that the recently approved Council Plan includes the aims of ‘improving the vitality and viability of our town centres’ and ‘that the people of Anglesey and its communities enjoy, protect and enhance their built and natural environment for future generations’.  The Well-Being of Future Generations Act requires local authorities to address the economic, social, environmental, and cultural well-being of their areas.  He further said that Audit Wales undertook a study of Town Centre Regeneration in Wales and published a report in September 2021 with several recommendations for the Welsh Government and local authorities.  This report and the Council’s response was reported to the Governance and Audit Committee in February 2022.  This process highlighted the need for the Council to develop a strategic approach to improving the town centres.  The Welsh Government’s Transforming Towns programme includes a number of components, including capital grants and loans for town centre improvements.  Various town or town centre regeneration strategies/plans have been prepared on Anglesey in the past, mostly aligned to a specific external funding opportunity, with several having been prepared for Holyhead over the years.  It is now proposed that a single county-wide strategy covering the whole of Anglesey’s town centres be prepared, and not tied to any particular external fund or programme, but reflecting the wider needs of the county and its town centres. The three larger towns of Holyhead, Amlwch and Llangefni have the most need, with Menai Bridge and Beaumaris being more prosperous.

The Portfolio Member further said that subject to the Executive’s approval of the recommendations within the report, a process of stakeholder engagement and public consultation will take place to gather views, comments, and seek support for the proposed strategy, with a view to finalisation and adoption during 2023.  Consultation will also be used to gather views, comments and suggestions for improvements to individual town centres to inform the preparation of individual place making plans and/or related projects, subject to resources. 

The Regeneration Manager reported that Anglesey’s town and town centres are focal points for the Island’s economic, social and cultural activities.  He noted that a high number of empty shops exist in Holyhead town centre reflects local economic issues and the growth of the retail park on the edge of the town as the main shopping area.  He reported that the Holyhead empty shops initiative helped small businesses to start trading from empty shops and this had reduced the previously high vacancy rate, but over the pandemic the number of empty shops has returned to past high levels. He further said that the number of empty shops in Amlwch has also increased recently which no doubt reflects the loss of employment in the area.  The conversion of surplus empty commercial units to homes is being encouraged and grant funding has been sought from the Welsh Government.  The Regeneration Manager also said that he considered that holiday accommodation could be a suitable use in Holyhead town centre.

The Regeneration Manager further said that staffing resources are limited to be able to materialise the work needs to regenerate the town centres and grant funding has been sought from the SPF funding grants towards recruitment of additional staff.  Engagement and consultation with stakeholders and key partners will take place on the strategy and a public consultation will be undertaken during 2023, together which will be used to inform the preparation of individual town Place Plans.  The Town Councils and several other organisations have a key role in improving and managing town centres and will need to be closely involved within the process.  It was noted that members of the Llangefni Regeneration Group had arranged a visit to see the work being undertaken by local partnerships in Blaenau Ffestiniog and Bethesda. 

In considering the report, the Committee discussed the following:-

·      Questions were raised as to the definition of a ‘town’ and a ‘town centre’?  Reference was made that the Authority will need to prepare a Local Development Plan in the near future and it was suggested that it would be an opportunity to focus on the town and town centre.  It was further said that the town centres will not be similar to those seen in the 60’s and 70’s.  The Committee was advised that there is no single consistently applied definition of a ‘town’ or ‘town centre’ it was noted that the currently adopted Joint Local Development Plan, strategic policy for town centres (PS15) designates Holyhead and Llangefni as ‘urban retail service centres’, and the settlements of Amlwch, Benllech, Beaumaris, Menai Bridge, Llanfairpwll, Rhosneigr, Valley and Cemaes are designated as ‘local service centres’.  

·      Reference as made that Anglesey is mostly rural areas with large and small villages.  Questions were raised as to the vision for the large and small rural villages of the Island i.e. Benllech, Moelfre and Pentraeth.  The Committee was advised that there is a rural development programme funded by European funding, with Menter Môn leading of the programme.  As the European funding will cease the SPF funding will be the source of grant funding and an applications have been submitted to support projects within rural communities. Many small groups in rural areas benefitted from the recent CRF programme to provide community grants across the county. It was also noted that the County Council is a member of the WLGA Rural Forum which lobbies for rural areas.   

·      Questions were raised as to what opportunities and challenges are faced when being dependent on competitive grant funding to deliver the programmes?  The Committee was advised that as grant funding is specific for a short period of time and it can be difficult when staff recruitment is required to carry out the programme.  It was further noted that flexible funding to carry out project is important.

·      Reference was made to the requirement of investment within the towns on Anglesey.  The Vice-Chair referred to the Amlwch Port area and there is need for investment and regeneration of the area.  Questions were raised as to the availability of private investment to fund Anglesey town centre regeneration programmes initiatives.  The Committee was advised that significant decisions by stakeholders to locate in towns were often a catalyst for town centre regeneration as seen in Menai Bridge.  It was further said that the area around the square in Amlwch Port has visually improved with many residents renovating their homes.  A company has been commissioned to survey the most dilapidated buildings in Amlwch and Llangefni which will be used to encourage the owners to renovate these buildings.  A grant from Welsh Government has been secured to improve the frontages of buildings in two Anglesey towns.  Arfor grant funding could also be beneficial to the improvements of towns.  The Regeneration Manager said that Holyhead Town Council is willing to maintain assets improved with grant funding eg. Swift Square Toilets and the Fort watchtower.

·      Questions were raised as to how the Regeneration Group of the Llangefni Town Council will be supported?  The Committee was advised that the Economic Development Department attends Llangefni Regeneration Group meetings and grant funding needs to be sought for improvements of the town.

·      Reference was made that the general public in Holyhead are not aware of the developments that to materialise from the Levelling Up Grants, Free Port Status and the Breakwater Development.  The Committee was advised that internal arrangements need to be robust due to the developments in Holyhead and further engagement will need to be undertaken with the local community.

·      Questions were raised as regards to the alignment with Place Shaping work streams and plans to strengthen the infrastructure within local communities and especially with electric car charging facilities. The Committee was advised that the strategy is to increase the electric car charging points available on the Island but that progress is dependent on grant funding.  Anglesey now has one of the highest number electric car charging points relative to population.

It was RESOLVED:-

·      To note the content of the draft Anglesey Town Centres Improvement Strategy;

·      To recommend the draft Strategy to the Executive for public consultation.

ACTION : As noted above.