MEMBERS of the Swansea City Deal’s Economic Strategy Board are supporting a call for immediate approval of two major Swansea Bay City Deal projects.
The Economic Strategy Board (ESB), made up of private sector business persons appointed to the ESB say they want to help get the ‘Yr Egin’ and Swansea City and Waterfront Digital District projects over the finish line.
Their support comes after an independent review into the £1.3 billion Swansea Bay City Deal found that the businesses cases for these two projects are ‘fit for purpose’.
The same review also found serious problems with the way in which some business cases were prepared, describing them as little more than glossy marketing exercises devoid of detail and substance.
The Economic Strategy Board is made up of experts in key City Deal themes like energy, manufacturing, skills, life sciences, and business.
Chaired by Ed Tomp, the Vice-President and General Manager of Valero UK in Pembrokeshire, private sector board members include Scarlets chairman Nigel Short, retired consultant surgeon oncologist Simon Holt, and Pobl Group chief executive Amanda Davies.
Chris Foxall, finance director of Welsh car manufacturer Riversimple, and James Davies, Industry Wales executive chair, also sit on the board.
As well as an independent review, an internal review commissioned by the City Deal’s Joint Committee has also been completed to ensure governance is robust.
It found it wasn’t and described a breakdown in trust between the public sector partnership members.
The Economic Strategy Board provides strategic direction for the City Deal and advises the Joint City Deal Board.
Its functions include overseeing the production of project business cases and making recommendations for approval.
Mr Tomp said: “The Economic Strategy Board welcomes the publication of the reviews into the City Deal.
“Both include a number of recommendations which should speed up the City Deal’s delivery for the benefit of residents and businesses across South West Wales.
“Among the recommendations endorsed by the Economic Strategy Board is the immediate approval of the ‘Yr Egin’ and Swansea City and Waterfront Digital District projects, so we’ll do all we can to help with that process.
“The first phase of the ‘Canolfan S4C Yr Egin’ development is a terrific example of how state-of-the-art office and networking spaces can support our creative industries, while the Swansea project will combine world-class entertainment and 21st-century business facilities with cutting-edge digital infrastructure.”
Canolfan Yr Egin was never part of the City Deal and was tacked on after its construction was already underway. The involvement of the City Deal in the project is a fig leaf for UWTSD’, which despite promising it could deliver the project without public subsidy, went cap in hand to the Welsh Government when it couldn’t.
Public funding for Yr Egin was agreed by Economy Secretary Ken Skates over six months before the City Deal was even signed.
Mr Tomp continued: “Approval of these business cases as soon as possible would help maintain private sector confidence in the City Deal while showing the commitment of all partners to work together for the good of the Swansea Bay City Region.
“In the meantime, we’ll also continue to help progress business cases for the nine other projects due to be part City Deal funded because this investment programme has the potential to transform our region’s economic well-being.”
Chris Foxall said: “The Swansea Bay City Deal is a once in a generation opportunity to kick-start a sustainable regional economic development programme. It’s more than just investment – it’s the start of a journey that will build momentum, confidence and prosperity for our future generations. The City Deal’s breadth of sectoral and geographic coverage will ensure the impact is felt by everyone in the region, and the first two projects will evidence the physical and economic transformation that’s long overdue.”
