The Work of the Valleys Taskforce in Caerphilly

Part of 1. Questions to the First Minister – in the Senedd at 1:57 pm on 5 March 2019.

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Photo of Lesley Griffiths Lesley Griffiths Labour 1:57, 5 March 2019

Yes. Thank you. I am aware you have recently written to the Deputy Minister for Economy and Transport in relation to these issues, and I know he's offered to meet with you formally to discuss the matter further. The Deputy Minister is doing a great deal of work around the Valleys taskforce at the moment. I know he's had discussions with members of the taskforce itself. He's meeting with each of the Valleys local authority leaders, with a view to looking at how the taskforce can better align with the foundational economy and Better Jobs Closer to Home. He's also asked the local authority leaders for some examples of best practice, so that that can be spread right across the Valleys areas. So, for example, Rhondda Cynon Taf's approach to regenerating empty homes through property improvement grants—that has the potential to bring about 1,000 homes back into use. And he's also looking at how we can learn from the twenty-first century schools model of funding. So, again, we can apply that approach to examples of good practice across the Valleys. I know the Minister has also spoken to the Deputy Minister about the need to ensure that the foundational economy is absolutely embedded into the Valleys taskforce, and I think the taskforce has been really important in bringing a focus on the Valleys within the Welsh Government.