Janet Finch-Saunders
Now, the Welsh Conservatives have always supported our local high street, so you can imagine our disappointment when we read the high-street vacancy statistics published on Thursday showing that Wales has the highest vacancy rate in the UK, four whole percentage points higher than England. How disappointing is that? We have seen few tangible results from the Welsh Labour Government’s Support Your High Street campaign, and now, with nearly one in six of our shops standing empty, it is high time that this Labour Government overturned their persistent failure to promote our high streets and town centres. Senedd.tvFideo Video There are questions to be answered. Despite extensive monitoring, why has the Welsh Labour Government, unlike other UK Governments, failed to reduce high-street vacancy rates? Good question. What progress has been seen on the recommendations of the Enterprise and Business Committee’s 2012 report—[Interruption.] Okay. Mick Antoniw
You asked why the Welsh Government hasn’t reduced them. Well, since 2013, the vacancy rate has actually reduced, to the current time. Janet Finch-Saunders
I’ve given you the figures; they speak for themselves. What progress has been made on the Enterprise and Business Committee’s 2012 report on the regeneration of town centres? It’s easy to write up the strategies, but you don’t carry them out. And what measures are the Welsh Government taking to incentivise and encourage businesses to locate onto our high streets? Now, we are calling today for improved practices over high-street management, business rates, accessibility, and planning, led by communities and based on local knowledge. Our charter for the high street highlights the importance of full community engagement and sustainable planning to ensure that mixed use is a permanent fixture of our high streets, in order to boost the high-street economy and accessibility. Now, on accessibility, the National Federation of Retail Newsagents has highlighted that the decreasing availability of parking spaces is detrimental to many businesses. They’ve called for consultation with local businesses to inform the development of such parking policies and schemes, and it is a fact that many Labour-run local authorities are actually using parking charge revenue as part of their main budget, and that is wrong. In addition to this, high streets and communities—[Interruption.] I’ve taken one, Lynne. Again, another time. Public transport: the Welsh Labour Government’s devastating cuts to bus operator grants—and you can’t deny them—have impacted hugely on our more rural and isolated communities, and I therefore look forward to the outcome of the Enterprise and Business Committee’s inquiry into bus and community transport services in Wales. I think that will be very telling indeed. Now, I would like to ask today: how is the Welsh Labour Government working with our businesses to improve and increase mobility initiatives on our high streets? Now, given the demographics of my constituency of Aberconwy—led by Plaid Cymru, incidentally—this is of a particular concern. In terms of supporting business, when there are 45—not 10, not 15 or 30; 45—different Welsh Government bodies to oversee and lead regional growth and development, it is no wonder that businesses and local authorities find it really hard to navigate their way around such a system. Now, it’s also disappointing to note that seven of the 11 eligible local authorities have already had applications rejected for the Vibrant and Viable Places fund. I would like to ask the Minister how the Welsh Government is working to improve accessibility and guidance on applications and what funding is left available. ‘Invest Wales’ would regionalise banking and ‘Invest Wales’, our Welsh Conservative policy, would regionalise banking to reduce complex red tape, to ensure local knowledge delivers effective local financial support for our businesses. It’s common sense. Last week, I highlighted that business rate relief is one of the most powerful tools at the disposal of this Welsh Labour Government. Yet, again, the Welsh Conservative stance on abolishing rate relief for all businesses valued up to £12,000 is supported by many business owners and chambers of commerce. They’re crying out, they’re calling out, for this, but they are completely ignored. I again will reiterate our call to the Welsh Labour Government for a full business rate review. Minister, there has never been a better time to regenerate our high streets. The OECD has forecast the British economy will grow at 2.4 per cent this year. Wages have risen 2.9 per cent and the national living wage will come into play next year. Tax reductions from the Conservative Government in Westminster will benefit 1.4 million people in Wales in real terms. We need to seize this opportunity while the time is right and seriously consider our proposals in ‘A Vision for the Welsh High Street’ and ‘Invest Wales’. The Conservative UK Government are doing their best to help high streets to flourish. It is high time that the Welsh Labour Government actually took some responsibility to address the challenges facing our communities and maybe take a leaf out of the Conservative UK Government’s book. Thank you. Lesley Griffiths
Y Gweinidog Cymunedau a Threchu Tlodi / The Minister for Communities and Tackling PovertyThank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. I didn’t really expect the leader of the opposition to apologise for having this debate this afternoon, as it was you that brought it forward. Obviously, the Welsh Government, this week, we are celebrating Support Your High Street and our high-street heroes. So, I actually thought it was a very timely debate and I was going to congratulate you on bringing it forward. However, as you always do, the Conservatives always start by talking down Wales. The Welsh Government is absolutely committed to supporting our town and city centres. Our regeneration framework, ‘Vibrant and Viable Places’, sets out our vision that everybody in Wales should live in a well-connected, vibrant, viable and sustainable community, with a strong local economy, and have a good quality of life. The framework acknowledges the challenge that we do face with substantial competition from the internet and from retail parks. Of course, the Conservatives don’t do irony either, do they? We heard from Alun Davies that obviously a huge challenge is the fact that people don’t have as much money in their pockets due to the UK Government’s policies. People across Wales have less disposable income and we know that’s a direct result of your Government’s economic policies. It’s bound to put pressures on our high street. Again, I don’t recognise the figures that Janet Finch-Saunders came out with. I know that there are different methodologies used, but I certainly don’t recognise the figures that you came forward with. Nevertheless, as a Welsh Government, we are working through a wide range of initiatives to support our town centres. Through our regeneration scheme, ‘Vibrant and Viable Places’, we are putting £109 million—. Janet Finch-Saunders asked me about it; it’s a three-year programme and we’re in the middle of year 2. So, in answer to your question, that money has all been allocated to the local authorities. This took place under my predecessor about 18 months or two years ago. But we have other schemes. We are supporting town-centre partnerships and business improvement districts, and that enables local businesses to work together. We’re providing funding to establish the feasibility of and facilitate ballots on BIDs in 10 areas. Just this morning, I met with my officials who are the VVP managers for all the local authorities and it’s great to hear about the positive outcomes that we’re seeing. We’re seeing empty properties being brought back into use. We’re seeing empty houses being brought back into use. We’re seeing more people getting job opportunities and training skills through VVP. But the regeneration of the town centres is something that’s very much shared across Government. There’s been lots of comments from colleagues regarding business rates. Obviously, the Minister for Economy, Science and Transport has brought forward a number of business rate relief schemes to benefit town centres. This year, for example, we extended and enhanced the small business rate relief scheme. That provides business rate relief for around three quarters of business premises in Wales, including high-street retail businesses. We’ve also capped increases to business rate bills at 2 per cent. Andrew R.T. Davies
Will you take an intervention? Lesley Griffiths
Yes. Andrew R.T. Davies
I’m grateful to the Minister for taking an intervention. You have listed some of the initiatives that the Welsh Government have undertaken over recent years; why is it the case, then, that in other parts of the United Kingdom the vacancy rates are dropping and in Wales the vacancy rates are going up, if you’re doing such a wonderful job? Lesley Griffiths
Well, I don’t agree that they’re going up. Andrew R.T. Davies
The figures are there. Lesley Griffiths
Well, I’ve got figures, too, that can show you, and I’m very happy to write to you with those figures. You’re obviously using a different methodology to the one the Government uses, but that is not the case, and I’m very happy to write to the leader of the opposition with those figures. The Wales retail rate relief scheme has also been extended and enhanced in 2015-16, and that supported 10,500 businesses last year, and that now offers up to £1,500 off the business rates bill for eligible retail food and drink businesses. Those measures, brought together, are supporting businesses. Members will be aware that the Minister for Economy, Science and Transport is also currently considering the findings of the business rates panel report. That does set out a number of recommendations for the strategic approach to business rates, going forward. My colleague, the Minister for Natural Resources, has put changes to planning policy for retail centres out to consultation. Again, for many years, planning policy has supported a town-centre first principle. The new consultation document continues to promote established retail centres as the most appropriate locations for retailing and other complementary functions. The aim of the review is to update planning policy so it’s in line with our objective to enhance the vitality, attractiveness and viability of established centres. I would ask Members also to consider some examples of current programmes. In Aberdare, for instance, the town-centre partnership is developing an events programme to encourage more people to visit the town. They’ve developed a mobile phone app to promote activities and events, and that refers to the diversity that Alun Davies feels that we should certainly encourage in our town centres. In Connah’s Quay, Welsh Government funding will be part of the project to improve the appearance of shop units in the town centre, and that’s going to incentivise business investment through the provision of a grant scheme. In Swansea, a ‘Vibrant and Viable Places’ project is regenerating the high street. That’s giving housing-led mixed use development schemes, again, adding vibrancy and vitality to encourage further private sector investment. John Griffiths spoke about the excellent development in Newport, and you mentioned the figure of 20 per cent vacancy at the current time; I do hope that improves before the development opens. You mentioned how we can support individual businesses, and certainly, this week, visiting a couple of the high-street hero award winners, that was something that I discussed with them: how they thought we could best support them to help them with their businesses, because obviously they’re very focused on taking their business forward and maybe, behind the scenes, they need some support. It’s certainly something I’d be very happy to talk to the economy Minister about to see if there’s something we can do to help. As I mentioned, and other Members have mentioned, it is our second high-street campaign this week, and there have been many events held throughout Wales—craft, food fairs, vintage days, children’s activities—and many of the events were organised by local authorities and community groups. I announced the winners of the high-street heroes and the high-street favourites awards. I visited Beth Giles, who was the overall hero, along with my colleague, Mick Antoniw. Again, a fantastic gallery; it was wonderful to see a young female entrepreneur taking that business forward. And, in Ken Skates’s constituency, I visited Gwyn Davies, a butcher in Llangollen. What that really demonstrated to me was the affection and the role that these small businesses have in their local communities. I think it was Rhun ap Iorwerth who referred to the social side of the town centre and, again, that was very clear to see.
Turning to the motion, we cannot accept the premise of the motion from the Conservatives. Many of the proposals are ideas we’re already acting on, for example, campaigning through the current High Street Week and providing funding for town-centre managers. We’re also opposing the amendment from the Welsh Liberal Democrats; that really asks the Welsh Government to act beyond its powers, particularly in relation to the imposition of new business rates. We will be supporting the two amendments from Plaid Cymru, which are consistent with existing Welsh Government policies and actions, but would urge opposition to the motion, however amended. Thank you.
Now, the Welsh Conservatives have always supported our local high street, so you can imagine our disappointment when we read the high-street vacancy statistics published on Thursday showing that Wales has the highest vacancy rate in the UK, four whole percentage points higher than England. How disappointing is that? We have seen few tangible results from the Welsh Labour Government’s Support Your High Street campaign, and now, with nearly one in six of our shops standing empty, it is high time that this Labour Government overturned their persistent failure to promote our high streets and town centres. Senedd.tvFideo Video There are questions to be answered. Despite extensive monitoring, why has the Welsh Labour Government, unlike other UK Governments, failed to reduce high-street vacancy rates? Good question. What progress has been seen on the recommendations of the Enterprise and Business Committee’s 2012 report—[Interruption.] Okay. Mick Antoniw
You asked why the Welsh Government hasn’t reduced them. Well, since 2013, the vacancy rate has actually reduced, to the current time. Janet Finch-Saunders
I’ve given you the figures; they speak for themselves. What progress has been made on the Enterprise and Business Committee’s 2012 report on the regeneration of town centres? It’s easy to write up the strategies, but you don’t carry them out. And what measures are the Welsh Government taking to incentivise and encourage businesses to locate onto our high streets? Now, we are calling today for improved practices over high-street management, business rates, accessibility, and planning, led by communities and based on local knowledge. Our charter for the high street highlights the importance of full community engagement and sustainable planning to ensure that mixed use is a permanent fixture of our high streets, in order to boost the high-street economy and accessibility. Now, on accessibility, the National Federation of Retail Newsagents has highlighted that the decreasing availability of parking spaces is detrimental to many businesses. They’ve called for consultation with local businesses to inform the development of such parking policies and schemes, and it is a fact that many Labour-run local authorities are actually using parking charge revenue as part of their main budget, and that is wrong. In addition to this, high streets and communities—[Interruption.] I’ve taken one, Lynne. Again, another time. Public transport: the Welsh Labour Government’s devastating cuts to bus operator grants—and you can’t deny them—have impacted hugely on our more rural and isolated communities, and I therefore look forward to the outcome of the Enterprise and Business Committee’s inquiry into bus and community transport services in Wales. I think that will be very telling indeed. Now, I would like to ask today: how is the Welsh Labour Government working with our businesses to improve and increase mobility initiatives on our high streets? Now, given the demographics of my constituency of Aberconwy—led by Plaid Cymru, incidentally—this is of a particular concern. In terms of supporting business, when there are 45—not 10, not 15 or 30; 45—different Welsh Government bodies to oversee and lead regional growth and development, it is no wonder that businesses and local authorities find it really hard to navigate their way around such a system. Now, it’s also disappointing to note that seven of the 11 eligible local authorities have already had applications rejected for the Vibrant and Viable Places fund. I would like to ask the Minister how the Welsh Government is working to improve accessibility and guidance on applications and what funding is left available. ‘Invest Wales’ would regionalise banking and ‘Invest Wales’, our Welsh Conservative policy, would regionalise banking to reduce complex red tape, to ensure local knowledge delivers effective local financial support for our businesses. It’s common sense. Last week, I highlighted that business rate relief is one of the most powerful tools at the disposal of this Welsh Labour Government. Yet, again, the Welsh Conservative stance on abolishing rate relief for all businesses valued up to £12,000 is supported by many business owners and chambers of commerce. They’re crying out, they’re calling out, for this, but they are completely ignored. I again will reiterate our call to the Welsh Labour Government for a full business rate review. Minister, there has never been a better time to regenerate our high streets. The OECD has forecast the British economy will grow at 2.4 per cent this year. Wages have risen 2.9 per cent and the national living wage will come into play next year. Tax reductions from the Conservative Government in Westminster will benefit 1.4 million people in Wales in real terms. We need to seize this opportunity while the time is right and seriously consider our proposals in ‘A Vision for the Welsh High Street’ and ‘Invest Wales’. The Conservative UK Government are doing their best to help high streets to flourish. It is high time that the Welsh Labour Government actually took some responsibility to address the challenges facing our communities and maybe take a leaf out of the Conservative UK Government’s book. Thank you. Lesley Griffiths
Y Gweinidog Cymunedau a Threchu Tlodi / The Minister for Communities and Tackling PovertyThank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. I didn’t really expect the leader of the opposition to apologise for having this debate this afternoon, as it was you that brought it forward. Obviously, the Welsh Government, this week, we are celebrating Support Your High Street and our high-street heroes. So, I actually thought it was a very timely debate and I was going to congratulate you on bringing it forward. However, as you always do, the Conservatives always start by talking down Wales. The Welsh Government is absolutely committed to supporting our town and city centres. Our regeneration framework, ‘Vibrant and Viable Places’, sets out our vision that everybody in Wales should live in a well-connected, vibrant, viable and sustainable community, with a strong local economy, and have a good quality of life. The framework acknowledges the challenge that we do face with substantial competition from the internet and from retail parks. Of course, the Conservatives don’t do irony either, do they? We heard from Alun Davies that obviously a huge challenge is the fact that people don’t have as much money in their pockets due to the UK Government’s policies. People across Wales have less disposable income and we know that’s a direct result of your Government’s economic policies. It’s bound to put pressures on our high street. Again, I don’t recognise the figures that Janet Finch-Saunders came out with. I know that there are different methodologies used, but I certainly don’t recognise the figures that you came forward with. Nevertheless, as a Welsh Government, we are working through a wide range of initiatives to support our town centres. Through our regeneration scheme, ‘Vibrant and Viable Places’, we are putting £109 million—. Janet Finch-Saunders asked me about it; it’s a three-year programme and we’re in the middle of year 2. So, in answer to your question, that money has all been allocated to the local authorities. This took place under my predecessor about 18 months or two years ago. But we have other schemes. We are supporting town-centre partnerships and business improvement districts, and that enables local businesses to work together. We’re providing funding to establish the feasibility of and facilitate ballots on BIDs in 10 areas. Just this morning, I met with my officials who are the VVP managers for all the local authorities and it’s great to hear about the positive outcomes that we’re seeing. We’re seeing empty properties being brought back into use. We’re seeing empty houses being brought back into use. We’re seeing more people getting job opportunities and training skills through VVP. But the regeneration of the town centres is something that’s very much shared across Government. There’s been lots of comments from colleagues regarding business rates. Obviously, the Minister for Economy, Science and Transport has brought forward a number of business rate relief schemes to benefit town centres. This year, for example, we extended and enhanced the small business rate relief scheme. That provides business rate relief for around three quarters of business premises in Wales, including high-street retail businesses. We’ve also capped increases to business rate bills at 2 per cent. Andrew R.T. Davies
Will you take an intervention? Lesley Griffiths
Yes. Andrew R.T. Davies
I’m grateful to the Minister for taking an intervention. You have listed some of the initiatives that the Welsh Government have undertaken over recent years; why is it the case, then, that in other parts of the United Kingdom the vacancy rates are dropping and in Wales the vacancy rates are going up, if you’re doing such a wonderful job? Lesley Griffiths
Well, I don’t agree that they’re going up. Andrew R.T. Davies
The figures are there. Lesley Griffiths
Well, I’ve got figures, too, that can show you, and I’m very happy to write to you with those figures. You’re obviously using a different methodology to the one the Government uses, but that is not the case, and I’m very happy to write to the leader of the opposition with those figures. The Wales retail rate relief scheme has also been extended and enhanced in 2015-16, and that supported 10,500 businesses last year, and that now offers up to £1,500 off the business rates bill for eligible retail food and drink businesses. Those measures, brought together, are supporting businesses. Members will be aware that the Minister for Economy, Science and Transport is also currently considering the findings of the business rates panel report. That does set out a number of recommendations for the strategic approach to business rates, going forward. My colleague, the Minister for Natural Resources, has put changes to planning policy for retail centres out to consultation. Again, for many years, planning policy has supported a town-centre first principle. The new consultation document continues to promote established retail centres as the most appropriate locations for retailing and other complementary functions. The aim of the review is to update planning policy so it’s in line with our objective to enhance the vitality, attractiveness and viability of established centres. I would ask Members also to consider some examples of current programmes. In Aberdare, for instance, the town-centre partnership is developing an events programme to encourage more people to visit the town. They’ve developed a mobile phone app to promote activities and events, and that refers to the diversity that Alun Davies feels that we should certainly encourage in our town centres. In Connah’s Quay, Welsh Government funding will be part of the project to improve the appearance of shop units in the town centre, and that’s going to incentivise business investment through the provision of a grant scheme. In Swansea, a ‘Vibrant and Viable Places’ project is regenerating the high street. That’s giving housing-led mixed use development schemes, again, adding vibrancy and vitality to encourage further private sector investment. John Griffiths spoke about the excellent development in Newport, and you mentioned the figure of 20 per cent vacancy at the current time; I do hope that improves before the development opens. You mentioned how we can support individual businesses, and certainly, this week, visiting a couple of the high-street hero award winners, that was something that I discussed with them: how they thought we could best support them to help them with their businesses, because obviously they’re very focused on taking their business forward and maybe, behind the scenes, they need some support. It’s certainly something I’d be very happy to talk to the economy Minister about to see if there’s something we can do to help. As I mentioned, and other Members have mentioned, it is our second high-street campaign this week, and there have been many events held throughout Wales—craft, food fairs, vintage days, children’s activities—and many of the events were organised by local authorities and community groups. I announced the winners of the high-street heroes and the high-street favourites awards. I visited Beth Giles, who was the overall hero, along with my colleague, Mick Antoniw. Again, a fantastic gallery; it was wonderful to see a young female entrepreneur taking that business forward. And, in Ken Skates’s constituency, I visited Gwyn Davies, a butcher in Llangollen. What that really demonstrated to me was the affection and the role that these small businesses have in their local communities. I think it was Rhun ap Iorwerth who referred to the social side of the town centre and, again, that was very clear to see.
Turning to the motion, we cannot accept the premise of the motion from the Conservatives. Many of the proposals are ideas we’re already acting on, for example, campaigning through the current High Street Week and providing funding for town-centre managers. We’re also opposing the amendment from the Welsh Liberal Democrats; that really asks the Welsh Government to act beyond its powers, particularly in relation to the imposition of new business rates. We will be supporting the two amendments from Plaid Cymru, which are consistent with existing Welsh Government policies and actions, but would urge opposition to the motion, however amended. Thank you.