28 January 2005

CANTERBURY FOR BUSINESS – MINUTES
FRIDAY 28 JANUARY – 8am – 11am
GARDEN ROOM, THE PRIORY, CHRIST CHURCH COLLEGE

1. Apologies
   Ron Donmall.
   
   Michael spoke to the Board expressing their loss in Penny leaving the council. Penny had worked very hard in setting up and pursuing the Partnership, she will be a hard act to follow.
2. Notes of the last meeting
   
   All agreed.
3. Canterbury District Business Week
   
   
   1. Pete Bunn sends his apologies.
      
      Penny spoke to the Board on the Business Week, which comprises
      
      Monday – Young Enterprise Finals – C4B are giving a prize.
      
      Tuesday – Whitstable Fair and Fashion Show in the evening.
      
      Wednesday – Herne Bay Businesses On Line Day.
      Evening - C4B dinner.
      
      Thursday pm – Meet the Buyer Event at the Westgate Hall.
      
      Friday all day – Meet the Buyer Event at the Westgate Hall.
      
      A promotional flyer will be given out to the Board when ready. Business Life have run an advert, Kent Business do a ¼ page but will do a double page spread nearer the event. It is also advertised on the Canterbury City Council website.
      
      There will be posters and adverts on buses, banners in all three towns and radio coverage.
      
      Tony from Business Link is to liaise with Pete to follow up advertising, for the event.
      
      Sharon to phone Hilary from Business to Business who does our administration for the event to check on how exhibitor stands are selling. So far eight stands have been sold and they have got 17 leads to follow up, there are seven buyers. Staffing of the C4B stand at the events to be organised. Sharon to send round a spreadsheet of times and cover needed.
      
      
   2. C4B Dinner
      
      We can seat 180 people in the Darwin Suite, 18 tables of 10.
      
      It will be arranged in one large open plan room to include a cash bar and the drinks reception area. Speeches are to be done before dinner.
      
      The website can be up and running giving a live demonstration, Fiona and Clive are working on it.
      
   3. It was decided that we need topics to discuss at dinner. Briefing notes to be prepared – all facts and figures up to date – be clear of C4B’s new message.
      
      Michael is due to meet new board members – he suggested that he gets ideas from them.
      
      Business and Education – the link between them needs to be better.
      
      The Placements at Work Scheme is very important regarding education, it needs to happen, but there is not enough awareness about this, it needs to be pushed forward.
      
      The dinner is an ideal time to promote and increase people’s knowledge about C4B.
      
      We need to remind ourselves of the projects that we are undertaking to do. Phil is going to e-mail round to the Board for any comments.
      
      The A2 slips, CTRL and Local Plan are all current on-going issues – the Board must still support them, they are still live topics.
      
      
4. Community Chest
   
   Kevin addressed the Board; he would like to thank Sue Nyirenda, from Canterbury City Council. He is due to meet her again to go over everything.
   
   Kevin explained about the community chest and how it worked.
   
   Contributions were from businesses and charities.
   
   The C4B Chest would aim at other areas deserving of funding but not entitled to it under the present scheme.
   
   An assessment panel already exists, so could continue with Kevin, Eileen and Peter, the sub-group. £10,000 has been awarded but it must be spent by March 2005.
   
   It was agreed that the criteria needs to be much wider, and CAB needs to define it as soon as possible.
   
   Michael suggested some projects the Board all agreed in favour of, the first was a sticker placed on the front door of somebody elderly or poorly and it would lead a medic ambulance man/lady to look in the fridge for a cup that contained a note with any medication needed –“file in the fridge”. Another was a BMX track being set up, it is due to become an Olympic sport – however the Board were not so keen on this venture; plenty of other worthwhile causes.
   
   Ian suggested a project – Canterbury and Whitstable businesses against crime to promote safer businesses, using radios – better links between groups. Figures out show it is working; however crime has been pushed to Herne Bay. Need to set it moving there, money could be well spent helping with more radios.
   
   The admin support is from Canterbury City Council, it already exists so ongoing. The board agreed that they would like to rename the community chest – a fresh start – Clive to action.
   
   The ASP project deadline is 28 January, Michael to speak to Janet Waghorn (East Kent Partnership Director) about submitting a late bid.
   
   
5. Economic Strategy - Update
   
   C4B adopted the Canterbury Economic Strategy – the action plan supports the strategy.
   
   Each sub-group needs to work through it and update their bit!! It needs reviewing – annually, (its now overdue).
   
   There are fewer actions, so could be condensed down. The Community Strategy is being revised and the Economic Strategy feeds into it. Michael needs to report progress to the next LSP meeting in March.
   
   The deadline for each sub-group leader is by the next meeting – 11 March.
   
   
6. Budget update
   
   Penny handed out a sheet to the Board giving an estimate of the expenditure. Some concerns were over the high advertising costs of Kent Business, but mixed views. It was agreed money well spent! A lot has been achieved from the advertising it was used to reach Kent County Council and areas outside the district, to put the word across. The Board are taken very seriously and news of there achievements in the paper helps.
   
   One suggestion was to share a quarter page, maybe with the university. Phil is going to look into costs.
   It was agreed to revise the budget to highlight the estimated in-kind contributions of the public sector.
   
   
7. Seeda/GOSE meeting – UKC 31 March 2pm – 5pm, to be held in the senate building, Committee room one
   
   A meeting has been set up with Pam Alexander, Chief Executive of Seeda and Mark Bilsborough from GOSE.
   
   Clive is to give a presentation at the meeting.
   
   
8. Sub Groups
   
   
   1. Learning and Skills
      Jan spoke to the Board, £2,500 has been granted by GOSE to support work experience pilot for St Anselm’s school. There is an opportunity to gain accreditation (GCSE equivalent) for the work placements, costing approx £4,000. GOSE have agreed to provide funding for this project.
      
      
   2. Serving the Local Economy
      Clive gave a run down on the Canterbury Business Fair –
      So far 40 stands are taken by BNI,
      6 have been allocated,
      3 by CCC, C4B and Reeves and Neylan,
      19 are leads, which Tim and Hilary are to follow up!!
      There are 15 Full Seminars to run, BNI are arranging.
      Canterbury City Council are to take a place as a Buyer!! they have been contacted.
      The C4B, web site is being designed by Simon Edrigde, the aim is to have it up and running at C4B’s dinner in March.
      
      
   3. Quality of Life
      Kevin talked to the Board about the Community Chest, as previously mentioned.
      
      
   4. Infrastructure
      Michael spoke about the A2 slips, they are now put in a priority order being -
      Wincheap,
      Harbledown,
      Bridge.
      The board need to agree with this, at this stage. There was some concern about Barton Business Park, ie that the Bridge slip was the last priority on the list, but it was agreed that contributions would come in from Developers, regarding the Park.
      
      
9. Chairman’s Update
   No additional updates.
   
   
10. Any Other Business
    
    
    • Pfizer cut backs were mentioned – 400 job losses, it will have an impact on the District, however it was worldwide and spread over three years.
    • Monday 14^th March – Young Enterprise Finals, in need of a judge from C4B, preferably a female, 5 – 8.30pm. Fiona volunteered to be a judge, many thanks to her.
    • SEERA, (South East England Regional Assembly) are producing a South East Plan, which is out to public consultation, 24th Jan – 15^th April. There is to be a public meeting on the 25^th Feb at the Guildhall, 7pm where SEERA will be giving a presentation and answering questions, on the draft plan.
    • Montgomery School – this is a hot topic. Phil Davies declared an interest and withdrew from the meeting at this stage. The LSP have agreed that they will try to assist.
      Michael met with KCC Cllr Leyland Ridings – they have agreed that they will not give up on the school, but big changes are needed.
      
      
11. Agenda and date of future meetings
    
    Friday 11th March, 8 – 11am, at the Abbots Barton Hotel, Canterbury.
    Friday 22nd April, 8 – 11am. Venue TBA.