Economic Development & Property – Members Induction – May 2024

David Candlin

The economic development (ED) team is led by Hilary Smith, Economic Development Manager.

ED works with a range of organisations including

• Royal Tunbridge Wells Together (RTWT – the business improvement district),
• Kent & Medway Economic Partnership (KMEP),
• Invest West Kent, and
• Creative Tunbridge Wells.

The team provide business support, tourism, transportation engagement and development of active travel, public transport, and transport strategy with KCC.

We have established a business portal on our website, a business welcome pack and deal with enquiries from businesses.

A regular business newsletter #TWBiz is circulated to over 2,000 local businesses.

Produce and working to the Economic Development Strategy 2023 – 2026.

Tourism embraces our website, leaflets, working with partners (Visit Kent on promotions), Visitor information now via the Amelia Scott.

ED manage the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (& Rural England Prosperity Fund) which is £1.4M over 3 years. To date we have committed £1.03m to projects. (UKSPF £859k, REPF Approx £179k) 2024/25 is the final year of the programmes.

ED also administer Assets of Community Value, or Community Right to Bid and will be the lead for Events in TWBC Parks going forward.

ED engage with KCC on transportation issues. Have delivered the (LCWIP) Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan and developing Active Travel projects. Currently Rusthall to Town Centre, and Better Streets. Bidding via KCC for additional Active Travel England funding to develop other routes.

Also facilitate the Better Bus Partnership and the Public Transport Forum.

There is a Tourism and VTW all members presentation on Friday 17 May @10 am.

E.mail: Business@tunbridgewells.gov.uk

The Property and Estates service is led by Jonathan White, Corporate Property Manager.

Our approach to (property) asset management is set out in the Asset Management Plan which is approved by Full Council on an annual basis alongside the Budget.

Property and Estates deal with all property transactions for the Council’s ‘commercial’ estate (and building bits in Parks), dealing with property assets directly and advising on property matters.

The Council operates a corporate landlord model, whereby services are notional tenants with the Corporate Property Manager providing the corporate perspective and advice on property matters including compliance.

The corporate building maintenance programme is managed by the Building & Property Manager who also supports and advises managers on all of the Council’s external sites (i.e. Crematorium and Depot).

The Council’s planned and responsive maintenance programme is also delivered by this service. The service is responsible for key projects and programmes for the Council (the capital programme where assets are concerned).

Taking a lead on de-carbonising the estate – Weald Leisure centre and North Farm Depot are two recent projects.

Delivery of the Property Assets Programme is overseen by the Property Asset Oversight Panel, chaired by the Cabinet Member for Finance and Performance.

The Estates team deal with sales and acquisitions of all property on behalf of the Council. Landlord and Tenant matters, grant of licences, wayleaves, easements and asset reviews are also dealt with.

The Council is the freeholder and now the long-leaseholder (owner) of the Royal Victoria Place shopping centre.  The Council acquired the centre in October 2023.

Diane Brady, the Investment Property Manager oversees the management of the shopping centre through our external professional team of Asset and Property Managers (RivingtonHark and Knight Frank) including the RVP centre Management team.

Aim is to:

• stabilise the centre, retaining key tenants;
• improve the running cost of the centre including short term income
• secure cost savings in service charge and implement rates mitigation;
• improving the operation and net income of the car park;
• bringing new retail and leisure uses (vitality and animation) to the centre
• consider longer term redevelopment of parts of the centre – Palm Court and Ely Court.

Currently out to procurement for contractors/consultancy:

• RVP Car Park repairs
• Development Manager

RVP is overseen by the Investment Advisory Panel chaired by the Cabinet Member for Economic Development.

E.mail: RVP@tunbridgewells.gov.uk for public questions or comments, not operational as handled by the centre team.

There is an all members briefing on RVP (update) on Friday 31 May @ 10am.

Tunbridge Wells Property Holdings was set up in 2015 to help manage part of the property estate for the Borough Council, including (though is currently limited to) private rental accommodation.

The Company is wholly owned by the Council.

The Company manages 19 dwellings with tenants on Assured Shorthold Tenancies (AST).

Bracketts in Royal Tunbridge Wells, provide property management to the Company. Perrys Chartered Accountants provide external auditing of the Company. All wider support including estates, maintenance, legal and financial services are provided by the Council.

Email: info@twpropertyholdings.co.uk