Agenda item

The Leader provided an update from the 12^th Transition Board held on the 25^th March 2025, chaired by the secretary of state for Wales. The leader informed Council that the main focus of the meeting was surrounding Mental Health and Wellbeing.

Council was told that the UK Government had provided significant resources to businesses and individuals in Neath Port Talbot affected by the transition with the Council setting aside £3.275m from the skills fund to provide mental health and services affected by the Tata transition. The funding is expected to deliver a range of important projects across the borough. The Leader went on to state that although the skills funding was welcomed it wasn’t enough to address all the Authorities needed and expectations.

Performance information was also reviewed by the transition board. Updates were received from workstream chairs. Finally the board endorsed the creation of a small group to maximise the local benefits of the blast furnace decommissioning and the construction of the electric arc furnace. The Leader told Council we were committed to support the interventions as quickly as possible while ensuring appropriate governance compliance with statutory and legal responsibilities adhered too.