See Also
Corporate Plan 2007/11
Contact Us
Sophie Chadwick
Corporate Projects & Improvement
Email: sophie.chadwick
@thanet.gov.uk
Tel: 01843 577180
Thanet's Economy
What does this mean:
Thanet's beautiful beaches and coastal location offer a unique
setting for both business, visitors amd residents, and the Council
intends to maximise its coastal and marine potential to expand the
visitor base. We want Thanet to be a destination of choice for
weekenders in the South East and the day trip destination of choice
for people in East Kent. We will promote a 'café culture' as a
major focus for leisure and tourism in all our towns through
planning and licensing policies.
Through maximising the potential of Thanet’s
Assisted Area Status, we plan to attract inward investment and
support indigenous companies, attracting more jobs to the area, and
helping those who are unemployed. To facilitate this, we will
establish an Economic Development Unit to provide advice and
support to local businesses; we will also review opportunities to
form partnerships with social enterprises.
Why is it a priority:
- Unemployment levels in Thanet are nearly double the South East
as a whole (3.5% vs 1.6%) and the percentage of job seekers
allowance claimants in Thanet is nearly double that in the South
East as a whole;
- The fast rail service to/from London, starting in 2009, will
make Thanet more accessible to/from London and therefore more
attractive as a business (and residential) location;
- Turner Contemporary and the Olympics 2012 will be a strong
catalyst for economic growth and inward investment – especially for
cultural, creative and tourism industries;
- It is important for the Council to maximise the potential of
Manston and EuroKent Business Parks to create employment
opportunities;
- Thanet is one of only two districts in the South East with
Assisted Area Status to promote the economic development of certain
disadvantaged areas.
What will we do
|
Year
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2
08
-09
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3
09
-10
|
4
2010
-11
|
(1)
11
-12
|
Project
Manager
|
|
1 Attract quality employment
opportunities to Thanet development sites through:
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John
Bunnett
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a) inward investment through Thanet’s
Business Parks including EuroKent and Manston Business Park
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John Bunnett
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b) supporting the aviation sector including receiving and
approving master plan for Kent International Airport
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Brian White
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c) supporting indigenous growth and new start-ups through the
Kent Innovation Centre, Margate Media Centre, Marlowe Academy and
SEEDA Development
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Louise Bibby
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2 Deliver our contribution to the employability agenda as a
cross cutting issue by utilising the Neighbourhood Working Fund
with partners
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Louise Bibby
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3 Support the creative, cultural and tourism economy
by:
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Robert Rose
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a) delivering an annual Thanet Festival programme
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Gill Shepherd
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b) supporting at least 20 public events per year to include
the Ramsgate Maritime Event, Broadstairs Folk Week and the Margate
Big Event
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Gill Shepherd
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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
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Joe McCarthy
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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
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Nick Dermott
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e) delivering the actions from the Cultural Strategy and
Visitor Economy Framework and Action Plans and use technology to
promote Thanet as a destination
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Mark Seed
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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
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Mark Seed
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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
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Doug Brown
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a) Westwood and EuroKent
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Doug Brown
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b) Manston Business Park and Airport
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Brian White
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c) Ramsgate
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Doug Brown
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d) Broadstairs
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Doug Brown
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5 Diversify the Port of Ramsgate by:
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Dominic Evans
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a) achieving a change in the governance arrangements for
the Port of Ramsgate to enable commercial diversification and
capital investment
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Louise Bibby
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b) achieving a technical design and
funding source for an alongside quay
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Dominic Evans
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c) achieving commercial agreements
for the use of the Port of Ramsgate for offshore wind farm
developments
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John Bunnett
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d) achieving signed agreements for
the operation and maintenance base for wind farms
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Dominic Evans
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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
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Dominic Evans
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6 Regenerate Margate in conjunction with
the Margate Renewal Partnership through developing an area action
plan to include:
|
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John
Bunnett
|
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a) preparing for the opening of Turner
Contemporary through working with Kent County Council on the
development process and with joint promotion
|
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Doug Brown
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b) working with development partners to
redevelop the former M&S site into a mixed use scheme for
offices, retail and residential
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Doug Brown
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c) Supporting the Theatre Royal Trust to
develop a vision and strategy to underpin bids for a large-scale
capital programme
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Andrea Bennett
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d) working with the owners of Dreamland
and Arlington Square and developers deliver viable and deliverable
development briefs, for the sites
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Doug Brown
|
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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
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Sam Thomas
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f) enhancing and developing Margate
seafront’s sites
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Doug Brown
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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
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Louise
Bibby
|
Our Performance
| BV109a |
Percentage of major applications decided within 13 weeks |
|
| BV109b |
Percentage of minor applications decided within 13 weeks |
|
| MAR06 |
Number of accompanied freight units through the Port |
|
| TE002 |
Number of Blue Flag awards achieved |
|
| NI151 |
Proportion of the working age population who are in
employment |
|
| NI172 |
Percentage of small registered businesses showing year-on-year
Employment growth |
|
Find out about our
performance in the Annual
Performance Report 2008
<Introduction
Safer Neighbourhoods>