Discovery Park Enterprise Zone - Mr D Smith, Director of Economic Development accompanied by representatives from the Discovery Park
Growth and Infrastructure – Mr M Dance, Cabinet Member for Economic Development
Minutes:
(Verbal presentations by Mr D Smith, Director of Economic Development accompanied by Mr P Barber, Managing Director of Discovery Park Limited and Ms B Cooper, Corporate Director for Growth, Environment and Transport)
Discovery Park Enterprise Zone
1. The Director of Economic Development, Mr Smith, who was accompanied by the Managing Director of Discovery Park Limited, Mr Barber, gave an oral update. Mr Smith and Mr Barber gave a brief overview of the consortium buying Manston advising that the site and adjoining land had been submitted as an extension of the Enterprise Zone. The site would be developed with the aim to provide space for a wide range of businesseswith a focus on attracting companies interested in advanced manufacturing, as well as the provision of housing, shops, schools and community facilities.
2. Mr Smith and Mr Barber responded to questions by Members which included the following:
a) Mr Barber advised that the companies on the Pfizer site were mainly European although there were companies from Australia and India.
b) The Discovery Park site had achieved 50% occupancy and was on course for full occupancy. The site was exempt from the empty property rate for 5 years through an arrangement with the Government and Dover District Council.
c) Mr Barber explained that as well as bioscience and life sciences based companies on site there were also solicitors and accountants that used a large area of the site. Members noted that half of the floor space was office space and not laboratories.
d) Members noted how the Discovery Park site offered accommodation to a school in Sandwich that had flooded. Exhibition space had been converted and the children used the site for two weeks while repairs took place at their school. Those two weeks coincided with science week at the school. The feedback from the children was that they were the best two weeks and the parents were grateful.
3.
The Leader of
Kent County Council, Mr Carter praised the success of the Discovery
Park site and welcomed the investment in the Manston
site.
Growth and Infrastructure
1. The Corporate Director for Growth, Environment and Transport, Ms Cooper gave a presentation using overheads on “The Future of Growth and Infrastructure in Kent”. Members were advised that the Local Growth Fund Round 1 bid gained £133 million mainly for transport and the Round 2 bid would be submitted on 3 December 2014 which would be for £46 million. The priorities for the funding included Strategic Priorities of national importance including Dover Western Docks and Westenhanger Lorry Park; major transformational projects including Maidstone Medical Campus and Kent Science Park, regional infrastructure schemes including Leigh flood storage area; local transformation schemes including Pembury Road phase 1 and Sittingbourne Town Centre; and local schemes for short term delivery including Shearway Business Park.
2. Ms Cooper set out the timetable as follows:
· Overall Growth Strategy - Draft in January 2015 for consultation before the end of March.
· Growth and Infrastructure Plan - Initial report in January and final report in Spring.
· County-District Deals - Some Districts expressing an interest already. Initial round of Deals to be discussed in the New Year
3. Ms Cooper responded to questions by Members as follows:
a) Ms Cooper agreed to forward details to Mr Truelove regarding the LGF2 Sittingbourne Town Centre.
b) Members noted that there no funding on line for junction 5 but there was a commitment to it.
c) Ms Cooper explained that the Growth and Infrastructure Plan was not about changing governance and the Joint Transport Boards would continue to carry out their work. Mr Carter concurred that there was no intention of stopping the Joint Boards explaining that they added value and ensured that the priorities of Members were heard.
d) There would be indepth work with various districts on housing numbers etc as there would be an effect on infrastructure so that a county wide coherent infrastructure plan could be drawn up.
e) Ms Cooper advised that Kent County Council hoped to continue working closely with the district councils to gain a strategic view on the possible effects of each districts plan on their neighbours.
4. RESOLVED that the responses to questions by Members and the information given in the verbal presentations be noted.