Issue - meetings

Cabinet proposed the adoption of the economic growth strategy as part of the Council’s commitment to supporting inward investment, job creation and increasing prosperity for residents through economic growth. Wide ranging consultation with key stakeholders had been undertaken by Council and received support for the proposed initiatives. The Overview & Scrutiny Panel recommended the draft strategy to Cabinet and also proposed some amendments which Cabinet had taken note of.

The following Members spoke under Council Procedure 20.1:

Councillor Bayford;

Councillor Savage;

Councillor Campbell.

Councillor Stummer-Schmertzing proposed, Councillor Crow-Brown seconded Cabinet agreed to adopt the Economic Growth Strategy.

Councillor D. Saunders, Chairman of the Panel called upon Ms Ruth Bailey, representing ‘Supporters of Manston Airport’ to address the Panel. Ms Bailey, spoke under Part 5 of the Council Constitution on Public Speaking Procedure Rules on agenda Item 4, Fulfilling Thanet's growth and development opportunities.

The Chairman thanked Ms Bailey for her contributions and then requested the portfolio holder to lead discussion.

Councillor Stummer-Schmertzing, Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Enterprise Services introduced the proposed strategy for economic growth in the district. The proposals were aimed at job creation and wealth creation for the district in order to increase prosperity for Thanet residents. The strategy was developed with support from consultants and a presentation on the framework of this strategy was made before the Overview & Scrutiny Panel by the consultants.

The strategy was going to build on the successes made by council over the last two years, which had seen about 400 new entrepreneurs come to set up businesses in the district and 5,000 residents in employment. Some Members were concerned that the proposed strategy dismissed the importance of Manston Airport to the future economic growth of the district and suggested that the wording relating to Manston Airport should reflect a balanced and impartial view.

Councillor Campbell proposed, Councillor Dixon seconded and Members agreed that the strategy should provide additional detail on employment statistics by highlighting the number of individuals employed on ‘zero hour’ contracts and those individuals employed in more than one job.

Members indicated that the strategy ought to be explicitly linked to the Local Plan. In response to employment statistics issues raised above, Councillor Stummer-Schmertzing agreed to provide the Panel with a response. Member suggested that Thanet District Council should liaise with town/parish councils to coordinate local economic development initiatives. One Member suggested that the proposals should be drafted and presented to form a marketing proposal in order to be attractive to potential investors. Some Members were concerned that the strategy only mentioned Ramsgate and Margate and no other towns.

In response to observations and suggestions from Members, Rob Kenyon, Director of Community Services said that the economic development strategy was a ‘live document’ that could be updated at any point in time and would evolve over time and took note of the comments from the Panel. Rob Kenyon agreed to review the wording regarding references made to Manston Airport. Chairman said that once officers had made changes to the some of the wording as suggested by the Panel, the Chairman would then consider those updates outside the meeting.

The Panel agreed that subject to the changes as suggested by Members and as highlighted above, the proposed Economic Growth Strategy be recommended to Cabinet for approval.