Agenda and minutes

(1)       Members highlighted some amendments that needed to be made to the Minutes before they were signed by the Chairman.

(2)       Mrs Angell sought an explanation on how enhanced 2 tier working would affect Museums.

(3)       Mr Hill agreed to bring a progress report to a future meeting.

(4)       RESOLVED that:-

(a)       the Minutes on 17 November 2006 be agreed and signed by the Chairman subject to the amendments being made; and

(b)       a progress report on how enhanced 2 tier working would affect Museums be made to a future meeting of this Committee.

(1)       Mr Hill advised the Committee Members that Ms Honey, Managing Director was absent from the meeting as she was unwell.  The Committee wished Ms Honey a speedy recovery.

(2)       Mr Hill updated Members on the progress of Turner Contemporary, Kent Libraries and the Youth Service including a visit to Finland to sign a Protocol of understanding and Bewl Water Outdoor Education Centre.

Turner Contemporary

(3)       Members were made aware that agreement had been given to the siting of the Art Gallery on the Rendezvous Car Park in Margate.  An initial concept for the building would be presented on 15 February when Mr David Chipperfield, the appointed architect, would give a presentation.

(4)       In response to the concerns raised that a one day public consultation, on an invitation only basis, was insufficient. Mr Hill advised that there would be a public exhibition of the proposals in the Winter Gardens on 16^th and 17^th February.  Staff from the Turner Contemporary and from David Chipperfield Associates would be present to answer questions.

(5)       Mr Hill agreed to consider the idea of recording the presentation by Mr Chipperfield.

(6)       He assured Members of the Committee that he would continue to update them on the various stages of the development and stressed that the discussions taking place at present were at the concept stage and would evolve.

Libraries

The Beaney Project

(7)       Mr Hill advised that Kent County Council and Canterbury City Council are expecting to receive approval for £6.5m from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) imminently.  This funding would be used to deliver the new vision for this Victorian Grade II listed building in Canterbury High Street.  The building would be closed for two years to allow extensive internal and external work to be carried out.

(8)       Mr Crilley confirmed that alternative facilities would be made available during that period.  Mr Hill agreed to look into the suggestion of approaching Christ Church University, as a possible example of co-ordinated use of facilities, to provide adequate cover whilst the refurbishments were being carried out.

Kaleidoscope Project

(9)       Mr Hill advised that the Kaleidoscope Project, Sevenoaks, would be formally opened on 16 February 2007 by the Local Member of Parliament, Mr Michael Fallon.

Library Closures

(10)     Mr Hill confirmed the decision had been made by Cabinet to close three Libraries;  Whitfield, Horsemonden and Dymchurch. He was confident the communities concerned would be better served by a mobile library service.

Youth Service

Farewell

(11)     Mr Hill announced that Mr M Price, Head of Youth Service would be leaving Kent to join the London Borough of Greenwich.  It was hoped that his replacement would be appointed in early February.  Mr Price was thanked for his committed service to the young people of the county.

Visit to Finland

(12)     Mr Hill advised that he and Ms Honey had recently returned from Finland where they signed a renewed Protocol of Co-operation with the Governor of Southern Finland on Youth Education and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 26.

(Would Members please bring their copy of the draft budget and the report circulated on 22 January 2007 to the meeting)

(1)       The Committee considered the Communities’ draft budget proposals set out in the draft Budget 2007/08 and the draft Medium Term Financial Plan 2007/08 to 2009/10.

(2)       Officers and the Cabinet Member answered questions asked by Members of the Committee.  The comments and questions asked are set out in detail in the Annex to these Minutes.

(3)       RESOLVED that the comments made by Members be noted and submitted to the Cabinet meeting on 8 February 2007, to aid their deliberations.

(1)       Members received a report, ‘Kent 2012’, setting out a cross-sectoral campaign led by Kent County Council.  The report gave a snapshot of the benefits Kent could reap from the Olympics and Paralympic Games through sport, inward investment, economic development, tourism, the arts, volunteering, education, skills and training.

(2)       Mr Hespe gave a detailed account of the work being undertaken to prepare Kent for the opportunities the Olympics could bring including the production of a Kent Strategy for the 2010 Games that had been produced for submission to the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games (LOCOG) on 31 January 2007.  (This draft can be viewed on www.kentsport.org/london2012).  Mr Hespe advised the Committee that the Strategy would be revised as 2012 approached and national programmes, such as transport and volunteering, were being finalised as these will influence the work carried out in Kent.

(3)       Members thanked Mr Hespe for his excellent presentation and raised the following points and suggestions:

·                    That there was a need to ensure that the transport infrastructure was in place to cope with the predicted number of visitors to Kent.

·                    That there was a need to ensure volunteers had the appropriate training and those who agreed to volunteer, did so.

·                    That publicity/information could be extended to small sports organisations.

·                    That a Call Centre for sport/Olympics be set up – where questions such as “where are the venues for the Olympic events being held” and “how is it going to happen” etc, can be answered.

·                    There was concern that as the Olympics was just 5 years away any major construction would not be completed in time.  If this was the case, we would have no choice but to use what we had with some modifications.

·                    There were concerns regarding the quality of accommodation available to visitors in Kent.

(4)       RESOLVED that:-

           (a)     the comments made by Members of the Committee be noted by the drafting      Officers; and

            (b)     the progress made on the Kent 2012 work, be noted.

(1)       The Committee received a report that set out a vision for the services within the Communities Directorate in line with the aims and aspirations set out in the Kent Partnership’s Vision for Kent and the County Council’s Strategic direction as outlined in “Towards 2010”, the Medium Term Plan and the Children and Young People’s Plan.

(2)       Members were given the opportunity to make comments and suggestions on the document.  The comments included:-

·        It was suggested that the introduction needed to be preceded by a paragraph on the work of the volunteers, District Councils etc and how the Directorate was working with them.

·        It was important that “The Overall Vision” on pg B4.4 was aspirational

·        It was suggested that the first bullet point under the heading “The Overall Vision” was too specific, and needed to refer to services followed by  a sentence beginning “The outcomes include……..”

·        It was considered imperative to have this document, although it was suggested that in some parts the document was strategic and others specific, the example referred to was set out on page B4.5, 2^nd paragraph.

·        Referring to the bottom of page B4.8, it was felt that the line reading “Healthy eating in schools and sports programmes” was unclear. 

(3)       RESOLVED that the comments in paragraph (2) above be considered by the drafting officers and a revised draft of the “Vision” for the Communities Directorate be submitted to a future meeting.