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Top politicians from Kent County Council's Cabinet met
with members of the county's business community today (10 December)
to launch a package of support as part of its Backing Kent Business
campaign and to discuss how it can further support local firms in
these challenging economic times.
Around 100 local firms and organisations were represented at the
breakfast held in conjunction with Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce
which marked a new closer relationship between the council and
Kent's business community.
The Leader of Kent County Council,
Paul Carter, said: "I want to ensure there are as many Kent
jobs created for Kent people as possible.
"KCC is one of the biggest employers in the county and spends
40% of its budget on goods and services (more than £320 million
every year) with small and medium sized Kent businesses.
"A Kent firm, R Durtnell and Sons Ltd, will build the
Turner Contemporary Gallery in Margate, creating employment
opportunities and a focal point for regeneration in Thanet. The
£600 million
Building Schools for the Future Programme is already being
delivered in large part by Kent architects and builders, alongside
their commitment to 400 local apprenticeships.
"I want to do even more and make it easier for local firms to
access contracts like these and take advantage of others in the
region such as the construction of the Olympic sites. We will also
aim to pay our suppliers quicker and help businesses to access
grant aid.
"I am determined that we will support Kent businesses as far as
is possible through this difficult economic recession and as
chairman of the county's Public Sector Board I will be encouraging
other public sector agencies to do likewise."
Mr Carter outlined KCC's
measures to Back Kent Business at the meeting:
- speed up the payment of invoices from 30 days to 20 (in some
cases this is down to 7 days already)
- drive forward and deliver KCC's ambitious capital programme of
£850m over the next two years to provide more employment
opportunities for Kent firms
- establish Kent Property Enterprise Fund 2, placing KCC's vacant
unsold property assets into a fund to be worked up into joint
venture developments with the private sector
- expand KCC's
approved list of contractors
- streamline KCC's contracts to make it easier for small and
medium sized firms to apply for council contracts and open up and
raise awareness of tendering opportunities in and outside Kent
- provide a 'Kent Business Support Centre' on KCC's website and
through a team of advisers to improve access to council procurement
and support
- support and signpost businesses to grant aid available through
regional, national and European channels
- lobby government for a reduction and removal of unnecessary
regulation and bureaucracy
- encourage and facilitate consortia of Kent businesses to
compete for larger public sector contracts outside of Kent
- review Kent's 'marketing' and promote Kent's USPs.
The County Council's Cabinet Member for Regeneration
Kevin Lynes said that the campaign was also about lobbying
government for a better deal for businesses. He said: "There is a
lot more government could do to support the business community. We
will be putting our weight behind the businesses and taking their
fight to Whitehall."
"For example it is unacceptable that under the Official Journal
of the European Union (OJEU) rules we have to advertise any
contract over £140k Europe-wide, this immediately makes it harder
for local and even UK firms to successfully bid for contracts.
"And the government's decision to cut rate relief on empty
properties is crippling many businesses. We need to make sure that
businesses are in good shape to come out of this recession as well
as get through it."
Jo James, the Chief Executive of Kent Invicta Chamber of
Commerce said: "I very much welcome the initiatives being put
forward by Kent County Council.
"I realise that Kent businesses are now starting to feel the
full impact of the current economic climate and am therefore
pleased with KCC's efforts to maximise the business potential of
the county and co-operation between the business representative
organisations within Kent." |