Building on the past, focusing on the future – Canterbury City Council’s ambition to deliver a positive social impact

IN AN AREA FAMOUS FOR ITS HISTORY AND HERITAGE, CANTERBURY CITY COUNCIL IS VERY MUCH FOCUSED ON THE FUTURE. ITS LEADER, COUNCILLOR BEN FITTER-HARDING, IS SPEARHEADING EFFORTS TO DELIVER EQUALITY OF OPPORTUNITY TO ITS MIX OF URBAN, COASTAL AND RURAL COMMUNITIES.

The Council looks after the historic city of Canterbury, the coastal towns of Whitstable and Herne Bay as well as a large surrounding area of countryside and villages. The region’s close connection to London and the Continent means that it has always been a hugely popular tourist destination for domestic and international visitors. It is also home to three universities. People often refer to London and the South East in the same breath - as wealthy, affluent areas - and there is the danger that levelling up will be overlooked here as a result.

There are undoubtedly areas of privilege but in reality both are also home to areas of deprivation. Canterbury City Council has a number of wards which are in the top 20% areas of deprivation in the country, some in very close proximity to the well-known landmarks of the City. The impact of that poverty and unemployment inevitably extends to many other aspects of life including, for example, health and wellbeing or digital connectivity which will see the life chances of the people who live there dramatically reduced.

Like many other local authorities across the country, Canterbury City Council is dealing with the legacy of the pandemic which affected the retail and leisure sectors so significantly, in its seaside towns and city centres. It has also acknowledged the need to respond urgently to the impacts of climate change as well as the cost of living crisis which is presenting challenges in an area where the cost of living is already high. If there is a lesson to be learned from the last few years it is that councils have had to be hugely adaptable, willing to respond to changed circumstances while still delivering the services that their residents, businesses and stakeholders want to see.

The Council has taken local residents’ priorities and reflected them in the Council’s Corporate Plan, its Local Plan and its Levelling Up Fund bids, all designed to back business and growth and make the area a more prosperous and healthier place to live. Residents and businesses have said they want to see congestion and air quality, high quality affordable housing, improved access to community infrastructure, the protection of its landscapes, open spaces, habitats and heritage and a shift towards net zero at the top of their local agenda.

The Canterbury District Local Plan To 2045 is being developed with a focus on a strong and resilient economy, improved connectivity, healthy communities and a thriving environment. That includes providing high skilled jobs, vibrant cultural and creative areas, good public transport links, attractive open spaces and a range of homes to meet local need. A £20m Levelling Up Fund bid for Canterbury reimagines the City’s heritage assets and spaces to create a world class destination, transforming and connecting a host of landmarks, gardens and walkways while also improving public spaces and navigation around the city, including electric car charging and cycle hire. The plans will help bring history to life, boost jobs and strengthen the city’s economic recovery. The £13m bid for Herne Bay will additionally enhance community facilities on the seafront that will benefit residents and visitors while introducing a new, connected cycle and walking route. Both bids aim to bring tangible, visible improvements through a wide range of regenerative projects.

The South East is one of only three regions in the UK which is a net contributor to the Treasury so levelling up here is not only crucial for the local area but is also a vital part of levelling up the country as a whole. The Purpose Coalition will be working with Councillor Fitter-Harding and his team to develop a Levelling Up Impact Report to assess how Canterbury City Council is currently delivering a positive social impact for its communities and to suggest ways its work can be extended more widely to ensure flourishing communities across the region that will provide opportunity for those that live there.