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The decisions as the council's minutes record them. A plain-language summary follows once it has been written.
RESOLVED: That the minutes of the Economy and Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee held 9 June 2022 be approved and signed as a correct record.
RESOLVED- That the Forward Plan for the Economy and Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee be approved.
RESOLVED: That the bi-annual overview of County wide coastal and fluvial flood risk reduction schemes – July 2022 Update be noted.
Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Carol Beard, Louise Emery, Harry Saville, Sarah Ecob (Head of Economy and Culture) and Jane Richardson (Strategic Director – Economy and Place).
None.
None.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED: That the minutes of the Economy and Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee held 9 June 2022 be approved and signed as a correct record.
The minutes of the Economy and Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee held 9 June 2022 were submitted for approval. RESOLVED: That the minutes of the Economy and Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee held 9 June 2022 be approved and signed as a correct record.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED- That the Forward Plan for the Economy and Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee be approved.
An update on the individual Forward Work Programme (FWP) for the Economy and Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee, together with the combined FWP had been circulated to Members prior to the meeting. RESOLVED- That the Forward Plan for the Economy and Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee be approved.
None.
The Funding Development Manager provided Members with a presentation on the UK Shared Prosperity Fund - Regional Investment Plan. The Shared Prosperity Fund would deliver £2.6 billion of investment until March 2025 across the UK. The aim of the programme was “to build pride in place and increase life chances”. The following was highlighted: • The fund was launched in April 2022 and intended to replace European Structural Funds. • The aim of the fund was to build pride in place and increase life chances across the UK as well as enabling investment to support individuals and businesses. • Investment priorities included communities and place, supporting local business and people and skills. • It was not a competitive fund as funding would be allocated to each UK Local Authority. • The UK Government had already allocated £559million to Multiply, a UK-wide adult numeracy programme led by the Department of Education in England, further information on how this was to be delivered in Wales was awaited. • Conwy County had been allocated a core fund of £20,285,722 and £4,234,398 had been allocated to the Multiply Project. • The funding allocation for Conwy County would be released over three financial years as follows: - Year 1 – 15% (£2,378,904) - Year 2 – 27% (£5,152,790) - Year 3 – 58% (£12,754,028) • In order to access funding, each place was asked to set out prioritised interventions and measurable outcomes in an Investment Plan. This was to be submitted by 1 August 2022. • UK and Welsh Governments were keen to promote regional working using existing City and Growth Deal areas, and Local Authorities for each region in Wales had been invited to collaborate in developing a Regional Investment Plan to deliver the fund. - A Lead Authority would need to be identified to accept and manage the regional allocation. - As a temporary measure, Gwynedd County Council were preparing and submitting the Investment Plan with input from each Local Authority in North Wales. • The importance of maximising funding investment and avoiding gaps and duplication in provision and support during the transition from European Union (EU) funded activity. • The need to align, complement and add value to other similar funding programmes and provision in similar areas of activity. • The type of projects that could be undertaken in respect of community and place, support for business and people and skills. • The regional investment plan would be a hybrid delivery model, combining some local, sub-regional and regional interventions. • Each Local Authority would have a chapter within the plan, detailing their priorities. • European Union (EU) funds had supported 1,510 enterprises, created 1925 jobs and helped 1995 people unto further learning. • 126 ideas had been received from within Council services and external organisations. • The cost of projects was not yet known. • A plan was required with Conwy’s list of interventions, with costs split between the three themes. • Initial proposals were as follows: - Communities and place projects (53%) £10m - Support for business (24%) £5m - People and skills (23%) £5m. • Next steps, which included quantifying the outcomes against each of the projects and determining a funding delivery model. • Approval of projects was expected by November 2022 and plans would be amended accordingly. In scrutinising the report, Members discussed the following: • Following the bid submission, expressions of interest would be sought from communities in respect of project applications. • The Leader advised that project submissions would be subject to the democratic process and best value for money would be considered. - High level discussions were ongoing in respect of the host authority and the implications would be considered carefully by Conwy County Borough Council (CCBC). • Less funding than was previously available had been allocated to CCBC, however, it would be maximised in order to benefit the County. RECOMMENDED TO CABINET a) That the Shared Prosperity Fund Programme within Conwy be finalised for inclusion within the Regional Investment Plan. b) That submission of the finalised Regional Investment Plan to UK Government by the deadline date be approved. c) That it be approved that (chosen Authority – to be confirmed) act as the lead body to submit the Investment Plan and to lead the subsequent programme delivery of the fund.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED: That the bi-annual overview of County wide coastal and fluvial flood risk reduction schemes – July 2022 Update be noted.
The Flood Risk and Infrastructure Manager presented a bi-annual overview of County wide coastal and fluvial flood risk reduction schemes. The report provided an overview of the funding of projects as well as an update on flood risk mitigation measures being currently undertaken within the County. The following points were highlighted: • Conwy County Borough Council (CCBC), as a Lead Local Flood Authority, was required to prepare a Local Flood Risk Management Strategy. • The purpose of the Local Strategy was to address potential flood risk arising from local sources within the boundaries of the Authority area. • In line with the objectives of the Local Strategy, Flood Risk and Infrastructure, officers identified possible capital schemes to reduce flood risk to local communities with a view to securing funding from the Welsh Government (WG) to advance projects. • There were several different types of funding programmes to which CCBC could make grant applications for funding. • At the construction stage, WG contributed at least 85% of the capital cost of a qualifying project with the remaining 15% contribution made by CCBC. • CCBC schemes within the following programmes were highlighted: - Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Programme - Coastal Risk Management Programme - Resilient Roads Programme - Small Scale Schemes. • The following small scale schemes had been completed since January 2022: - Ffordd Bugail, Colwyn BayAber Road Culvert, Llanfairfechan – Phase 1 - Park Crescent, Llanfairfechan. • Improvements would be made in respect of Local Member consultation as they had an important part to play within communities. • Project location details were identified within Appendix E of the report. In scrutinising the report, Members discussed the following: • Station Road, Deganwy was a small scale scheme funded through a study. - Funding was provided by WG and prioritised properties and businesses. - Joint working was required with Welsh Water in order to identify issues. • Clarification was sought in respect of the design costs for projects such as Llanddulas to Kinmel Bay Coastal Defence Improvements. - In response, the Flood Risk and Infrastructure Manager advised that all project designs were tendered via Sell 2 Wales and that designs included hydraulic modelling. - A link to the detailed designs would be shared with Members. • It was queried whether small rivers and culverts in Llanrwst could be cleared prior to the winter months. - In response, the Flood Risk and Infrastructure Manager advised that the main river was the responsibility of National Resources Wales (NRW) and that CCBC were responsible for small watercourses as riparian responsibility was not practical. - 4 critical watercourses within Llanrwst were monitored. - Vegetation could not be cleared from small watercourses from May to October as this was fish spawning season. - Flood risk schemes for Llanrwst were progressing. - The Flood Risk and Infrastructure Manager would meet with local Members to discuss the issues further. • CCBC were part of several flood partnership groups including the Conwy Valley Flood Partnership Group, which had recently been re-established. - Llanrwst Town Council were the lead in respect of the group and it was anticipated that a meeting would be arranged soon. • In respect of the Llanddulas to Kinmel Bay Coastal Defence Improvements, there was great concern in respect of sea level rises as it was estimated that levels would rise by 790ml within Conwy County over the next 100 years. - The height of defences would be reviewed and the impact on tourism considered. • Reference was made to the excellent work in respect of the Llansannan and Colwyn Bay schemes. • Further consultation would take place during the summer 2022 in respect of Llandudno (north and west shore) coastal defence improvements. • The lifespan of the current project was queried. - In response, the Flood Risk and Infrastructure Manger advised that an adaptive approach had been taken. - WG design standards had to be met. - Local communities would receive information in respect of any works carried out. - It was anticipated that the lifespan would be approximately 30-40 years. • The mechanism used in order to identify the best option for a scheme was queried. - In response, the Flood Risk and Infrastructure Manger advised that an outline business case would identify issues and the associated costs along with the impact of proposals on the highway. - It was acknowledged that the importing of sand was beneficial in some areas and would also have an amenity benefit. - The benefit to cost ratio was calculated using WG business case guidance. • Groynes in Kinmel Bay may have been removed as they had not been maintained. - Groynes were expensive to maintain and it was likely that the beach had been at a lower level. RESOLVED: That the bi-annual overview of County wide coastal and fluvial flood risk reduction schemes – July 2022 Update be noted.
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