Opposition groups want more say over £110 million Growth Deal

A Growing Mid Wales board meeting was held recently to agree the next phase of the Mid-Wales Growth Deal. But it was held in confidential session.

The four opposition group leaders in Powys, councillors James Gibson-Watt, of the Liberal Democrats and Green Party; Mathew Dorrance, of Labour; Elwyn Vaughan, of Plaid Cymru, and Jeremy Pugh, of Action for Powys, issued a joint statement on the deal.

They say: “We remain very dissatisfied and concerned that the development of the strategic documents and now the Heads of Terms, which will govern the way the Growth Deal will be implemented, have not been subject to proper scrutiny by members of Powys County Council.

“The council’s relevant scrutiny committee has not had been enabled by the cabinet to influence the development of the deal or scrutinise the documents that underpin it, despite repeated requests for councillors to be given that opportunity.

“Apart from a presentation to the council membership on the broad outlines of the proposals, after they were developed, the whole process has been shrouded in secrecy and has lacked transparency.”

They will now be writing a joint letter to the leader of the Independent and Conservative coalition which runs the county council, Councillor Rosemarie Harris, asking for a discussion.

Framework

They want to see more open scrutiny and the possibility of input from council members on the deal, which is supposed to frame economic development in Mid Wales for the next 15 years.

At the meeting, board members - who include council leaders and councillors on the cabinet for both Ceredigion and Powys County Council, as well as business representatives - discussed a draft version of the Heads of Terms legal framework for the £110 million deal.

This will pave the way for a full deal agreement in the new year.

The Welsh and UK Government believe the Growth Deal has an “important part” to play in the recovery phase of the economy, after Covid-19.

The Mid-Wales Growth Deal was mooted by Chancellor Philip Hammond in 2017, and was hoped to be worth as much as £200 million.

In October 2019 the UK Government announced a £55 million injection of funding, spread over 15 years for the Mid Wales Growth Deal.

The Welsh Government will match the £55 million, and it was hoped before the Covid-19 pandemic struck that another £55 million would come from businesses in the region.

Both Powys Council and Ceredigion Council have been contacted for a response.