Neath Port Talbot Council has revealed its new City Deal projects three months after threatening to pull out completely from the £1.3bn regional project.
The local authority’s leader Rob Jones and chief executive Steven Phillips said the council’s revised business case, which goes before cabinet this week, was evidence of the council’s commitment to make the City Deal work.
The City Deal, for which the £1.3bn includes projected match funding for projects from the private, sector, is being financed by the 海角视频 and Welsh governments and also the borrowing powers of the four local authorities in the Swansea Bay City Region, in Neath Port Talbot, Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire and Swansea.
Leader of Neath Port Talbot, Rob Jones said: “After a difficult few months, this is a vital step to re-inject momentum into the City Deal.
“The council has made clear its intention to make the deal work if we can and these proposals provide a much better basis for moving forward; but also introduce an important new theme of decarbonising our economy.”
The council wants £47.7m from the City Deal over five years for the replacement projects which it says will help protect jobs as well as create new ones, and provide vital office, manufacturing and laboratory space for small to medium-sized business.
It said its business case represented a “first stage response” to the Welsh Government’s climate change emergency declaration and was underpinned by its new decarbonisation and renewable energy strategy.
The new business case sets out eight projects using elements of two of its original four projects.
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It is proposing to defer its Factory of the Future project which was due to be based at Swansea University.
Its Homes as Power Stations project remains unchanged and is awaiting a business case approval by the Welsh Government and 海角视频 Government.
In his report for cabinet, Mr Phillips said: “The investment outlined in the programme will accelerate the pace of development of a number of sites across the area for regional and local benefit.
“The objective is to unlock and realise those benefits at the earliest possible stage.”
He said there was a renewed urgency to deliver the programme given the position on Brexit and the necessity of measures to mitigate the announced closure of the Ford plant in Bridgend next year.
The council said it was potentially the first of a series of business cases over the 15-year time frame of the City Deal.
The new proposals
Build a Swansea Bay Technology Centre at Baglan Energy Park - to provide flexible office space for start-up companies and indigenous businesses
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Build a National Steel Innovation Centre to support the steel industry in Port Talbot and Wales as well as anchor research and development into future steel making in the region.
Focus on decarbonisation - this involves a number of projects aimed at helping to deliver future carbon targets and contribute to the promotion of new industries
Provide different types of commercial and industrial premises to help promote innovation, productivity growth and job creation within Port Talbot’s Waterfront Enterprise Zone - under a programme called Industrial Futures.
The council said it aimed to create/safeguard around 1,300 jobs (which would include those involved in construction) with a base assumption that at least 30% - 390 jobs - would be new. It would also develop over 18,000 square metres of business space.
Swansea Bay City Deal’s joint committee chairman Rob Stewart welcomed the council’s “continued commitment” to the City Deal, saying it was of vital importance to jobs and economic prosperity across the Swansea Bay City Region.
He said “Subject to approval at Neath Port Talbot Council’s cabinet, we look forward to receiving the council’s revised business case for consideration at joint committee.
“All partners throughout Carmarthenshire, Swansea, Neath Port Talbot and Pembrokeshire - along with both the 海角视频 Government and Welsh Government - remain fiercely committed to delivering the Swansea Bay City Deal as soon as possible.
“News of this revised business case is further progress for the City Deal, which follows on from both governments agreeing to release the first £18 million of City Deal funding, based on the approval of two projects.”
Neath Port Talbot Council has been vocal in its frustration at the lack of progress on City Deal projects when it comes to core funding being released.
In April it said it would look to revamp its projects to ensure they were fit-for-purpose.
It said a final decision to either stay or leave the City Deal would probably be taken around Christmas time.
Mr Phillips’ report, which goes before councillors next week, highlights the continued need for “robust analysis and clarity” from the two governments over the release of funding.
He points out that while progress has been made in recent weeks to release funding for various City Deal projects, the running total at present “remains zero”.
He said officer advice would be unchanging, adding: “We should not commit ourselves until other partners - including the two governments - do likewise.
“To do otherwise would not be prudent as it would leave the council financially exposed.”