Agenda item

(1)       Mr King and Mr Moys introduced the sixth KCC International Activities Annual Report which provided an overview for Members of the range of international work undertaken across the authority and county over the past year.  The Report highlighted in particular how this work had contributed to the achievement of the priorities of KCC’s Medium Plan to 2014/15, ‘Bold Steps for Kent.’ As in previous years, a major success had been the continued securing of significant EU-funded projects, including the greatest amount of Interreg cross-border funding of all eligible county or unitary areas.  The report also emphasised the importance of international partnership and best-practice collaboration to improve local performance and promote innovation.

(2)       Mr King and Mr Moys answered questions from Members and noted comments which included the following:-

• The importance of the public being aware of the international activities and the positive impact that it has for the economy of Kent was emphasised.
• Concern was expressed that, Kent working in partnership with Essex and East Sussex to secure funding would lead  to a reduction in the funding for Kent.  It was explained that in certain circumstances the three County Councils working together would enable them to put in bids for joint projects which would benefit all three authorities.
• Mr King explained that as part of Kent working in partnership with Essex County Council there was an opportunity to take advantage of their links with China, they had an office in Beijing and had contacts in India.  KCC had good contacts in America and so we could build on these relationships for the mutual benefit of the three authorities.
• In relation to European assistance following the announcement of the closure of Pfizer’s, Mr Moys confirmed that in the short term two possible sources of European Funding had been identified and £700,000 had been secured from the European Social Fund to help retrain redundant workers.  Funding could be accessed by authorities in East Kent and he was happy to help facilitate this.
• It was apparent that there was a need for Members to be better informed about the process for accessing European funding.  The Chairman agreed to meet with officers to discuss the format for a seminar for all Members on EU funding and how Member can help their communities to access it.
• The re should be an opportunity to scrutinise the benefits gained from European funding and which communities were benefiting from this.
• In response to a question on access to European funding for Kent Businesses, Mr Moys referred to the 2 seas trade project and circulated details on the support that this provided to Kent Companies. 
• The possibility of obtaining European funding to purchase Bleak House in Broadstairs, with its Dickens connection, as a tourist attraction was mentioned.   It was explained that it was difficult to obtain European money for Capital projects and that there was already a bid for European funding being processed for funding for the Dickens Bicentenary. 
• Mr Moys expressed the view that the regional architecture had hindered rather then helped the in the securing of European funding.
• Mr Moys confirmed that between 2000 – 2006  £100m of European funding had been secured for Kent.  The current target for 2007 -2013 was securing 100 million Euros of funding which was based on funding previously secured  and the level of funding available.
• It was confirmed that officers and Members worked closely with Kent’s Members of the European Parliament.
• Mention was made of the need to benchmark the work of Locate in Kent.
• The importance considering how future European funding streams and could contribute to the three key streams in the Bold Steps for Kent was emphasised.  

(3)       RESOLVED that the comments made by Members and the report be noted.