The Chief Executive introduced a presentation to Council on the Cardiff Capital Region City Deal programme and informed of the programme of future presentations to Council.  He stated that the purpose of the presentation on the City Deal programme was threefold, namely for Members to have a better understanding of the programme, an opportunity to demonstrate the good progress made and to discuss opportunities for the programme within the County Borough of Bridgend. 

Council received a presentation on the Cardiff Capital Region (CCR) City Deal programme from Kellie Beirne, Director of CCR City Deal and Frank Holmes, Chair of the Regional Economic Partnership and Investment Panel.  The Director of CCR City Deal stated that the CCR City Deal is a £1.3bn pound public-led investment programme across a triumvirate partnership of 10 local authorities, Welsh and Central Governments.  It was targeted to generate 25,000 additional jobs, to lever £4 billion of additional investment and an uplift of 5% in Gross Value Added to the economy.  She informed Council that the Councils work together as ten because they share a functional economic geography but within that, some of the most and least competitive places co-exist, a growth strategy in isolation could exacerbate rather than address some of those endemic problems.  She outlined the programme’s innovation proposals, which would be used to not only be technology and business focussed, but also about powering up civic society, driving growth in foundational economies and public services sector.  The ambition is to create conditions for generalised prosperity and to ensure economic ambitions are matched with more progressive social policy and to have resilience, which endures. 

The Chair of the Regional Economic Partnership and Investment Panel informed Council of the processes which have been in place and that he had put together an experienced board of individuals with its role being to assess the investment programme, advisors to the joint Cabinet and to bring inward invest.  He stated that the Board needed a plan to ensure money was invested in accordance with the investment programme in order to leverage the £4bn additional investment.  The Board had embarked on 3 pillars needed to have true connectivity regionally with public and private partnerships.  In order to be competitive there was a need for investment in innovation and connectivity with digital connectivity being paramount and to be reilsient to benefit this and future generations.  He stated that the plan had recently been reviewed, alongside developing an invest framework to leverage innovation and to assist companies to grow.  Significant research has been undertaken to ensure money was put to good use across the region.

The Director of CCR City Deal informed Council of the mission for resilient good growth also grounding in foresight and what was coming, which was likely to be disproportionately impacted by Brexit given the reliance on EU structural funds for economic growth.  She sated there would be no more city deals and that all new regional economic investment at UK Government level will now come through UKIS.  Characteristics would have to have to be developed to allow the region to be competitive and that the public sector would need to change.  The Director CCR informed Council of the solid foundations which had been built upon, how working practices and the speed of decision making had been transformed.  She outlined a snapshot of the Investment and Intervention Fund, in that 28 projects in the pipeline with total investment requested of £390m.  She highlighted the projects which had been approved to date in the public and private sectors and where additional investment had been secured.  She informed Council that the Region had extended its voice through the Global Welsh project.  The Director of CCR gave an overview of what this meant for Bridgend, building on strengths and opportunities of being a manufacturing intensive location.  She concluded that City Deal had built firm foundations for the next stage of the journey.       

A member of Council questioned the impact on the City Deal programme following the decision not to approve the M4 relief road.  The Chair of the Regional Economic Partnership and Investment Panel stated that it was his opinion that not proceeding with the scheme would not be good for business or for Wales and it would impact on international business.  The scheme had the support of the Federation of Small Businesses, the Confederation of British Industry and the Institute of Directors.  The Director of CCR stated that the Regional Transport Authority believed there needed to be a levelling up of key transport schemes and that the HS2 project would impact on City Deal. 

A member of Council referred to the decision that there would be no further City Deals and asked what programmes would be in place to ensure funding remained in place.  The Director of CCR stated that there was a need to have sustainability and there is an expectation that City Deal will leverage more funding.  The Chair of the Regional Economic Partnership and Investment Panel informed Council that the right governance had been set up to ensure it had the trust at all levels of government so that the region can stand up against other regions in order to get its fair share of investment.  The Leader informed Council that the region wants to work with global players on broadband and technology providers.  He stated that the region is one of the fastest growing regions in terms of population and there is a need to ensure that investors invest in the region to benefit all residents. 

A member of Council referred to Bridgend’s proximity to the Swansea Bay City Deal region and questioned whether there is collaboration with that region.  The Director of CCR informed Council that there is a great deal of dialogue with the Swansea Bay City Deal region and there is collaboration to ensure that programmes are aligned.  The Swansea Bay City Deal differs from the CCR City Deal in that it is about projects, whilst the CCR City Deal is about economic growth.  Dialogue is also held regularly with the Western Gateway region.  Swansea University collaborate with the CCR City Deal due to the region having a compound semi-conductor manufacturer.  The Cabinet Member Education and Regeneration stated that Bridgend’s location on the border with another City Deal is an advantage and that Bridgend has always been a transport hub and was keen that Bridgend develops into a hub from the west to connect with Cardiff Airport.  He referred to the irregular rail service to Pyle station and commented on the need for investment in the station and for an hourly service on weekdays and for a park and ride facility to have connectivity with Porthcawl and to valley communities.  A member of Council questioned whether there are plans to have an integrated solution between Pyle and Porthcawl.  The Leader commented that funding had been secured from City Deal and the Welsh Government for a major investment at Pyle station to improve links with Porthcawl.  The Cabinet Member Commuities saw it as an advantage that Bridgend is on the border of the Swansea Bay City Deal and is uniquely placed in attracting global businesses having the second busiest train station in the region and having links with the airport.        

A member of Council questioned the impact of Covid 19 on the plans for City Deal.  The Director of CCR stated that all schemes had been looked at in light of Covid 19 and that a comprehensive survey has been undertaken to ensure investment and support is available to small and medium enterprises.  The Leader informed Council that businesses were being invited to make bids to the Challenge Fund, particularly the medical technology sector.  The Chair of the Regional Economic Partnership and Investment Panel informed Council that the Challenge Fund looks at addressing economic problems and will create opportunities. 

A member of Council asked what the socio-economic impact of Covid 19 would be and sought assurances there was flexibility within the strategy to change to different circumstances.  The Director of CCR stated that the programme could not standstill and there was a need to have balance within the programme as its intention is to improve lives.  The Chair of the Regional Economic Partnership and Investment Panel commented that an evidence base is kept up to date and that 2 PHD students monitor this activity.  He stated that it was difficult to predict the impact of Covid 19 but there was a need to have the best data available.  The Leader informed Council City Deal had responded to the pandemic in reshaping its programme and is structured in such a way so that it has the agility to respond to changes.  

RESOLVED:           That Council:

(1)  Noted the presentation by the Director of the Cardiff Capital Region City Deal and the Chair of the Cardiff Capital Region Regional Economic Growth Partnership.  

(2)  Noted the programme of future presentations to Council as outlined.             

The meeting adjourned at 16.55 and resumed at 17.00.