Issue - meetings

(1)       The Committee agreed to take agenda items B3, B4 and the urgent report together as they had a similar theme.

(2)       Members of the Committee focused their comments and asked questions as follows:-

(1)       Are we too dependent on Small/Medium Enterprises (SME)?

            In response Mr Raine said that Kent, in common with some other shires, was characterized by a relatively high proportion of small and medium sized employers.  These brought strengths (e.g diversity) and weaknesses (e.g. greater vulnerability to market conditions) and the key was to help them maximise the former and minimise the latter.  

(2)       Are we as good at Marketing as Managing?

            The Kent workforce has a lower proportion of individuals with degree or higher level qualifications compared to other SE counties and this was recognised as an issue.   Kent graduates are more likely to express a desire to work outside Kent than within it and efforts were being made through T2010 and the LAA to change this perception.  The Committee were advised that the “Business Link” was core to SME and was carrying out a valuable job in Kent.

(3)       Projects like Thames Gateway seem to take a long time to progress.

            In response Members were advised that the nature of many major regeneration projects was that things did not change ‘overnight’.  Looking back 5-10 years and comparing then and now would, for example, show how much had changed in the M2/A2 Fastrack Eastern Quarry area and the major works that had been done.  The injection of significant Government funds did not begin until 2004/05, and since that time progress has, given the scale of the developments involved, progressed well.

(4)       Members were advised that regeneration programmes often had upsides and downsides.  A possible example that was quoted was the forthcoming running of domestic services on the high speed rail link.  These will open up opportunities for many people in Kent, but one potential challenge that can be envisaged is that this could put pressure on the recruitment of key workers and house prices.

            There was irritation with the term “Highspeed Regeneration” as it was felt that the highspeed trains would be by passing Kent.

(3)       RESOLVED that the reports be noted.