Issue - meetings

(1)       The Committee received an oral update from Mr M Hill, Cabinet Member for Community Services and Ms A Honey, Managing Director Community Services on a range of issues.

Turner Contemporary

(2)       The Committee noted that Mr Hill was optimistic that a bid for funding from the South East Economic Development Agency (SEEDA) as a contribution to Turner Contemporary would be supported.  Mr Hill was pleased to report that the project was on target and budget.

(3)       Since the Committee’s last meeting there had been a public meeting held in Margate at which 400 people were present.  This meeting had been very constructive.  Mr Hill was encouraged by cross party support for the project and for the support of Thanet District Council.

(4)       A planning application for the Turner Contemporary project would be made in the autumn, and there would be a further public meeting.  Construction of the art gallery was planned to commence in the autumn of 2008.

Library Service

(5)       PricewaterhouseCoopers had recently been commissioned to undertake a value for money review of the Library Service. The report would contribute to the future Libraries Strategy for the county. The review had confirmed that the service was well run but that the large number of libraries made the service comparatively expensive to operate.

(6)       The PricewaterhouseCoopers report would be made available to all Members of the Committee.

Beaney Project

(7)       The Committee noted that the Beaney Project was progressing well and would be delivered on budget.  The project was due for completion in 2011.

(8)       However, the Committee noted that acquiring Lottery funding for projects was becoming increasingly difficult.  The Tunbridge Wells project (similar to the Beaney Project) had not been successful.  Directorate staff were working with Tunbridge Wells Borough Council colleagues to look at the scope of the project following the unsuccessful bid for funding.

Library Service

(9)       Ms Honey informed the Committee that she had written to Dr Eddy and Mrs Dean about the anticipated numbers of posts within the Library Service which were expected to be redundant and the continuing ongoing dialogue with the postholders to find alternative employment.  Ms Honey confirmed that Libraries and Archives would continue to explore with Personnel every opportunity to deploy the affected staff including exploring the possibility of redeployment with other local authorities across Kent.

Sevenoaks Kaleidoscope

(10)     The Committee noted that the Sevenoaks Kaleidoscope had re-opened.  As a result of this investment and refurbishment there had been a steady increase in the young people using the facility.

Disability Sports Games

(11)    Mr Hill reported that there had been a very successful Disability Youth Games held at the Sevenoaks School.  It was acknowledged that there had been a good response to these Games from special schools.  The Committee suggested that it would be beneficial to encourage mainstream schools to participate in these Games in the future.

Hand crank cycling event

(12)     This event had recently taken place at Westenhanger and was extremely successful.

World Archery

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