Minutes:
(Report by Mr M Dance, Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Economic Development and Ms B Cooper, Director Economic Development)
(Members agreed to discuss item C2 and D9 together)
1. The Chairman invited the Economic Strategy and Policy Manager, Mr Gill, to introduce the report. Mr Gill highlighted the following:-
· The three priorities in Bold Steps are; (i) the development of relationships in key business sectors (ii) responding to major regeneration challenges and (iii) supporting the delivery of new housing and infrastructures.
· Following discussions with the key business sectors, the challenge was how to take the recommendations forward. There were themes that came through the conversations for super fast broadband, encouraging networking, access to finances for SMEs which could be taken forward generically. There were also initiatives that were sector specific. These would be answered through Kent’s mainstream programmes and specific answers to them.
· High Growth Kent Project, which Kent funds, the contract comes to an end on 31 December. There is a new government service called “Growth Accelerator” [the contractor is Grant Thornton, which would offer similar services to High Growth Kent.
· Through consultation and discussion with businesses they have said that they lack decent business accommodation on flexible terms, such as the Medway Innovations Centre, Chatham Dockyard. Discussions had taken place with some of the District Councils on rolling out a future programme of supported work space, which potentially could lead to a regeneration fund bid.
2. Mr Gill then spoke on the challenges which included;
· Discovery Park – The period of exclusivity between Pfizer and London Metropolitan had come to an end so are now in discussion with other parties
· A sale of Thamesteel, Isle of Sheppey, had been agreed.
· In Sheerness, Vesta Wind Systems and the Port of Sheerness had decided not to proceed with the offshore on shore development. Locate in Kent continued to work with the ports and a number of potential investors.
· Kent Forum - There was a report looking countywide community infrastructure and the new levers for growth that had emerged prepared. The conclusion of the paper was to demonstrate the funding gap needed for the levers for growth.
· Future funding opportunities – At present there were no opportunities for Regional Growth Funding. There was an opportunity for European Structural Funds within Kent and the Assisted Area Map (AAM) as it affects the County. At present Thanet and the northern part of Dover benefits from the AAM. A new Map would be published in 2014 and Kent would be working and lobbying to keep that Assist Area status.
· The Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) – Key issues are; Growing Places Fund. There were major pieces of work in the field of transport which the LEP was taking a close view on one of which was the publication of a consultancy report on aviation capacity across the South East as to how we can make best use of existing capacity and looks at the various options for a future Hub Airport might be. LEP had also looked at transport schemes across the LEP area, largely in preparation for the Local Transport Board (LTB), to be established next year. Guidance on the LTB is awaited from Government.
3. Members were given the opportunity to make comments and ask questions which included the following:
a) Kent needed to grasp the huge scope for business in renewable energy businesses. Assurance was given that much work was being undertaking in this area already.
b) In reply to a question, Mr Gill advised that there was no conflict between the Bold Steps for Kent the Aviation Strategy.
4. RESOLVED that the responses to comments and questions by Members and the verbal update be noted with thanks.