06 July 2007

• Paul Barrett (Chairman)
• Dawn Hudd (Local Economy Manager, Canterbury City Council)
• Paul Spree (Local Economy Support Officer, Canterbury City Council)
• Michael Head (Crown Products)
• Jonathan Watts (Managing Director, Lenleys) & (Vice C4B Chairman)
• Eileen Hargreaves (Voluntary Sector)
• Jim Pace (G W Finn & Sons)
• George Wilson (Managing Director, George Wilson Holdings)
• Mark Isom (Director, D Isom Printers)
• Janice Sandwell (enterprise manager, Business Link Kent)
• Ron Donmall (Technology Enterprise Kent)
• Mark Woolard (Whitstable Chamber of Commerce)
• Jan Thornby (Kent Works)

• Clive Relf (Tax Partner, Reeves & Neylan)
• Caroline Hadlow (Canterbury College)
• Colin Carmichael (Chief Executive, Canterbury City Council)
• Jan Druker (Senior Pro-Vice Chancellor, Canterbury Christ Church University)
• Peter Hawkes (Furley Page)
• Amy Austin (Kent Works)
• Denise Everittt (University of Kent)

• As above
• Councillors - Leaders of the 3 groups
• Local Chambers of Commerce
• Website, once approved by the board.

The Chairman attended a meeting at the City Councils on employment land issues and what would happen if Little Barton Farm were not delivered. The Council is currently undertaking a project to look at existing employment land allocations and to identify pockets of land not currently allocated for potential development. The project will also look at what could be done at Little Barton Farm with the current road infrastructure. The Chairman discussed the Local Development Framework (LDF) with the board. Michael is also involved with the meetings looking at the Little Barton Farm site.

The Chairman also referred back to the C4B workshop, which associates fed back ideas to Canterbury City Councils Corporate Plan, and discussed the Eurostar presentation that was held at the Abbots Barton Hotel.

The Chairman stated that he would like an update on the Council's regeneration projects at the next board meeting.

Local Strategic Partnership: The chairman informed the group about the Young Peoples LSP initiative, Smoke free legislation and the Council led scheme called Active Canterbury which will focus on bringing all the sporting bodies in the Canterbury district together to act as one voice.

East Kent Partnership: Michael informed the Board that he did not have an update for the board.

Major projects: Michael Head

Michael informed the Board that a new approach was needed with this project. Lee Herrington at KCC had been challenged with the delivering of the slip roads in Canterbury however there has been a change of roles at KCC and George Chandler who has been heavily involved to date is no longer responsible. Michael said that Canterbury City Council should request KCC to provide detailed plans for the slip roads, as it could be that the plans are not being worked on and we do not have access to the plans. People have lost concentration on slip 1 and now focus on slip 2.

Action: Chairman or Dawn to chase the drawings. Chairman to write to Colin Carmichael to request them from KCC.

Chamber of Commerce - Peter Hawkes:
No update as Peter was absent from the meeting.

Education & Skills; Bob Jones in place of Jan Druker:

Report circulated. Bob informed the board that Hall Place would host the launch of the C4B Business Training and Skills register on the 18th July, Bob explained the project to the group and the assistance of two Spanish business graduates who have helped to deliver the database behind the register. Jonathan will attend the event as vice chair. The Chairman said that this was an opportunity to look at boosting the traffic to the C4B website. The Chairman also asked if there was an opportunity for an educational establishment to maintain the site, this was discussed but would be difficult as the site is aprt of C4B's main site and is not stand alone.

Michael also updated the board with reference to the Spires Academy due to be reopened on the 1st September. The Academy will be partnered with the Marlowe Academy in Ramsgate.

Enterprise - Dawn Hudd:

Report circulated. Dawn informed the group that the group are currently working on the Support4Business business mentoring project. Four responses have been received from associates so far and a follow up email would be sent next week to encourage response. Jonathan raised the issue that Danny Cooper wanted to drop the word mentor, which Dawn responded to. The Chairman felt that the word mentor could deter businesses, which the group then discussed although a suitable alternative did not emerge.

Action: Janice to send Dawn papers on their mentor project.

Eileen asked Janice about the difference between this project and Princes Trust. Bob clarified the situation on mentors, which settled the minds of the board.

Dawn then updated the board on the graduate enterprise event, which Lorna Collins from the Flying Start Programme is giving assistance on, this will be funded mostly by SEEDA. A project scope was been written by the Enterprise project group that mirrors the Flying Start programme. It is hoped that the event will be held on Thursday 15 November during Enterprise Week.

Environment - Clive Relf:

Clive was absent from the meeting but provided a written project report. The report detailed that the last meeting was positive. Peter Scutt is looking to expand Whitefriars recycling project within Canterbury. Jonathan is getting a cardboard bailer, which formed a discussion upon the possibility of businesses sharing facilities. George to investigate how business parks organise recycling and identify potential projects. Herne Bay Town Partners are entering Environment Town awards and looking at recycling litterbins on the streets.

Local Economy & Business Events - Dawn Hudd:

Report circulated. Dawn advised that the EBN Congress had worked well in the city and proved that Canterbury could host major conferences. New associates had been signed up at the recent Kent Invicta B2B event at the Ashford International Hotel. In addition the recent exercise to promote C4B for the Tour De France with T-shirts was well received with the whole allocation being taken by businesses in the city.

Dawn also advised that the Local Economy team would be having a stand at the Kent On Sunday "Kent's future" tent at the Kent County Show, 13-15 July, Detling. Dawn asked George for some marketing material to help promote Lakesview

A stand alone event to attract new associates would be looked at to present what we do, Mark supported this idea.

Marketing - Jonathan Watts:

Report circulated. Jonathan updated the Board as to the main thrust of the groups activity i.e. to keep a fresh and alive website. The group will work on news stories and managing SEA principles, dates and timescales. The Chairman is meeting with SEA on a new approach to the Blog looking at controversial themes. TDF and smoking legislation could make good themes. Jonathan said that to much talking about topics takes the edge off of any topic.

Michael then spoke about an article in the Kentish Gazette by Richard Scase, as this put a bad spin on Canterbury's achievements. This could be used for the Blog to answer. The Chairman encouraged Michael to put a response in the paper.

Jonathan then informed the group that SEA would be making amendments to the Blog to make it look more like other popular Blogs. The Chairman asked Jonathan not to run with the Tour De France on the Blog, as Barretts was a named sponsor.

Olympics - Paul Barrett:

The Chairman reported that there had been a good meeting and ex Olympian athlete and motivational speaker Ian Wynne had joined the group. Stephanie Holt also gave a presentation and will report again at the next meeting.

AOB.

none

Date of next meeting

Friday 7th Sept 7.45am, Location TBC