Edwina Hart, Minister for Economy, Science and Transport
This was published under the 2011 to 2016 administration of the Welsh Government
This statement provides an update on the work of the Teifi Valley Local Growth Zone Task and Finish Group. The Group has concluded its work and has provided a report containing its recommendations.
The report contains 26 recommendations spanning three themes, Business Development, People Development and Area Development. The recommendations touch on several areas of ministerial and organisational responsibility.
I established the Teifi Valley Task and Finish Group on 25 June 2013 to explore how the local growth zone model may be applied to the Teifi Valley. The Group was asked to consider policy options to encourage and support jobs, economic growth and offer the opportunity of testing different types of interventions which are sensitive to the Valley’s local economic circumstances, growth challenges and prominent use of the Welsh language.
The Group was Chaired by Delyth Humfryes MBE, Chair of the West Wales Credit Union, supported by Kevin Davies, Cawdor Cars, Laurence Harris, Daioni-Trioni; Carwyn Adams, Caws Cenarth; Jayne Ludgate, Arcade; Dafydd Lewis, WD Lewis & Son and Cris Tomos, Cardigan Castle. I thank them all for their contributions and input.
The Task and Finish Group held oral evidence sessions, issued an open call for evidence and commissioned a series of telephone interviews with local businesses to inform the development of its report and recommendations. The response received underlines the breadth of interest this work has generated amongst businesses and other stakeholders.
Work will now begin to assess the potential impacts and costs of the recommendations.
The report will be made available on the Welsh Government website for comment.
Some of the recommendations cut across a number of ministerial portfolios and I have written to relevant Cabinet colleagues.
Some of the recommendations will be for Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire Councils to consider, and I will be writing to the Council Leaders to draw their attention to the report.
All comments and contributions will be into account in the Welsh Government response, which I intend to issue ahead of Summer Recess.