Issue details

Proposed decision:

To approve the Kent and Medway Local Growth Plan as a long-term, evidence-led, sector-focused growth plan for Kent and Medway and to support its use in informing future economic and sector development activity, investment opportunities and engagement with Government, businesses and partners.

The decision will enable Kent County Council, through its role within the Kent and Medway Economic Partnership (KMEP), to formally support the adoption of the Local Growth Plan and the continued development of associated investment propositions and delivery activity

Reason for the decision

-      The Government's English Devolution White Paper introduced Local Growth Plans as a mechanism for supporting place-based economic growth and investment.

-      Whilst Kent and Medway are not currently required to produce a Local Growth Plan as a non-devolved area, KMEP has chosen to develop one proactively to ensure Kent and Medway is well positioned to support future engagement with Government and investors and to articulate the area's economic strengths, opportunities and priorities.

-      The proposed decision is required to enable formal adoption of the Local Growth Plan and to support its use in future economic development, partnership and investment activity across Kent and Medway.

Background

-      The Kent and Medway Local Growth Plan is being developed through the Kent and Medway Economic Partnership (KMEP), supported by Kent County Council, Medway Council, businesses, education providers and wider economic partners.

-      To support development of the Plan, KCC commissioned an independent evidence base and stakeholder engagement programme. This identified four priority sectors where Kent and Medway has nationally significant strengths and growth opportunities:

·   Agri-food and Agri-tech

·   Ports, Transport and Logistics

·   Digital and Technologies

·   Energy.

-      The evidence base and stakeholder engagement also identified a number of cross-cutting growth priorities which affect multiple sectors and places across Kent and Medway, including:

·   Innovation

·   Infrastructure

·   Skills

·   SME growth

·   Improved connectivity and collaboration across sectors, organisations and places.

-      The Local Growth Plan has been informed by engagement with businesses, education providers, local authorities and economic partners through a programme of workshops and stakeholder engagement activities. This has informed development of the Plan and the emerging investment pipeline.

-      The Local Growth Plan complements and builds on the Kent and Medway Economic Framework, Local Skills Improvement Plan and Get Kent & Medway Working Plan by identifying priority sectors and future labour market demand, growth opportunities and potential investment propositions that support Kent and Medway's wider economic ambitions.

-      Further stakeholder engagement is planned before the Local Growth Plan is finalised, including engagement with thematic leads and wider stakeholders to refine actions, priorities and investment propositions.

Options

Option 1: Do not formally adopt the Local Growth Plan (Do nothing) (Not recommended)

-      This would reduce Kent and Medway's ability to present a consistent, evidence-led approach to economic growth and investment and would limit opportunities to support future engagement with Government, investors and partners.

Implications:

-      No agreed Local Growth Plan for Kent and Medway.

-      Reduced ability to articulate Kent and Medway's economic priorities and growth opportunities through a single evidence-led plan.

-      Reduced ability to support future engagement with Government, investors and funding opportunities.

-      Missed opportunity to build on the evidence base and stakeholder engagement undertaken to date.

Option 2: Delay Adoption Until Further Development Work Is Complete (Not recommended)

-      Delay approval until actions and investment propositions have been further developed. This would delay adoption of the overall growth plan and reduce the ability to utilise the Plan during future engagement and economic development activity.

Implications:

-      Delays formal adoption of the Local Growth Plan. 

-      Delays use of the Plan to support engagement with Government, investors and partners.

-      Additional stakeholder engagement and refinement work would continue before adoption of the Plan.

-      Potential risk of losing momentum generated through the evidence base and stakeholder engagement process.

Option 3: Adopt the Local Growth Plan (Recommended)

-      Approve the Local Growth Plan as a long-term, evidence-led growth plan for Kent and Medway, whilst recognising that future projects, investment propositions and delivery activity may require separate governance approvals where appropriate.

Implications:

-      Provides an agreed evidence-led growth plan for Kent and Medway.

-      Supports future engagement with Government, investors, businesses and partners.

-      Provides a framework for future development of investment propositions and partnership activity.

-      Enables continued refinement of actions and investment opportunities through future stakeholder engagement and implementation activity.

-      Any future projects, funding proposals or investment opportunities arising from the Plan will be subject to separate governance and approval processes where required.

How the proposed decision supports the Council’s Strategic Statement

-      The proposal aligns strongly with the four aims of Kent County Council’s strategic statement:

Putting Kent Residents First

-      The Local Growth Plan supports sustainable economic growth across Kent and Medway by identifying opportunities to improve productivity, attract investment, support business growth, create employment opportunities and develop the skills required for Kent and Medway's future economy.

Reforming Kent County Council

-      The Local Growth Plan provides an evidence-led framework to support partnership working across Kent and Medway and helps align economic development activity around shared priorities.

-      The Plan supports a coordinated approach to economic growth and investment, helping partners work together to maximise opportunities for Kent and Medway.

Supporting Residents That Need Help

-      Through its focus on employment, skills and economic participation, the Plan seeks to support opportunities for residents to access good quality employment and skills development as well as providing clarity about growing demand-side labour market opportunities.

-      The Plan promotes inclusive economic growth and recognises the importance of ensuring that the benefits of growth are felt across communities and places throughout Kent and Medway.

Building Better Communities

-      The Local Growth Plan supports the long-term resilience, prosperity and competitiveness of communities across Kent and Medway.

-      By promoting business growth, investment, innovation, skills development and supporting infrastructure, the Plan seeks to strengthen local economies and support thriving places in which people can live and work.

Additional Contribution

-      The Local Growth Plan will support engagement with Government, investors, businesses and partners by providing a clear evidence-based articulation of Kent and Medway's economic strengths, opportunities and priorities, while supporting the continued development of investment propositions and partnership activity.