Agenda item

(Report by Mark Dance, Cabinet Member for Regeneration & Economic Development, Mr B Sweetland, Cabinet Member for Environment, Highways & Waste, Mr D Cockburn, Corporate Director Business Strategy & Support and Mr M Austerbury, Corporate Director Enterprise & Environment)

(Mr S Dukes, Economic Development Officer, Economic & Spatial Development Unit was present for this item)

1.               The Director of Economic Development, Ms Cooper introduced the report.  Ms Cooper  highlighted the following points:

2.               Members were given the opportunity to make comments and asked questions which included the following:

a)    A suggestion was made that KCC needed to coordinate the demands made by developers, as the focus was on highways but there would be demands for funding for community centres and school etc.  Ms Cooper advised that that rest of the S106 agreement for Eastern Quarry had been retained as previously agreed but there are review points built into the agreement. Members were advised that the government had put out a consultation in August 2012 seeking views on the renegotiation of S106s agreed before April 2010.

b)     The programme was considered high risk especially in the current difficult economic times.

c)     In response to a question, Ms Cooper reassured the Committee that KCC would only spend what it would forecast to collect.  There would be agreements with Dartford and Gravesham Borough Councils regarding the collection of S106/Cil monies.  Mr Dukes had looked into the impact of different rates of development on cash flows.  The annual programme would be agreed by the local authorities as well as Department for Transport (DfT), Highways Agency (HA) and Homes and Communities Agency (HCA). 

d)    There was concern raise that Land Securities may have difficulty in selling the properties in the current economic climate. Ms Cooper concurred that this was a programme with big risk. Land securities had invested £120 million to secure the Eastern Quarry site and they still had a year of further work before they begin building homes. Land Secutrities have identified an accelerated build out programme and have appointed a project manager, Camland.  Mr Dukes added that there was would be rigorous monitoring through the proposed Steering Group.

e)    In reply to questions on whether the commitments were binding even with a change of government Ms Cooper said that she could not say whether any new government would hold to this commitment.  The previous government offered significant monies but these were now not available within the current financial climate. Members also considered that £13 million contribution from the HCA was not particularly generous.

f)      Members requested regular updates.

g)    A suggestion was made that the marketing of the homes should think of a new name instead of Eastern Quarry.  Ms Cooper explained that the developments would be marketed as villages in rural settings just 17 minutes outside London.

3.               RESOLVED that:-

a)              the responses to comments and questions made by Members be noted;

b)              Kent County Council continues to act as the Accountable Body for the Kent Thameside Strategic Transport (Homes & Roads) Programme be agreed;

c)               the setting up of the Governance arrangements for the Kent Thameside Strategic Transport (Homes & Roads) Programme be entrusted to the Cabinet Member for Regeneration & Economic Development in consultation with Dartford and Gravesham Borough Councils be agreed; and

d)              the Corporate Director Business Strategy & Support be authorised, in consultation with the Corporate Director Enterprise & Environment, to negotiate and execute legal and/or partnership agreements pursuant to the delivery and management of the Kent Thameside Strategic Transport (Homes & Roads) Programme.