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  • Agenda item
  • Agenda item

    Verbal updates by Cabinet Members and Corporate Director

    To receive verbal updates by the relevant Cabinet Members

     

    Minutes:

    1.    Mr M Hill, OBE (Cabinet Member for Community and Regulatory Services) provided an update on the following:

     

    (a)  On Monday 2 December, the law that permitted same-sex couples to enter into a civil partnership was extended to mixed-sex couples and on 31 December 2019 the first heterosexual civil ceremony in Kent was conducted at Wellington House Registration Office.  The couple’s story was included with others on the BBC news website. Further information could be found on the following link.

     

    (b)  The 2019 Turner Prize was presented to all four nominees at an award ceremony at Dreamland Margate, after the judges received a collective statement requesting that all four finalists be awarded the Turner Prize. Mr Hill commended the success of the event and the considerable number of visitors, making it one of the most visited Turner Prize exhibitions of all time since the Prize was established.

     

    (a)  The first phase of work for the Turner Contemporary Capital Project had started and would be completed within five weeks. Phase 2 of the refurbishment project was due to start in September 2020.

     

    (b)  The new polymer £20 note was due to be launched on 20 February 2020 and would feature the artist JMW Turner as well as scenes of Margate including the Turner Contemporary.

     

    2.    Mr Whiting (Cabinet Member for Economic Development) provided an update on the following:

     

    (a)  Kent County Council (KCC) had been working closely with its neighbouring European counterparts and hosted a meeting on 22 October 2019 in Maidstone between senior elected Members and officials from the Hauts-de-France region, Nord and Pas-de-Calais ‘departments’ (France) and the provinces of West Flanders (Belgium) and Zeeland (the Netherlands) to ensure cross-border cooperation on topics of mutual interest. The first Thames Estuary Envoy (Kate Willard) had also been appointed and acting as the advocate for the region, she had been appointed Chair of the Thames Estuary Growth Board to forge positive relationships with local businesses, communities and local authorities and would be working with the Government to increase prosperity across the Thames Gateway area. Mr Whiting along with a number of Kent Business Leaders and Education Leaders would be attending a Summit in France on Wednesday 5 February 2020 to formalise the establishment of the Straits Committee.

     

     

    (b)  The Kent Excellence in Business Awards (KEiBA) which was an annual awards scheme staged and produced by KM Media Group and Kent County Council to recognise and reward excellence in Kent’s businesses was in its 12th year. Mr Whiting advocated Kent County Council’s ongoing commitment to Kent businesses to help them grow and prosper and said that the KEiBA awards was an important way of encouraging businesses to promote themselves and achieve international growth and recognition. Mr Whiting asked that Members of the Committee promote the award and encourage interested businesses to apply online using the following link.

     

    (c)  The third Kent Business Summit, hosted by the Kent Business School, was held on Friday 10 January 2020 at the University of Kent and was attended by over 400 business leaders, local government decision-makers and academic experts. The event focused its attention on tackling regional challenges and innovative forward-thinking to ensure sustainable economic growth.

     

    (d)  The Government had announced that the decision on the Manston Development Consent Order had been delayed by four months.

     

    (e)  The No Use Empty Scheme which brought over 6000 properties back into use since its introduction had secured  £12m of KCC Treasury Funds to help developers transform derelict and vacant sites into new residential units. The scheme would deliver a 1.5% return per annum on investment.   A bid for £2m had been submitted to the Growing Places Fund to bring empty commercial properties back into use.

     

    3.    The Cabinet Members responded to comments and questions as follows:

     

    (a)  Mr Hill confirmed that the work required at Sandwich Station to support the Open Golf tournament was on track to be delivered on time and on budget.

     

    (b)  Mr Whiting informed Members that the discussions between KCC and Kate Willard (Thames Estuary Envoy) were primarily around KCC’s priorities for new infrastructure. No discussions had taken place on the topic of Manston airport.

     

    (c)  In response to queries relating to the UK Investment Fund which a previous Government had announced  to replace the EU grant system, Mr Whiting said that no details had yet been given but agreed to share any feedback around the shared prosperity fund with the Committee at a future date.

     

    (d)  Mr Whiting informed Members that the purpose of the Straits Committee was to ensure collaborative working. France’s local authorities continued to be heavily involved in the meetings. The work of the Straits Committee was supported by the British Embassy in Paris. 

     

    4.    It was resolved that the verbal update be noted, with thanks.