Agenda item

To submit a report by the Head of Regulatory and Economic Development in relation to the above.

Submitted – a report by the Head of Regulatory and Economic Development in relation to the above.

The Portfolio Holder (Planning, Public Protection & Economic Development) said that the Vibrant and Viable Places (VVP) programme was the Welsh Government’s urban regeneration framework, which formed the basis for allocating £100m of capital funds in the period April 2014 – March 2017.  All local authorities in Wales were invited to submit outline proposals for the VVP grant and Holyhead was successful with a grant allocation of £7.49m in capital funding over three years.  The programme was based on taking needs and opportunity under three themes that reflected Welsh Government policy priorities i.e., Homes, Place and People.  Welsh Government has indicated informally that a new urban regeneration programme is likely to take place, commencing in April 2018, but no formal announcement has yet been made.

The Regeneration Manager said that a VVP Programme Board of Senior Council and Welsh Government Officers was established to oversee and steer the programme as a whole.  Delivery of the programme and its constituent projects took place through three main mechanisms :-

·      Direct delivery by the VVP programme office of project plans and studies, events, PR, evaluation etc.

·      Delivery of capital projects by other Council Officers, using VVP funds allocated through an internal grant process, usually alongside other funds;

·      Delivery of capital projects by other organisations, using VVP funds awarded to them through an external grant process, usually alongside other funds.

He noted that based on the Welsh Government VVP criteria it was clear that Holyhead was the only realistic bid from Anglesey.  The VVP funding was allocated over three years under seven budget headings that were agreed with Welsh Government.  The amount of funding allocated was highlighted within the report.

The Assistant Chief Executive (Partnerships, Community and Service Improvements) said that the VVP Programme has achieved substantial improvements to the town of Holyhead.  She referred to the major project at the Holyhead Market Hall which will enhance facilities within the town.

The Committee considered the report and raised the following main issues :-

·      Questions were raised as to the allocation of VVP funding towards the Modernisation of Schools programme in Holyhead.  The Regeneration Manager responded that circa. £500k of the VVP funding was awarded towards the new Ysgol Cybi at Holyhead which is part of the Modernisation of Schools in the area.  Three primary schools will be accommodated within the new Ysgol Cybi;

·      Questions were raised as to whether other towns on the Island could benefit from possible new urban regeneration programme in the future.  The Regeneration Manager responded that any future bid must be realistic and must comply with awaited Welsh Government criteria.  He noted that other large towns in Wales will also be in competition for such funding.  He further noted that other grant funding is available from other sources such as the NDA and Lottery for projects on the Island;

·      Questions were raised as to comments made within the report that the criteria and evidence requirements by the Welsh Government has involved considerable workload.  The Regeneration Manager responded that the monitoring of output and evidence based for the VVP programme has created considerable workload for the Team involved with the scheme and comments have been forwarded to the Welsh Government with regard to this matter.  He noted that the Welsh Government are evaluating a more flexible monitoring process as regard to similar VVP programmes for the future.

It was RESOLVED to note the report and to thank the Officers for the work achieved in connection with the VVP programme.

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