Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Councillor Wilkinson.

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 interest made.

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, or visiting Members of the Council registered 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.

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting dated 13 April 2023 was a true record of the proceeding.

RESOLVED: That the Forward Plan as at 23 June 2023, be noted.

Councillor Justine Rutland, Cabinet for Economic Development gave an overview and introduced Hilary Smith, Economic Development manager who presented the report as per the agenda.

Member questions and officer clarification included:

                 i.          Members took note of points made about renewable energy and transport.

                ii.          It was advised that Net Zero was the first objective on the list and at the top of the action plan which aligned the economic development strategy with climate change.

               iii.          Members took note of the point made about the text under the rural selection as well as adding more reference to the importance of agriculture and horticulture.

              iv.          Boarded up buildings in Southborough need to be repaired to improve the entrance to the borough. Listed buildings that are derelict need to be addressed. They were advised to take this to the town council about neighbourhood plans. Members took note but said they would think about this after the meeting.

RESOLVED:

That the recommendation(s) subject to the issues it has identified being taken into account by the Cabinet, be approved.

                 i.          To consider what work can be done with the CEAP that is relevant for businesses and the wider borough in terms of the addressing the climate emergency and carbon reduction. The impacts possible pathways included in the report towards impacts.

                ii.          Parish Councils being partners in the carbon reduction actions

               iii.          Rethinking how the focus on agriculture and horticulture in the rural areas the rural economies is addressed.

Gary Stevenson, Head of Housing, Health and Environment introduced Tobi Phillips, Affordable Housing and Enabling Housing Needs Officer who presented the report as per the agenda.

Member discussion and Officer clarification included:

                 i.          It was advised that the housing department had a relationship with most of the registered providers and most of them were within the Kent Housing Group.

                ii.          It was advised that earlier intervention working with registered providers closely and gaining suggestions of what the Housing Authority can provide may to help alleviate the anti-social behaviour.

RESOLVED:

1.     That the recommendation 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 6 September 2023 at 6.30pm in the Council Chamber, Town Hall, Tunbridge Wells.

The next meeting was scheduled for Wednesday 6 September 2023