Twilight Economy Review Covering Report

 

Maidstone Borough Council

 

Economic and Commercial Development Overview and Scrutiny Committee

 

Tuesday 27 January 2014

 

Twilight Economy Review

 

Report of: Sam Bailey, Research and Performance Officer

 

1.      Introduction

 

1.1        To consider the Twilight Economy Review contained in Appendix A.

 

 2.     Recommendation

 

2.1        That the Committee considers the Twilight Economy Review Report attached in Appendix A, and suggests any changes as appropriate.

2.2        That the Committee nominates at least two members to present the final report to Cabinet.

 

3       Draft Twilight Economy Review Report

 

3.1              The Twilight Economy Review Report is contained in Appendix A.

 

3.2    At the meeting of 23 December 2014, the committee considered the draft Twilight Economy Review and suggested the following changes:

        

·         A new recommendation inserted after Recommendation 4, expanding upon the theme of a ‘champion’ for the Twilight Economy;

·         The section on achieving BID status should be more robust, with a greater emphasis on how impressed the committee were with the Canterbury Connected BID;

·         It was mentioned that the Planning Transport and Development Overview and Scrutiny Committee had visited a different BID (in Croydon) and had been impressed with the initiative. The committee felt this should be mentioned in the report;

·         The section on achieving BID status should make it clear that achieving BID status would provide a boost not just to the Twilight Economy, but all Maidstone Town Centre businesses;

·         Recommendation 5 should read ‘investigate costs and possibility’; and

·         There should be a separate recommendation after recommendation

·         7 to refer the issue of the interaction between Park and Ride sites and local bus services in the evening to the Planning, Transport and Development Overview and Scrutiny Committee for consideration in the Integrated Transport Strategy.

 

3.3     The suggested changes have now been made to the report. The Committee has a chance to make final changes before sending the report to cabinet.

 

3.4     Once the report has been approved by the Committee, photographs will be added and the report will be branded by the Communications team. An agenda item will be scheduled for the final report, along with recommendations, to be presented to Cabinet.

        

4.      Impact on Corporate Objectives

 

4.1     This review has a direct impact on the following corporate priorities:

 

·         ‘For Maidstone to have a growing economy’ and ‘For Maidstone to be a decent place to live’.

 

4.2     The Strategic Plan sets the Council’s key objectives for the medium   term and has a range of objectives which support the delivery of         the Council’s priorities.

 

5.      Relevant Documents

 

5.1     Appendix A: Twilight Economy Review Report