Island attracts £2.7m in “community renewal” funding

Anglesey Council has been successful in its bid for a slice of the Westminster Government’s new Community Renewal Fund, which will benefit six projects on the island.

Designed to plug the gap filled by the loss of former EU funding,  the authority will receive a £2.7m share of the available £220m, with £46m allocated to Wales.

Designed as a pilot for the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, Anglesey had been named as one of the priority areas in Wales that were eligible for CRF support.

Having also received £20,000 towards the preparation of the bids, the £2.7m will be shared between:

• M-SParc’s Innovation Island bid (£924,017). Supporting new opportunities in science and technology including digital skills, a skills incubator, business boot-camps, developing young enterprise, digital and net zero business support and supporting an offshore energy cluster.  It will also generate at least 14 new direct jobs.
• Môn Ymlaen (£372,666). A collaboration between Ynys Môn County Council Youth Services and Môn CF to work with hard to reach young people to help them get into work.
• Adfywio Môn Renewal Programme (£591,600). An integrated programme of innovative pilots and trials to make the most of cultural, linguistic and woodland assets, to enhance the economy and community.
• A Feasibility Study for a multi-vector Smart Local Energy System for Anglesey by the North Wales Economic Ambition Board (£96,900). The study will focus on a decentralised energy production in order to meet Net Zero commitments.
• Provide high-quality Level 4 Health and Social Care Education in North Wales through Grwp Llandrillo Menai ( £517,915).  Training people in the sector to meet a local skills gap and enhance their own development opportunities.
• Cefnogi Busnesau Môn, led by Môn CF, (£217,062). Supporting the hardest to reach businesses and entrepreneurs that do not normally engage with new business start-up support, business development & growth support post Covid-19.

The UK Government’s decision to bypass the Welsh Government and directly allocate the funding itself, having invited applications directly from local authorities, has been attacked by ministers in Cardiff Bay and was described by economy minister Vaughan Gething as “a deliberate assault on Welsh devolution”.

Anglesey Council decided not to present a bid for a slice of the Westminster Government’s concurrent Levelling Up Fund.

This followed criticism locally after Môn was ranked by the UK Government as only a second tier priority area when applying for a share of the £4.8bn pot, designed to finance infrastructure projects in deprived areas.

Speaking in June the council’s Chief Executive, Annwen Morgan, said that non-priority for the levelling up fund was “an area of concern” but paid tribute to officers for co-ordinating a CRF bid within a tight timeframe.
But following the confirmation that £2.7m was being allocated for Anglesey, island MP Virginia Crosbie  said she was “absolutely thrilled.”

“This money that will change lives and support business, young people, care workers, our heritage, our environment and the development of new energy production across the island,” she added, having supported the application.

“Here’s more evidence that the UK Government and the Prime Minister are serious about levelling up the country and serious about reversing decades of under investment in Anglesey.

“I couldn’t be happier that the hard work by these groups and the council’s officers have borne such rich fruit. I worked with the council, fully supported all the bids and made it clear to all the ministers involved that I wanted to see Anglesey achieve success with this fund.

“It seems everyone’s wish has been granted today and I look forward to visiting these projects in the future to see how the money is being used.”

By Gareth Williams – Local Democracy Reporter