Agenda item

Progress Report - Targeted Regeneration Investment Programme and Town Centre Repayable Funding Scheme

To consider the report of the Team Manager Regeneration Opportunities.

Minutes:

Consideration was given to report of the Team Manager Regeneration Opportunities.

 

The Team Manager Regeneration Opportunities presented the report which provided an update on the current position with the Targeted Regeneration Investment (TRI) Programme and Town Centre Repayable Funding Scheme, and followed the report presented to the Regeneration Scrutiny Committee on 5th March, 2020. The TRI programme was established in 2018 and was originally intended to be a three-year programme (2018-2021).  For the initial three-year phase of the TRI programme a capital budget of £100million funding was made available in Wales, with allocations of the funding dependent upon the quality of the projects, regional significance and approval of the National Panel. TRI funding would not be automatically apportioned equally across each of the ten Local Authorities. Allocation for the South East Wales region was £44million.

 

The Team Manager confirmed that the report submitted on the 5th March, 2020 stated that a proposal for additional £5 million capital funding from Valleys Task Force to extend the Cardiff Capital Region TRI Thematic Project in Valleys Taskforce areas had been successful.  However, it had since been advised that this funding would no longer be forthcoming from Valleys Taskforce, but there would be scope to include the projects put forward for this funding within the existing TRI Thematic Programme.

 

The Officer then went through the report and highlighted points contained therein.  She pointed out that as at the 7th December, 2020 a total of 91 Expressions of Interest had been received, and 4 applications have been progressed to the stage of delivery at a total cost of £44,731.  In terms of the low number of enquiries progressed to delivery, there were a number of reasons for this, namely:

 

·        The funding cannot be used to fund works already completed before the grant was made available or a funding approval was in place;

·        The funding can only be utilised for businesses located within one of the Town Centres (Ebbw Vale, Tredegar, Brynmawr, Abertillery and Blaina); and

·        The funding can only be used for external measures to support business recovery (outdoor seating, canopies).

 

The Officer also reported that funding had been secured to develop a Placemaking plan for Tredegar.  However, this would be subject to procurement over December with the commission commencing in January 2021. The plan would be delivered using the same approach as the Ebbw Vale Placemaking Plan.

 

A Member asked whether the Loan repayments were being received regularly, and what action could be taken if payments were missed.

 

The Officer said if the applicant had opted for monthly payment via direct debit and a payment was missed, they would be contacted immediately and given an opportunity to catch up.  However, if payments continued to be missed our normal debt collection procedures would be commenced.  The Officer also explained that one of the conditions of the initial loan agreement was a legal charge on the property to prevent them from selling without the Authority’s permission/agreement, and this would allow us to go through the appropriate legal channels to reclaim the funding.  The Officer said this was a lengthy process but fortunately to date it had not been necessary.

 

A Member said he was pleased with the report, and said when funding was awarded within Tredegar Town Centre an Advisory Group was established which included Traders, Ward Members, the Town Council, and Coalfields Regeneration Trust.  He said this approach had proved very successful and there was an excellent working relationship within the Town Centre, and he would be happy to discuss this with Officers.

 

The Officer said she was aware of the excellent work that had been done, and said it may be beneficial for the Member to attend a Town Centre Task & Finish Group to discuss the approach taken in Tredegar.

 

Another Member asked whether it would be possible to have a list of projects that had received money, and the Officer undertook to circulate this information to Members.

 

A Member then referred to section 2.3 of the report which outlined funding available for commercial building and residential enhancements within the town centres, and expressed concern that this may lead to the loss commercial premises.

 

The Officer explained that whilst these were two separate grants, there would be some schemes that would have ground floor commercial enhancement, along with the upper floor residential enhancement.  However, retention of the ground floor for commercial purposes was encouraged as much as possible, particularly in town centres.

 

The Head of Regeneration & Development said the provision of housing within town centres was governed by our Development Plans which outlined the requirements for our town centres in terms of ensuring sufficient housing to encourage footfall, but also providing enough commercial space to remain a town centre.  Each application would be considered on its merits, however, if an application was received for a conversion of a commercial premises in the middle of the town centre it would likely be refused.

 

A Member then referred to section 2.23 of the report and asked how Eugene Cross Park would feature within the plans as it was subject to a Community Asset Transfer.

 

The Officer said it would not detract from the CAT, but would look at the overall picture in terms of increasing footfall within the town centre, and creating improved links from Eugene Cross Park to the town centre to encourage people to visit when attending games etc.

 

A Member referred to the Placemaking Plans proposed for Ebbw Vale and Tredegar and expressed concern that consultants had been appointed over a number of years to develop various plans that never came to fruition.

 

The Head of Regeneration & Development explained that a substantial amount of work was required in order to obtain funding from Welsh Government for future projects, and it was necessary to engage with Consultants to secure these projects as they provided an additional expertise and resource for the Regeneration Team.  She said the Team was limited, and the fact that regeneration was still going on within Blaenau Gwent with buildings being brought back into use in the current climate was testament to their excellent work.

 

In relation to the Member’s comments, the Team Manager Regeneration Opportunities explained that the action plan set out the key projects and how they would be achieved, and confirmed that Welsh Government would be monitoring progress of the projects.

 

A Member referred to the key strategic sites detailed at section 2.23 of the report, and asked what was intended for the Ebbw Vale Railway Station.  Also in terms of access from the Works site to the town centre, he said improved management of the funicular railway was needed and it should be operated on weekends.

 

In response the Team Manager Regeneration Opportunities said further development of the Ebbw Vale Railway Station would be considered as part of the plan in terms of making it a focal point for the area, and also improved pedestrian links from the Works site to the town centre.  In relation to the funicular railway operating on weekends, the Officer said the budget was restricted but if greater demand could be generated through improved links and future developments on the Works site, then longer opening hours could be considered in the future.

 

The Committee AGREED to recommend that the report be accepted and the information contained therein be noted.

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