Issue - meetings

Ebbw Vale Hi Tec Test Facility

Meeting: 24/06/2020 - Executive Committee (Item 13)

Ebbw Vale Hi Tec Test Facility

To consider the report of the Corporate Director Regeneration and Community Services.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Having regard to the views expressed by the Proper Officer regarding the public interest test, that on balance the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighed the public interest in disclosing the information and that the report should be exempt.

 

RESOLVED that the public be excluded whilst this item of business is transacted as it is likely there would be a disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 14, Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act, 1972 (as amended).

 

Consideration was given to the report of the Corporate Director Regeneration and Community Services.

 

At the invitation of the Leader, the Corporate Director Regeneration and Community Services presented the report.

 

The Executive Member for Regeneration and Economic Development commented that it had been agreed that this would be done in stages and then the final decision to go ahead with project would be made and noted that the Council had moved in that direction.  He noted that in recent days the national government had discussions regarding redesigning of cars, etc. and that discussion fitted with this agenda.  Also organisations would be supporting the Council who know the industry, and that there are some unique selling points, not least the area. 

 

The Executive Member proposed option two and agreed that the Council should look for funding to develop the project further.

 

The Executive Member for Social Services sought clarification on the funds that had been committed to the project and enquired if those figures could increase.

 

The Corporate Director Regeneration and Community Services responded that those figures would increase and the key would be to receive CCRCD support for the next stages.  Funds would be required for planning applications, etc., it would also be expected that partners would contribute at least equally. 

 

The Managing Director commented that the Council would not be able to undertake this project on its own, it would be about developing the project in partnership and the next stage would be to submit a Strategic Outline Business Case to the CCRCD, the research would provide the project with credibility and expert evidence, and receiving agreement for development funding would allow the Council to develop those partnerships to move forward.  This would be a key step on how the project would be received and how much support and funding would be made available.

 

RESOLVED, subject to the foregoing, that the report which contained information relating to the financial/business affairs of persons other than the Authority be accepted and Option 2, namely to extend the land Option and to continue with the Soft Market Testing and submit the project to CCRCD for development funding.