OUTRAGE AT JUDGEMENT

Cllr Michelle Fenner (TDC Cabinet Member).

Judgement regarding the live animal exports from Ramsgate Port.

The Judge ruled that:

- the Animal Health Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA, which is a Government Agency, part of DEFRA) has the total authority regarding transport of live animals

- even though we are the port owners, we cannot intervene in what goes on within the transit in Ramsgate port.

The terrible events at the port in September 2012 showed clearly that it was AHVLA who took the decision to unload animals (very conveniently) in our port and not to take them to a so called nearby lairage facility.

The consequences of this unloading were that it caused havoc in OUR port and potentially putOUR staff safety at risk.

Then collectively as the TDC administration we decided to impose a temporary suspension of this trade whilst we sought re-assurances about the transport of animals from DEFRA.

We are now told by the Judge that in spite of these terrible incidents we should not have imposed this temporary ban and that we will have to compensate the unscrupulous transporters who, a few weeks ago, were convicted for cruelty to animals.

We are not just disappointed by this judgment, we are outraged: we are the port owners, we did not choose to have live animal exports going through our port, we did not cause the incidents of September 2012, we did not create this situation, and yet we are made to pick up the tab for the actions, the wrong decisions and the incompetence of Government Agencies.

We are looking into options for appeal against this unjust judgement.

We will also put the case to the local MP who has publicly agreed that the port does not have the correct facilities and has claimed how she is also opposed to this vile trade. Now is the time for her to take action and get some results from Central Government.

 

Published by Thanet Labour Group Press Office, 44 Northdown Road, Margate, Kent CT9 2RW.

Postponement of tonight's Transeuropa scrutiny meeting

Cllr Jo Gideon

Chairman of the Transeuropa Debt Review Task & Finish Group

Chairman of Overview & Scrutiny, Thanet District Council

The meeting of the Transeuropa Debt Review Task & Finish Group had to be suspended and then postponed this evening due to the utterly unacceptable and disrespectful behaviour of Cllr Ian Driver. Chairman of the meeting and of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel, Cllr Jo Gideon, commented:

“Cllr Driver has had every opportunity to take an active part in scrutinising this issue. It was his decision to stand down from the Transeuropa Debt Review Task & Finish Group.  Tonight, he turned up with a clear aim of being thrown out for bad behaviour. He got his wish. However, he will not succeed in destroying democracy in Thanet? Cllr Driver succeeded in wasting everyone’s time, but the meeting has only been postponed not cancelled, because bad behaviour cannot dictate how we conduct our business. We are committed to act in the public interest and not be bullied by Cllr Driver whose sole purpose seems to be to disrupt and disrespect this council.”

Following the closure of the meeting, three of the Group Leaders who had been present, Cllr Clive Hart, Cllr Bob Bayford and Cllr Jack Cohen, all expressed their profound disappointment that Cllr Driver was yet again holding the democratic process to ransom and wasting enormous amounts of taxpayers’ money.

Contact: 07786 118881

MANSTON AIRPORT STATEMENT BY Cllr CLIVE HART - TDC LEADER

"I am pleased that Ann Gloag is approaching the purchase of Manston with such a positive attitude and that she clearly see's a strong future for the airport. I sincerely hope this means that jobs at the airport are secure and that the settlement can be completed as soon as possible in the interests of all concerned. I look forward to forging a good working relationship with the new owners".

Cllr Clive Hart - Leader of Thanet District Council. 

TDC AGAINST THE BEDROOM TAX

Last night at Full Council I put forward a motion against the bedroom tax, called such euphemisms as ‘power to reduce housing benefits’, ‘under occupancy penalty’ or ‘spare room subsidy’.

As a Labour Councillor I was proud that my party is firmly committed to repealing this bedroom tax in 2015.

This motion was agreed on by a majority of Councillors.

This tax is nasty, squalid, unfair and impractical.

It is nasty because it targets the weakest, poorest and most vulnerable here in Thanet and nationwide.

It is squalid because it was ill-thought-out and is proving to be full of contradictions and doesn’t address the real issues about under-occupation.

It is unfair because no local authority has a stock of properties that people being told to “down-size” can move into

And it is impractical because the only choice most people have is to give up a secure council or housing association home and move into a private rented, potentially insecure one where the rent would be much higher – and the consequent cost to the public purse much greater.

In the last couple of weeks we have seen the first batch of appeals against this tax in the Courts – and I am pleased to point out that in the first hearings the Judge upheld four out of the five of them, showing that even the Judiciary don’t think much of this badly-written change to benefit legislation.

This tax is one that bypasses elected local councils, who have no power to fix the amounts deducted nor to decide which properties are affected.

We firmly believe that local authorities should be the bodies that deal with under-occupation – not thebureaucrats in Whitehall and Tory MPs who know little and care less about social housing.

Under-occupation is best dealt with by the “carrot” and not the “stick”. Building more smaller-sized council properties that can be offered to our tenants is the long term solution – not forcing some of our poorest residents to use money that should be used for food or heating on paying for a shortfall in their housing benefit.

On average the tenants affected by this legislation will pay £750 a year because they cannot move to anywhere and therefore they have to pay it. This is why it is a tax, and this is why it is an unfair tax.

This motion is a reasonable declaration of where we stand and what is practical for T.D.C. to do.

In voting in favour of this motion the Councillors joined the voices of concern from the Local Government Association, the National Housing Federation, the Chartered Institute of Housing and virtually every other respected national organisation in the field of housing and local government.   

 

This motion was not only about trying to mitigate some of the impact of this tax but also, as a progressive Council that takes its social responsibility seriously sending a strong message to the government against this damaging piece of legislation.

 

Cllr.Michelle Fenner

Cabinet Member on Thanet District Council

4^th October 2013

THANET DESTINATION MANAGEMENT PLAN

In 2012 VisitEngland bought out principles for developing Destination Management Plans and Thanet, under its new Labour administration, was the first authority in Kent to use these guidelines to deliver its district plan.

 

Thanet District Council engaged Blue Sail and Visit Kent to produce a plan as a work stream of the Thanet Regeneration Board and TDC Cabinet Member Cllr Iris Johnston has been overseeing the project at each and every step. The plan sets out the priorities for the next five years to help Thanet achieve its potential as a visitor destination.

 

At TDC tomorrow (Thursday 12th Sept) the Cabinet will be asked to approve the Thanet Destination Management Plan.

 

Among a wide range of objectives, the comprehensive draft Thanet Destination Management Plan before Cabinet tomorrow evening urges Thanet partners to ‘stimulate the environment to encourage investment in new quality visitor attractions, visitor experiences and places to stay’.

NEW HOTEL - MARGATE

 

KCC are today (Wednesday 11th Sept) proposing a hotel for the Rendezvous site on Margate seafront. The Rendezvous site was given to KCC by the former Conservative administration at TDC as Thanet's contribution to the Turner Contemporary project.

 

Generally speaking the hotel proposal from KCC is in line with the proposed Thanet Destination Management Plan, but it will be for KCC to obtain planning permission, access project funding and to create a hotel development that is acceptable to the people of Thanet and attractive to our future visitors.

Published by Thanet Labour Group Press Office. 44 Northdown Road, Margate, Kent, CT9 2RW.

INDEPENDENT & UKIP COUNCILLORS PATHETIC ATTEMPT AT POLITICAL PUBLICITY STUNT AND ALL AT THE RATEPAYERS EXPENSE

Despite obvious reservations, in the interests of openness and transparency TDC councillors agreed to debate two motions put forward by Independent and UKIP members on Tuesday evening (6^th August).

 

However, following the debate, the council quite rightly decided not to accept either motion and rejected them both, as the measures that were being called for had already been put in place by the council’s administration.

 

TDC Leader Cllr Clive Hart said “I’m afraid several Independent and UKIP councillors appear to have been duped into supporting the call for an extraordinary meeting of the council on Tuesday evening which was totally unnecessary.

 

There was nothing new proposed through the Independent / UKIP motions to council and Tuesday evenings extraordinary meeting of the council was a complete waste of ratepayer’s money.

 

Indeed, had the Independent and UKIP proposers spoken to me before submitting their motions I could have explained to them that the council is already meeting their expectations. This could have been done in just a few minutes over a quiet cup of tea. In any event, there was certainly nothing urgent discussed at Tuesday’s meeting that could not have been left until the next planned meeting of TDC.

 

Instead, many hours of leading officers, administrative staff and councillors time has been wasted staging what I believe was nothing more than an expensive publicity stunt for a few misinformed Independent and UKIP councillors who really should know better, and all at ratepayers expense.

 

It really was quite a pathetic and ridiculous state of affairs and although it took all five of the Independent and UKIP councillors to jointly call for the meeting, in the end, even those five failed to give both motions their full support. Worse still, through their intransigence, at one point all five actually voted for a motion which would have considerably weakened, not strengthened, existing financial management at the council." 

 

FACTUAL EXPLANATION:

 

ITEM 3a

 

Independent & UKIP motion to Council:

 

"That any debt owed to Thanet Council, including multiple debts owed by a single organisation and/or its subsidiaries, which exceeds £250,000 must be reported to a meeting of the Full Council along with a debt recovery plan at the earliest opportunity. Members of the Council will be entitled to ask questions about and comment on such debts".

 

Labour administration response: 

 

This was dealt with in paragraph 5.2 of the Budget Monitoring Report 2013/14 agreed at the last cabinet meeting on 1st August, which stated:

 

As the level of aged debt is an important indicator of the financial risk being carried by the Council it is proposed that the Financial Procedure Rules be amended to include the requirement to report to Council any debt owed by an organisation, or its subsidiaries, where it exceeds £150,000. The report will also include details of the debt recovery measures in place. Debt will only be reported after it has becomes 'aged', i.e. falls outside of the Council's standard payment terms of 90 days, to the next available ordinary council meeting.

(Note - the Independent / UKIP motion would have reduced existing monitoring procedures by £100,00).

PTO >

ITEM 3b

 

Independent & UKIP motion to Council:

 

"That all the documents, background papers, and e-mails related to Transeuropa Ferries debt to Thanet District Council be made available for inspection by Councillors within 10 working days of this decision being agreed by Council."

 

Labour administration response:  

 

This was dealt with through an email sent to all 56 councillors by the Monitoring Officer on 24th July, which stated:

 

Dear Councillor,

 

A request has been made by a Member to access the council’s records that form the 2012-13 accounts and associated items relating to the Transeuropa debt.

 

The Account and Audit regulations give all Members (and the public) the right to inspect and copy prime documents that are used in the formulation of the statement of accounts, and I am writing to remind you that the inspection period runs until 9 August 2013. If you would like to make an appointment to view any of the books of accounts, deeds, contract bills, vouchers and receipts relevant to the 2012/13 accounts please contact Sarah Martin for an appointment. 

 

In addition, the Transeuropa debt will be subject of an Overview and Scrutiny Working Party, where, in accordance with the Council’s constitution, requested background documentation will be made available to Members of the working party for review.  

 

Your sincerely

 

Harvey Patterson

 

Corporate & Regulatory Services Manager

WILL SCOBIE

Statement by Clive Hart - Labour TDC Leader.

I am delighted that South Thanet Labour have selected Will Scobie as our parliamentary candidate for the next general election.

Will joined us at TDC in 2011 and his drive and commitment helped Thanet Labour to secure an increased representation at district level.

As Mayor of Margate 2012 to 2013 he proved 'age prejudiced' doubters completely wrong and had an outstanding year as the towns civic head.

Despite his relative youth, Will has been active in politics for many years now and has worked in several high level political offices whilst studying for his Master's Degree in Politics.

I've known Will and his lovely family as friends for many years and I've enjoyed a hearty Saturday breakfast with him for the past few years. In addition to our District and Labour Party duties, we have a great deal in common. He's a fellow member of the Fabian Society and the Unite Trade Union and he works closely with my wife on numerous ward issues. He is also Chair of the Dane Valley Community First Panel on which my wife also sits. I know from personal experience that Will is a committed and articulate individual whose heart is absolutely in the right place.

Will is very much the future of our local party and he is going to be a formidable candidate for the next general election.

It's onwards and upwards for the Labour Party here in Thanet!

Cllr Clive Hart - TDC Leader. 

JOINT STATEMENT - TRANSEUROPA

When Labour took over the leadership of Thanet District Council in December 2011, we were advised of a commercially confidential arrangement that the previous Conservative regime had entered into in March that year with Transeuropa Ferries.

The company was struggling financially and Conservative-controlled TDC, together with the authorities at Ostend, had agreed to special payment terms in order to assist its survival.

In Thanet’s case this meant deferring the fees Transeuropa paid to berth at Ramsgate, initially for three months but subsequently for longer, and putting in place a payment plan that would have seen the outstanding debt recovered in full by 2014.

The purpose of this arrangement was to give every possible chance for the continuation of the ferry service at the port, and to protect both the jobs that depended on it and an important source of ongoing income for the council taxpayers of Thanet.

By the time Labour took over from the Conservatives, the ferry company already owed the council £1.7m, and the risk attached to this debt had become an additional consideration.

The council was in constant contact with the company and there were regular discussions internally about the potential financial implications of it going under.

If we had taken action to recover the money at that stage, for example by denying Transeuropa facilities at Ramsgate, this may well have tipped the firm into administration, leaving the existing debt unpaid and the port without its major customer.

It was also important that the council said nothing publicly that had potential to undermine commercial confidence in the company, as this may have had the same outcome.

Developments over the next year gave some cause for encouragement. In July 2012 the firm began making debt repayments. In November last year it reached agreement with an Italian investment company. And early in 2013 it added a third ship to the Ramsgate-Ostend service.

During this time the amount outstanding to the council increased to £3.3m, but the risk of the firm becoming insolvent appeared to be reducing.

It should be understood that if the council had adopted a hard line at any point then in all likelihood the ferry service would simply have ended earlier. The council would still not have had the £3.3m, as that level of debt would never have been incurred in the first place.

It is true that the council would have been able to make some savings at the port if the ferry company had failed earlier, but these are a fraction of the overall amount.

We take responsibility for the actions of the council since December 2011, but in our view, officers and elected members have done what they could to protect the best interests of the district in a very difficult situation.

The council will take whatever action is available to recover as much money as possible, but in the meantime we have to show in the 2012/13 accounts that we are able to cover the shortfall from existing resources and that is the purpose of the report to cabinet next week.

Cllr Clive Hart - Leader

Cllr Alan Poole - Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Operational Services

Cllr Rick Everitt - Cabinet Member for Finance

IMPETUOUS TORIES WERE SHAMEFUL

At item 12 of Thursday's AGM the council was asked to appoint councillors to represent TDC on various outside organisations and bodies, these are very privileged positions.

The Labour group did not feel in any way obliged to support the nomination of councillors who, over the past year, had seriously damaged the reputation of the council.

Therefore, following proper procedure, the Labour group nominated alternative councillors, as is our right.

Strangely, it is apparently legally in order for the Conservative Leader to appoint one of his councillors who has a drink-driving conviction to the council's own licensing committee and it is also clearly his prerogative to completely ignore calls for another of his councillors to apologise for making a nasty hate phone call. 

However, it is certainly not the duty of our Labour group to blindly support the nomination of any councillors in such circumstances.

It beggars belief that the Conservative group thought it was somehow the duty of all councillors to support their nominations, whatever behaviour those nominated may have exhibited during the past year. They clearly appear to believe these privileged positions are theirs of right, no matter what they do. 

So why then did the Conservative group, bar two, leave the Council Chamber on Thursday evening, half-way through the meeting?

The answer in short is: they threw a tantrum! In protest at two of their members having to cede their places on outside bodies to Labour members who had expressed an interest in them. 

The result of their walking out was that they were not present to debate the very important issue of community safety and action plan in partnership with the Police. 

It certainly is their duty to attend meetings to discuss and make decisions. Do the Conservatives not consider community safety to be a key issue?

Instead, prior to their departure, there was an unpleasant lecture from one of the offending councillors about their drink driving offence who shouted that 'it could happen to anyone of you'. 

This was offensive! Not only to the Labour councillors it was directed at, but also to the general public: drink and drive can kill! And it must not be trivialised.

Do the Conservative councillors not consider that the residents they represent would expect them to, at least, be present in the meeting when matters relating to anti-social behaviour, domestic violence, alcohol abuse, to name just a few, are being debated?

The truth of the matter is that they behaved like impetuous children.

KING GEORGE VI PARK RAMSGATE RETURNS TO NORMALI

The peace and quiet of the Park was disrupted on Wednesday 25th April when a convoy of caravans belonging to a group of travellers entered and occupied the upper piece of land without permission from TDC who are the legal owners of the land.

TDC immediately issued them notice to leave by Friday, which they failed to do.

TDC officers assessed the situation in the Park and on Fridaythey were preparing a Section 77 report in order to request an eviction notice from the Courts.

The 2 Ward Councillors, Cllr. Michelle Fenner and Cllr. Alan Poole, were in frequent contact with the Police and TDC officers. On Saturday morning they were made aware of an incident at the Park. On their arrival at the entrance of the Park they witnessed an ugly and distressing incident involving 3 male travellers threatening the owner of the Park kiosk. They immediately made an emergency call to the Police. A large contingent of Police officers arrived within a few minutes, led by Inspector David Collinson.

Using their legal power under Sections 61/62, the Police ordered the group of travellers to leave the Park immediately.

By 12 noon the Park was empty of caravans and returned to its normal activities of families walking, children playing, dog walkers exercising their pets.

Many thanks must be expressed to all the people who got involved and supported the Park users:

Many residents came forward to express their dismay.

The police were very prompt to respond to the threatening behaviour displayed by a group of travellers.

The Ward Councillors were there or in regular contact throughout and their prompt assessment of the incident enabled the quick response from the Police.

Cllr Michelle Fenner: “ the Park is very precious to all the residents of Ramsgate and over the years we have always been active, fighting tooth and nail to protect the Park against any threats”

TDC officers prepared the legal grounds for eviction and assisted in all matters relating to this unfortunate situation.

Cllr. Alan Poole: “ we have asked TDC officers to do everything they can  and as soon as possible to restore the Park to its natural beauty”

The Park is one of the jewels in the crown in Ramsgate and we urge all residents to go and enjoy it, and to be respectful of all other users.

Published by Thanet Labour Group Press Office

44 Norhdown Road

Margate

Kent

CT9 2RW

LIVE EXPORT 2013

By Cllr Michelle Fenner

 

Thanet District Council found itself in the unenviable position as owners of Ramsgate Port, being an open port, of having to allow the shipment of live animals from it by the owners of the mv Joline.

In July 2011 a motion from Labour Councillors calling on TDC to investigate all possible legal avenues to stop the shipments and calling for an 8 hours limit for total journey time was agreed unanimously by all, TDC Councillors, from all political parties.

When Labour gained control of TDC in December 2011 its new administration set up a committee comprising representatives of various organisations, including the RSPCA to share information relating to live exports out of Ramsgate Port.

This resulted in the decision taken to allow the RSPCA to inspect all the lorries transporting live animals as they came through the port. These inspections showed a number of infringements to the welfare of animals which were reported to Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency, a government agency charged with inspecting animal shipments through the Port.

The events which took place in September 2012 when lame animals had to be put down and several hundred having to be off-loaded from the lorries into the perimeter of the port highlighted the pitfalls of not having adequate facilities in Ramsgate Port to deal with emergency situations and the lack of a nearby lairage facility. This presented an element of danger to staff at the port, which TDC’s administration could not condone.

These events also lead Trading Standards from Kent County Council to conduct an investigation which also highlighted many breeches from the transporters.

TDC officers supported by Cabinet had no alternative but to suspend the live exports through Ramsgate Port on the grounds that it did not have the adequate facilities and did not wish to spend huge amounts of money on providing such facilities.

The message from TDC to the transporters of live animals was always unequivocal; we are not happy about this barbaric trade using our port.

The transporters whose main purpose is to have a profitable trade took TDC to Court against its suspension of shipments and to claim compensations.

As a Local Authority we would have expected some support or at least some kind of neutrality from DEFRA as a government agency. But DEFRA did not support TDC in spite of the many representations made to them by many organisations and Elected Members.

Their argument at the time was that there were adequate lairage facilities nearby to deal with emergency situations.

Nonetheless, they decided to review their procedures for the inspection of lorries and loading of animals. It is now a requirement that every vehicle is inspected. This begs the question: if everything was supposed to be adequate why did they feel the need to make changes to their procedures?

The first set of Court hearings led to TDC having to lift its suspension on the use of Ramsgate Port, through lack of support from DEFRA.

The shipments resumed in November 2012 but TDC stood firm and still insisted on RSPCA being present at the port to make sure any infringements were noted and reported.

This whole situation and its many developments have no doubt had the effect of making it more difficult for the transporters to operate out of Ramsgate Port and it is not entirely surprising that they have been active in the last few weeks in trying out new berthing facilities in Dover Port.

The fact that live exports might move to another port is obviously not a perfect situation but it is a measure of the difficulties encountered by transporters who would have had to expend some of their profits on making alterations to the mv Joline in order to be able to use the newly re-furbished berth in Dover.

The current situation is that the transporters tried to get their legal costs paid for by TDC. The sum they were seeking was £125K. 

The Court decided that they should be reduced to £80K. The compensation claim will be going to Court probably around March 2014 but there is no guarantee for the transporters that they will be successful. Indeed TDC is making a strong case against that, particularly in view of the Trading Standards investigation.

There are situations where decisions have to be made in which a balance has to be struck between the moral duty to take action and the potential legal costs. TDC took the view that judging by the unanimous support of all TDC Councillors and the response from the general public, it had to impose a suspension of the shipments of live exports. We took legal advice all the way along and we continue to manage the situation in order to minimise costs and protect our legal position.

We are aware that in the meantime the RSPCA entered into Court proceedings and we are grateful to them for raising public awareness and concern against live exports. Regrettably, as a Local Authority we were not able to assist them directly in their Court case. That does not mean to say that we are colluding in any way with DEFRA who has shown little inclination to resolve this issue.

We know this problem is not going to go away easily and quickly and it is important to keep a united front of all like minded people, with each organisation playing its part in any way it can.

There is no doubt that this problem requires an answer that lays squarely with the UK Government in making sure that DEFRA and AHVLA adhere strictly to the conditions laid out clearly in the EU Regulation 1/2005 regarding the transport of live animals through the Member States.

 

Published by Thanet Labour Group Press Office, 44 Northdown Road, Margate, Kent, CT9 2RW.

EQUALITY POLICY

'I was pleased to be presenting the Equality Policy and Action Plan to Cabinet this evening, so that the public consultation process could be started with the wide Thanet community.

For me, it is a matter of moral and political duty to challenge and fight against prejudice and discrimination.

In the current economic climate, it is anticipated that residents will turn towards Thanet District Council in situations of difficulty and it is paramount that they are all treated in total fairness with dignity and respect.

I feel privileged to be able to uphold these principles within a policy document and I believe that Thanet District Council has an important role to play in championing the Equalities and Diversity agenda not only within the Council for its service users and staff but also in the wider Thanet community and its many residents groups.

I am grateful that in my Cabinet post I am supported by the Member Lead for Equality and Inclusion, Cllr. John Worrow, who contributed to the Cabinet debate this evening.” Gone are the days when a local government equality policy was just about ticking the right boxes and talking the talk. Thanks to people like Cllr. Michelle Fenner we are starting to walk the walk. It is encouraging to work with someone who genuinely understands what true equality means.”

The public consultation will enable comments on the policy itself and the action plan.

I expect, upon return to Cabinet, post-consultation, in June that the action plan will have more entries, reflecting feedback received from consultees.

I also expect both documents to be regularly updated and always considered as work in progress.

Equality can never be static and I urge all members of the Thanet community to take part in the public consultation'.

 

Cllr. Michelle Fenner, Cabinet member.

The public consultation will take place between from 2nd to 30th April 2013.

STATEMENT IN RESPONSE TO Cllr IAN DRIVER

I want to make it very clear that Cllr Driver is ABSOLUTELY WRONG in his assumption that I/we have in any way tried to have his group remove him as the Chair of Scrutiny.

Indeed, understanding the recent stresses within their group, in any conversation I have had recently with his Thanet Independent Group colleagues I have urged them to do all they can to to try to keep Cllr Driver in their group and as the Chair of Scrutiny.

This statement is absolutely factual - please feel free to check these facts with Cllr Driver's two group colleagues.

Cllr Clive Hart - Labour Leader of TDC

LEADER'S REPORT TO COUNCIL

My Leader's Report 06/12/12

THE PAST YEAR AT TDC.

Cllr Clive Hart - TDC Leader

Firstly, the latest changes to Cabinet portfolios maintain our key objective for each Cabinet Member to work with one dedicated Director thereby avoiding the expensive duplication of work for officers we inherited a year ago.

These changes also supplement our decision for Cabinet members to no longer sit on their own Cabinet Advisory Groups, the Chairman’s decision to introduce inclusive council agenda pre-meetings and the Chief Executive’s decision to introduce regular joint group leader briefings.

Delivering local services through our balanced budget is important and I was pleased to read the recent Auditors letter which said TDC 'has a good understanding of its underlying financial position & sound financial systems'. It went on to confirm TDC 'continues to demonstrate effective arrangements for budget & financial management'.

I’ve recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the East Kent Chamber of Commerce on behalf of TDC. This underpins our now more open and transparent Thanet Regeneration Board and both the board and the EKCC helped us to complete Phase One of our Draft Economic Strategy. All this comes of course in the wake of our newly formulated and agreed TDC Corporate Plan.

On Monday I witnessed Thanet’s civic dignitaries signing of our Thanet Armed Services Community Covenant. We will always endeavour to work closely with residents from all walks of life.  In particular, in our town centres regular meetings are now held with Ramsgate groups, they have commenced with Broadstairs groups and organising the same type of regular meetings with groups in the Margate area will be a priority project for 2013. We also made improvements to our TDC resident’s petition scheme earlier this year.

That support for local residents continues with a new council tax discount scheme that thanks to our administration will protect as many people as possible given the impossible and ever-changing financial context imposed by central govt.

The Troubled Families Initiative process is now being planned in partnership with KCC. Our Chief Executive is fully engaged with this process and Thanet is well ahead of other districts in relation to this type of work now that the Margate Task Force is finally and properly co-located in TDC offices providing a multi-agency approach.

 

We have recently successfully defended the Judicial Review for our Selective Licensing Scheme. I have to say our legal team really have been hard at work for the benefit of our area this past year. They were successful with the first round of our CPO of Dreamland and at every stage they have supported our moves to do the ‘right thing’ with regard to live animal exports. We will continue to take a proactive and progressive role in challenging and addressing problems arising from actions of third parties.

 

I recently attended the KLM/Manston announcement in Canterbury and warmly welcomed the proposed services that fall within the existing 106 agreement. Earlier this year we brought the night flying consultation in-house saving tens of thousands of pounds and gave the council’s considered response to night-flying proposals.

 

The Ramsgate Swimming Pool project is well underway.  Plans were agreed earlier in the year and I can report the project is on target for completion summer next year.

 

Upgrade of the Port & Harbour Master Plan is on-going, works have started on Military Road Arches under the Yacht Valley Interreg project and the Harbour Lights café is due to open for business shortly. These improvements follow work where the Pier Yard ramp was overhauled and the King George historic section pontoons were all refurbished. The Commercial Quay was also fitted with new steel boarding ladders, new heavy duty fenders and new shore power electrical equipment.

 

I’m pleased to report the Margate flood defence scheme funded by Environment Agency is well underway and due for completion early in new-year. Being delivered well under budget has allowed allocation of Environment Agency funding to other structures related to flood defence in Margate, including refurbishment of the tidal pool.

Phase One of the Newington Development is complete. We have accessed £4 million funding for empty homes projects and further funding to help with 30 more properties.

 

Refurbishment of Pierremont Hall in Broadstairs has started. This is particularly pleasing as earlier in the year we saved and protected public open green space in Pierremont Park, as we did in Hartsdown Park, Margate.

 

A Townscape Heritage Initiative scheme in Dalby Square in Cliftonville has commenced and the Ramsgate Townscape Heritage Initiative has been completed.

 

Solar Panels have now been installed on the main council office building, two public toilet facilities have been renovated at Ramsgate Cemetery and Minnis bay and the drainage scheme at Northdown Park and Coach House in Cliftonville should shortly be completed.

 

The Cremator Manufacturer and Building Contractor have been appointed and the crematorium project to replace burners and undertake refurbishment is on target to be completed by Christmas.

 

I’m pleased to report that the Kent Innovation Centre has over achieved on income against budget forecast and Forresters Hall, Ramsgate is now fully occupied after being almost empty.

 

We’ve had a successful start to the Respect Ramsgate town centre street cleaning project with excellent feedback from residents and businesses and I look forward to seeing similar schemes rolling out across the district. Numerous cleansweeps have taken place across the district and the project to deliver the new waste and recycling collection arrangements for the district is on track for completion in autumn 2013.

STOP PRESS - At this point I have some very good news.

 

I’m reliably informed that we have this very week accessed just under £1million funding to enable the council to improve the service provided to our 10,000 more difficult to service households in relation to refuse collection.

 

The recent Thanet Sports Awards event was the biggest ever due to our community involvement in many sports across the district. Sport for Energy and the Kick Out Racism project are two examples.

 

In November, Thanet’s Visitor Information Centre was awarded gold for being Tourist Information Service of the Year. Success indeed!

 

But what a fantastic ‘product’ they had to promote?  In addition to our beautiful beaches and growing facilities, we had TDC’s successful organisation of Olympic Torch Relay, the successful introduction of the RNLI lifeguards to our beaches, the successful introduction of new seaweed control measures, the successful introduction of a Hygiene Rating Scheme, the successful opening of the Ramsgate Maritime Museum working with the Steam Museum Trust and we saved the Theatre Royal in Margate from closure.

 

Just for good measure, we were awarded more blue flags for our beaches than any other area in the country. Footfall in our visitor centre was up on last year, tourism internet visits were the highest number ever and numerous public events were supported through our new open and transparent events funding scheme.

 

Lastly, our towns were also blessed with gorgeous floral displays throughout the summer months and Sundowner; Ramsgate’s famous Dunkirk Little Ship represented the town and our district, taking part in the Queens Diamond Jubilee Pageant on the Thames.

 

That last small but significant matter sums up in a very visual way, the larger changes to this council during our past year in control.

 

Under the previous administration, despite far easier financial circumstances, Sundowner sat miserably deserted, high and dry on the harbour dock opposite a boarded up and neglected Maritime Museum whilst hundreds of other craft re-enacted the historic crossing to France.

 

Under this administration, despite far more difficult financial circumstances, Sundowner waved goodbye to a rejuvenated Maritime Museum and proudly set sail up the Thames with the finest vessels in the land for our Queen and country! 

OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY

OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY PANEL 23rd OCTOBER

INTRODUCTION - ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY

TDC Leader - Cllr Clive Hart

"Setting the Direction for Economic Growth in Thanet is phase One of the council’s three-phase approach to developing our local economy.

 

Phase One: Setting the Direction. This is the actual consultation document in front of us this evening. This document recognises the nature of the Thanet economy and sets out a strategic vision for developing the area’s potential.

 

Recognising the key issues facing our economy, this document proposes a vision and strategic direction that could realise our full potential.  It summarises the economic context of Thanet, identifies the sectors of the economy that are important to Thanet or have the potential to deliver growth and outlines the areas where support is required to help business of any size and in any sector prosper in Thanet.

 

Statistical information – such as population and age figures – set the backdrop for the document. This information is further complemented by details of Thanet’s natural and historical assets – including the area’s maritime heritage.

 

All areas of economic activity are covered by the document – including health, arts, construction, financial and scientific – among others. And there is particular reference made to the ‘green’ economy.

 

Other factors, such as gross weekly wages, housing and unemployment are also covered.

 

The document outlines the areas of the economy in most need of support, and also identifies employment sectors where growth is expected in future.

 

Support for the visitor economy and green industries form pivotal points in the initial, Phase One document, which highlights the success of Ramsgate as a centre for offshore wind energy.

 

Phase Two: Understanding the Opportunities.

Will translate the strategic direction into detailed actions and policies we need to fully understand the requirements of businesses, the opportunities that exist and what we need to do to capture them.  The consultation process is part of this phase.

 

Phase Two will build upon feedback from the first phase and influence the dialogue of all those engaged in economic growth.

 

Phase Three: Action and Policy.

Reactions to the priorities put forward in the consultation document, and feedback from those directly involved in industry through the engagement process, will be used to inform the development of specific actions and influence other policies to make sure we capture the opportunities that are available.

 

Phase Three will bring together all strands of employment expertise to produce a shared delivery plan which will help unlock growth and prosperity.

 

Thanet’s local economy is driven by many complex factors, and there are often strong links between seemingly disparate sectors. Therefore our approach to economic growth is phased, because that enables us to develop economic growth through an intelligent methodology.

 

Most importantly, the phase one document we are discussing tonight is a firm basis for discussion but is certainly NOT the completed strategy.

 

Our aim is to have the most inclusive process possible and thereby to produce the very best strategy possible. We are a genuinely inclusive administration and we want to encourage contributions from all stakeholders to inform our process.

 

Our administration most certainly has a very INCLUSIVE approach to Economic Development for Thanet. With this in mind we are very pleased to have a Thanet Regeneration Board helping to advise and support our TDC strategy.

 

The Thanet Regeneration Board is a partnership brought together by Thanet District Council. Its aim is to collaborate to ADVISE, support and deliver jobs and skills across Thanet. Several members were appointed to the board before we took control of the council and we will work with all board members for the benefit of Thanet.

 

This joint approach brings together national, regional and local best practice, experience and expertise to benefit Thanet residents and visitors.

 

The Board, meeting quarterly, is supported by officers from Thanet District Council. The first chair is the former Chief Executive of SEEDA (South East England Development Agency), Pam Alexander.

 

I’m pleased to learn only today that through our targeted and focussed consultation we have also had our phased approach generally endorsed by a group of our major employers here in Thanet.

 

I’d like to thank Rob Hetherington for all his work on this strategy. Rob started with the council in the same week I became leader and I know he’s been immersed in this process from that time.

 

Chairman, to make this strategy happen, we need to fully understand the requirements of businesses, the opportunities that exist and what we and our partners need to do to deliver those opportunities for Thanet".

 

Cllr Clive Hart - TDC Leader.

Published by Thanet Labour Group Press Office, 44 Northdown Road, Margate, Kent, CT9 2RW.