Hannah Blythyn: I thank Dawn Bowden for her questions. She's right to raise the investment that is going into Merthyr Tydfil, and will continue to do, and also the importance of those communities that serve—the smaller communities that are vital to the people who live in and around them as well. In terms of actually who qualifies for it and how that money is allocated, in terms of the town-centre...
Hannah Blythyn: The Member raises the need for diversification, and he's absolutely right—there is no one-size-fits-all solution to actually reinvigorating and regenerating our town centres. Whilst retail remains important, our towns can't survive on a retail offer alone. So, as I said in the statement, it's about shopping, it's about living, it's about leisure and it's about work as well. We've committed...
Hannah Blythyn: I absolutely agree with the Member's comments with regard to how the importance and the role of local communities has been really brought to the fore during the past six months or so, and how many people have gone above and beyond, whether they be volunteers or whether they be small businesses, diversifying not just to support their businesses, but to support the more vulnerable in the local...
Hannah Blythyn: Can I thank the Member for a number of questions and points that he made in response to the statement there? I'll try my best to endeavour to cover them as fully as I can. In respect of any consequentials, the Member was right, we did not receive any additional funding, but the £90 million that we've put in to our transforming towns by far dwarfs any consequentials that we get from the UK...
Hannah Blythyn: Thank you, acting Deputy Presiding Officer. I wanted to take the opportunity to update members on the £90 million transforming towns package announced in January and the written statement issued shortly before summer recess on support for our town centres to cope with the coronavirus pandemic. A sense of pride in place is at the heart of communities right across the country. Places for...
Hannah Blythyn: Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. I'd like to start by thanking Members, both of the committee and of the wider Senedd, for their contributions, and I do welcome the opportunity to finally be able to respond to this debate and to the committee inquiry report today. As you've heard here today during the debate, each of us here knows all too well how the COVID-19 pandemic has led to difficult times for...
Hannah Blythyn: We could go on a tour, Julie. I thank the Member for his question, and as he rightly says, there are a number of very hard-working and very effective town and community councils that not only have gone above and beyond in the past six months, but are very embedded in the communities in terms of the work that they do to make a difference, day in, day out, in those communities. The first thing...
Hannah Blythyn: Town councils have been and continue to be an important part of the COVID-19 response and recovery. The Welsh Government is supporting town councils to exercise their current powers to make a difference for their local communities and is taking through legislation to give the sector a wider range of powers, provided certain conditions are met. We are also seeking to further empower town...
Hannah Blythyn: Can I thank Nick Ramsay for his question? The Member will be aware that I am unable to comment on individual applications but, more broadly, then, support for green infrastructure is included in 'Planning Policy Wales'. My colleague the Minister for Housing and Local Government is nodding along to me how this is something that we are very keen to take forward as a Government, but also, in...
Hannah Blythyn: I thank Jenny Rathbone for that comprehensive question, which covers a range of important issues, many of which perhaps were there in the background prior to the pandemic, but certainly the need to address them has been accelerated as a consequence. In terms of foreseeing some of the challenges ahead and how we need to do things differently, 'Building Better Places' was published before the...
Hannah Blythyn: National planning policy states that our carbon targets are material in the planning process. They also apply the town-centre first approach that retail and commercial developments should be located in our town and city centres. Creating greener and cleaner communities is an integral part of our transforming towns work.
Hannah Blythyn: Absolutely. I know the community bank in Buckley is an issue that the Member has been campaigning on vigorously for a number of months now. We can see the impact not just that would have in terms of to mitigate against the economic challenges we may face post COVID-19, but in terms of actually how we both regenerate and provide footfall back into our town centres. As we take forward the town...
Hannah Blythyn: Thank you. Transforming towns across Wales and helping them to thrive, not simply survive, is a priority for the Welsh Government. This is, of course, more pressing than ever in the current circumstances. A ministerial town centre action group, underpinned by regional groups, will address the impact of COVID-19 and steer action to support the recovery of towns, including towns across Flintshire.
Hannah Blythyn: The Ramblers app, yes? [Laughter.] So, I was really pleased I met Ramblers Cymru nationally, as a Minister, recently in the last few weeks, and I also actually met my local Ramblers group just Friday just gone. Unfortunately, the inclement weather meant that we weren't out for a walk, but we did get to sit in a lovely corner café in Caerwys. So, actually, whilst we didn't have the app or the...
Hannah Blythyn: The Welsh Government is currently undertaking an access reform programme. This includes dealing with unwanted provisions of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000, such as those relating to the 2026 cut-off date for historical routes highlighted by the Ramblers' 'Don't Lose Your Way' campaign.
Hannah Blythyn: The Member for Alyn and Deeside is right, I do know Buckley high street well, not least because Buckley borders my own constituency, although, I have to say, it's a fair few years since my regular visits to the Tiv in Buckley. You're doing great there about the way that Buckley has lost banks—the high street has changed, as many of our high streets across the country have changed, and the...
Hannah Blythyn: Transforming towns across Wales and making them fit for the twenty-first century is a priority for the Welsh Government. We've continued to support the regeneration of town centres across north-east Wales, not least with projects worth £60 million focused on Rhyl, Wrexham and Holywell.
Hannah Blythyn: Our commitment to promoting financial inclusion is reflected through the £19 million funding in place this financial year. This provides access to appropriate and affordable financial services and quality-assured information and advice, enabling people to make more informed financial decisions and better manage their finances.
Hannah Blythyn: Welsh Government has provided a firm commitment to support all local authorities in managing their empty properties through the transforming towns announcement. We are providing a comprehensive upskilling and support programme across Wales, which includes those authorities within south-west Wales.
Hannah Blythyn: As set out in our current consultation towards a circular economy, 'Beyond Recycling', our aim is to be the world leader in recycling. To achieve this, our actions include investing in new infrastructure, bringing forward new regulations to improve business recycling and later this monthm, I will launch a new recycling campaign to encourage greater take-up.
