With major heritage investments, a futuristic “green school” approval and clinching the Celtic Freeport bid which promises billions in investment and thousands of green jobs, 2023 looked like being quite a year for Neath Port Talbot Council.
But September brought news of a deal between the UK Government and Tata Steel UK to decarbonise the Port Talbot Steel Works, replacing traditional blast furnaces with electric arc technology – with thousands of jobs being put at risk.
A Transition Board is now in place chaired by Welsh Secretary David T C Davies with £100m to support the people and businesses affected by the changes. While negotiations continue at a national and international level, NPT Council Leader Cllr Steve Hunt, who is a member of the board, has pledged to stand shoulder to shoulder with those residents directly impacted.
January started off with a bang with the council attracting a £17.7m UK Government Levelling Up Fund grant to establish the Vale of Neath as a major heritage and natural environment led visitor destination. In the same month, Neath’s multi-million pound town centre leisure centre and swimming pool opened and the council’s Cabinet approved five ‘anchor projects’ from £28.4m of funding from the UK Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) – including a Valleys and Villages Prosperity Fund and a £1m Third Sector Growth Fund.
In February, there was more good Neath town centre news when bar and restaurant chain Loungers announced a new venue next to the newly opened Neath Leisure Centre and Library. Later in February the council organised a top level Swansea University Bay Campus Round Table discussion – looking at the skills and training needed for the fast expanding green economy in South West Wales.
March saw a spectacular success not only for Neath Port Talbot but for Wales as a whole when the council’s joint Celtic Freeport bid with Associated British Ports, Pembrokeshire Council and the Port Talbot of Milford Haven won Government approval opening up the prospect of thousands of new, green jobs and billions of pounds in investment with a focus on the promising Floating Offshore Wind (FLOW) sector. Later in March, Cabinet members approved a wide ranging £3.23m programme of improvements, repairs and maintenance to footpaths, roads, bridges and drainage in all parts of the county borough.
In April, a £15m futuristic Neath Port Talbot “green school” was given the go ahead as part of the Welsh Government’s Sustainable Schools Challege – Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Rhosafan will be packed with energy efficient technology including a ground source heat pump system and photovoltaic panels plus the use of local supply chains and local materials. Later in April the Mayor of Neath Port Talbot Citizen Awards took place in Margam’s Orangery.
In May, after a significant investment by Neath Port Talbot Council, its Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) camera network, which had been completely replaced with a modern high-tech system, went live. In June the multi-award winning, energy positive Bay Technology Centre at the Baglan Energy Park was officially opened by Secretary of State for Wales the Rt Hon David TC Davies MP.
In July the council gained a Silver Award from the Ministry of Defence’s Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) and in August Neath Cricket Club attracted first class cricket to its Gnoll Ground for the second year running. Also in August, Morgan Sindall Construction was commissioned to build a new £20m Swansea Bay City Deal backed SWITCH facility in Neath Port Talbot to help Welsh industries decarbonise. And the council was the only Welsh authority in the shortlist for APSE (Association of Public Service Excellence) Council of the Year Award which eventually went to Wigan.
September saw that Tata Steel/UK Government announcement with Neath Port Talbot Council now committed to working with unions and other key partners to minimise impacts and to continue its record of attracting inward investment and funding for major job creating projects. One of the annual highlights of the Neath Port Talbot calendar – Neath’s historic September Fair – took place once again. Also, the council stepped in to ensure cherished Remembrance Day Parades in Neath and Port Talbot continue by becoming the ‘official organiser’ and paying £18,000 for expenses including supervisors, traffic management and safety barriers.
In October the National Lottery Heritage Fund announced NPT will benefit from a share of £200m to help transform the area’s heritage through a new Heritage Places initiative. Neath Port Talbot was selected as the only place in Wales for the first phase of this programme. The council also began talks with The Range about a swift takeover of the former Neath town centre Wilko store.
November saw Neath Port Talbot Council’s bid for £27m of UK Levelling Up Fund money being granted. It will be used to regenerate Port Talbot’s Civic Square, make improvements to the Princess Royal Theatre and green spaces at nearby Riverside and restore and re-open the Grade II listed Newbridge Road bridge in Aberavon. Margam Country Park was also voted one of the UK’s top ten green spaces.
In December the council picked up the Consortium of Local Authorities in Wales (CLAW) Award for Project of the Year – its successful transformation of the once derelict Plaza Cinema in Port Talbot into a community hub, gym, business centre and café. The council also went out to public consultation on its proposals for trying to achieve a balanced 2024/25 budget despite £30m of new cost pressures caused by soaring energy costs, inflation-related pay pressures and unprecedented demands on its vital services and the prospect of only around an estimated £8m extra in funding from the Welsh Government.
Consultation ends at midnight on January 10th , 2024. Link: https://beta.npt.gov.uk/council-democracy-elections/have-your-say/lets-keep-talking-together-we-are-npt/
