City Deal wants experts to maximise its impact
EXPERT advisers are wanted to help maximise the impact of the £1.3bn Swansea Bay City Deal. Expressions of interest are now being sought from experts in digital innovation, skills, energy, manufacturing, young people, transport, local development, retail, food and beverages, tourism, heavy industry, and microbusiness.
When needed, successful candidates will advise City Deal leaders including its private-sector economic strategy board and the decisionmaking joint committee.
The appointment of the specialist advisers was among a series of recommendations from two critical reports into the governance arrangements for the City Deal for the Swansea Bay Region, made up of local authority areas of Neath Port Talbot, Swansea, Carmarthenshire, and Pembrokeshire.
One was carried out by Attica Consulting on behalf of the UK and Welsh Governments, and the other from a team of internal auditors from across the four local authorities that make up the city region, in Swansea, Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire and Neath Port Talbot, into the City Deal.
The recommendations were accepted in full by the City Deal’s joint committee.
The £1.3bn deal includes projected leverage finance of £637m from the private sector for its projects. The Welsh and UK Governments have committed in principle £241m in backing.
To get projects away in the first five years, the four local authorities
would use their borrowing powers and be paid back over 15 years.
Acting on the recommendations the City Deal is also currently recruiting for a programme director role, which is being advertised with a salary of £88,474 to £94,373 – plus potential for a market supplement based on skills and experience.
In July the UK government and Welsh Government agreed to release an initial £18m for the Swansea Bay City Deal programme, subject to terms and conditions being met – which are expected to be finalised shortly.
It follows approval of business cases for two City Deal projects – the creative industries Yr Egin, in Carmarthen, and the Swansea City and Waterfront Digital District.
Leader of Swansea council and chairman of the City Deal’s joint committee Rob Stewart said: “We have accepted all recommendations arising from the recent reviews, which shows the determination of City Deal partners to deliver as soon as possible.
“Worth over 9,000 well-paid jobs to the Swansea Bay City Region, the City Deal presents a once-in-ageneration opportunity to boost our economic prosperity.
“The economic strategy board has given invaluable advice to joint committee since first being established, but the appointment of specialist advisers will bring even more expertise to the table. This will help maximise the City Deal’s impact for the benefit of residents and businesses in all parts of Carmarthenshire, Neath Port Talbot, Pembrokeshire and Swansea.
“Specialist advisers are being sought in fields linked to City Deal themes, as well as sectors including local development, transport and tourism.”