Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Councillors Ellis, Hill, Patterson, Pope, Rands and Rutland.

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.

There were no declarations of disclosable pecuniary or other significant interest made at the meeting.

To note any Visiting Members or members of the public wishing to speak, of which due notice has been given in accordance with Council Meeting Procedure Rule 18 and 19, and which items they wish to speak on.

There were no members of the public of visiting Members registered to speak.

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting dated 17 November 2021 be approved as a correct record.

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.

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting dated 2 March 2022 be approved as a correct record

The Forward Plan was taken as read.

RESOLVED – that the Forward Plan as at 8 March 2022 be approved as a correct record. 

Terry Hughes, Community Safety Officer presented his report as per the agenda.

Discussion and questions from Members included the following:

              i.        It was advised that a question would be put to the parking manager about whether a licence could be obtained to allow for various activities in the car park during quiet periods such as skateboarding, and what was Tunbridge Wells Borough Council (TWBC) liability, given that they had taken on some risk.

             ii.        It was advised that the order would be written to allow non risk activities such as band practice or farmers market to go ahead without falling foul of the PSPO.

            iii.        The CSU along with Highweald Partnership ensured that the signage used in specific areas such as Sherwood Lakes was conducive to the area, not off putting and very clear.

           iv.        Plans to have direct discussions with the local fishermen in those areas were in place to ensure they knew where not to fish, with other options highlighted.

             v.        It was mentioned that the co-operation between the CSU and the Police was good and had improved.

           vi.        It was advised that a plan was needed to determine how to evidence any discretion and some of the various options available were highlighted.

RESOLVED:

1.    That in addition to the request for an order would be written to allow non risk activities such as band practice or farmers market to go ahead without falling foul of the PSPO, the recommendations to Cabinet as set out in the report be supported.

Terry Hughes, Community Safety Officer presented his report as per the agenda.

Discussion and questions from Members included the following:

              i.        It was advised that the CSU would endeavour to bring the figures to cabinet by means of a briefing if not available in time for the next meeting of the Committee.

             ii.        It was advised that Tunbridge Wells was still a very safe place to live and although there had been an increase in crime they were generally of a low level and showed an increase in confidence in reporting crimes and the support available to offer the community.

            iii.        Thanks was given to the Police, CSU and voluntary groups that helped make Tunbridge Wells a safe place to live.

           iv.        On request Hate Crime was discussed and Inspector James outlined the measures that dealt with those offences.

             v.        Details of the plan that dealt with violence toward women and girls taken out in November 2021 were highlighted which included safer streets funding and public engagement.

           vi.        It was confirmed that plans were in place to have CCTV cameras introduced to Crescent Road, Torrington and Great Hall car parks to make Tunbridge Wells safer.

          vii.        The quality of information received through the local reporting tool was considered to give a good indication about safe and unsafe areas in the borough.

RESOLVED:

1.    That the recommendations to Cabinet as 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.

There was no urgent business for consideration.

To note that the date of the next scheduled meeting is Wednesday 8 June 2022.

The date of the next meeting was scheduled for Wednesday 8 June 2022.