Could tents and caravans be coming to Llancaiach Fawr?

Llancaiach Fawr Manor House — Llancaiach Fawr Manor

Visitors could be able to camp outside Llancaiach Fawr Manor after Caerphilly County Borough Council’s cabinet backed £20,000 plans which could see tents and caravans outside the 17th-century venue.

What is Caerphilly County Borough Council’s cabinet?

A council’s cabinet is made up of councillors in charge of different policy areas – such as education, environment, local economy, etc – and a leader.

It is separate to the council’s corporate management structure, which is headed up by its chief executive and various directors. Cabinet is made up of councillors, who are elected and have the ultimate say.

Typically, cabinet members are councillors from the party with the most elected council members.

Caerphilly County Borough Council’s cabinet is made up of:

Cllr Sean Morgan (Nelson) – Leader
Cllr Jamie Pritchard (Morgan Jones) – Deputy Leader; Prosperity, Regeneration and Climate Change
Cllr Nigel George (Risca East) – Corporate Services and Property
Cllr Eluned Stenner (New Tredegar) – Finance and Performance
Cllr Carol Andrews (Gilfach) – Education and Communities
Cllr Shayne Cook (Morgan Jones) – Housing
Cllr Elaine Forehead (Van) – Social Care
Cllr Philippa Leonard (Risca East) – Planning and Public Protection
Cllr Chris Morgan (Machen and Rudry) – Waste, Leisure and Green Spaces

Corporate management is made up of unelected employees of the council and has responsibility for day-to-day management of services, such as making sure the bins are collected. Corporate directors work with cabinet members to come up with policy which is then agreed upon by the cabinet.

_{Last updated October 13, 2023}

Half of the £20,000 would go towards a feasibility study into the plans, while the remaining half will go towards a “12-month commercial training plan”.

The funding would come from the Licence to Innovate fund, which the council are yet to secure.

The projects had already been backed by the council’s Regeneration Project Board prior to the cabinet’s approval.

What is the Regeneration Project Board?

The Regeneration Project Board is made up of councillors from across the parties represented in the council, and is chaired by the Cabinet Member for Economy and Enterprise, which was Cllr Sean Morgan until his resignation form the cabinet.

The Board recommends the formal submission of projects to the cabinet, so that they can decide which projects are submitted to external funding bodies or funded by the council’s own budget.

In February this year, the board looked at putting a number of bell tents at the site and providing space for self-contained touring caravans at Llancaiach Fawr. According to a council report, this is “to take advantage of the imminent increase in staycation demand”.

Historical ‘witch marks’ discovered at 17th century manor house

However, the report said concerns were raised over the tents and caravans not fitting in with the look and feel of the manor.

The council has said it will look at “a wide range of longer-term options for accommodation at Llanacaiach Fawr, as well as likely revenue streams, set-up costs, sustainability and market research” during the feasibility study.

Meanwhile, the commercial training plan will aim to provide training and “upskilling” for staff.

Councillor Philippa Marsden, leader of the council, said: “The initiatives delivered through the Regeneration Project Board Development Fund strive to maximise the investment the council is making, to deliver much wider benefits for the county borough.

“We strive to invest in projects, such as the delivery of accommodation at Llancaiach Fawr Manor, which offer the potential for income generation that can be reinvested into services for our residents.”

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