Thanet's Economy

1 Attract quality employment opportunities to Thanet development sites through:

a) inward investment through Thanet’s Business Parks including EuroKent and Manston Business Park

b) supporting the aviation sector including receiving and approving master plan for Kent International Airport

c) supporting indigenous growth and new start-ups through the Kent Innovation Centre, Margate Media Centre, Marlowe Academy and SEEDA Development

2 Deliver our contribution to the employability agenda as a cross cutting issue by utilising the Neighbourhood Working Fund with partners

3  Support the creative, cultural and tourism economy by:

a) delivering an annual Thanet Festival programme

b) supporting at least 20 public events per year to include the Ramsgate Maritime Event, Broadstairs Folk Week and the Margate Big Event   

c) developing a beaches and bays improvement programme, encompassing sustaining the districts blue flag status, innovative and traditional chalet provision, new information signage and improved access

d) spending £1.5 million on improvements to the quality of the historic Townscape within the Ramsgate Townscape Heritage and deliver a series of educational programmes

e) delivering the actions from the Cultural Strategy and Visitor Economy Framework and Action Plans and use technology to promote Thanet as a destination

f) working in partnership with Kent County Council and other Kent Districts and agencies to maximise the tourism, cultural and sporting benefits arising from the 2012 Olympics

4 Develop a series of area action plans for Thanet’s towns and key economic areas to support implementation of the Thanet Vision and Local Development Framework

a) Westwood and EuroKent

b) Manston Business Park and Airport

c) Ramsgate

d) Broadstairs

5 Diversify the Port of Ramsgate by:

a) achieving a change in the governance arrangements for the Port of Ramsgate to enable commercial diversification and capital investment

b) achieving a technical design and funding source for an alongside quay

c)  achieving commercial agreements for the use of the Port of Ramsgate for offshore wind farm developments

d)  achieving signed agreements for the operation and maintenance base for wind farms

e)  developing funding programmes for the Port of Ramsgate to include the provision of fish landing facilities to enable market and restaurant facilities in Ramsgate

6 Regenerate Margate in conjunction with the Margate Renewal Partnership through developing an area action plan to include:

a) preparing for the opening of Turner Contemporary through working with Kent County Council on the development process and with joint promotion

b) working with development partners to redevelop the former M&S site into a mixed use scheme for offices, retail and residential

c) Supporting the Theatre Royal Trust to develop a vision and strategy to underpin bids for a large-scale capital programme

d) working with the owners of Dreamland and Arlington Square and developers deliver viable and deliverable development briefs, for the sites

e) developing Queens Arms Yard, a key Old Town site for residential and ground floor “affordable” artists studio space including a pedestrian route through the site

f) enhancing and developing Margate seafront’s sites

7 Maximise the benefits from the new high-speed rail link to London by utilising local partnerships in relation to travel infrastructure and car parking