Agenda, decisions and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Hamilton.  Councillor March joined the meeting at 10:35am and Councillor Scott joined the meeting at 10:45am.

To receive any declarations of interest by Members in items on the agenda. For any advice on declarations of interest; please contact the Monitoring Officer before the meeting.

It was noted that Councillor March was a trustee of the Amelia Scott but this was a non pecuniary interest.

To note any members of the Council wishing to speak, of which due notice has been given in accordance with Cabinet Procedure Rule 28.4, and which item(s) they wish to speak on.

There were no visiting Members who had registered as wishing to speak.

To approve the minutes of a previous meeting as a correct record. The only issue relating to the minutes that can be discussed is their accuracy.

Members reviewed the minutes. No amendments were proposed.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting dated 17 March 2022 be approved as a correct record.

To receive any questions from members of the Council, of which due notice has been given in accordance with Cabinet Procedure Rule 28.3, to be submitted and answered.

There were no questions from members of the Council.

To receive any questions from members of the public, of which due notice has been given in accordance with Cabinet Procedure Rule 28.5, to be submitted and answered.

There were no questions from members of the public.

To note any forthcoming items as set out in the Forward Plan. 

Members considered the plan. No amendments were proposed.

RESOLVED – That the Forward Plan as at 5 April 2022 be noted.

To consider and decide on the recommendations as set out in the associated report. 

RESOLVED –

1.    That the budget control total for the Amelia Scott will be increased to £21.27m and the actions proposed to address the increased budgetary required be noted.

2.    That the S151 Officer in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Finance and Governance be delegated to make available the gross figure of £468k on request of the head of Economic Development and Property be approved.

3.    That the S151 Officer be authorised to determine the source of additional funding (which may include borrowing) referred to above be approved. 

REASON FOR DECISION: The additional funding would mean the final works would be completed to meet the opening dates in April 2022. 

CALL-IN AND URGENCY

In accordance with the provisions Of Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rule 14 in Part 4 of the Constitution, the Chairman of Overview and Scrutiny gave prior agreement that this decision was urgent and would not be subject to call-in as delay would seriously prejudice the Council’s or the public’s interest.

Paul Taylor, Director of Change and Communities introduced the report set out in the agenda.

Discussion and questions from Member included the following:

-       Those involved in the Amelia Scott project were thanked for all their work in getting the scheme delivered. 

-       It was very important that the scheme was seen as a community project.

-       As an example of what a scheme such as this could bring to the community, a recent study of the Turner Contemporary identified that for every £1 spent on the project, it returned a value of about £4. 

-       It was therefore predicted that whilst a significant amount of money was spent on the project, the value of the programme to the people of Tunbridge Wells and across the whole Borough would be paid back many fold over.

-       It was noted and understood that there had been significant difficulties during the construction phase but the commitment by the officers should be congratulated. 

-       The emerging programme for the opening period was very exciting and should deliver benefits for the town. 

To note, the matter was decided taking the exempt information set out in the Agenda as read.

RESOLVED –

1.    That the budget control total for the Amelia Scott will be increased to £21.27m and the actions proposed to address the increased budgetary required be noted.

2.    That the S151 Officer in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Finance and Governance be delegated to make available the gross figure of £468k on request of the head of Economic Development and Property be approved.

3.    That the S151 Officer be authorised to determine the source of additional funding (which may include borrowing) referred to above be approved. 

REASON FOR DECISION: The additional funding would mean the final works would be completed to meet the opening dates in April 2022. 

CALL-IN AND URGENCY

In accordance with the provisions Of Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rule 14 in Part 4 of the Constitution, the Chairman of Overview and Scrutiny gave prior agreement that this decision was urgent and would not be subject to call-in as delay would seriously prejudice the Council’s or the public’s interest.

To consider and decide on the recommendations as set out in the associated report. 

RESOLVED –

1.    That an order to restrict fishing on the south and western side of Sherwood Lake to daytime only (7am to 7pm) and an alcohol restriction around the entire lake (Measure 4) be approved.

2.    That a late-night curfew requiring people to leave St John’s Park between the hours of 11pm and 5am (Measure 5) be approved. 

3.    That an order to implement a no loitering, gathering or partaking in unauthorised non-parking related activities requirement in the multi-storey car parks, with an express understanding that rough sleeping does not fall into any of the categories on any order imposed (Measure 6) be approved.

REASON FOR DECISION: Implementation of measures to protect and provide provision for enforcement would help alleviate and better address and control anti-social or unwelcome behaviour. 

Terry Hughes, Community Safety Manager introduced the report set out in the agenda.

Discussion and questions from Members included the following:

-       It was confirmed that the PSPO for the car parks would not preclude the Council from using the space for other activities e.g. farmers market, band practice etc.

-       The measures introduced by the Council and the collaborative working with the police were to be congratulated.

-       The issue at Sherwood Lake was something that was of particular concern to the residents so the measures being introduced were very welcome.

RESOLVED –

1.    That an order to restrict fishing on the south and western side of Sherwood Lake to daytime only (7am to 7pm) and an alcohol restriction around the entire lake (Measure 4) be approved.

2.    That a late-night curfew requiring people to leave St John’s Park between the hours of 11pm and 5am (Measure 5) be approved. 

3.    That an order to implement a no loitering, gathering or partaking in unauthorised non-parking related activities requirement in the multi-storey car parks, with an express understanding that rough sleeping does not fall into any of the categories on any order imposed (Measure 6) be approved.

REASON FOR DECISION: Implementation of measures to protect and provide provision for enforcement would help alleviate and better address and control anti-social or unwelcome behaviour. 

To consider and decide on the recommendations as set out in the associated report. 

RESOLVED – That Full Council be recommended that the Community Safety Partnership Plan 2022/23 be approved.

REASON FOR DECISION: To confirm the multi-agency activity to reduce crime and disorder.

Terry Hughes, Community Safety Manager introduced the report set out in the agenda.

Discussion and questions from Members included the following:

-       The Council were achieving first, second or third in all of the categories of crime being reported and this made the Council the safest place in Kent and probably one of the safest places in England to live and work.

-       Keeping abreast of national trends would continue to be important.

-       The Near Miss Register and the register the police used to establish where people felt unsafe would continue to be an important tool that would allow the police to determine what could be done to make those areas feel safer.

-       It was confirmed that the final decision would be made by Full Council. 

RESOLVED – That Full Council be recommended that the Community Safety Partnership Plan 2022/23 be approved.

REASON FOR DECISION: To confirm the multi-agency activity to reduce crime and disorder.

To consider any other items which the Chairman decides are urgent, for the reasons to be stated, in accordance with Section 100B(4) of the Local Government Act 1972.

There was no urgent business.

It was however noted that this was Cllr McDermott’s last meeting of Cabinet as he would be standing down as a Councillor at the next election.  Thanks were given for his many years of service. 

To note that the date of the next scheduled meeting is Wednesday 25 May 2022 (Annual Cabinet). 

The next meeting would be held on Wednesday 25 May 2022 (Annual Cabinet).