To receive reports from, and to put questions to, Cabinet Portfolio Holders:
a. Councillor Martin Weale – Regeneration and Planning:
i. Business Support
ii. Regeneration Activities
iii. Tourism
iv. Planning Function
Minutes:
Members welcomed the opportunity to receive reports from, and to put questions to, Cabinet Portfolio Holders. Councillor Martin Weale – Regeneration and Planning attended for this item of business. Martin introduced Jenni Thomas, Regeneration Manager and Nathan Davies, War Memorials Officer. During discussion particular reference was made to:
Powys War Memorials Project:
a. War Memorial Project – communities have access to a time limited grant which is administered by the Authority. Communities can apply for funding to support projects which recognise conflicts with a focus on WWI and refurbishing war memorials. We are currently in year two of the four year grant period. Where memorials recognise more than one conflict they would also be considered for funding. The fund is being allocated on a first come first serve basis
b. Montgomeryshire Applications – there had been a noticeable lack of applications from the Montgomeryshire area
c. Funding/Application Process - up to £5k could be awarded to refurbish WWI war memorials, 10% of the grant award would need to be matched by the local community. The application process had been kept simple and there’s an emphasis on processing applications quickly
d. Community Engagement and Events – funding could also be accessed to support community events which recognise the forces i.e. an area had applied to support a local walk of historical interest which links to the forces. Local cadet squads may be able to access funding
e. Social Media/Website Projects – funding could also be obtained to support activities to provide information via. social media and/or to operate websites which recognise the services
Tourism:
a. Value – in 2015 the value of tourism to the Powys local economy was in the region of £720 million (the second largest value to Powys after farming)
b. Branding – branding Powys is very important in order to provide an identity
c. Events – the Authority has an events team. Hosting events can be very lucrative. It would be important to maximise publicity. There are national as well as local events held i.e. the tour of Britain and the Machynlleth comedy festival
d. Visit Wales/Cambrian Way (A470) – historically funding has been provided to support activities along the Cambrian Way route which sits alongside the A470
e. Signage – it was felt by members that the upkeep and maintenance of signage to direct to tourist attractions was important. Some members expressed concern regarding the general condition of signage in their areas. Members were encouraged to report issues to the Council
f. Rights of Way – it was felt that maintaining areas used for walking and other leisure related activities would be important in order to attract visitors
g. Promotion – Powys would work with communities to help publicise local attractions. It was felt by members that there should be a very active, targeted approach to supporting communities. There are local sites of interests i.e. castles that could be tourist attractions which, if promoted, could bring in more tourists to areas
h. Business Wales – there are good links between the Authority and Business Wales
i. Visit Wales – Visit Wales run themed annual programmes which are supported by funding and media coverage. This year the theme will be legends with links to the sea. Although Powys is landlocked there would be an opportunity to promote routes to the coast. Next year would favour Powys more, the theme would be discovery
j. Connecting Businesses – members urged the Council to use its processes to help connect businesses i.e. bed and breakfasts with event organising
k. Clywedog Reservoir – the local member questioned the decision of the local authority to close toilets at the reservoir. Visits to the reservoir are very popular and it is a tourist attraction. It’s the view of the member that we should be promoting the area and encouraging visits rather than closing facilities which could have an impact on visiting. The Portfolio Holder welcomed the information and agreed that the Authority should do all that it could to promote visits and local economies. The member would welcome an update in relation to any support that could be offered
l. Areas of Distinctive Identity – in order to bring funding into Powys and promote areas there had been a focus on the Brecon Beacons, Cambrian Mountains, Dyfi Biosphere, Lake Vyrnwy and Berwyn Mountains and the Offa’s Country Corridor. It is accepted that other areas have a range of attractive qualities and tourist attractions
m. Working with Communities – approaches to the Council regarding help in promoting and supporting areas to market are encouraged. Regeneration officers are on hand to help areas in this regard
n. Heritage Lotter Funds/Funding in General – there are funds that could be accessed to support community activities. The local member for Llanfair Caereinon reported that the community had recently been successful in securing a lottery grant for £62k to support regeneration/tourist activities. It would be important for communities to be aware of potential funding streams and to be supported in applying
o. Welshpool Canal – promoting the canal and developing the areas near to it could be very valuable to Welshpool town and neighbouring areas. The Portfolio Holder agreed to visit Welshpool to discuss options with the local County Councillors and Welshpool Town Council
Planning Function
a. Processing of Planning Applications – since coming into post and being responsible for the planning function the portfolio holder had worked with officers to identify blockages and issues in relation to the planning process. There would be a focus on reviewing processes with a view to speedy consideration of applications
b. Local Development Plan – it would be important to adopt the Powys LDP by 7th February 2018. The Portfolio Holder confirmed that up until the time of the submission and adoption the current practice of the operation of the Planning Committee in terms of considering applications would continue
c. Pre-planning Advice – a member expressed concern with regard to the quality of pre-planning advice (a paid for service which generates income for the Council). The particular issue in this case relating to highways advice. The Portfolio Holder stressed the importance of providing good pre-planning advice and urged members to raise issues of concern direct with him (the member with the particular concerns would discuss the detail with the portfolio holder outside of the meeting)
d. Consultation with Community Councils (Amended Applications) – a member requested that the positon with regard to the requirement to consult with communities in relation to adjustments to plans be reviewed in order to introduce a requirement to re-consult or advise town and community councils on minor revisions so that comments could be made. The current practice seems to be that minor adjustments are accepted by officers without re-consulting
e. Local Liaison Meetings – the Portfolio Holder would consider re-instating local planning liaison meetings. Local meetings had operated in the life of the previous Council, however, a decision was taken during that Council to cease. Resource and capacity could be an issue
Business Support
Due to technical difficulties a video presentation could not be show. Members were informed that the Cabinet recognise the importance of supporting local business start-up and growth and that it is a key focus of the Cabinet vision. Members were encouraged to contact the Portfolio Holder and/or officers from the regeneration team in relation to business support matters.