Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Councillors March and White.

Councillor Everitt was not present.

To receive any declarations of interest by members of the Council in items on the agenda. For any advice on declarations of interest, please contact the Monitoring Officer before the meeting.

There were no declarations of disclosable pecuniary or other significant interest made at the meeting.

To note any Visiting Members or members of the public wishing to speak, of which due notice has been given in accordance with Council Meeting Procedure Rule 18 and 19, and which items they wish to speak on.

There were no members of the public or visiting Members registered to speak.

To approve the minutes of a previous meeting as a correct record. The only issue relating to the minutes that can be discussed is their accuracy.

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting dated 30 March 2022 be approved as a correct record.

RESOLVED – that the Forward Plan as at 28 June 2022 be approved as a correct record. 

David Candlin, Head of Economic Development and Property presented his report as per the agenda.

Discussion and questions from Members included the following:

              i.        It was advised that community led and based applications for projects were welcomed at Tunbridge Wells Borough Council (TWBC), project ideas and proposals had been sought from Members, Parish and Town Councils and other stakeholders, and a significant number had been received.

             ii.        Project proposals received had been developed to meet the various key criteria of UKSPF and the themes identified by Government.

            iii.        Cabinet had selected the proposed interventions to meet the priorities set out in the focus on five.

           iv.        Thanks were given to David Candlin, Hilary Smith and James Read in Economic Development for the production of the report.

             v.        In terms of the timescale; it was acknowledged that it was a short time table from April to end of July however, subject to the approval of the Investment Plans by TWBC, the Investment Plan was scheduled to be submitted by the 1 August.

           vi.        The Government indicated that Investment Plans were scheduled to be signed off from October and a memorandum of understanding provided between the Government and TWBC for the money and interventions to be addressed.

          vii.        It was advised that between now and October there was a focus on putting processes in place so that at the point where the Government gave approval, some of the projects that had been loosely identified in the investment plan could be implemented.

         viii.        The Government had not issued all guidance and therefore there was a need for flexibility.

1.    That the recommendations to Cabinet as set out in the report be supported.

To consider any other items which the Chairman decides are urgent, for the reasons to be stated, in accordance with Section 100B(4) of the Local Government Act 1972.

There was no urgent business for consideration.

To note that the date of the next scheduled meeting is Wednesday 7 September 2022 at 6.30pm.

The next meeting was scheduled for Wednesday 7 September 2022.