Three More Councils Back Cardiff Capital Region City Deal
The Shadow Regional Cabinet awaits the decision of all ten local authorities who will be meeting between now and February 9, 2017. Their commitment would see the Regional Cabinet come out of Shadow from March 1, 2017.
Each authority within the CCR must also approve a commitment by the ten authorities to borrow a combined total of £120million as part of the CCR City Deal Wider Investment Fund.
Rhondda Cynon Taf, Merthyr Tydfil, Blaenau Gwent, Cardiff and Monmouthshire Councils agreed unanimously to commit to the City Deal last week.
Councillor Andrew Morgan, chair of the CCR Shadow Regional Cabinet, and Leader of Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council, said: “This is an important part of the City Deal process. The ten authorities have worked extremely closely over the past 16 months to get the City Deal to this position, but support for the City Deal from those authorities’ members is critical if we are to collectively take this hugely exciting Deal forward.
“Together, the local authority partners can bring about an economic and social step-change in the Cardiff Capital Region, through improved transport, supporting innovation, an improved digital network, developing skills, supporting enterprise and business growth, and through housing development and regeneration.”
Subject to the votes by each authority, the Cardiff Capital Region City Deal would enter into a transition phase. The Cardiff Capital Region Transition Plan (to be published) will detail key activity to be undertaken, including establishing a Regional Office to drive the delivery of the Regional Cabinet’s work programme (to be published) in anticipation of receiving proposals at the end of this year.
Leader of Caerphilly County Borough Council, Cllr Keith Reynolds, said: “This ambitious project will signal an exciting new era for the region, and it Is great to see ten local councils working together with a shared goal of bringing prosperity and opportunities to our communities.”
Leader of Newport City Council, Cllr Debbie Wilcox, said: “I am very pleased that my colleagues across all political parties have shown their support for what promises to be a generational game-changer for Newport and the whole region.
“We can now plan ahead with two decades of economic investment certainty in our sights. I look forward to closely working with fellow leaders in making the deal a success, and being part of a team that will deliver innovation, investment and development.”
Cllr Anthony Hunt, Leader of Torfaen County Borough Council, said: “Our decision today is an important milestone, and a major step to realising significant economic investment for the region. This investment will have a long term impact on the financial health of the whole region which will in turn improve the lives and opportunities for our residents.”
The ten local authorities are: Blaenau Gwent, Bridgend, Caerphilly, Cardiff, Merthyr Tydfil, Monmouthshire, Newport, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Torfaen, and Vale of Glamorgan.