Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Councillors Atkins, Ms Palmer, Patterson, Pope and Rands.

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday 23 February 2022 as a correct record. The only issue relating to the minutes that can be discussed is their accuracy.

Councillor Woodward moved, and Councillor Bland seconded, acceptance of the minutes subject to a series of corrections to the minutes which had been circulated under separate cover.

Councillor Everitt moved, and Councillor Pound seconded, an amendment to add a further correction.

Debate on the amendment included:

·         The corrections moved by Councillor Woodward had been checked by Democratic Services against the recording.

·         The correction moved by Councillor Everitt had not been checked by Democratic Services but accuracy was assured by the mover.

·         The correction reflected the meaning of what had been said which had been lost in the minute.

Councillor Hamilton requested a recorded vote on the amendment.

Members who voted for the amendment: Councillors Allen, Atwood, Backhouse, Bailey, Barrington-King, Bland, Britcher-Allan, Chapelard, Dawlings, Ellis, Everitt, Fairweather, Fitzsimmons, Funnell, Goodship, C. Hall, Dr L. Hall, Hamilton, Hayward, Hickey, Hill, Holden, Knight, Lewis, Lidstone, March, McDermott, Morton, Poile, Pound, Roberts, Rutland, Sankey, Scholes, Scott, Simmons, Thomson, Warne, White, Willis, Woodward and Wormington. (42)

Members who voted against the amendment: None.

Members who abstained from voting: None.

AMENDMENT CARRIED

The motion as amended became the substantive motion.

The Mayor took a vote on the motion by affirmation.

RESOLVED –

1.    That minute FC75/21, Questions from members of the public, supplementary question to question 9 from James Tansley, be amended to replace the wording with: “In Financial Year 2021, according to the Council’s Coronavirus dashboard, the Council was only delivering half of its services. It was rated worst in the country for delivering grants to small business. Your Chief Exec was quoted as saying he found it “appalling”. Tunbridge Wells also had the seventh worst bin collection record in the country. Meanwhile, delivery of both the Amelia Scott centre and the Local Plan are significantly behind schedule is running over building costs. And the Council was only able to balance its books with money provided by central government. In light of this, why is the council rewarding failure, or has the council lost control and allowing officers to pay themselves whatever they want?”;

2.    That minute FC76/21, Questions from members of the Council, answer to supplementary question to question 2 from Councillor Everitt, be amended to replace the wording with: “I think we have to recognise what the Council is focused on and what it isn’t focused on. I suggest that maybe, maybe you’re right but our Housing team have plenty of things to deal with.”;

3.    That minute FC77/21, bullet point 37, be amended to replace the wording with: “6 of the 8 big projects in the Five Year Plan had not been delivered.”;

4.    That minute FC77/21, bullet point 42, be amended to replace the wording with: “Tunbridge Wells was found to be one of the lowest scoring councils in Kent in a study of the Council’s climate change action plan.”;

5.    That minute FC77/21, bullet point 43, be amended to replace the wording with: “The Real Living Wage from April would be £9.90; the increase over the course of year was  ...  view the full minutes text for item FC88/21

To receive any declarations of interest by members in items on the agenda.in accordance with the Members’ Code of Conduct. For any advice on declarations of interest; please contact the Monitoring Officer before the meeting.

No declarations of pecuniary or other significant interest were made.

To receive announcements from the Mayor, the Leader of the Council, members of the Cabinet and the Chief Executive.

The Mayor made the following announcements:

·         Advised a full list of his activities as Mayor is available and asked people to email him should they like a copy.

·         Civic Dinner was a great success and managed to raise £1,490. for the Mayors Charity (Mental Health)

·         The Mayor took this opportunity to thanks all that supported the event.

The Leader of the Council:

·         Acknowledge the great support shown by William Benson in support of the Ukraine Refugee actions.

·         TWBC role is focused on reviewing accommodation being offered, have set up a website in multiple languages

·         KCC have been focused on DBS checks, education and health matters

·         William has continued to supply support in other areas.

·         2 x Borough Councillors are a providing housing and are experiencing first-hand the issues faced such as opening bank accounts etc.

Portfolio Holder for Environment, Culture and Leisure announced

·         Expressed her thanks to all of those who helped and support in the completion go the Amelia Scott

·         The preview opening was well attended and received positive feedback.

Portfolio Holder for Communities and Wellbeing

·         At the last Full Council meeting in February I was asked how many social housing units have been delivered over the last five years. I now have the figures so I would like to take this opportunity to confirm that 634 such dwellings have been provided.

·         There is a very good reason as to why the numbers of social rented houses to be built are low. 

·         This all relates to the fact that the existing planning policies for affordable housing are too old. 

·         There are different tenures of affordable housing: affordable rent, social rent, and intermediate forms of housing, such as shared ownership.

·         Most new affordable housing – including social rented housing – is delivered through planning policy requiring that a certain proportion of houses on new major residential developments are provided as such. 

·         The current planning policy in relation to affordable housing dates from 2010 – it is long in the tooth.  There is no requirement in this policy, or in associated Supplementary Planning Documentation, for a particular mix of affordable housing.  There is no requirement or ability for Officers to insist on social rented housing. 

·         The affordable housing policy in the new Local Plan will address this.  It requires that for every 100 houses to be built on a greenfield site that 24 will be for social rent, 16 will be for intermediate forms of affordable housing such as shared ownership, and 60 will be for market sale. 

·         This will provide a significant boost to the amount of affordable housing. 

·         Ahead of the new Local Plan being adopted Officers have in recent years been able to exert more leverage, when negotiating on planning applications, to increase the amount of social rented housing in schemes.  And as these start to be built out, so the delivery of social rented houses will increase in the short term. 

·         This all demonstrates why it is so important that we have a new Local Plan in  ...  view the full minutes text for item FC90/21

To receive any questions from members of the public, of which due notice has been given in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 8, to be submitted and answered.

The Mayor advised that there were six questions from members of the public had been received under Council Procedure Rule 8.2.

Question 1 from Aaron Brand

“Will the developments in RTW help to rejuvenate the town centre?”

Answer from Councillor Scott

“There are a number of proposed and actual developments all currently being worked on and invested in by this Council and private developers and companies.

From the top of the hill down we have:

1.    The Elite Leisure development in the BHS store and is designed to bring in people particularly younger adults which will add in younger footfall

2.    The Amelia Scott which will be opening tomorrow to the general public with a range of events and exhibitions which will bring new activity and vibrancy to the town centre attracting up to 480,000 visits each year, with 18,000 learners coming to the centre per annum.

3.    The Coworking Space, and facilities in this space, the Council Buildings. The Council have announced the selection of Town Square Spaces Limited as our partner and will be working with the provider to bring forward the planning application for the development of the co-working space over the next few months.

4.    The AXA / Retirement Villages development of the ABC-Cinema site

5.    The many shops, vacated during the pandemic and currently being redeveloped up and down our town centre. As an example Royal Victoria Place Shopping Centre are experiencing strong demand for space in the centre. As you would expect these take a while to convert. 12 business renewals, 7 new businesses and 6 other units under discussion of which 3 are businesses upsizing. In Ely Court potentially a new operator will see four of the businesses which are staying, joined by nine other units being filled.

6.    The High Street scheme has been retained and new planters are being introduced to the Calverley Precinct.

7.    And within The Pantiles, The Chalybeate Spring where a new opportunity is being developed and planning permission has recently been given.

So yes. Each of these developments will bring additional people to Tunbridge Wells town centre to spend money here. This will help not only these developments but the many hospitality and shopping venues across the town in the day and evening economies. Each of the development will help substantially in the post-Covid rejuvenation of Royal Tunbridge Wells.”

No supplementary question.

Question 2 from James Tansley

“On 6 April, the Chair of Overview and Scrutiny claimed that the latest increase in the Amelia Scott budget could not be called in for debate as 'delay would seriously prejudice the Council’s or the public’s interest'. Please can Councillor Thomson explain to me, and other local taxpayers, how democratic scrutiny of the additional expenditure of £468,000 of public money – which is more than 5% of the money the Council will receive in Council tax this financial year – prejudices, seriously or otherwise, the public’s interest?”

Answer from Councillor Dawlings

“I take the need for democratic scrutiny very seriously.  ...  view the full minutes text for item FC91/21

To receive any questions from members of the Council, of which due notice has been given in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 10, to be submitted and answered.

The Mayor advised that 5 questions from members of the Council had been received under Council Procedure Rule 10.6

Question 1 from Councillor Pound

“The detailed and well-constructed report ‘Mind The Gap. Tunbridge Wells Borough: Health Inequalities Action Plan 2015-2019’ report contains baseline figures (2014) for all but one of the six priorities the Council was going to address with partner agencies between 2015-2019. Can the Portfolio Holder please advise members when and at which CAB or Committee progress has been reported on these priorities and also provide an update on the 2014 baseline figures to confirm positive progress in each of them?”

Answer from Councillor Fairweather

“The action plan was developed by the local multi agency Health Action Team (HAT) and pre-dates my time as a councillor. The plan was monitored through the HAT rather than through specific reports to Cabinet or committees. Previous portfolio holders will have had the opportunity to highlight progress and answer questions as part of their annual updates to Overview and Scrutiny however I am not aware that took place as I was neither a portfolio holder at that time nor a member of the Overview and Scrutiny.

The HAT meetings were suspended during Covid with progress on actions to support vulnerable people being report to the Covid Member Panel.

As to any progress made, changes in national data collection means that comparable data isn’t available across all themes but there have been improvements in the areas of adult obesity, smoking and alcohol misuse when compared with the England average.

As chairman of the HAT, the meetings have been reconvened and we will be working with KCC’s Public Health to develop a new plan recognising that excess winter deaths and child obesity in particular continue to present challenges in our local area.”

Supplementary question from Councillor Pound

“How do you align your statement this evening, that 634 units of social housing not all affordable housing, has been developed in the last 5 years, when on 3rd Nov 2021 I have an email from an officer of the council who had spoken to Cabinet on the 28 Oct confirming that of the 313 new units of affordable housing built in the last 5 years only 26 were for social rent.”

Supplementary answer from Councillor Fairweather

“I can’t see the correlation or relevance with the supplementary provided after my first response. That said, it is quite a lengthy supplementary and contains some quite complex data and if Councillor Pound should care to write his supplementary I will ensure its replied to in full.”

Question 2 from Councillor Rutland

“Local residents, along with councillors of all parties, including members of the Joint Transportation Board, have expressed concerns about pedestrian safety in the new public realm in front of the War Memorial. These fears were confirmed on 9 April when there was an incident involving a motorbike and two pedestrians, in which two people were hospitalised. One year ago, a KCC review stated ‘Road Safety Audits of the  ...  view the full minutes text for item FC92/21

To note the use of the Council’s Urgency Procedures in accordance with the Constitution.

Councillor Woodward moved and Councillor Bland seconded the recommendations set out in the notice on the agenda.

The Mayor took a vote on the motion by affirmation.

RESOLVED –

1.    That the use of the Call-In and Urgency Procedure in accordance with Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rule 14 in respect of Portfolio Holder decision: Garden Waste Services Reinstatement made on 10 March 2022 be noted; and

2.    That the use of the Call-In and Urgency Procedure in accordance with Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rule 14 in respect of Cabinet decision: Amelia Scott Budget and Update made on 14 April 2022 be noted.

To consider and, if thought fit, to approve the recommendations set out in the associated report

Councillor Scott moved, and Councillor Dawlings seconded, the recommendation set out in the report on the agenda.

Debate included consideration for the following points:

·         TWBC places a high level of focus on the Community Safety Action Plan.

·         Its main focus is to ensure Women and Girls are safe at home or in the streets.

·         CSAP meet regularly to analyse data and trends to develop strategic action plans to ensure RTW is a low crime town.

·         Violence against Women and Girls main priority.

·         Issues that were left out of the report, where O&S raised 4 points

o   Further information on seeking data on road accidents including youths.

o   The data on ethnicity of hate crimes be enlarged.

o   Separated out data between Town Centre crimes from Culverdon and Park wards.

o   Local v’s National App for tracking crimes.

·         Concern around anti-social behaviour increasing since Covid.

·         Southborough and High brooms lacks strong police presence.

·         Police are too reactive and taking too long to resolve.

·         Too much pressure on police budgets which is having a serious impact on society.

·         Drugs and drug dealing seems to be on increase however there are no data around amount of arrests and reports lacks the detail around this area.

·         Volume of complaints continues to be on the rise from residents around anti-social behaviours.

·         Traffic accidents not clearly distinguished between killed v’s seriously injured data needs to be separated.

·         Increase in road speeding.

·         Air quality is getting worse due to increased traffic.

·         Sexual offences are on the increase >19.9%.

·         Not enough substance behind actions.

·         Recommendations around safety of Women and Girls is not adequate and no coherent strategy.

·         Home Office App/Police App No coherent strategy in place.

·         Joined up intelligence is needed and joined up activities with police.

·         Knife crimes are increasing and an increase in Cuckooing on vulnerable people.

·         Community safety partnership unit are doing some amazing work and are being very proactive.

·         Speed watch is in place and the burden is mainly being carries by Councillors, it is a priority that we engage the public especially with the increase of 20mph areas.

The Mayor took a vote on the motion by affirmation.

RESOLVED – That the Community Safety Partnership Plan 2022/2023 be approved.

To consider and, if thought fit, to approve the recommendations set out in the associated report

Councillor Dawlings moved, and Councillor Scott seconded, the recommendation set out in the report on the agenda.

The report was taken as read.

The Mayor took a vote on the motion by affirmation

RESOLVED – That all Councillors, who during the period 10th December 2021 up to and including 26 January 2022 (Plan B Period) attended non-decision making Council meetings virtually and/or did not attend the Full Council Meeting on 15 December 2021 in person as a result of reduced numbers of those in attendance having been agreed between the Council’s political Group Leaders (Group Leaders), receive a dispensation in respect of the six-month nonattendance rule as specified in Section 85 (1) of the Local Government Act 1972 due to the further safety measures introduced by the Government on 8 December 2021 (‘Plan B’) to address rising numbers in coronavirus cases as a result of the Omicron variant.

To consider and, if thought fit, to approve the recommendations set out in the associated report

Councillor Dawlings moved, and Councillor Chapelard seconded, the recommendation set out in the report on the agenda.

Members recorded their agreement and appreciation of Councillor Patterson.

The Mayor took a vote on the motion by affirmation.

RESOLVED – That Councillor Hugh Patterson be appointed Deputy Mayor for the municipal year 2022/23.

To consider and if thought fit to approve the motion as set out in the associated notice.

Councillor Dawlings moved, and Councillor McDermott, moved the recommendation set out in the report on the report.

Members recalled the Mayor’s achievements during their mayoral year and thanked him for his service.

The Deputy Mayor took a vote on the motion by affirmation.

RESOLVED – That Tunbridge Wells Borough Council records it’s appreciation for the valuable services rendered by the Mayor, and the assistance given to them by the Mayoress, during their period in office.

To consider any other items which the Mayor 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.

To authorise the Common Seal of the Council to be affixed to any contract, minute, notice or other document arising out of the minutes, or pursuant to any delegation, authority or power conferred by the Council.

Councillor Woodward moved and Councillor Bland seconded the recommendations set out in the notice on the agenda.

The Mayor took a vote on the motion by affirmation.

RESOLVED – That the Common Seal of the Council be affixed to any contract, minute, notice or other document arising out of the minutes or pursuant to any delegation, authority or power conferred by the Council.

To note that the date of the next meeting is 25 May 2022.

The next scheduled meeting was Wednesday 25 May 2022.