Our commitments and priorities for improvement and investment

We want you to know where your money goes.  Before developing our Corporate Plan for 2007/11 we asked the community what it wanted to improve most.  Some of the major new commitments that we are making in this budget include:-

TSR/01 – Investing in the economy and Jobs

(£1,112,000)

The Council’s new Economic Development and Regeneration Strategy sets out the major economic opportunities for Thanet.  This focuses on key projects that have the potential to transform the local economy:-

• Turner Contemporary and the regeneration of Margate Old Town
• Future of the Dreamland site in Margate
• Potential for Windfarm development in the Thames Estuary and the associated potential for the Port of Ramsgate
• Realising the potential of land at Manston and Eurokent

These projects will all help to bring inward investment into the area and create jobs. The Council is continuing to invest heavily in these areas and is committing £249k new money to this priority next year.

TSR02 – Funding a Thanet festival

(£200,000)

Events have proved to be an excellent way of helping to attract visitors to the area and are popular with local people. Building on the success of previous years, the Council will be committing funding to a three year festival package, with around 20 events for residents and attracting visitors to spend time and money in Thanet.  This commitment will enable partners and community groups to plan, organise and commit to working with us on this exciting programme.

TSR03 – Increase domestic recycling levels to 40%

(£120,000)

We all know that we must recycle more – so we will be laying on additional recycling rounds to make it easy for us to recycle household waste that would otherwise go to landfill.  

TSR04 - Improve cleaning standards

(£80,000)

Whilst cleanliness has improved since we returned the service to direct council control, we still need to do more if we are to meet our target of being in the cleanest 25% of councils in the country.  Thanet is beautiful and we want to make sure we all see it at its best. Alongside this, we are increasing enforcement action against those who spoil the streets for others.

TSR05 – A standard for our town centres

(£25,000)

We want to agree a ‘Gold Flag’ standard for our town centres with businesses and residents.  This will set out what standards can be expected in our town centres in terms of street cleaning and street services. 

TSR06 – Investment for our parks

(£65,000)

Our parks and green spaces add to the quality of our daily lives, offering opportunities for fun, exercise and relaxation.  By investing in the standard of our parks, we aim to achieve national recognition by achieving two Green Flags each year.

TSR07 – Programmes for Young People (£25,000) Our surveys tell us that local people see activities for young people as a priority. This money will be spent on ensuring that there are relevant and well publicised programmes available for young people, particularly during the Easter and summer holidays.

TSR08 – Better sport and play facilities

Local people have highlighted that sports and play facilities
need improving in Thanet and the Council is aware that the
area suffers from poor health. We want to make it easy for
everyone to take part in sport and play as part of an active
and balanced lifestyle.   Our key projects include:

• The Marlowe Athletics Track
• Developing and improving play areas in Margate and Ramsgate
• Improving our swimming pools and associated leisure
  facilities – we are looking to fund a comprehensive
  programme of swimming pool/sports centre investment.
  This will require around £4m investment to fund a new
   pool in Ramsgate by 2010/11 and a further £10.5min
  2011/15 for improvements in Margate.
• Running at least two campaigns a year on health related issues

TSR09 – Supporting a new Town Council in Ramsgate

(£50,000)

We have listened to local residents and will do our bit to help the formation of a new Town Council – probably next year.  We will run the election for the fledgling Council and help support the newly elected Council during its first year of operation.

TSR10 – Community wardens and CCTV

(£35,000)

Residents told us that reducing crime is a priority for them so we will continue to work with the police to make Thanet a safer place. We will provide community wardens at additional times and we will increase our CCTV coverage to keep an eye out for anti-social behaviour.

Thanet District Council’s Cabinet believes that the above services and investments, which are priorities for local people, are worth paying for…..  So where will we find the money…?

Next: Responding to tough choices

Financial Services

E-mail:

accountancy@thanet.gov.uk

Tel: 01843 577000