Decision details

The Director, Prosperity and Development updated the Cabinet on the action taken to continue to safely deliver key infrastructure and construction projects during the current COVID-19 pandemic to support businesses and help support the local economy.

The Director advised that during the Covid-19 pandemic, Services across the Council had continued to focus on the development and delivery of key investment projects. The Director drew Members’ attention to Appendix 1 of the report, where a comprehensive list of the projects was outlined, including highways, regeneration and Education projects, essential buildings work and the extensive social housing programme, which was developed in conjunction with RSL partners. It was explained that the value of the projects was worth more than £200m and that they had sustained more than 200 jobs in addition to securing hundreds more over the life of the projects and through the supply chain.

The Director concluded that in addition to the current projects outlined within the report before Members, a further report containing key projects would be subject to Cabinet consideration in the future.

The Leader thanked the Director for the report and spoke of the Council’s extensive Capital Programme, which would support the local economy in moving forward from the pandemic. The Leader spoke of conversations around the UK Government announcing a stimulus package in the coming months and commented that building upon the RCT Capital Programme would be key.

The Cabinet Member for Enterprise, Development and Housing took the opportunity to thank officers and businesses for working together to deliver the projects. The Cabinet Member welcomed the report, commenting that the cross authority approach to maintaining employment was critical during the current time.

The Cabinet RESOLVED:

1.    To consider the information provided and notes the action taken to date to continue the safe delivery of priority £200m infrastructure and regeneration projects, supporting over 200 jobs, over the period of the COVID 19 pandemic; and

2.    That a further report is presented to the following Cabinet setting out the actions the Council proposes to take, in partnership with Welsh Government, Cardiff Capital Region and private sector partners, to mitigate the economic impact of COVID 19 on the local and regional economy.