Resolved:  That Cllr Collins be appointed Chairman of the Advisory Committee for 2019/20.

Resolved:  That Cllr Pett be appointed Vice Chairman of the Advisory Committee for 2019/20.

To agree the minutes of the meeting of the former Economic and Community Development Advisory Committee held on 5 March 2019, as a correct record.

Resolved: That the Minutes of the meeting of the former Economic & Community Development Advisory Committee held on 5 March 2019 be approved and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

Any interest not already registered.

There were no additional declarations of interest made.

There were none.

The Portfolio Holder, and Chairman advised Members that work was progessing on Whiteoak Leisure and there would be a Members’ briefing session soon on the finalised plans with changes made since the initial presentation given when first drawn up as a result of the feedback from the community engagement sessions.   Feedback had largely been on the lack of badminton provision and swimming pool spectator seating.

There were none.

With the agreement of the Committee, the Chairman brought forward consideration of agenda items 9 and 10.

The Chairman welcomed Lord Colgrain DL to the meeting.  The People & Places Portfolio Holder advised the Committee that he had kindly agreed to speak to the Committee on the work of the House of Lords (HL) Select Committee on the Rural Economy. 

Lord Colgrain DL, addressed the Committee advising of the membership and background of the members of the Select Committee and the work involved in the production of ‘Time for a strategy for the rural economy’ which was published on 27 April 2019, HL Paper 330.  The report set out a range of recommendations across different policy areas to tackle the challenges facing the rural economy and highlighted the large discrepancies between Urban and Rural Economies.  Rural Economies were in good health, they had different drivers, priorities and needs, and were not worse off than Urban.  The Committee believed that a comprehensive rural strategy was needed and the Government needed to rethink and reform the rural proofing process to ensure that relevant policies and legislation were attuned to the needs of rural communities and rural economies with a mechanism to ensure local delivery using a place-based approach. Which should include effective partnership working from all relevant public, private and voluntary bodies, driven by the nature of each local area and with active community participation.

Information on the Shared Prosperity Fund was opaque and more was required as soon as possible to enable rural businesses and communities to begin planning for the future.

Lord Colgrain highlighted a few headliners of the report and Members took the opportunity to ask questions.

The Chairman thanked Lord Colgrain for attending and the Committee joined her in showing their appreciation.

Resolved:  That the report be noted.

The Chairman welcomed Louisa Mungall, Destination Manager - Partnerships & Skills, and Ruby Russ Research, Development Coordinator from Visit Kent who gave a presentation on tourism and its value to the Sevenoaks economy and tabled an additional document with a further breakdown on the Sevenoaks District visitor economy.

Members took the opportunity to ask questions and as part of their responses Visit Kent referred them to the Cambridge Model Economic Impact Study – Sevenoaks District, Cambridge Model Economic Impact Study Infographic – Sevenoaks District, Cambridge Model Economic Impact Study – Kent County, and Business Barometer reports.

The Chairman thanked Louisa and Ruby for attending.

Resolved:  That the report be noted.

Members received a presentationand report advising them as to the role of the Committee and the areas of responsibility including the key issues and challenges facing those areas, and took the opportunity to ask questions of clarification.

Resolved:  That the report be noted.

The Community Safety Manager presented the report and gave a presentation highlighting the work of the Community Safety Partnership throughout 2018-19.

Resolved:  That the report be noted and recommended to Cabinet.

Members were advised that there would be an update on Whiteoak Leisure Centre at the next meeting.  In December, there would be three monitoring reports on the Community Plan, the Community Safety Plan and the Economic & Community Development Plan.