No apologies were received.

The minutes of the meeting held on 9 September 2021 were signed by the Chair.

Cllr Lenny Rolles, Cllr Sarah Gow and Cllr Tony Rice all declared an other interest in Item 5 –  Corporate Performance Update: Quarter Two 2021-22 in that all the above named Councillors were appointed Directors of Rosherville Limited and Cllr Lenny Rolles was also Chair of the Board.

The Assistant Director (Corporate Services) presented Members of the Commercial Services Committee with an update against the Performance Management Framework, as introduced within the council’s Corporate Plan, for Quarter Two 2021-22 (July to September 2021).

The Assistant Director (Corporate Services) highlighted the following:

• PI’s 45 and 46 are annual indicators and results would be presented in Quarter 4.
• PI 47, total amount secured through contractual social value is provided on a quarterly basis. For Quarter Two this year no social value contributions were secured.

The Committee noted the Corporate Performance Update Quarter Two 2021-2022.

The Committee received a presentation from the Director (Communities) on Town Centre Initiatives.

The presentation highlighted the new St George’s Arts Centre and can be viewed here:

https://democracy.gravesham.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=445&MId=4656&Ver=4

During the presentation, and following questions from the Committee, the Director (Communities) highlighted the following:

·       The new Arts Centre in the St George’s Centre will officially open on 11 December 2021.

·       The Arts Centre will include a multi-functional open space, a pop up cafe and vending provision with a  fully serviced office facility which is hoped will be rented out

·       The new Arts Centre will provide the opportunity for culture-led regeneration in the Town Centre and turn the shopping centre’s ‘cold spot’ into a thriving retail area and will hopefully increase footfall into the shopping centre

·       The Arts Centre will be managed by the Council (Mandy Hare, General Manager, The Woodville). A bid will also be made to get an artist in residence in the Arts Centre.

·       The vision for the Arts Centre includes; a gallery space, a thriving café, a series of workshops / readings, local community group use, outdoor events in the summer (e.g. buskers, choirs etc.) and a different theme for each month e.g. National Storytelling Week in February.

·       The council is working with partners to ensure a thriving arts culture is achieved within Gravesham.

·       The aim is to provide a vibrant Arts Centre programme that will encourage footfall in the Town Centre.

·       The Arts Commission for Christmas is called ‘Twinkle, Twinkle’ and will involve stars with messages, atmospheric lighting and creative projections. Artists will be holding workshops to create star installations. It was envisage that the outdoor space would be used for street food and bar facilities in December but this will now happen in January.

The Committee thanked the Director (Communities) for an informative presentation and welcomed the opening of the St George’s Arts Centre.

To move, if required, that pursuant to Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 that the public be excluded from any items included in Part B of the agenda because it is likely in view of the nature of the business to be transacted that if members of the public are present during those items, there would be disclosure to them.

Part B

Items likely to be considered in Private

Resolved pursuant to Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972  that the public be excluded during the following items of business because it was likely in view of the nature of the business to be transacted that, if member of the public were present during this item, there would be disclosure to them of exempt information.

The Service Manager (Property & Regulatory Services) provided the Committee with the Property Information Dashboard and highlighted the changes since the previous Committee meeting.

The Committee noted the Property Information Dashboard.