27 October 2006

• Paul Barrett (Chairman)
• Ian Mazerolle (Vice Chair)
• Eileen Hargreaves (Voluntary Sector)
• Michael Head (Crown Products)
• Denise Everitt (Director of Finance, University of Kent)
• George Wilson (Managing Director, George Wilson Holdings)
• Nick Churchill (Economic Development Officer, Canterbury City Council)
• Dawn Hudd (Local Economy Manager, Canterbury City Council)
• Colin Carmichael (Chief Executive, Canterbury City Council)
• Tony Bartlett (Enterprise Development Manager, Business Link Kent)
• Peter Hawkes (Director, Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce)

• Clive Relf (Tax Partner, Reeves & Neylan)
• Jonathan Watts (Managing Director, Lenleys)
• Jan Thornby (Kent Works)
• Jan Druker (Senior Pro-Vice Chancellor, Canterbury Christ Church University)
• Amy Austin (Kent Works)
• Ron Donmall (Advisor, Technology Enterprise Kent)

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

Paul offered his thanks to those organising the recent Canterbury Festival evening event held at Reeves and Neylan on 23 October.

The Chairman had also attended a recent 'Buying Greener in the South East' event in Ashford. He advised that via the C4B website, local businesses should have access to information and advice on which organisations to approach to find out more about 'greening' their business. This should include the '10 easy ways to Green your business' pamphlet and include details of the Kent Sustainable Business Partnership and Carbon Trust. The KSBP can for instance undertake an audit of how sustainable a business is, how they can save money and offer access to grants to help address this.

The board suggested that the council should be an exemplar to the district in relation to the sustainability of its own properties and sites. Colin Carmichael responded that more could be done but the council would be strongly encouraging new developments to meet the highest sustainability standards through a Supplementary Planning Document (SPD), which would accompany the Local Plan.

Following this discussion, the Chairman suggested that a letter be sent to the council to encourage it to set the highest local standards for sustainable construction in new developments and to be more flexible in planning terms towards businesses that wish to save energy by erecting solar panels or wind turbines for example. Action: Chairman to write letter to Colin Carmichael.

Paul announced that he had been invited to a Herne Bay Stakeholder Consultation on 15 November. He suggested that the potentially new board member, Mark Isom should also be invited.

The board formally accepted both Mark Isom from Herne Bay Town Partners and Caroline Hadlow, Head of Higher Education and Quality at Canterbury College, on to the C4B board.
Action: Dawn Hudd to amend the list of partners on C4B's Terms of Reference.

Dawn highlighted that there currently is a 50/50 split between public and private sector representatives on the board.

Local Economy & Business Events – Dawn Hudd circulated a report on the recent performance and activity of the council's Local Economy team. The Chairman voiced his concern about unoccupied new retail units on the Maybrook Retail Estate. Nick Churchill reported that the units had been widely marketed by the agents Donaldsons, and the council but that to date there had been limited interest in the units.

Dawn reported that the Kent Economic Board (KEB, formerly KMEB) - the sub regional economic partnership were consulting with their partners across the area. The board complained of a lack of awareness about the role of KEB.Action: Dawn to circulate map of partnership organisations in Kent

At a future meeting, Dawn will give a presentation to outline plans to update the district's economic strategy and action plan. Dawn also reported on the success of the recent 'Are you a brand, or just a well known name?' event, which has generated excellent feedback from the businesses that attended.

Employment & Entrepreneurship

Tony Bartlett reported that he was working with the University of Kent on a toolkit for assessing businesses for awards. The East Kent Enterprise Gateway initiative is soon to be officially launched at an event to be held at Dover Castle. Tony will meet with Dawn to discuss potential projects including Kent County Council's 'Making Micros Matter' procurement project and apprenticeships. Dawn Hudd will shortly take a report to the council's management team investigating the potential for new apprenticeships. If the council were to adopt this project, it could be promoted by C4B to other businesses. Kent County Council is looking to facilitate the creation of 1000 new apprenticeships in Kent by 2010.

Improving Education & Skills

In Jan Druker's absence, Ian Mazzerole spoke to the Board. One of the subgroup's key projects is to produce an online directory of local business training provision in the district. The marketing group had received a recent presentation on the possible content of the directory but although the concept was considered good it did not include private sector training provision. The Chairman and other board members felt that C4B as a private sector led economic partnership, should also promote private sector training provision alongside schools, HE and FE. There was some discussion about this issue by the board. However, it was agreed that the project should go back to its original remit, to catalogue all available training provision for businesses in both the public and private sectors.

Marketing

Ian Mazerolle informed the board that a C4B website progress update would be given at the next meeting. There would be a meeting with Simon Edridge Associates to discuss C4B promotional activity on 30 October. Ian felt that more proactive promotional activity was needed. Ian also encouraged board members to contact a list of businesses they have been given with a view to signing up more Associate members. Once businesses have been contacted, board members should update Paul Spree in the council's Local Economy team on progress.
Action: board to make calls and update Paul Spree before next board meeting.

Major projects

Michael Head reported on behalf of the group. At this stage, the Transport Minister has not yet approved the first A2 slip road. There may be potential for the second slip road to be funded through the Wincheap regeneration project but this would have to be discussed with any future developer. Michael also suggested that when the Minister had signed off the first slip road, a brainstorming meeting be arranged with KCC to discuss A2 slip road related issues.

Olympics - Paul

Ongoing. Nothing to report.

Chamber of Commerce - Peter Hawkes

The recent Chamber AGM was well attended. Membership in Canterbury district was growing faster than any other area covered by the Chamber. It is now the second fastest growing chamber in the country. Thanet district was also due to be come part of the Chamber's coverage with new member recruitment to commence shortly.

New Environment Group

The Chairman suggested creating a new C4B subgroup to cover environment related issues relating to business. The Chairman asked Michael Head to lead this group. Michael said he would like to be involved but not to lead the group.

Action: Chairman to ask Clive Relf to lead the new subgroup.

Colin reported that the council was about to consult on its budget. This 4-year budget contained both revenue and capital costs. 80% of the council's income came from a Government grant. At the same time, only 12% of local council tax goes to the city council. These income streams are supplemented by revenue from parking and rents. Added to this, the Local Authority Business Growth Incentive (LABGI) scheme could result in a proportion of local business rates being retained by the council to be spent locally. For example, this could be used on projects to improve retail areas of the city centre.

The outline budget proposals will propose a 3% rise in council tax. These proposals will be available to view on the council's website for 4 weeks from 1 December. There would also be further consultation on these proposals in 2007. Of particular note the proposals will seek to:

Revenue budget

• Improve Sunday Park and Ride services;
• Remove of chewing gum from district's streets;
• Marlowe Arcade redevelopment;
• Further investment in enhancing council's land search service;
• Possible funding towards the Horse bridge centre, Whitstable;
• Continuation of successful clear sack recycling system;
• Announce car park charges (3% increase is proposed);

Capital budget

• Palace Street and Guildhall Street improvements (Canterbury);
• Refurbishment of Castle Street multi-storey car park and improved exit from Castle Street on to Wincheap roundabout;
• Wincheap and Canterbury West regeneration projects;
• Slip road from Sturry Road Park and Ride site on to A28;
• 4th Park and Ride site at Harbledown. Preferred site to be known by mid 2007;
• Purchase additional land at New Dover Road Park and Ride site to safeguard future expansion.

Action: Colin to circulate to board a list of bullet points covered in his report.

• Dorothy Thom - Director East Kent Enterprise Gateway - TBC
• Presentation by Viv Pritchard - Head of Transportation and Engineering - TBC