To provide an update on the Regional Strategic Framework for south-east Wales and project prospectus for the 2014 – 2020 European funding programmes.

The Corporate Director Communities reported on an update on the Regional Strategic Framework for South East Wales and project prospectus for the 2014-15 European funding programmes.  He stated that the Regional Strategic Framework set out a vision for economic development in South East Wales.  The regional project prospectus outlined a series of collaborative proposals for economic development activity with a view to seeking funding support from the next round of European programmes 2014-2020.  This had been developed by each of the ten local authorities in South East Wales under the direction of the South East Wales Directors of Environment and Regeneration (SEWDER).  He stated that for this programming period, 2014-2020, around £1.7 billion of EU grant aid was available to the West Wales and Valleys area for business support, infrastructure, low-carbon economy and labour market interventions. 

He reported that the Regional Strategic Framework features agreed priorities to complement and support Welsh Government policies and programmes in relation to tackling poverty, developing skills, implementing physical regeneration initiatives, and securing business development, affordable housing, efficient and accessible transport, and excellent connectivity in its widest sense.  He stated that since 2003, SEWDER had sought to develop the strategic priorities within the Regional Strategic Framework.  It had also been considering how the Regional Strategic Framework could influence the direction and priorities of other major regional initiatives, including the Cardiff City Region and City Deal.  He stated that Cabinet at its meeting on 14 July 2015 had endorsed the preparation of a regional growth plan, based on an update of the South-East Wales Regional Framework, to contribute to the current Cardiff Capital Region/City Deal initiatives.  Based on this endorsement by the 10 local authorities, the Welsh Local Government Association had worked with the Wales European Funding Office to embed the strategic priorities of the Regional Strategic Framework into the future European programmes 2014-2020 by linking them to the key economic opportunities identified in the South East Wales regional chapter of WEFOs Economic Prioritisation Framework.  

The Corporate Director Communities reported that with regard to the development of the European project prospectus, regional proposals being taken forward for European funding support as a result of the work of the SEWDER task groups were summarised.  Overall, the European project prospectus has been progressed in part with mixed outcomes.  He stated that he led a cross-Directorate working group which is facilitated by the Regeneration Funding Team who will continue to co-ordinate the development and delivery of European-funded projects to ensure that they build on the successful delivery of current regeneration programmes and link to strategic priorities at both a regional and local level.

The Cabinet Member Regeneration and Economic Development in commending the report thanked the officers for being at the forefront of the initiatives.  The Cabinet Member Communities commented on the importance of the Council working in partnership with the South East Wales local authorities in the region.

RESOLVED:               That Cabinet:

(1)  Endorsed the progress in developing the Regional Strategic Framework for South-East Wales and the European Project Prospectus, including the collaborative projects set out in Appendix 1 to the report;

(2)  Authorised Council officers to continue working up the collaborative project applications for European funding support under the 2014-2020 programmes, and the relevant Corporate Director to report back to Cabinet as and when appropriate.