To receive verbal updates from the Cabinet Members for Economic Development, Community Services; and the Director for Economic Development on the following:
· Aviation Update
· Arts and Turner
·
Sport
- Queen’s Baton Relay – 5 June 2014
- Kent School Games – 25 June 2014
Minutes:
1. The Cabinet Members, Mr Dance and Mr Hill, gave their verbal updates and highlighted the following:
Mr Dance, Cabinet Member for Economic Development - Aviation
2. Mr Dance advised that the publication of the Airports Commission, also known as the Davies Commission, final recommendations regarding the additional airport capacity in the UK were still awaited.
3. Mr Dance reflected on the news of the closure of Manston Airport. He advised that the decision regarding Manston Airport lay with private professionals and not with the local authority, however, when discussions take place the local authority would wish to be included. Mr Dance advised that Thanet District Council, as the planning authority, was looking into a compulsory purchase order (CPO) for Manston Airport. The District Council had appointed external consultants to conduct a Viability Study of Manston Airport. The Study was expected to be completed by the end of July 2014. Thanet District Council would then use that study to decide how to proceed.
Lydd
4. Mr Dance advised that the owner of Lydd Airport had ambitions to extend the runway. The owner was also looking to extend the business to supply executive jets and possibly helicopters service flying from Lydd Airport to Battersea and the City Airport, London.
Ebbsfleet and Paramount Park
5. Mr Dance shared the good news that Land securities had paid £356 million for a 30% stake in Bluewater Shopping Centre. Also a public consultation on Paramount Park would take place at a local level to seeking views on the scheme. Mr Dance considered that the two projects link well and would create many homes and 27,000 jobs and would see a step change in the infrastructure in the area. Mr Dance advised that for Paramount Park to be feasible 40% of the public would be travelling by public transport which would require more high speed train travel across the county.
Mr Hill, Cabinet Member for Community Services- Arts/Sport
6. Mr Hill highlighted that the Arts Council had published its list of funding to national portfolio holders on 1 July 2014. He considered that the results for Kent were generally good; one new addition to the portfolio was The Gulbenkian Theatre, Canterbury but two were dropped from the list; the Stour Valley Arts and the Propeller Theatre Company. The funding for Turner Contemporary remained the same and Jasmin Vardimon, Ashford, received an uplift in their revenue funding as well as a £3 million capital funding grant.
7. Turner Contemporary continued to do very well, exceeding targets. Mr Hill advised that he had sent a letter to all Members of the County Council advising them of the Piet Mondrian exhibition and encouraged Members to visit the exhibition that had received complimentary reviews nationally and internationally.
The Queen Baton Relay
8. Kent had pleasure at being one of the six counties to be selected to be part of the baton exchange. The Baton arrived in Tonbridge and ended in Maidstone at County Hall at an evening presentation, which was attended by Helen Grant the Minister of Sport and Dame Kelly Holmes.
The Kent School Games
9. The Fourth Year of Kent School Games was held on 25 June and was going from strength to strength with 35,000 school children participating. The Sports Minister was in attendance. This event was recognised nationally as an important national and county event.
10. Mr Hill advised that both the Arts and Sports events raised the profile of the County Council both nationally and in the County.
11. Mr Dance and Mr Hill responded to comments and questions by Members which included the following:
a) A comment was made that Paramount Park would be an enormous opportunity for Kent accompanied by the plans for Ebbsfleet.
b) In response to a question, Mr Hill advised that over the years support had been given to the County Cricket Team through funding contributions to the Cricket Academy.
c) A Member recalled that the highspeed service on the North Kent line meant a reduction in services elsewhere.
d) A comment was made that there were many military airports available to accommodate the resilience of airports.
12. RESOLVED that the information in the verbal updates be noted with thanks.