Venue: Council Chamber, Town Hall, Royal Tunbridge Wells, TN1 1RS. View directions
Contact: Democratic Services Team
No. | Item |
---|---|
To receive any apologies for absence. Additional documents: Minutes: Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Ellis and Palmer. |
|
Declarations of Interests PDF 66 KB To receive any declarations of interest by members of the Council in items on the agenda. For any advice on declarations of interest, please contact the Monitoring Officer before the meeting. Additional documents: Minutes: There were no declarations of disclosable pecuniary or other significant interest made at the meeting. |
|
Notification of Persons Wishing to Speak PDF 29 KB To note any members of the Council wishing to speak, of which due notice has been given in accordance with Council Meeting Procedure Rule 18, and which items they wish to speak on. Additional documents: Minutes: There were no visiting Members or members of the public registered to speak. |
|
Minutes of the meeting dated 8 September 2021 PDF 161 KB 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. Additional documents: Minutes: No amendments were proposed.
RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting dated 8 September 2021 be approved as a correct record. |
|
Forward Plan as at 27 September 2021 PDF 290 KB To note forthcoming items as set out in the Forward Plan. Additional documents: Minutes: The Forward Plan was taken as read.
RESOLVED – That the Forward Plan as at 27 September 2021 be noted. |
|
Draft Housing , Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy 2021-2026 PDF 215 KB To consider and provide a recommendation to Cabinet on the proposals set out in the attached report. Additional documents:
Minutes: Sue Oliver, Private Sector Housing Manager introduced the report set out in the agenda.
Discussion and questions from Members included the following:
- The Housing Team were congratulated on this ambitious and comprehensive report. - The Housing Advisory Panel (HAP) had reviewed the report and the current version reflected all the questions and issues raised by them. - The continued support from S106 money to provide social accommodation was very welcome. - The scheme to install gas central heating into homes had been running for a number of years. For those in particular need, the elderly and those in fuel poverty, this scheme was free. Other forms of heating were currently too expensive for this purpose. - However, the Council had submitted a bid for funding as part of the recent Government scheme, ‘Sustainable Warmth’. If successful, it would enable the Council to consider other forms of heating e.g. air source and ground source heat pumps. - The Crescent Road flats had air source heat pumps. - The Russell Hotel were congratulated on their work in helping the Council house homeless people. - Currently only one property had been identified for use to accommodate an Afghan Refugee family. The Council would be looking to see what more could be done to identify suitable housing options and were now proactively contacting letting agents direct and looking the possibility of using empty properties. - One of the main reasons only one property had been secured was because larger properties were invariably needed and these were more difficult to source. - It was an aspiration that the Council would be able to offer homes for 10 Afghan families. However, it was noted that the Borough had yet to be allocated any families. - More work was needed on how best the Council could work with private landlords. At present the Council was doing work with some private sector landlords, particularly those who were able to take on tenants in more challenging situations. It was agreed that more information on this would be sent after the meeting. - The Strategy included links to the Pre-Submission Local Plan with the intention that the 2 documents could sit alongside each other. - Waiting times for housing was a general average figure which was largely due to availability. - It was agreed the report should include details about energy efficiency in respect of affordability to help ensure there were minimal instances of fuel poverty. - It was agreed the Strategy should include a glossary of terms.
RESOLVED – That the recommendations set out in the report be supported. |
|
Declaration of an Air Quality Management Area - Hawkhurst PDF 577 KB To consider and provide a recommendation to Cabinet on the proposals set out in the attached report. Additional documents: Minutes: Stuart Maxwell, Senior Scientific Officer introduced the report set out in the agenda.
Discussion and questions from Members included the following:
- As exhaust emissions continued to lower, the weight carry issue was becoming more relevant. - The sale of diesel cars (passenger car fleet) in 2011 peaked at about 56%, in 2020 this had reduced to about 16%. This partly explained the current improvements in air quality. - As exhaust emissions improved, the non-exhaust emissions such as tyres, brakes etc. become a more significant part of the problem.
RESOLVED – That the recommendations set out in the report be supported.
|
|
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. Additional documents: Minutes: There was no urgent business. |
|
Date of the Next Meeting PDF 28 KB To note that the date of the next scheduled meeting is Wednesday 17 November 2021 at 6.30pm in the Council Chamber, Town Hall, Tunbridge Wells. Additional documents: Minutes: The next meeting was scheduled for Wednesday 17 November 2021 at 6:30pm. |