Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,895
That is a big part of the problem, too many in Dover seem too believe there is no money in or around Dover to be spent. Although we might not be a rich town there is certainly money out there just waiting to land in the right tills.
Now for the hard bit, how to stop this negative image and stop the money going into surrounding towns.
Thinking of the other thread from Kathy this is where a truly local paper comes into its own with a rally call for help.
The Chamber of Commerce certainly give the impression they are not worth bothering with.
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
Thanks Ross.
I believe that Town-Teams or Town Manager is, or should be, the same thing, just a different name. Everyone has a different view and maybe that is part of the problem, in that until a route is drawn up, people are all going in different ways and things need to be pulled together
I have started looking at my Tourism Strategy for Dover and the Plan of Action, both started some time ago.
Whilst going through and updating the tourism strategy today, it is clear that it is inextricably linked to the Plan of Action, so both need to be worked on.
I agree Jan that we need to stop negativity and start moving forward, the positives will come out of it.
Nothing to do with sour-grapes (as Keith keeps saying) but the Chamber of Commerce now have no interest in Dover Town and the retail businesses and tourism sites - both need to be linked together.
They have relinquished any interest in the Market and in fact, really stuffed that up.
I agree that when DBS was launched back in November 2009 as part of the Dover Chamber of Commerce, everyone's hopes were very high - including mine, but as that died 4 months later, the Chamber made some very bad decisions and nothing was done for Dover and nothing has been since.
They "should" be the natural body for this, but that will never happen.
Roger
Forgive my ignorance but can someone explain to me what the following organizations do and how they differ from each other
I really honestly cant get my head around it , there is no hidden agenda to my question
Dover Town Council
DDC
The Chamber of Commerce
DBS ? I dont even now what that stands for !
I know some of them have websites and I have checked them , but they are very scant on detail on what they actually do and why its them that does it and not another body/organization
Jan Higgins- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,895
Being rather cynical the simple answer when it comes to promoting Dover is not a lot.
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
that is an easy one sarah.
dbs stands for dover business support that is no more as far as i know.
dover town council makes recommendations to dover district council about our town.
naturally the district council largely ignore them.
the chamber of commerce exists to gain members who pay fees to them.
you forgot to ask about kent county council.
Thanks Howard , I know what KCC does but I still dont get why the town council exists ,is it like a Parish council for the town areas of dover ?
DBS is still a mystery
The chamber of commerce is a purely commercial organization then , with no statutory role ?
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
yes the town council is a larger version of a parish council whereby they look like taking on more responsibility from the district council.
once the two get around to agreeing on things.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
dover business support is/was an organisation that got roger to work for nothing.
what you might call a reverse sinecure.
Thanks Howard , that begins to make a bit more sense , I could see that in each organization it might be easy to become enmeshed in Empire building rather than the bigger picture and greater good , again I am not suggesting this is what happens just in interlinked groups that arent answerable to an overall remit its easy for this to happen
Re 28 , that dosnt seem right who ran it ? if its not too tactless to ask
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
the chamber of commerce sarah!!
at one time they had a column in the express but sadly the head man ray haines passed away and we hear nothing much since.
there is a chap called david foley(always on the box) who seems very clued up but he rejoices under the title of east kent chamber of commerce nowadays.
i don't know if he is still with the dover chamber.
Thank you again ! Im more confused but I think Im getting the hand of it
I will stop asking questions now as I dont want you getting one of your heads
FFS
I may need that bottle of Bushmills I have been keeping for emergencies...........
Bern ,Now we know how Howard feels when we post our " explainitory " links
Ross Miller
- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 17 Sep 2008
- Posts: 3,707
The Town Council is essentially a parish council, so sadly has limited powers, but hopefully makes up for that in influence, the District Council has all the statutory powers (planning, environment, community safety etc.) that should be brought to bear on improving the street scene etc in the town centre. The Chamber of Commerce should ideally be the co-ordinating body for businesses (retailers, offices and most importantly landlords) in the town centre, unfortunately it has failed to attract many members in the retail sector etc and as such has minimal influence.
There are a number of things that need to be done to get any serious regeneration of town centres moving
1. Establishing and understanding what strengths there are to build on
2. Recognising and prioritising the weaknesses
3. Establishing a vision for the future that all stakeholders buy in to
4. Producing a master plan that covers how to promote the existing strengths,action plans and deadlines for dealing with the weaknesses, identifying relevant organisations to carry them out etc.
The challenges are many, not least getting all parties around a table, getting landlords to understand and agree that reducing rents is likely to create longer revenue streams, getting business/commerce/councils to fund a team to organise and run the town centre and manage the regeneration plan, getting the councils to delegate adequate and appropriate powers etc.
Sadly for Dover at the moment there is too much politics going on and too many vested interests
"Dream as if you'll live forever. Live as if you'll die today." - James Dean
"Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength,
While loving someone deeply gives you courage" - Laozi
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
Well done Howard on your explanations for the various roles; sorry Sarah I should have put what DBS stood for.
I was given the role of Dover Business Support Manager in November 2009, by the (then) Director of Business Development at DCoC (Dover Chamber of Commerce); he was not fully honest with me or the Chamber and after 4 months sacked me for personal reasons, none of them made any business sense and he was consequently dismissed himself by the DCoC and that's when their interest in Dover died.
I do believe their time is limited, as they have no influence now and their members get very little out of it, apart from a sense of belonging - and a diary.
Good posting Ross, describes most things very well. When at DBS, I had drawn up a list of projects and initiatives to help move the Town forward, including a survey for all the Town's businesses to complete, so we know what their concerns and aspirations are and we can work on them too.
It has been a lone-voice for too long - hope you get what Dover needs: hope Dover gets what Dover needs - and deserves.
I fear it'll never happen though - will the 3 main stake-holders listen ? I think the answer is no if it involves a financial commitment and that is where the problem is.
We've talked and discussed on here many times what should be done, but nothing has ever changed; will 2012 be different ?
Roger
Thank you Roger and Ross , the explaination you and Howard have giben makes it a lot clearer . Now ! will Dover be putting in a bid ?
Keith Sansum1
- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,942
lets hope so sarah
ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS
It would be criminal if we didn't!
Jan Higgins- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,895
I would be willing to put money on Dover NOT putting in a bid. DDC and Town are full of talk but little action, or so it seems.
Sorry I am having a negative day.
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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