Issue - meetings

(1)     Mr Hill updated Members on the following issues:

Kent Library and History Centre

(2)       Mr Hill reported that the project was still at a delicate commercial stage and therefore he was only able to give a brief verbal update at this time but he undertook to give a full report at a later date. 

(3)       He stated that the launch had taken place on 17 April and was available on Kent TV.  Mr Hill gave some background to the project and advised that it is being funded by working with a property developer who was prepared to build residential accommodation on two KCC owned sites in Maidstone.  The sites were the remainder of the Springfield site currently occupied by the County Central Library and Library and Arts Headquarters and the currently vacant James Whatman Way site.  In return for these sites the developer would be asked to include in the development on the James Whatman Way site the Library and History centre. 

(4)     Mr Hill set out the key dates for this development as follows:

·    Signing off the Heads of Terms - shortly.

·    Planning permission - Autumn 2008

·    On-site early 2009

·    Open 2011

(5)     Mr Hill answered questions from Members on this proposal.  It was clarified by Mr Shipton that there was £4m in the budget funded from  borrowing and that £6.66m was the estimated value of the two sites to be handed over to the developer.  It was confirmed that KCC would retain the freehold for the Library and History Centre part of the James Whatman Way site.  In a response to a question on whether the £4m within the budget also included costs for contingency arrangements, Mr Hill stated that when the Development Agreement was signed the final figure would be confirmed and that the contractor would bear the risks.

Other matters

(6)       Mr Hill mentioned the following key issues for the Directorate:

·    Kent Libraries had retained their Charter-Mark status and, following the assessment, five areas of Best Practice had been recognised.

·    The National Year of Reading had started on 24 April 2008 

·    Good progress was being made with the Ashford and Tenterden Gateways.

·        There had been a meeting between Cabinet Members and the Youth County Council.  He was pleased with the progress of the Youth County Council which had good agendas.  At this meeting the young people had reported on their three most important issues which were (1) bullying, (2) a leisure pass along the lines of the freedom pass and (3) advice for young people on how to handle internet access safely.  A debate was being arranged between the County Council and the Youth County Council in the Autumn in relation to alcohol. 

·    The Creative Foundation in Folkestone, with support from KCC, had successfully bid to be part of the five hour cultural pilot for young people.  This is one of only ten pilots across the country and one of two in the South East.

·    The Paralympics Pre-Games training camps for 2012 had been  ...  view the full minutes text for item 78