Mixed reaction to Jenrick regional cash aid pledge
COUNCIL leaders have given a mixed reception to promises made by UK Cabinet Minister Robert Jenrick, who has claimed that Wales will not miss out on a penny of regional aid funding because of Brexit.
On Thursday, Mr Jenrick, the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, met representatives of the Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) and visited Treorchy on his first official visit to Wales since taking responsibility for the post-Brexit aid programme.
Recently, Wales has been receiving £375m per year from the European Commission and Mr Jenrick has promised to match that.
Councillor Andrew Morgan, the Labour leader of the WLGA and Rhondda Cynon Taf (RCT) council, said: “I was pleased to meet Mr Jenrick and the Secretary of State for Wales, Simon Hart, and we had some very positive and constructive discussions.
“The WLGA welcomes this engagement with UK Government ministers and believes that Welsh communities are best served when Welsh, local and UK governments all work together in a complementary way.
“Councils are often best-placed to deliver the services and projects which enhance all our daily lives.
“Local government leaders in Wales made it clear to ministers that it is non-negotiable that Wales must receive at least the same amount of funding as we would have received were we still a member of the EU.
“We welcomed reassurances by the Secretaries of State that this would indeed be the case, and we will look forward to working with the UK and Welsh governments, as we will deliver for the people of Wales when we all work together.”
Cllr Morgan added: “We’re allowed one bid per constituency, so three will be going in from RCT, plus a standalone transport bid.
“The proof will be if we get the money. If places like RCT don’t get money, then the levelling-up agenda is just hype and no substance.”
The Welsh Government is angry at having been frozen out of discussions about the funds that will replace the grants that previously came from the EU.
While a branch of the Welsh Government known as the Welsh European Funding Office has been responsible for deciding on which projects to fund with EU money, in future that role will be undertaken by the UK Government.
First Minister Mark Drakeford and other ministers have accused the UK Government of undermining devolution by making the change.
Councillor Llinos Medi Huws, the Plaid Cymru leader of Ynys Mon council, said: “I think the UK Government should show respect for devolution and accept it’s what the people of Wales voted for in two referendums.
“I don’t agree with the way they are distributing funds via a competition, where bids have to be submitted by June 18.
“The principle of having a competition is wrong, but it also disadvantages smaller authorities like ours because we do not have the same level of resources as larger councils to draw up bids. The fact that it is happening in such a short time-scale also makes it difficult to ensure that the best projects are put forward.
“The whole point of the exercise is meant to be about levelling up poorer communities, but I’m not convinced they have the right processes in place to ensure that happens.”
Asked whether she trusted Mr Jenrick when he said Wales would not lose funding as a result of the new arrangements, Cllr Huws said: “I’m not here to judge individuals.
“It’s more about having trust in procedures.
“The UK Government should be more open about how they are making judgements on individual projects. They are not being transparent.”
But Councillor Richard John, the Tory leader of Monmouthshire
County Council, said: “I welcome the funding and believe the UK and Welsh governments should work together with Welsh local authorities to do what they can to improve the nation’s prosperity.
“I totally trust Robert Jenrick when he says the amount of money Wales was getting from the EU will be matched.
“I think he and everyone in Boris Johnson’s Government understand that the best way to keep the Union together is to pursue the levelling-up agenda so no communities feel left out.
“We shall be submitting projects aimed at improving Caldicot and Monmouth and making Severn Tunnel a transport hub that will help ease congestion on the M4.
“We’re very happy to work with [Newport East Labour MP] Jessica Morden and [Monmouth Conservative MP] David Davies. These schemes transcend party politics.”