The Growth, Economic Development and Communities Cabinet Committee were scheduled to meet on 11 November 2025 to discuss the Kent and Medway Economic Framework, the Regional Energy Strategic Plan, and decisions taken between cabinet committee meetings. The committee was also scheduled to discuss the committee's work programme for 2025/26.

Regional Energy Strategic Plan

The committee was scheduled to discuss the Regional Energy Strategic Plan (RESP), the transitional Regional Energy Strategic Plan (tRESP), and Kent County Council's (KCC) role in shaping the energy system in the South East.

The RESP is part of the UK's strategy to deliver a predominantly clean electricity system by 2030. The plans will be produced across 11 regions of Great Britain with the aim of ensuring regional priorities and spatial plans integrate into national energy system planning and support the government's CP2030 target.

The purpose of the RESPs is to support co-ordinated development of the energy distribution system and enable long-term investment to be made with confidence and ahead of need.

The proposed South East RESP area represents a population of 7.71 million people and incorporates Kent, Medway, Berkshire, Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Surrey, East Sussex, West Sussex and Brighton & Hove.

The committee was asked to note the contents of the report and make recommendations to Mr Paul King, Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Coastal Regeneration, on the County Council's participation in the transitional Regional Energy Strategic Plan (2026-2028) and full Regional Energy Strategic Plan (2028 onwards).

Kent and Medway Economic Framework

The Growth, Economic Development and Communities Cabinet Committee were scheduled to discuss the implementation of Ambition 2 of the Kent and Medway Economic Framework (KMEF): Widen opportunities and unlock talent.

The four action areas under this ambition are:

• Embedding the Local Skills Improvement Plan at the heart of a closer relationship between employers, further education and other skills providers to meet current and future skills needs
• Investing in Kent and Medway's skills infrastructure to harness the potential of the long-term transformational tends we have identified and support the growth of our sectoral strengths
• Collaborating to make the most effective use of skills budgets, focused on Kent and Medway's shared priorities
• Retaining and developing talent

The committee was scheduled to receive updates on:

• The Kent & Medway Employment Task Force
• The Local Skills Improvement Plan
• The Get Kent & Medway Working Plan
• The Skills Bootcamps Programme
• The Connect to Work Programme

Decisions Taken Between Cabinet Committee Meetings

The Cabinet Committee was scheduled to be informed of decision 25/00084, taken by Mr Paul King between scheduled meetings, to reinstate a Visitor Economy and Inward Investment Service for Kent & Medway.

According to the report, the closure of Visit Kent and Locate in Kent created a significant gap in Kent & Medway's business support and economic development landscape.

The report stated that Locate in Kent supported 1,130 companies over 28 years, helping to create or retain 70,165 jobs, and Visit Kent supported hundreds of businesses annually, contributing to a tourism sector worth £4bn GVA, with 6,000 businesses and 75,000 employees.

Work Programme 2025/26

The committee was scheduled to review its work programme for 2025/26.