Agenda item

The Committee received a presentation on Regeneration activity within Llanelli Town Centre aligned with the work of the Llanelli Task Force which, over the last two years, had aimed to stimulate growth and investment in the town centre. That included supporting traders, reducing the number of vacant and commercial properties, boosting business, promotion of the Town Centre as a place to live, work, shop and visit, increasing footfall and ensuring it was clean and accessible to all.

The Committee noted the following initiatives/funds had been established/secured to help achieve the aims and regeneration proposals for both Llanelli town centre and countywide:-

Ø  The delivery of the Opportunity Street programme;

Ø  Town Centre Loan scheme;

Ø  Carmarthenshire Business Start Up Grant and Carmarthenshire Business Growth Fund;

Ø  Carmarthenshire Transformational Commercial Property Development Fund;

Ø  Targeted Regeneration Investment Programme.

The following questions/issues were raised on the presentation:-

·        Arising from a question on the Carmarthenshire Start Up Grant and Carmarthenshire Business Growth Fund, the Economic Development Manager confirmed the schemes’ were not specific to Llanelli and were available countywide. The level of funding available totalled £500k, with any grant award being subject to a number of qualifying criteria.

·        In response to a query regarding the fire damaged church building on Murray Street, Llanelli, the Economic Development Manager advised that he could explore the current position relative to that property.

·        Reference was made to the accessibility of the Town Centre for cyclists and clarification sought on the current position regarding the production of information maps directing cyclists from the coastal path to the town centre. It was confirmed that whilst a number of access points to the Town Centre had been created, additional work was required on advertising those routes.

The Head of Leisure reminded the Committee that the Authority was preparing a county wide cycling strategy. That included the establishment of a cycling group incorporating SUSTRANS, Voluntary Groups and its communications division with a view to developing a co-ordinated approach to cycling within the County, and would include the publication of a cycling map.

Arising from the above, reference was made to involving external organisations such as the Heritage Society to link up with tourism to encourage footfall into the Town Centre to promoting attractions such as Llanelli House and Park Howard via the heritage information notice boards within the area.

·        Reference was made to the impact commercial business rates could have on redevelopment proposals for the town centre. It was confirmed that following a re-valuation exercise undertaken by the Revaluation Office last April, the level of rates for properties in the town centre had reduced significantly, some by up to two thirds, with Stepney Street and Vaughan Street having seen one of the largest reductions within Wales.

·        Reference was made to the work being undertaken in renovating town centre properties and to whether the Council, as landlords, had adopted a requirement for tenants to promote bilingualism in their signage etc.  The Economic Development Manager confirmed he would review the current position on the council’s requirements for bilingual signage etc to be displayed within any shop premises let as part of Llanelli Town Regeneration and advise the committee members of the outcome.

·        In response to a question on the time needed to process applications to the Carmarthenshire Start Up Grant and Carmarthenshire Business Growth Fund, the Economic Development Manager advised it was hoped they could be processed within a month of receipt, subject to applicants providing all the necessary information with the application.

·        Reference was made to Phase 3 of the Town Centre Loan and to whether that was available for allocation within Ammanford. The Economic Development Manager confirmed that was the position, however, no applications had been received to date for spend on projects within Ammanford.

Arising from the above, a question was raised on whether the Committee could be provided with an update on the situation within Ammanford. It was also reminded that at the meeting of Council held on the 14^th February, the Leader of the Council is to provide a presentation to Full Council on the work of the task forces established for both Llanelli and Ammanford Town centres and also on the work of the Carmarthen Town Development group. The Economic Development Manager advised that he could arrange for a presentation on regeneration activity for both Ammanford and Carmarthen to be made to a future meeting of the Committee.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the presentation be received.