Issue - meetings

To note the verbal update from the Cabinet Member for Community and Regulatory Services and the written update from the Cabinet Member for Planning, Highways, Transport and Waste.

1.    Mr Hill (Cabinet Member for Community and Regulatory Services) announced that the Open Golf Championship would be returning to Sandwich in 2020. He said that the economic impact of the project would be significant for Kent. In 2011 the Open Golf Championship created £24m of direct economic benefit and a further £53m of indirect economic benefit and the event in 2020 was estimated to be 15% larger. Kent County Council and Dover District Council were working with the Department for Transport (DFT) and Network Rail on the Sandwich station infrastructure to support the event, and a decision would be taken shortly.

2.    Mr Hill said that the Kent Community Safety Partnership (KCSP) had held its annual Community Safety Conference on 7 November 2017 . The theme was protecting vulnerable people from organised crime and there were 187 people in attendance from various agencies.

3.    Mr Balfour (Cabinet Member for Planning, Highways, Transport and Waste) provided a written update to Members on the major roads programme; Kent County Councils response to the Highways England consultation on proposed improvements to junction 5 of the M2, lorry parking and the South East rail franchise.

4.    Mr Balfour also provided a verbal update on the Urban Grass, Shrubs and Hedges contract and advised Members that due to unforeseen circumstances Kent County Council was unable to fulfil the contract immediately. Officers were in discussion with Amey and Kent Commercial Services to try and find a solution.

Roger Wilkin (Director of Highways, Transportation and Waste) added that in order to begin soft landscaping work within communities in March 2018; a decision would be taken between the Cabinet Committee meeting held on 30 November 2017 and that held on 31 January 2018.

5.    The government had announced that it would withdraw from the court case regarding lorry storage at Standford and would begin the process of identifying a suitable site shortly.

6.    In response to questions, both the Cabinet Members and Officer provided the following information:

7.    Barbara Cooper (Corporate Director for Growth, Environment and Transport) said that there had been no update on the bid made to the DCLG housing infrastructure fund.

8.   In relation to the Open Golf Championship, Mr Hill  confirmed that the Kent County Council contribution would be £250,000 and this would not be increased. There would be a further contribution of £100,000 from district councils involved. He defended the intention to provide the funds as reasonable and proportionate.

9.    In regards to the South East rail franchise, Mr Balfour expressed disappointment at the decision of the DFT to defer the new franchise award for a further 12 months and KCC would make representations to that effect to the DFT.

10. RESOLVED that the verbal updates be noted, with thanks.