Tuesday 29 December 2009

Kent on Sunday kindly invited me to look into my “crystal ball” and set out my vision for Kent over the coming year.

This is a flavour of my column:

Some things about the coming year we know already. There will be a general election. The public sector will have to provide more with less money and private sector businesses will continue to struggle. Personally the last 12 months have most certainly been the worst I have experienced in 30 years of running my own businesses in central London.

The public sector in general needs to understand that support to our business community is crucial, good public services are dependent upon the private sector providing job opportunities and prosperity as well as paying significant taxation to pay for good public services. We need less regulation, less bureaucracy and less interference from government if we are to allow private sector companies to flourish.

As Leader of Kent County Council I will do all I can within my powers to deliver a “can do” culture that supports the business community to grow and not get in the way.

Maintaining our significant capital programme in Kent, building out the essentially needed infrastructure - new roads, new schools, new social care facilities – totalling in excess of £1billion in the next three years will continue to benefit many private sector contractors.

We will set out our ambitious plans for much needed further public infrastructure projects; a Third Thames crossing and improved access for freight from Dover and Folkestone to the rest of the country, a second Thames flood barrier, extension of High Speed 1 to Manston to unlock East Kent’s vast potential.

I have every expectation that Kent will go from strength to strength in the coming 12 months.

Wishing you a happy and prosperous New Year.