Minutes:
(1) Mr Andrew Bowles, Leader of Swale Borough Council gave a presentation highlighting the actions being taken to deliver Swale’s Regeneration Agenda. During the course of this presentation, he highlighted the ambitions which Swale Borough Council has set itself in developing its sustainable community strategy covering the period 2009 to 2026 and said that within the strategic context, regeneration was seen by the Borough Council as a significant corporate priority. This included developing and expanding areas of policy including economic development, learning and skills, housing, culture, transport and technology. Mr Bowles said that for Swale, the learning and skills deficit was one of its biggest problems and the Borough Council was therefore doing all it could in terms of strategic policy to address this major issue which required an input of resources not only from the Borough Council but also the County Council. Mr Bowles also spoke about the opportunities which the Thames Gateway has brought to Swale with partners building multi area agreements with the Borough Council of the three themes based on learning and skills, housing and transport.
(2) Mr Bowles also spoke about the challenges which the Borough Council faced, particularly in terms of social and demographic issues. Housing completions had already been on a downward trend during 2007/08 and this had continued. He said the strength of the investment market underpinned regeneration projects so there was a need to retain a long term vision which above all would require patience.
(3) Mr Bowles said significant investment was being undertaken in Sittingbourne Town Centre and this would create new jobs and homes and provide important and much needed transport links. There was also significant investment taking place in the area of Queenborough and Rushenden and also at the Port of Sheerness.
(4) Mr Bowles also spoke about the ambitions of the Borough Council for the future and highlighted the infrastructure investment needed to build for example new junctions on the M2 to unlock potential regeneration opportunities and the employment potential of the Kent Science Park. He also spoke about the need to invest in long term skills and employment, the development of the Sittingbourne Learning Campus and initiatives being taken to invest for the long term in developing local communities. He also spoke about the Localism Agenda and the fact Swale Borough Council and Kent County Council would be working together to pilot Local Engagement Forums to cover the Faversham, Sheppey and Sittingbourne areas.
(5) In conclusion, Mr Bowles said that from KCC, Swale Borough Council was seeking to move forward with a shared agenda which would address the priorities and strategies he had highlighted in his presentation. These included commitment to funding and delivering infrastructure , support for the Learning Campus as a long term catalyst for improving skills, the establishment of Gateways and support for Swale’s regeneration strategy.
(6) Mr Carter said on behalf of KCC that he shored the Borough Council’s priorities and agenda for change. He said the County Council in its capacity as the education authority had heavily invested in education provision in Swale and he wanted to work with not only the Borough Council but all the Kent Boroughs and Districts in developing joint regeneration strategies. Mr Carter also said he wanted a report submitted to a future meeting of County Council Cabinet detailing progress on the Rushenden Relief Road and an update on the likely timing of the construction of junctions 5A and B on the M2.
(7) Discussion concluded with it being agreed to hold at some future suitable date a meeting of the Cabinets of KCC and Swale Borough Council in order to assess progress on the matter discussed during the course of this item.