Part of the debate – Senedd Cymru am 2:36 pm ar 28 Mawrth 2023.
Minister, can I ask for a statement about the terms and conditions of Welsh Government funding grants? The reason why I ask for this is because Blaenau Gwent council has missed out on nearly £250,000 of funding, which it was going to use for a bus infrastructure project. The project's contractor had been unable to deliver the project within the funding timescale, due to unforeseen circumstances, meaning the money now has to be sent back to the Welsh Government. It now leaves the council in a rather difficult situation, and the project, ultimately, in limbo. One of the things the Welsh Government could do to stop something similar happening again is perhaps having an 'exceptional circumstances' clause—just as an example. Please can we have a statement about what steps the Welsh Government can take to make the grant funding process for Welsh councils easier? Because it would be a shame to see great projects fail because of rigid processes that will only disadvantage the people of Wales in the long term.