Agenda item

(1)       Mr Hill and Ms Honey updated Members on the issues listed in the paper circulated with the agenda and answered questions from Members:

Paralympics and Brands Hatch

Mr Hill informed Members that there would be four days of road cycling events at Brands Hatch between 5 and 8 September 2012.  There was national and local interest and good progress was being made on the formal arrangements for these events. 

Libraries and Archives

Mr Hill reported that in relation to the libraries review there would be a paper to Cabinet Members next month outlining progress, once agreement had been reached a paper would be submitted to this Committee.  Mr Hill stated that it was intended to involve local Members and communities in shaping services.  It was intended to use Locality Boards as they developed as a forum for discussion on the shape of library services.  It was important to develop services with the agreement of local people.

Edenbridge Community Centre

Ms Honey stated that good progress was being made, the two buildings had been demolished.  The Centre was due to be completed in summer 2012.  Partnership work was continuing, in particular with District Councils to look at the services to be delivered.  The Citizens Advice Bureau had signed a lease. She expressed thanks to Mr J White, Capital Transition Manager, for the work he had done on the project.

Archaeological Resource Centre

Mr Hill referred to the previous proposal to site the centre at Kent University which had fallen through.   Work was going on with English Heritage, to establish a centre at Dover Castle.  This would be a joint project with Customer and Communities, Environment Highways and Waste and English Heritage.  English Heritage would be facilitating the majority of the budget for this and there was currently a Lottery bid in respect of this project.

In response to a question, Mr Crilley confirmed that Canterbury City Council was involved with this project and he undertook to inform Members of District Council’s involvement with this project.

Open Golf: July 2011

Mr Hill referred to the success of the Open Golf, held at Sandwich in July 2011.  It had been a real boost for tourism in the area and the Royal and Ancient Golf Club had expressed an interest in holding the Open Golf in Kent in nine or ten years time.

In response to a question, Mr Hill undertook to ensure that information was supplied on which areas would benefit from the golf legacy and whether both private and public clubs would benefit.

Mention was made of the importance of the legacy from events such as the golf and the Olympics.  

County Show

Ms Honey stated that despite the inclement weather, there had been over 11,000 visitors to the KCC marquee.  The theme was the Contact Centre and  work was currently being carried out on a customer services strategy which would come to the Committee in due course. 

Opening of Ashford Gateway: July 2011

Mr Sandhu reported that he had attended the soft opening of the Ashford Gateway, which was an asset to Ashford.  The Gateway would be officially opened on 7 October 2011.  The Chairman referred to the library’s co-location at the Gateway and the increase in the number of book loans since the opening of the new facility.

Officers undertook to provide Members with a list of the services available at the Ashford 

Opening new Visitor Centre, Trosley County Park: August 2011

Mr Hill stated that he was impressed by the quality of the offer at the new visitors centre. 

Opening Gravesend Library: August 2011

Mr Hill mentioned the soft opening of the new Gravesend Library on 23 August 2011, and the innovative link between the new and old buildings.  The formal opening would take place on 4 October 2011. 

Community Budgets

Ms Honey referred to the Community Budgets which was a new government initiative, providing intense support for a small number of families with specific needs.  There were currently two pilots, one in Swale working with families where there was a substance misuse issue, and the other in Thanet working with families where there was an intergenerational workless issue.  The next tranche of pilots was being developed, one of which would be in Shepway.  Work was taking place with District Councils and partners.   A report would be submitted to a future meeting of the Committee on this initiative.

Mr Tolputt asked to receive an update on the pilot Community Budget Scheme for Shepway.

In response to a question on whether the concentration of services on a small number of families would lead to a reduction in services for others, Ms Slaven replied that the service redesign would mean that even if a family was not part of the Community Budget initiative they should still see an improvement in services.

Open Public Services: Consultation

Ms Honey drew to Members attention this government consultation, information on this had been circulated to Members via the Members Information Bulletin.   Work was being carried out on a KCC response to the Consultation which would end on 30 September 2011.  In line with Bold Steps for Kent, the White Paper was broadly welcomed but there were concerns around bureaucracy and costs associated with implementation. 

Turner Contemporary

Mr Hill referred to the latest visitor figures for Turner Contemporary which were way above target.  The information from the businesses in the old town was encouraging. A new exhibition would be started shortly.

It was agreed that Members would be sent a breakdown of the visitor figures for Turner Contemporary.

It was noted that there was due to be an annual update on the Margate Task force to the November meeting of the Committee which would include performance targets.

RESOLVED that the update be noted