The Leader announced that the Council is continuing to work with partners including Welsh Government in response to the announcement that Ford is proposing to close its Engine Plant next year.  A high-level meeting of local business leaders and employers is being organised to discuss working together to help the local economy respond and rally to the proposed closure.  The Council is also relaunching two major funding initiatives that will support supply chain companies and businesses affected by the announcement.

He stated that Ford has long been considered an anchor company in the South Wales economy, and the Special Regeneration Fund will help local companies to diversify and invest in order to thrive and take advantage of new business opportunities.  The Kick Start fund seeks to support new businesses and create fresh jobs within their first three years of trading by helping them invest in equipment and other capital start-up costs.

Welsh Government is also taking swift and urgent action with news that a special response team is being assembled to support workers, businesses and local communities.  The Council will offer workers at the engine plant redundancy support and access to new employment and training opportunities.  He stated that the staff at Ford are highly skilled, world-class workers, and wherever possible, the Council will encourage other businesses within the county borough to offer them alternative employment.  There are a number of initiatives in place which can support this, such as the ReAct fund which helps new employers meet recruitment and training costs, or the Employability Bridgend Programme which helps people to adapt, re-train, gain new skills and take advantage of fresh opportunities.

He stated that if the closure goes ahead, Bridgend County Borough is going to need significant investment from both the UK Government and Welsh Government in order to offset some of the huge impact that this will have on the local economy, the area and the community as a whole.  The Leader announced that he will keep Members updated on this very concerning matter. 

The Leader announced that full public access has been recently restored to the all-new Town Beach in Porthcawl.  The completion of the new £3m sea defences has radically transformed the area previously known as the Tarmac Beach.  The design of the terraces in action divert the force of each incoming wave to either side instead of allowing it to hit the seafront area head-on.  This will ensure 260 seafront properties are protected, including the Grand Pavilion, from flooding and coastal erosion.  He thanked all involved delivering the project. 

The Leader congratulated Archbishop Mcgrath School which was recognised at the Young Enterprise Wales awards recently after pupils set up a project called ‘Archways’ which promotes aromatherapy as a personalised study aid.  The awards help build transferable skills and encourage innovation, and Archbishop won first place and will now represent Wales at the UK national awards.  Ysgol Bryn Castell has received a glowing inspection report and a ‘good’ rating from Estyn, with Inspectors recognising the high-standard of teaching and strong progress made by pupils at the school.