Margate Town Deal Board to further rejuvenate the town

A Margate Town Deal Board is being set up by the council, to design and deliver an economic growth strategy for the town. This Board is part of the Government’s programme of funding for towns. In September 2019, the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG) announced a £3.6bn Towns Fund for 101 towns to drive economic development.  There is a focus on urban regeneration, improved transport, better broadband connectivity, skills and culture. 

As part of this, the council is recruiting* a Chair to set out a vision for the town’s economic growth, coordinate resources and engage with a variety of stakeholders. The Chair must convene a Town Deal Board that represents the community and harnesses a diverse range of perspectives – business, philanthropists, investors, universities, colleges, the Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), Jobcentre Plus, civic society and all tiers of local government. The Board will be tasked with producing an evidence based Town Investment Plan by the summer of 2020 and ultimately this plan will ensure that a Town Deal is delivered with central government around key local priorities.  

Cllr Ruth Duckworth, Cabinet Member for Corporate Governance & Coastal Development at Thanet District Council said:

“This marks the next phase of Margate’s regeneration journey. We’ve seen first hand the transformative impact that investment in culture can bring and we welcome this commitment from the government to help our town thrive. 

“The birthplace of the British seaside has undergone a renaissance of late and the town is enjoying a positive perception. This is an important ‘pull’ factor that the Board can utilise when attracting business and private investment. Margate has a strong heritage and sense of place, and benefits from cultural and civic assets which makes the town an attractive place to live, work, visit and invest in. I would encourage anyone who is interested to apply for the position of Chair and help Margate realise its full economic potential.” 

Margate is often heralded as a benchmark for culture led regeneration. Key placemaking projects helping to change the town have included Turner Contemporary; Margate Old Town’s Townscape Heritage Initiative (THI); Dreamland; transport investment – specifically High Speed rail services; Margate Flood and Coastal Protection Scheme aka the ‘Margate Steps’; the Dalby Square THI and various housing renewal programmes. The fact that Margate is now on the map as a key cultural destination with a strong identity will help the town deliver long term economic growth. 

The job description can be found here. If you are interested in applying for the role of Margate Town Deal Board Chair, expressions of interest are requested in writing by close of business on Monday 10 February 2020.