Creating growth in our local economy and supporting businesses have
been high on my list of priorities since my election last year. We
want to see jobs for people and opportunities that will keep our
talented school leavers and graduates in the area. In a time when the
pace of change grows ever faster and with the internet helping people
become far more flexible in how and where they work the ability to
attract new businesses and investment as well as sustain what we have
becomes ever more important.
Last Friday I spoke at an event organised by the Shepway Economic
Regeneration Partnership to discuss these issues and how we can
develop a local plan for our economy. Reforms being considered by the
Government and debated currently in Parliament make if more important
for Districts like ours to develop their own strategies and consider
how they can benefit from new sources of funding and support. The
Localism Bill, currently before parliament gives for example, councils
a direct financial incentive to attract investment and growth into
their areas.
The event last Friday was held at Lydd Airport and attended by
businesses from right across the District; representing different
sectors from tourism and property to food and financial services. I
believe that it is important that we support investment in our
existing businesses and industries which is why I have been such a
strong advocate of nuclear power at Dungeness and the proposed
Seafront Development and Creative Quarter regeneration in Folkestone.
The controlled expansion plans at Lydd Airport will also have a role
to play in attracting new jobs and investment, as well as some
sensitively planned housing growth to meet local demand and that of
people moving into the area to work. There are some other issues to
consider, and I am working with Shepway District Council to see how we
could improve the broadband coverage locally to support homes and
businesses, particularly in areas of poor service on Romney Marsh, in
some places along the coast and in the North Downs villages.
Following this event I met with some of the Business Banking team at
NatWest in Folkestone to discuss issues around lending in general and
support for start ups across the District. As well as seeing their
business relationship managers I had the chance to talk with one of
their customers, Regent Electricals, at their office in Cheriton.
Later in the day I called in to see Jo Nolan the Chief Executive of
our regional screen agency, Screen South, and her team, at their
office in Folkestone. Screen South not only support film makers in the
area but also work to attract major studios and producers to shoot
their productions here. The film industry, like other creative
businesses, is an increasingly important and growing part of our
economy.
After a day of meetings discussing business, the evening gave an
important pause for reflection when I joined the Mayor of Folkestone
and local schools for their moving Holocaust Memorial evening at the
Tower Theatre at Shorncliffe.