East Kent EDG September 2024 Minute

Ray Johnson (RJ) – Chair
Daniel Sangiuseppe (DS) – Castlewood Hotels
Ella Brocklebank (EB) – Jenner (Minutes)
Jayne Miles (JM) – Dover District Council
Lena K, representative for Tony Vaughan
Lindsey Biggs (LB) – EKC Group
Matthew Arnold (MA) – Stagecoach
Mel Dizon (MD) – Martello Building Consultancy
Philip Clapham (PC) – Smith Woolley
Tudor Price (TP) – KICC

*Guest presenters, Sir Christopher Edwards & Derek Burles – Otterpool Solar Forum*

RJ noted the departure of Lee May (formerly of Brachers) and requested that our thanks be noted for all Lee’s involvement in the group for many years, especially in taking the minutes, and the group wish him every success in the future.

RJ thanked Lindsey Biggs, our new member from East Kent College Group for hosting today’s meeting at Folkestone College.

RJ welcomed our guest speakers to give a presentation on the Otterpool Solar Forum. (Presentation delivered by both thereafter. A lot of onward dialogue ensued around the importance of renewable energy, energy storage and our responsibility to address the need to work towards net-zero developments and the benefits this brings for all.)

RJ welcomed the Chief Executive of KICC Tudor Price to the meeting. He stated that all members should receive updates now direct from Tudor regarding all KICC business. In relation to the above presentation and onward discussions around energy usage, TP shared the report below:

The Future of Energy: 2035 – Arup

RJ reported that he has written to all local MP’s and KICC were holding Kent MPs meeting to brief them. There will also be collaboration with the Ashford EDG and members of the EKEDG have been invited to attend a future ‘Resilience’ meeting – date likely to be 17th October (TBC) RJ to share details.

RJ reported he has met recently with the team at Shoreline and is planning for a visit/future meeting to be held there to include a tour of the stunning new show homes. Members may recall a visit during the construction phase.

Sector Updates (Transport) MA reported:

• Transport Secretary Louise Hague is pushing a manifesto to allow public ownership of bus companies. In his opinion he could not ascertain how this would work in practice with the transfer of risk and logistics, and stated it was unlikely to happen due to costs, so perhaps a ‘halfway house’ model would be better.
• Stagecoach is still recovering themselves from COVID hysteria, which has left a lasting legacy.
• The capped £2 per day fare would be ending in December this year. There will be gradual increases going forward, but this should not be too impactful. It is necessary to cover costs of running all the services as some are busy and recoup their costs, but other services do not.
• As with most industries, they are still waiting patiently for the Autumn Statement to see what this will bring.
• There are still problems in Dover, being between ‘a rock and a hard place’ in terms of connectivity between the town and the harbour.
• The Hythe service that was previously suspended is being reinstated.

(Local Authority – Dover) JM reported:

• Dover Port are busy getting ready for EES, filling in the old Marina with sand.
• ‘Dover Beacon’ (Levelling Up project) is progressing well. Planning has now been approved.
• UK Shared Prosperity Fund: Still working on a variety of projects including improvements to town centres and green spaces.
• Rural England Fund: 4 grant funded projects completed, 11 to go, must all be complete by March.
• Empty shops continue to be an issue for Dover but have had a surge in interest from new businesses recently. Still working with the Planning Enforcement team to target scruffy properties in the town centres.
• East Kent College: DDC is working with the tourism tutor – students will be writing a tour for this year’s curriculum. Hoping students will provide a greeting service to those that visit the town centre
• Tourism team are reviewing our leaflets and signage, updating our historic information panels and writing a cultural strategy
• Working on a new ‘Invest in Dover’ website with Pillory Barn
• DDC were successful in applying for a ‘Capacity Building Grant’ from Historic England and now have a Western Heights Project Officer to carry out a 3 year project to increase visitor numbers, enhance the space, work with landowners and stakeholders and create a vision document.

(Property) PC reported: The property sector remains ‘suppressed’ and that most are still ‘waiting’ to see what is going to happen in the next statement from Government.

(Construction Consultancy) MD reported:

• The past two months have been an exciting and productive time for Martello, hard at work with Dover District Council on several key projects focused on delivering new affordable homes.
• This Friday marks a significant milestone as they hand over 48 brand new homes in Deal – a project that’s kept Martello on their toes and have been proud to serve as Dover District Council’s Employer’s Agent on this development.
• Martello are thrilled to be collaborating with Folkestone and Hythe District Council on a change of use planning application for the Bouverie Square project. There’s potential for even more opportunities to come from this partnership.
• In addition, Martello are honoured to be working with Creative Folkestone as their Technical Consultant for the highly anticipated Folkestone Triennial 2025 – a major cultural event for the town.
• MD is also championing a new group ‘Women across the Sectors’ and will inform members of future meetings after a successful inaugural meeting at Betteshanger focused on construction.
• MD further added that there is a lot more happening behind the scenes. The future looks bright for Martello, and they hope this momentum reflects the overall growth and activity in our sector locally.

(Hospitality) DS reported:

• The high season is coming to an end and despite the weather the summer months have been satisfactory. Occupancy rates have been good but certainly signs of more people travelling abroad to seek better weather than staying in the UK.
• Bars and Restaurants have seen slightly down on takings and weddings locally have also reduced as the market is spread too thinly nationwide.
• Close to home DS reported that the Harbour Arm has performed well this summer with volumes of visitors up, likely due to an increase in venue and yet with individual venues reporting they have not been so busy.
• Across the UK, 50 hospitality businesses are sadly closing every day, which is alarming but not surprising. Locally there is a constant churn with many closing but some new businesses appearing.
• The biggest challenge for this sector is undoubtedly staffing and those available are either inexperienced or unqualified, or both.

(Construction) EB reported:

• The construction industry certainly seems to be turning a corner and a little more positive.
• Jenner are very busy with many new projects secured and good pipeline ahead, along with recent client financial intervention on a fixed price contract that has improved the economic position of the business. The care sector is particularly buoyant with no signs of that changing.
• Article for ‘Thinking Business’ Magazine, written by EB addressed the question “Is construction slowing down?” The response to this is that it had already slowed substantially but now is picking up again as clients make the decision to ‘just get on with things!’ and as materials prices have settled somewhat which is making development more viable.
• The recent unfortunate and very sad demise of ISG as a national business is a clear reflection of how challenged the industry has been. Action is being taken to reach out to those affected especially in the early stages of their career or in training to ensure future skills are not lost.

(Further Education) LB in attendance for the first time and agreed to prepare and share a sector update at the next meeting.