Reason for the decision:
Current contracts end on 30 April 2023 (Locate in Kent) and 31 March 2023 (Visit Kent).
Background:
Locate in Kent provides inward investment services to help support Kent businesses to expand within Kent and to attract business investment into Kent. It has a proven track record of success. Visit Kent promotes the Kent visitor economy which is a major contributor to the Kent economy.
The proposed one-year extension will allow time for Locate in Kent and Visit Kent to make organisational changes to reflect reduced budget allocation following the approval of the KCC budget in February 2023 and for the Council to agree new and more focused output measures to be delivered by the two organisations.
Options (other options considered but discarded):
For each organisation to plan for budget reductions independently. This was rejected in favour of both working together to make savings in back office and administrative functions to ensure impacts to service provision are less impacted by the budget reductions.
How the proposed decision supports Framing Kent’s Future 2022-2026: (https://www.kent.gov.uk/about-the-council/strategies-and-policies/corporate-policies/our-council-strategy)
Inward investment and promoting the visitor economy supports Priority 1, Levelling up Kent.
Data Protection implications:
The current agreements with Locate in Kent and Visit Kent require the two organisations to comply with the Data Protection Act and the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR). These will carry forward with the extension of the agreements.
Decision type: Non-key
Decision status: Recommendations Approved
Division affected: (All Division);
Notice of proposed decision first published: 13/03/2023
Decision due: Not before 30th Mar 2023 by Cabinet Member for Economic Development
Lead member: Cabinet Member for Economic Development
Lead director: Stephanie Holt-Castle
Department: Growth, Environment & Transport
Contact: David Smith, Director of Economic Development 03000 417176 Email: david.smith2@kent.gov.uk Tel: 0774 389 4252.
Consultees
The proposed decision was considered and endorsed by the Growth, Economic Development and Communities Cabinet Committee on 14 March 2023.
Financial implications: Funding for Locate in Kent from the European Development Fund will reduce from £428,571 to zero, and KCC’s budget contribution will reduce by 10% to £460,800. Medway Council has agreed there will be no reduction in its contribution of £70,000. KCC’s budget contribution to Visit Kent in 2023-24 will be £230,000 (a reduction of 17.9 per cent from previous years), in accordance with MTFP decisions now incorporated in the 2023-24 Council Budget.
Legal implications: The extension is to be carried out in accordance with Regulation 72(1)(c)(i)(ii)(iii) of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (PCR2015).
Equalities implications: The extension to the Locate in Kent and Visit agreements have current Equality Impact Assessments which do not identify any adverse impacts. The agreements already incorporate provisions which require the two organisations not to treat one individual or group of people less favourably than others because of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, race, religion and belief, pregnancy and maternity, sex and sexual orientation, and they are required to seek equality among their personnel, and to promote equality generally.