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There is no summary of this meeting yet. One is written once the council publishes the minutes. The agenda and papers are below.
Response by Head of Service: Thank you for your question. We have taken the elements of your question, repeated them below and have directly responded to them: Q1. The Levelling Up fund should be the long awaited and ideal funding opportunity for the area but the application process seems to be obtuse, unclear, and unreachable with much verbal positivity but little action. The residents of Ystradgynlais have always considered themselves to be treated less well than other areas of Powys. As a Councillor I defend PCC’s reputation, but it gets more difficult as Officers change and previous considerations and understanding are lost in transformation. The UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF or the Fund) is a central pillar of the UK government’s Levelling Up agenda and a significant component of its support for places across the UK. In Shared Prosperity Fund Round 1, Ystradgynlais received funding for 2 Projects: o Ystradgynlais Town Centre Wi-Fi o Developing Digital community learning Officers have been supporting Cllr Richard Milligton on internet issues and the needs for digital tech and Wi-Fi. Shared Prosperity Funding was awarded to fund a Town Centre Liaison Officer partly covering Ystradgynlais town centre. Following a recruitment process, the officer commenced in role on 1st June 2023. Once inductions have been completed introduction meetings will be arranged at the appropriate times with all Town Centre Liaison Officers and their respective Town and Community Councils. Q2. Where is the pro-active support promised for local groups to apply for grants? Everything seems to be nebulous. Officers continue to liaise with businesses through the Customer Relationship Management (CRM) data base to proactively offer advice and support, make referrals to funding opportunities such as grants and Development Bank of Wales loans. More recently, on 27th April 2023, a Powys Business Breakfast was held at Craig Y Nos Castle, to engage with local businesses in the programme of business events. Other business support funding has included Small business grant in 2021 to support 2 businesses: • Kindle House £10,000. • Treasured Moments Photography Ltd - £3,679 Q3. Which Officers make unprompted contact with interested groups or visit and understand the underlying deprivation inherent to the area? Are we suffering from the consequence of being the only post-industrial valley community located within the Powys border? Is the appetite for engagement with local people lost on the road from Brecon? The 'Communities for Work Plus' Programme (CfW+) supports people to get into work. Employment Mentors are providing 1-1 mentoring support tailored to the needs of each individual and frequently meet clients in Ystradgynlais library. Q4. An outside consultant has been employed to develop a Town and district Investment plan, but the speed of this work is glacial. It will be a welcomed piece of work which will support applications but not in drawing them up. I understand staff are to be employed, to help with form filling but these appointments are ‘pie in the sky’ until they happen. If grants are to be awarded in response to form filling ability and not merit or understanding of need, then Ystradgynlais and district could be at the bottom of every pile. Transforming Towns revenue funding (£7,600) was awarded to part fund the Ystradgynlais Town Investment plan in 2021/22. PCC Covid recovery Revenues Funding was used to match fund. The total cost of the plan was £14,883.33. Owen Davies were commissioned to develop Town Plans to support the Town Council to articulate a vision and priorities for the future of the Ystradgynlais area to help attract and shape investment and support the vitality of the town and its recovery from Covid. The Plan has a town centre focus whilst taking into consideration the importance and influence of the opportunities found within the wider area, including Cwmtwrch and Abercraf. This has just been completed. Transforming Towns Placemaking Grant approval on a property in the town centre 2023/24 · grant offer £67,018.10 · Works are due to start towards the end of the summer. Other activity being undertaken: · Global Centre for Rail Excellence (GCRE): the team is supporting the development of this project. · Funded Projects: schools, active travel, recycling centre, town centre refurbishments, extra care, bus stations, bus boarders, library investment, flood defence, bridge replacement projects. I am also aware that Ystradgynlais Library is having improvements and the sports pitch is also being upgraded. I am assured by Cllr David that he continues to support investment throughout the County and Ystradgynlais is not forgotten. Other historical support: · Town Centre and Community Regeneration. o 2014-2017 the Welfare Hall was supported through Community Development and Nant Helen Funds capital funds, helping the fabric of the building. § Nant Helen Funding: 2014 £16,000 2017 £16,000 § Community Development Fund: 2014/15 £12,676 2017 £15,000 Both grants would have supported Capital works for the Welfare Hall. The building is large and is need of constant maintenance. The hall has been supported by the Arts Council Wales in the past, but we are not sure what the current situation is. · In 2020, Ystradgynlais was awarded a grant of £46,572.00 by the WLGA. This was due the town being part of the then Valley’s Partnership (no longer active). This was a Town Covid recovery adaption grant for town centre businesses, applicants applied for such things as awnings, outside eating areas. The Welfare Hall could not have been part of this grant as it is not in the Town Centre. · 2020/21 there was a Ystradgynlais Task and Finish group set up following the report highlighting Ystradgynlais as a deprived area in Wales following the pandemic, (report attached). The group included local members and Town Council. As this was a Task and Finish Group, the group has not continued to meet.
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