Issue - meetings

As detailed in the recommendation.

The Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance updated Members on the invitation from Welsh Government (WG) to submit a bid for funding under the Vibrant and Viable Places programme.

On 15 May 2013, WG launched the Vibrant and Viable Places programme, the aims of which were:

·        To revitalise and promote the sustainable development of town centres, coastal communities and Communities First clusters, making the most of their green infrastructure, heritage and historic character;

·        To build sustainable and vibrant communities that are more prosperous, better educated and healthier;

·        To tackle poverty by creating jobs, encouraging skills development and helping people into work;

·        To encourage wider investment in housing; and

·        To deliver strategic, regionally important projects of significant scale

The deadline for first stage bids was 12 July 2013.  A request for an extension to align with the Cabinet meeting had not been granted.  As a result, a draft bid had been submitted in accordance with the deadline, with reference to the fact it would be considered at this meeting.

A short-list of up to twelve proposals would be produced.  Short-listed areas would then be asked to submit fully worked-up proposals by 4 November 2013, based on the Treasury Five Case Business Model with project delivery expected to begin in  April 2014.

The potential fit of each town in Flintshire against the criteria issued by WG was detailed in Appendix 2.  The Chief Executive said Deeside offered the strongest case against the criteria which had the highest weighting and matched other towns in all the remaining criteria.

Deeside was considered to offer the most compelling option for WG due to the size of the community it embraced, the potential scale of the regeneration activity and investment anticipated.  Delivering the programme in Deeside would offer WG the opportunity to use the programme to play a key catalysing role in releasing major housing, employment and regeneration investment.  The Deeside proposal offered considerable benefits locally, to Flintshire and to the wider sub-region.

RESOLVED:

 That approval be given to submit a bid to Welsh Government Vibrant and Viable Places programme to support the strategic regeneration programme in Deeside.