Regeneration and Economy - A District Perspective: Report Back from visit to Dover on 15 December 2009 (oral)
Additional documents:
Minutes:
1) Members who had taken part in the visit made an oral report, and a written report was circulated.
2) The Chairman expressed his thanks to Dover District Council for the welcome they had given the KCC party and all the energy they had put into the arrangements for the visit.
3) Members made the following comments on what they had seen and heard:-
a) the cruise industry is currently performing well, and the momentum of this needs to be maintained;
b) effective links need to be made to maritime skills training, and the POSC should urge CFE to push for maritime vocational training, as CFE had previously promised to do;
c) the accessibility and ease of use of Dover harbour and marina were welcomed; and
d) Mr Smith emphasised the importance of the visit for Dover District Council, as it helped to put local issues into a strategic context.
4) General comments on the programme of district visits included:-
a) it is important that the programme of visits is sustainable as it allows Members to see a full picture at the end, and to identify where KCC can help by placing its resources. The programme is also vital in raising Members’ awareness of issues at District level;
b) it is important to keep a link between learning and skills, jobs and future regeneration, and REDPOSC and CFEPOSC links were invaluable. Communities would also be a useful link, via the Regeneration Board;
c) the report back after the visit needs to be joined to the pre-visit briefing information provided by the District Council, so all information is kept together;
d) some conclusions from the visit might be aspirational; how should these be addressed at the end of the 12 month programme of visits? and
e) the high number of REDPOSC Members who were also District Leaders or Deputy Leaders was very helpful.
5) Miss Grayell announced the ongoing arrangements for future visits, and advised that a visit to Canterbury would take place on 26 February (pm), and a whole day visit to Dartford and Gravesham on 12 March (Dartford am, Gravesham pm). She said she hoped to arrange visits so that they were placed in a monthly pattern. Subsequently arranged is a visit to Sevenoaks on 25 May (pm).
6) RESOLVED that the oral report be noted, with thanks, and the comments made by Members on the arrangements for future visits, and the information arising from them, be borne in mind as the programme continues.