Agenda item

Derek Harding, Programme Director, Margate Renewal Partnership and Councillor Latchford, Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Economic Development, were welcomed to the meeting. 

Derek gave a presentation, in which he outlined the following points:

1. Cliftonville West and Margate Central were the two wards on which the Margate Renewal Programme focused.
2. In that area, there were approximately 12,000 inhabitants and 6.500 households.  Statistics showed that it was the most deprived area in the South East Region and that life expectancy was 17 years less than that in Canterbury.  There was also evidence that deprivation was becoming worse.
3. The level of deprivation could be attributed to the decline in the traditional economy and inward migration, both voluntary and through placements, into the high level of poor standard accommodation.
4. There was a high level of need and vulnerability, which placed excessive demands on public services.
5. About three years previously, the Margate Renewal Partnership had been formed as a response to the challenges and opportunities posed by Margate.  Membership comprised the Council, South East England Development Agency (SEEDA), Kent County Council, Government Office South East (GOSE), English Heritage, Homes and Communities Agency, Arts Council for England, Heritage Lottery Fund, Turner contemporary and Primary Care Trust.
6. The key role of the Programme Director was to co-ordinate the work of the individual partners.
7. One of the objectives of the Partnership’s Vision was that “Margate would become a dynamic, thriving and successful town”.
8. There was a range of different initiatives and projects around four strategic actions:

  i.  Place Making – Regenerate Margate and improve the public realm;

  ii.  Support the growth of key sectors of the local economy;

  iii.  Rebalance the housing market and tackle poor housing;

  iv.  Engage local residents and employers in the renewal programme.

9. Achievements included:  investment of over £40m into the area; securing of £17.4m for Turner Contemporary; Gallery construction underway, due to open 2011; plans for key sites adopted – Dreamland, Arlington, Rendezvous; £12.4m funding for Dreamland – to open 2011/12; Old Town – completed £2m ERDF programme; Installation of a comprehensive CCTV scheme, new lighting, public realm enhancements, 10 new studios, 2 new galleries; and Harbour Arm – creating a new destination.
10. The Dreamland project, which had recently received £3.7m from the Government’s Sea Change Fund, included proposals for a theme park and key restoration of the cinema building.  The development was expected to put “heart” back into Margate and a conservative assumption in the business plan was that it would attract 700,000 new visitors per annum into the area.
11. It was anticipated that 500 new jobs would be created as a result of the major developments and that new businesses, particularly those related to media, art and design, would be attracted to the area.
12. New projects on the Partnership agenda were aimed at tackling social and housing issues in the area and included: a Neighbourhood Plan; a major housing led funding bid – Phase 1 for Cliftonville, Margate Task Force and working with KCC to improve services to local people.

A budget providing a breakdown of the programmes was circulated at the meeting.

Questions were then raised by members of the Panel, in response to which the following information was provided:

• All of the rides which were presently being stored at the Dreamland site had now been inspected.  Some of the rides were not under cover and the Scenic Railway machinery, which had been exposed to the elements, would now be transferred to the building itself.  There was £2.5m in the budget for restoration of rides.
• The Programme Director was unaware of availability of LABGI funding, but would welcome any discussions on funding.
• Detailed discussions had taken place with Thanet College regarding the establishment of a skills centre, in the interim, at the former Marks & Spencer building.  Tenders had been invited for the conversion of the premises.  If that project proved too costly, the situation would have to be reviewed.
• The Programme Director was unaware of any money earmarked for small regeneration programmes in Thanet having become available for the Margate Renewal Programme.
• There was a very detailed cost plan for Dreamland, which had a large built-in contingency provision, and the Programme Director was confident that all the necessary remaining funding would be received.
• The site for the new Dreamland comprised 7 acres including the cinema complex.  In addition, there were 7 acres of enabling land, some of which had historically been used for coach parking.  In the funding package, £4m had been included as a contribution from enabling land.  The Partnership had worked closely with the Dreamland Trust to agree the boundary;
• Although the site would be smaller than before, no car parking space would be lost.  The plans included a large car park and it was proposed to create a new access road to take traffic away from the seafront.
• A visitor economy was critical to Margate. 
• It was hoped that some of the fastest-growing businesses such as media, design and art, would relocate to Margate.
• It was time to “turn off the tap” on the inward flow of vulnerable groups from other areas.  The Partnership had been working with Kent Partnership on a protocol which could lead to a more formal agreement with other districts across Kent.  The Council was also engaging with other councils in Kent to represent its views to KCC and the London Office.  Margaret Hodge MP, Minister of State, Department for Culture, Media & Sport, who had visited the Council the previous day, had been alerted to the problems.  It was too early to say whether migrant growth had diminished, but it was hoped that a significant impact would become evident over the following 5 to 10 years.
• The Partnership was working with other agencies and, in particular, KCC on ways to address the housing and social deprivation issues in the area.  Under the new Total Place Initiative, which was funded by the Government, and for which KCC was a pilot area, a study was being carried out in the Margate Central and Cliftonville wards to explore ways to optimise use of public expenditure.
• It was felt that Total Place Initiative staff could easily be accommodated within the Council Offices.
• Where funding had been provided for the refurbishment of run-down hotels, and there was no evidence of intention on the part of the owners to carry out the necessary works within a certain length of time, action would be taken for the recovery of the monies provided.
• The amount of shopping floor space available in the old High Street and Northdown Road, Margate was presently being considered by the Partnership.  It was hoped to have two specialist shopping areas in each location.

Councillor Latchford stressed that the Council was working hard to achieve the regeneration aims of its Corporate Plan.  Those aims affected not only Margate, where there was acute deprivation, but should also benefit residents throughout the whole area of Thanet.

He made reference to the results of the Audit Commission’s Inspection on Regeneration, which had become available on 12 November 2009.  In its report, the Commission had praised the regeneration work being undertaken by Thanet Council.

Derek was applauded for his excellent presentation.