MAKE IT MAIDSTONE MAKE IT PROSPEROUS
Maidstone Borough Council is working to fight the effects of the recession and bring prosperity to the borough. We help residents with housing and council tax benefits, heating and insulation grants, home improvement grants, free bus travel and by support for organisations which offer money advice.
Maidstone has a new business champion who will be supporting cabinet member Cllr Malcolm Greer to improve the local economy.
Maidstone is championing business investment companies.”
Maidstone Borough Council Assistant Director Steve Goulette will help Cllr Greer, the cabinet member for Economic Development and Commercial Services, to deliver the council’s top priority of improving the local economy, with hopes of rising employment, catering for a range of skill sets to meet local demands.
The council’s Economic Development Strategy is designed to support this priority, and other work planned includes giving a boost to the local economy by encouraging visitors to the town, Hazlitt Arts Centre, Maidstone Museums, tourism, the Kent Conference Bureau and Maidstone Market.
Cllr Greer explains: “Steve is an experienced and highly capable senior officer. I am delighted that he will be supporting my portfolio by working with existing local businesses to support their existing operation and helping their development ambitions. I have also asked him to be our link with inward
Town Team ready for action
Maidstone has its own Town Team and it’s ready to make the town centre an even better place.
The Town Team has been set up following government recommendations from the Mary Portas High Street Review and welcomes suggestions and support from people passionate about the town centre.
Maidstone Borough Council applied for government funding to be one of the first pilot towns to run a town team but although it was unsuccessful with the bid, the enthusiasm of groups across the town was so great that the council has decided to set it up anyway.
The Town Team is to be run by the council in conjunction with Maidstone Town
Maidstone’s High Street regeneration project will be completed with the last phase of works in the Lower High Street. Work on the £1.7 million scheme could start later on in the year and be completed early in 2013. The final design is yet to be agreed.
Centre Management, and involves the Chamber of Commerce, Federation of Small Businesses, Kent County Council, the Environment Agency, landlords of The Mall and Fremlin Walk, and a number of local groups with an interest in the town centre. Small businesses, voluntary groups, independent traders and residents are also involved.
The Town Team is currently looking at what it would like Maidstone to look like
in the future, with the aim of it becoming a main destination town. It’s also identifying the key priorities for the town.
The next Town Team meeting will be held on 22 October from 6.30pm at the Town Hall. If you’d like to play a part in how the town centre develops, contact Jennifer Hunt at Maidstone Borough Council on 01622 602471 or
jenniferhunt@maidstone.gov.uk to book a place or share ideas.
Steve Goulette is looking forward to the new role, which he will undertake alongside his existing responsibilities as Assistant Director for Environment and Regulatory Services.
“Maidstone is the County Town of Kent and a great place to do business. We want success for all our existing businesses but we recognise we need to continue to attract new ones, particularly in these challenging times,” he said.
Maidstone borough has the highest employment rate in the county at over 80%.
High Street regeneration
USEFUL NUMBERS
Citizens Advice Bureau – 01622 752420 or 01622 757882
Council Tax – 01622 602003
Housing benefit and general housing advice – 01622 602557
National debtline – freephone 0808 808 4000
Heating and insulation grants - 01622 602470
First time buyers’ grants - 01622 602470
Energy Saving Trust - 0800 512 012
Concessionary travel - 08458 247802
Jobcentre Plus – 01622 702700
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