Issue - meetings

Item referred from Economic Regeneration Advisory Board of 3 June 2014

(Item ERG 14/13 referred from Economic Regeneration Advisory Board Minutes of 3 June 2014)

Consideration of recommendations to the Cabinet from the Economic Regeneration Advisory Board of 3 June 2014.

The Cabinet resolved that the recommendations of the Economic Regeneration Advisory Board be approved as follows:

1)  development of a new West Kent Leader Programme for 2015/20 be supported; and

    2)  appropriate budgetary provision be made to enable the Borough Council to contribute to the administration costs of the new programme as set out in the report.

[Councillor M Coffin declared an Other Significant Interest in this item as a recipient of Leader Programme funding and withdrew from the meeting during its consideration.]

(Item ERG 14/13 referred from Economic Regeneration Advisory Board Minutes of 3 June 2014)

Decision Notice  D140085CAB

The report of the Chief Executive referred to the success of the first West Kent LEADER programme between 2007 and 2013 and gave details of a new programme designed to support the rural and land based economy.  It was noted that the focus of the new programme’s funding would be on direct support for the local economy rather than community projects.  An indication was given of the changes to the area of coverage of the new programme and, whilst all rural areas within the Borough would be included, further work was being undertaken on options for extending the West Kent LEADER programme area to accord with the EU population limit of 150,000. 

Members were advised that an additional contribution of £5,000 per annum would be required from participating local authorities and it was considered that this would be justified by the considerable economic value likely to be generated by the new LEADER programme.

RECOMMENDED:  That

(1)  development of a new West Kent LEADER programme for 2015/20 be supported; and

(2)  appropriate budgetary provision be made to enable the Borough Council to contribute to the administration costs of the new programme as set out in the report.

* Referred to Cabinet