Agenda item

This report details the area covered by the Portfolio Holder for Strategic Development and Economic Growth, which falls within the remit of this Committee. These are listed each time a Cabinet Member is invited to attend any of the Overview and Scrutiny Committees to be held to account.  

Discussion:

The Portfolio Holder for Strategic Development and Economic Growth had provided a report that set out activities and progress on work areas with her Portfolio during the past year and the committee asked her questions about these, which included:

TIGER Loans Fund – Impact in Medway – The Portfolioholder reported that a number of applications for TIGER Loan funding had been submitted by Medway businesses and two had been successful so far. TIGER Fund loans were being promoted locally by the Local Enterprise Partnership and also by the Council’s Economic Development team with the aim of making the scheme easy to access by local companies.

Inclusion of references to fracking and mineral development in the Local Development Framework – The Portfolio Holder advised Members this had not been an issue when the Local Development Framework was written but that the Framework could be expanded and updated as necessary.

Free Parking to revitalise High Streets – The Portfolio Holder was asked if she had changed her view and would now agree that the availability of free short-term parking would help revitalise High Streets in Medway in light of the Portas Initiative and views expressed by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government. . The Portfolio holder stated she did not necessarily agree with the views expressed by Mary Portas and that this would require wider discussion. She stated that parking charges in Medway were among the lowest in the South East and reminded members of the provision in Medway in a number of locations for short term free parking in the run-up to Christmas.

Youth Unemployment – The Portfolio holder reported a 22% fall in youth unemployment across Medway, which was in contrast to the rest of the country were youth unemployment was increasing in many places. She attributed the exceptional figures in Medway to the attitudes of young people locally who were prepared to take up the opportunities that had been made available to them.

Broadband Development – timescales for completion of survey work. The Portfolio holder confirmed that planning and surveying work was underway and information was expected later in the autumn as set out in her report. She referred to the particularly poor reception and connection issues on the Peninsula. The rolling out of Broadband would be concentrated on local schools within Medway and created an opportunity for schools to work with their local communities. .

Strood Community Hub – request for provision of limited (one-hour) free parking for library users.  The Portfolio Holder noted concerns that ward members had not been told about the proposed location for a Strood Community hub ahead of a public announcement by two Cabinet members at a Friends of Broomhill meeting. She stated that the idea of limited free parking for users of the new Community hub could be considered but she could not give any assurances at this time. Members of the Committee referred to the previous (but now defunct) agreement with Tesco involving three hours free parking for users of the hub. The Portfolio holder stated she would expect free parking to be part of any further development involving Tesco in Strood.

Lodge Hill Development – new housing target for Medway. The Portfolio Holder was asked if new housing targets for Medway would be set should the Lodge Hill development not proceed. The Portfolio holder stated the Council was making every effort to put forward a case contesting the designation of Lodge Hill as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) the outcome of which would not be known until November.  She agreed that immediate discussions would be required about housing targets and other issues if triple SSSI status is awarded to Lodge Hill as the LDF is predicated on the development there going ahead.

City Deal status for Medway – The portfolio holder stated that the Council had made strong representations for City Deal status when it was first offered but had been unsuccessful. To pre-empt the second round of bids the Council had met with the Minister to highlight the regeneration prospects in Medway and she hoped Medway would be awarded City Deal status in the next round.

Monitoring of shop occupancy rates – The Portfolio holder assured the Committee that High Street occupancy rates were monitored on a monthly basis. She confirmed that occupancy rates in Chatham were running in line with the national average although this figure was distorted by the vacation of units on the top floor of the Pentagon Centre.  The figure was much lower elsewhere in Medway.

Decision:

The Committee thanked the Portfolio Holder for Strategic and Economic Development for her attendance.