The Economic Development Strategy sets out an extensive action plan to be delivered in conjunction with partner organisations.  The majority of actions are expected to be completed by the end of 2018.  However it is recognised that this strategy has a number of ongoing activities and will need to evolve to fit economic conditions and external changes during the strategy lifetime. 

Members considered the economic development strategy action plan monitoring which had been circulated after the agenda publication but before the meeting, that gave further monitoring information.  The majority of the actions remained on target for delivery during the lifetime of the strategy.

In response to a question, the Economic Development Officer confirmed that there was an error with Strategic Objective 3.4, which would be reviewed and amended to reflect that the expansion of Darenth Car Park in Westerham was taking place. 

Members welcomed the inclusion of Swanley Station in the Transport for London Zone 8 with Oyster card system, however it was felt that Zone 6 or 7 would be more appropriate.  It was therefore moved by Cllr. Scott, duly seconded and carried that Officers be requested to challenge South Eastern to review their decision to only make Swanley Zone 8, rather than 6 or 7.

The issue of a skills training gap - lack of appropriate training /higher education providers within the District, and employers not being able to recruit locally as a result, was discussed as something that needed to be addressed within the Strategy.  Creative thinking was needed as to how to open up opportunities for the provision/access to appropriate training, learning progression routes, whether by traditional methods or remote learning facilities.

Action 2: Officers work with Cllr. Maskell to get the right conceptualisation within the Strategy.

The Chief Officer Communities and Business, updated Members on the master planning for Swanley.  1,200 plus people had attended the recent Masterplan consultations in Swanley and Hextable. 

It was important that this Advisory Committee was aware of the work but many of the necessary decisions wold fall to the Planning Advisory or Policy & Performance Advisory Committee.  There was a small officer working group working on reporting back to residents.  A newsletter was being produced at the beginning of April 2016, as it was important that residents were aware of decisions such as the demolition of the former Working Men’s Club and CAB buildings on the High Street.

The Regeneration Advisor advised that the team would be looking at better ways of articulating the economic development strategy, and working at being more successful in funding bids from the South East Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), as one of only 14 Councils that was yet to be successful.

Public Sector Equality Duty

Members noted that consideration had been given to impacts under the Public Sector Equality Duty.

Resolved:  That

i)          Officers be requested to challenge South Eastern to review their decision to only make Swanley Zone 8, rather than 6 or 7; and

ii)        the progress made on delivering the Economic Development Strategy and its associated action plan, be noted.