Decision due on funding for job schemes
SENIOR councillors are being asked to consider spending £337,000 on four projects in Gwynedd aimed at boosting the local economy.
Four projects are currently underway and the council’s Cabinet will consider committing the cash to extend the schemes.
In a series of reports to the cabinet officers are asking for £155,000 of additional funding to extend the Working together against poverty scheme and £117,000 for the ‘High value and quality jobs project.’
Smaller sums, £23,000 to extend the Rural Gwynedd Development Project and £42,000 to continue with High profile and strategic events, are also being sought.
Gwynedd Council chief executive Dilwyn Williams said: “Four requests for funding relate to these papers, all relating to commitments in the new strategic plan.
“Clearly, two are relatively small amounts and two are larger.
“Obviously the aim with such projects is to fund them from existing resources. I understand that insufficient funds are available for these requirements.
“However, it is suggested that these funds are provided for only a year to consider if more permanent resources can be redirected to these projects if they need to continue once the one-off funds come to an end.”
Working together against poverty scheme bring together 17 partners across Gwynedd from the private, public and voluntary sector to target residents and communities that suffer most from poverty as a result of welfare reform.
Among projects undertaken by the High value and quality jobs scheme include ensuring the Welsh Government designated the Trawsfynydd nuclear power station and Llanbedr airfield sites as the Snowdonia Enterprise Zone safeguarding 250 higher value jobs for an extended period of time.
The High profile and strategic events scheme aims to attract nationally or internationally highprofile events to Gwynedd in order to take advantage of the ensuing economic and social benefits.
Among the 30 events attracted so far was the Red Bull Hardline downhill mountain bike race in Dinas Mawddwy last year.
The purpose of the Rural Gwynedd Development Project is to increase the sustainability of rural communities paying particular attention to developing the range and value of economic activity in the countryside.