Agenda item

This report sets out activities and progress on work areas within the Leader’s Portfolio which fall 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 Leader, Councillor Rodney Chambers, attended the meeting to be held to account for the areas of his portfolio that fell within the remit of this Committee.

Members asked questions and commented and Councillor Rodney Chambers responded as follows:

• Reinstatement of the site/car park at the Brompton Academy site adjacent to the Great Lines

Planning consent for works at this site included a landscaping condition that the site must be reinstated therefore reinstatement of the site/car park would be the responsibility of Brompton Academy. The Director of Regeneration, Community and Culture was requested to let Councillor Juby know when the works would be undertaken in compliance with the planning consent.

• World Heritage Site Status

It was disappointing that having received early indications that the Council’s bid for World Heritage Site Status would be favourably received, the bid had subsequently not been supported. Whilst it was accepted that different assessors had taken the decision not to grant World Heritage Site Status to Medway, it was difficult to understand such inconsistency. The World Heritage Partnership would continue its work and look to how it could overcome factors within the assessment for the future.

• Relocation of Strood Library

In order to make libraries more accessible, the Council had decided to locate Community Hubs in library buildings. This has already been achieved at Gillingham and Chatham and Strood Library would now be relocated at a more accessible location with a Community Hub.

• Section 106 funding for The Strand

The Council was aware of the need for further investment at the Strand and, in addition to the funds already acquired for works at The Strand through the Planning Committee imposing Section 106 funding agreements on planning consents, there would be further future opportunities to acquire additional funds as and when other developments proceed.

Section 106 funding had also provided a positive benefit to the local community at Hillyfields through use of funds from Berkley Homes.

• Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) – Works at Commodore Hard and the launching slope at The Strand

It was confirmed that minor repairs had been undertaken to remove seaweed and algae to make the area safe. The Director of Regeneration, Community and Culture agreed to provide the Committee with details as to whether this site was included within any other Local Enterprise Submissions.

• Inward Investment

Five companies invested in Medway during the first half of 2013-14. Two were office based and two were industrial space. The Leader agreed to notify Councillor Griffiths direct of the type of business of the fifth company.

• TIGER

Of the 23 businesses awarded TIGER loans to date, six had been Medway businesses. The value of loans awarded to Medway businesses so far totalled £831,000.

A number of promotional events and roadshows had been held across Kent to promote the TIGER scheme.

Whilst a question relating to the criteria and the approvals process, would be better directed to the Portfolio Holder for Strategic Development and Economic Growth, as she served on the TIGER Board which considered funding applications, the Leader suggested that the Director for Regeneration, Community and Culture to provide a briefing note on the numbers of applications submitted to the Board and the criteria used by the Board to assess applications.

• Chatham Town Centre Improvements

The Leader advised that he was unable to provide an update as to the future plans for the Trafalgar Centre as this was not operated by the Council. However, one of the Council’s submissions for Growth Fund funding was for work on the Pentagon and its adjacent buildings. This could result in a substantial planning application being received relating to development on the corner adjacent to The Brook Theatre.

• Rochester Airport 

Responding to a question as to whether he considered the £4.4 million funding would be sufficient for works at Rochester Airport, the Leader responded by stating that he had no reason to believe that the £4.4 million to be expended on Rochester Airport was anything but a fair figure. He referred to the Business Park and confirmed that there would be significant capital funding required to undertake works at the Business Park and drew attention to paragraph 2.4 of the report which had Rochester Airport Business Park Development listed as a scheme submitted for funding to the Local Enterprise Partnership.

• City Deal

The Leader confirmed that  the  Council would continue exploring the possibility of a City Deal for Medway and that meetings have already taken place with Ministers to ensure that Medway 's voice is continued to be heard. 

• Former Civic Centre site, Strood

It was confirmed that the priority works required at this site was increasing the height of the river wall. A submission for flood defences has been made as part of a bid to the Government on Local Growth.

• Sun Pier

The Leader confirmed that the Council had always had aspirations to create a cultural quarter with associated businesses in the vicinity of Sun Pier through to the existing Rochester Railway Station. This continued to be an ambition and resources were now coming in. He advised that the Council had secured creative arts workspaces at Rochester Riverside.

Referring to Sun Pier, he confirmed that works at this site had been undertaken following receipt of £2.9 million fundingfor Chatham Town Centre – a small part of which has been used for the Pier. This site would now form part of the cultural quarter. He confirmed a desire to have greater use of the river for both leisure use and transportation.

Decision: 

a)         The Leader was thanked for attending the meeting and answering Members’ questions.

b)         A briefing note be provided to members on how the TIGER scheme works, to include how the Board allocates funds and examples of both successful and unsuccessful schemes that have sought funding from the Board.

c)         A presentation be made to a future meeting on the Kent and Medway Growth Deal.

d)         The Director of Regeneration, Community and Culture provide a copy of the Kent and Medway Growth Deal document to all members of the Committee.