FEARS over Brexit and a general lack of business space are being blamed for a “lack of general investment” in Gwynedd over recent years.

Next week will see Gwynedd’s Cabinet discuss the findings of its 2017/18 performance report, publishing details on the authority’s achievements and failings during the financial year.

One of the main concerns highlighted in the report is a need to grow the economy in southern parts of the county, with an awareness that the vast majority of well-paid jobs are currently based in Arfon – the Bangor and Caernarfon areas which house the university, council headquarters and are nearest to the A55 expressway.

Workers in Gwynedd are among the lowest paid on average in the UK, with a report recently finding that the county is in the bottom 10 in the country. At present, the average pay in Gwynedd is £21,246.

There was some good news announced recently with Grwp Llandrillo Menai revealing its vision for the Glynllifon Rural Economy Hub – a move it believes can support hundreds of businesses in the area.

It would comprise of a food enterprise park, providing food grade units for both start-up and established producers and a knowledge centre, creating a pool of practical experience to support innovation and enterprise growth in the region.

Planned for its campus near Caernarfon, the proposed £13m scheme forms part of the North Wales Growth Bid and would create an estimated 91 construction jobs and another 80 when fully operational.

But the report warns that while prospects are looking brighter in Arfon, there needs to be a concerted effort to welcome more businesses into the southern parts of the county.

“Despite the good work, it can be seen that there has been a lack of general interest in investing over the past year,” it notes.

“The county’s businesses have reported that issues such as Brexit and a lack of business space in the county are matters that are affecting them.

“It is crucial that we ensure that we disseminate the growth across the county to the Dwyfor and Meirionnydd areas as well.

“These matters will be addressed as we continue with the work in 2018/19.”

The standard of Gwynedd’s roads has also improved slightly, with 14.1 per cent ranked as being in a “poor” condition compared to 15.2 per cent last year.

Officers are warning, however, that increased budgetary pressures mean that it will be “challenging” to maintain this performance over the coming years.

The report will need to be discussed by the Cabinet on Tuesday and ratified by the full council, when it meets on 12 July, before being officially adopted.