“We are feeling very positive about what we can do”

Starting this month Tunbridge Wells Borough Council will have a regular column in Tunbridge Wells Business Magazine. The idea is to inform readers of its new and ongoing projects and share any relevant news. Here Cllr Justine Rutland, Cabinet member for Economic Development and TWBC’s Deputy Leader, talks about the important work she and her team do and reveals some exciting plans for both our retail and culture sectors…

A week is a long time in politics and May’s local elections already feel like ancient history. At the time of writing we have just had a General Election and we now have a new MP for Tunbridge Wells: the Liberal Democrat’s Mike Martin.

As a Lib Dem majority council, we look forward to working constructively and positively with Mike who now has the privelege of reperesenting the constituency.

There is much to do on multiple fronts, not least of which is supporting the business community and doing everything in our power to make our towns and villages vibrant, in what for many residents and businesses are bleak times.

The wonderful Economic Development team (ED) leads this work. ED is the first point of contact for business enquiries to the Council, compiles the monthly E-biz newsletter and manages the Visit Tunbridge Wells social media and website.

ED works with Kent County Council to deliver highways schemes such as the pedestrian-friendly High Street and improved cycling and walking. We collaborate closely with the Business Improvement District. 

We are working to bring a monthly farmers’ market to the Calverley Road precinct. We apply for government funding and are currently overseeing distribution of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (aka Levelling Up money). Some of the fund has gone to business initiatives, including grants; work experience schemes for young people with SEN; BEAM (an employment and housing support project); additional marketing spend for the visitor economy; events such as the West Kent Expo and recruitment fairs; and Creative Tunbridge Wells, which will support the local creative industries – everything from architecture and live music to software and graphic design. 

As someone whose day job is in Tunbridge Wells’ lively marketing sector, I am certain this will deliver tangible benefits.

Talking of creativity, TWBC Culture comes under my ED portfolio and, as we are fond of saying, Culture IS Economic Development! Under the outstanding Culture team, the Amelia Scott and the Assembly Hall Theatre are thriving. We want to do more, and we want to support other creative and cultural organisations, too – this is part of the remit of Creative Tunbridge Wells.

Culture brings wellbeing, education and economic regeneration. Last week, I was reading about how cultural programme Eastbourne ALIVE!and the hosting of the

Turner Prize at the seaside town’s Townergallery had contributed around £16.1m and almost 200,000 visitors to the local Economy. These are the kinds of cultural ambitions we have for Tunbridge Wells.

Back in January, TWBC welcomed a corporate peer challenge (a bit like Ofsted for councils). Colleagues from other local authorities visited us over three days and one of the great outcomes has been discussions about social value. 

For public sector organisations, social value means looking beyond the purely financial costs to consider how services can improve the economic, social and environmental wellbeing of an area. Now that the council’s finances are on a sustainable footing, we are all feeling positive about what the council can do to make life better for everyone living and working in the borough.  

If you have a business and we can help, please get in touch by visiting
www.business@tunbridgewells.gov.uk