Agenda item

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 eleven questions from members of the public had been received under Council Procedure Rule 8.

 

1. Question from Mrs Shadi Rogers:

 

“As a junior doctor who travels from High Brooms to a busy London hospital for my job as an anaesthetist and as a young mother, I am concerned about the mental health and well-being of people in my area, Sherwood. At a time when community engagement and support are so important, can you tell me why the charges for hiring rooms and the sports hall at the TN2 Community Centre, very local to me, are being increased this year when no other Community Centre’s charges seem to be?”

 

Answer from Councillor Mackonochie:

 

“The Council’s fees and charges have been set for 2021/22 and the TN2 Community Centre has had a small increase each year, equating to an average of a 3% increase, that’s 36p an hour. We are very mindful of the impact of Covid on Community Groups and continue to provide a reduced community rate for local people to enable those living locally to use the centre.”

 

Supplementary Question from Mrs Shadi Rogers:

 

“Can you answer why no other Community Centre charges have been raised?”

 

Supplementary Answer from Councillor Mackonochie:

 

A written response was provided after the meeting as follows:

 

“The two community centres already charge different rates, with the Camden Centre charging a higher rate for both Commercial hire (£40.95) and Community Hire (£27.30) compared to the TN2 Community Centre which charges Commercial Hire (£29.83) and Community Hire (£25). The small increase this year is to try and bring the two centres closer in hire rates but over a longer period of time than one increase, and therefore this year there has been no increase in the Camden Centre hire rates.”

 

2.  Question from Mr Bjorn Simpole:

 

“Many Local Authorities have responded the Covid-19 pandemic by undertaking a comprehensive review of their key strategic policies to ensure they are fit for purpose. How has the Council responded to the economic impact of Covid-19 and the toll it has taken in terms of rising unemployment, increased poverty and demand for emergency food and welfare assistance amongst local residents.”

 

Answer from Councillor Mackonochie:

 

“The Council has initiated an Economic Recovery Plan as a short to medium term strategy which forms an addendum to the current Economic Development Strategy 2018/2021.  The Economic Development Strategy will be fully reviewed in 2021 once the impact of Brexit on our businesses from January 2021 is clarified.  Since lockdown in March 2020, the Council has mobilised its resources to support businesses in the Borough, specifically:

·         distributed the retail, leisure and hospitality small business and discretionary grant schemes, subsequently distributing grants under the national restrictions and local restrictions support grants.

·         Funding the Kent and Medway Growth Hub Covid-19 Support Website and phone line, the fourth highest demand for the service across the county.

·         Co-ordinating with the Local Plan for the re-purposing of Town Centres and employment spaces demand in response to Covid-19 and Brexit.

·         Held conference calls for businesses with representatives from the Council, local businesses, organisations and Greg Clark MP.

·         Supported the reopening of the borough’s town centres, including training for businesses to reopen in a Covid secure way.

·         Working with key partners including West Kent Partnership, Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce, Federation of Small Businesses and the Tunbridge Wells BID on a range of activities to support the local economy including wider Government schemes i.e. Kickstart.

·         We continue to work with partners seeking to support our businesses as they address the challenges and embrace opportunities as these arise.

 

In addition, the Council has done a huge amount to support the welfare of local residents including close working with Parish and Town Councils, voluntary and community sector organisations and local businesses and residents.  Financial support for foodbanks, Parish and Town Councils, voluntary and community sector bodies, a crowd funding campaign for charities on the front line of the Covid response and implementing the various national packages of support that have been agreed.  Further details are available in the various reports that have been presented to Overview and Scrutiny Committee and Cabinet.”

 

Supplementary Question from Mr Bjorn Simpole:

 

“I must say from the perspective I think from residents, it doesn’t feel like the Council have done a lot really to think about the actual economic impact for a lot of residents and to compliment national schemes with localised additional support.  I would just like to draw the Council’s attention to the fact that Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council published a draft Borough Economic Recovery Strategy in September 2020.  This set out the scale of the challenge for their Borough and their vision for a more prosperous Borough.  It would be good to see an equivalent document like that for Tunbridge Wells and I would like ask also when the review is conducted of the Economic Development Strategy, will this be done in full co-design with residents and businesses.”

 

Supplementary Answer from Councillor Mackonochie:

 

A written response was provided after the meeting as follows:

 

“As highlighted in the response to the question at Full Council, the Council has initiated an Economic Recovery Plan as a short to medium term strategy which forms an addendum to the current Economic Development Strategy (2018 – 2021). While this has been discussed and agreed with members, business and community representatives in the cross party Covid-19 Panel in September 2020 it was only recently published alongside the Five Year Plan Update report which was considered at Cabinet on the 3 December 2020. Covid-19 Panel updates have been given to the Overview & Scrutiny Committee on the 21 September 2020 (OSC42/20) and 12 October 2020 (OSC51/20).

 

The report on the Five Year Plan (Item 8) to Cabinet on the 3 December https://democracy.tunbridgewells.gov.uk/documents/g4653/Public%20reports%20pack%2003rd-Dec-2020%2010.30%20Cabinet.pdf?T=10

sets out our thinking around dealing with the immediate crisis caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. It highlights the short to medium term (12-24 months) immediate recovery of both the Council and the Borough which covers business, housing, financial inclusion, health, community safety, the voluntary and community sector, Local Councils and Council services. Further work will be undertaken to develop and deepen these themes over the remainder of 2020 and 2021. 

 

As outlined at Full Council, the Economic Development Strategy will be fully reviewed in 2021, once the impact of Brexit on our businesses from January 2021 is clarified. The Economic Development Strategy feeding into the wider Five Year Plan work. As per previous reviews of the Economic Development Strategy the Council will undertake consultation on the Strategy. This will be a task being taken for ward by the Portfolio Holder for Culture, Leisure and Economic Development.

 

In terms of immediate actions, as outlined in the response given at Full Council, since lockdown in March 2020, the Council has mobilised its resources to support businesses in the borough specifically:

·         Distributed the Retail, Leisure & Hospitality, Small Business and Discretionary Grants schemes subsequently distributing grants under National Restrictions and Local Restriction Support Grants;

·         Funding the Kent & Medway Growth Hub Covid-19 support website and phoneline (4^th highest demand for the service across the county);

·         Co-ordinating with the local plan for the repurposing of town centres and employment space demand in response to Covid-19 and Brexit;

·         Held conference calls for local businesses with representatives from the Council, local business organisations and Greg Clark MP;

·         Supported the reopening of the borough’s town centres including training for businesses to reopen in a Covid secure way;

·         Working with key partners including West Kent Partnership, KICC, FSB and the Tunbridge Wells BID on a range of activities to support the local economy including wider Government schemes ie Kickstarter.

·         We continue to work with partners, seeking to support our businesses as they address the challenges and embrace opportunities as these arise.”

 

3. Question from Mr Adrian Thorne:

 

Mr Thorne was not present. The question was received in writing.

 

“With regard to the Climate Emergency Declaration that was passed by the Full Council in July 2019, specifically that part relating to Citizens' Assemblies. I understand that there have been meetings of the CEAP, and there is the possibility of a report in February. That aside, I wish to know why the council has been unable to hold any meaningful assembly meetings with the public so far. I appreciate COVID may have made progress harder - however there were eight months between the climate declaration being made and the first COVID lockdown.  Many councils have completed the entire process from beginning to publication in under six months, even during COVID. For comparison, that national citizens' assembly (Climate Assembly UK) took 13 months from select committee decision to publication - using video conferencing during the height of COVID. It has now been 16 months since the council made the climate declaration and no meetings. The town's Citizens' Assembly should not fall victim to the council's failure to act in a reasonable time frame.

 

Why has no substantive progress been made on Citizens' Assemblies and can the council confirm that it will ensure the funds are available to make good on its commitment?

 

Answer from Councillor Bailey:

 

A written response was provided after the meeting as follows:

 

“The Climate Emergency Advisory Panel’s main focus has been preparing a plan to reduce the Council’s own emissions to zero by 2030. The panel has already conducted a detailed audit of the council’s carbon footprint and expects to deliver a report to Cabinet early next year.

 

The panel has also been exploring the idea of running a Citizens Assembly, with representatives from all political parties involved equally in this process.

 

It has been agreed with the Leader of the Council that the CEAP panel will report back to Cabinet early next year with some options and estimated costs. These options will be put to Full Council to decide the best course of action.

 

I should warn that running a Citizens Assembly will involve substantial costs at a time of multi-million pound deficits and possible cuts to essential services. The budget of the national citizens’ assembly, to which the questions referred, was over half a million pounds, and even potential suppliers have stressed that we must be very clear of what we’re hoping to achieve before committing public funds.

 

So I make no apology that the Council, and the CEAP panel specifically, is looking at this matter carefully and not making rash decisions. There is a small and vocal group demanding immediate action, but with all due respect it will not be this small and vocal group that foots the bill. The cost will be borne by taxpayers across the borough, many of whom are experiencing financial problems of their own.

 

So the CEAP panel will continue to consider the matter and will report our findings to Cabinet early next year.”

 

4.  Question from Ms Siobhan O’Connell.

 

Ms O’Connell was not present. The question was received in writing.

 

“A consultation by the Council is currently underway regarding budgets for 2021/2022 and 2022/23 financial years. The consultation states that: "It is very difficult to predict the continuing impact on the economy into 2021/22, but we are forecasting a budget shortfall of around £3 million against the net budget for 2020/21 of £12.4m. The council has sufficient reserves to fund a budget shortfall of this size for one year, but it does mean that investment in council assets will no longer be possible".

Later the consultation states: "If the economy does not recover to pre-COVID-19 levels by April 2022, the council will need to reduce some of its services to balance the budget for 2022/23. I would have thought going through a pandemic would be a situation where reserves could be used to reduce adverse impact on services and help to stimulate growth.

 

How much is held in Council reserves?

Why the reserves can be drawn on in 2021/22 but not in the following financial year?

Why can't the reserves be used to invest in Council assets?”

 

Answer from Councillor Dawlings:

 

A written response was provided after the meeting as follows:

 

“Thank you for your question and for raising awareness of the budget survey which is live until 4 January 2021 on the council’s website.

 

In answer to your first question;

 

The level of council reserves is set out in the Draft Budget report and stood at £21.2 million as at 31 March 2020 but as these reserves are used to fund the pandemic and the capital programme. The reserves will fall to £9 million at the end of 31 March 2022.

 

In answer to your second question;

 

The reserves could be drawn down in 2022/23 but reserves can only be spent once and the Council would then be at risk of not having sufficient reserves to fund other emergencies or to fund the capital programme.

 

In answer to your third question;

 

The Council entered the national emergency in a healthy financing position by balancing its revenue budget whereby the annual cost of delivering services is met by locally generated income. The council has to manage its finances without any Government Revenue Support Grant and is financially self-sufficient. 

 

The council also needs to fund a capital programme to invest in services and its property assets. The Draft Budget report shows that £2.2 million is being drawn from reserves largely to invest in capital works at the Assembly Hall, Town Hall, Multi-Storey Car Parks, Leisure Centres and Crematorium. This is in addition to the £1 million a year the Council spends from its revenue budget on planned and responsive repairs.”

 

5.  Question from Ms Marieke de Jonge:

 

Ms de Jonge was not present. The question was received in writing.

 

“Recently, the UK government has set out a 'Ten Point Climate Plan’ and in order to implement its national targets, local councils will need to contribute. Local action is important to help the UK achieve its legal goals and Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement, which commits the UK to cut emissions by at least 68% by the end of the decade, compared to 1990 levels.

TWBC declared a Climate Emergency in July 2019 but local residents have not yet been consulted or informed about progress towards achieving its ambition of carbon neutrality by 2030. In light of recent government announcements, can the Portfolio holder for Sustainability comment on what action taken and plans confirmed towards its own zero carbon goal and how will the council address the new government’s goals? (Will it be part of the Climate Emergency Advisory Panel (CEAP) or will the council set up a new body to implement these changes? Will it be transparent to the public and will the public have input?)”

 

Answer from Councillor Bailey:

 

A written response was provided after the meeting as follows:

 

“We welcome the government’s announcements on climate action and its pledge to reduce carbon emissions by 68% by 2030. They are the latest in a series of policies and investments from a Conservative government that is by far the greenest in our nation’s history.

 

Tunbridge Wells Borough Council has already committed to reaching carbon neutrality by 2030 and our plans have not changed as a result of the government’s announcements.

 

The CEAP panel is due to present a report to Cabinet early next year setting out details of the Council’s carbon footprint and the next steps in our carbon descent plan.

 

This report, and the debates by Cabinet and Full Council, will be open to the public. We will also be consulting with residents on a new Five Year Plan and this is expected to include a pledge to be carbon neutral by 2030.

 

No decision has yet been taken on the future structure of the council.”

 

6. Question from Mr Matthew Sankey:

 

“As you know, all the independent hospitality businesses have been forced to close and most of us now have no income whatsoever.  We are almost all directors and have been excluded from any Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) or The Self-Employed version of funding.  Unfortunately, the LRSG simply does not cover the costs of mothballing our businesses.  For example, the fixt costs of my two sites, Mt Ephraim & The Old Fishmarket, is close to £16,000.  This is after taking the LRSG into account and after discussions with other hospitality owners their figures match mine as it equates to under a third.

 

Does the Council have plans to distribute some of discretionary (ARG) Additional Restrictions Grant to the independent hospitality businesses in the borough who are in desperate need of support to save them from permanent closure?”

 

Answer from Councillor Dawlings:

 

“Thank you for your question. Regarding the ARG, Additional Restrictions Grant.  The Council has received £2,370,248 of Additional Restrictions Grant as a one off grant from Government to provide support to the wider business community in Tunbridge Wells. This grant can be used over the course of this and next financial year. Our initial focus under the discretionary grants has been on supporting businesses in the key sectors of the local economy who were not eligible for the mandatory grants that the Government provided during the recent national restriction period. It has always been our intention to review our approach to the discretionary grants when the Borough entered local restrictions. The discretionary grants will however only go so far and we need to consider the sectors in most need of help and support now and over the next 6-9 months. On moving into Tier 3 we have been awaiting guidance from Government on the Local Restrictions Support Grants for both closed and open businesses. We have been able to introduce a light touch for the mandatory closed businesses for the fortnightly payments in Tier 3 and those businesses should already have been contacted by the Council to apply. We do recognise these sums are insufficient. We have also received guidance for grants to open businesses and will publish shortly how we will intend these grants to operate, alongside the discretionary grants. If I can add one more element, the Council has now received confirmation of the Christmas Support Payment for wet-led pubs which will provide a one off payment of £1,000 for a wet pub. The basic criteria is that it must receive less than 50% of income from food. The Council has established a light touch application form on which pubs and bars will be asked to self certify they meet the criteria. This is now open for applications. While we are not yet accepting formal applications for top up grants, we have asked businesses to provide us details related to their position. We do recognise that hospitality is an important sector to the local economy and had faced significant challenges during the pandemic. We also recognise that mandatory grants set nationally are insufficient to cover all of the hospitality business costs in Tunbridge Wells. I can confirm we will seek to provide additional support through the discretionary grant to the hospitality sector based on a one off payment. We are considering which other sectors are being impacted and will make a judgement on the scale of awards to be made available. I mean, crudely, we are trying to make limited funds go as far as we can. 

 

Supplementary Question from Mr Matthew Sankey:

 

“I think there is a very big need here to appreciate the scale that we are being underfunded and should the Council fail to deliver enough funding to our sector, how is the Council going to deal with the fact that when a large number of these independent businesses fail over the next few months, what are you going to do to replace them, Tunbridge Wells as a destination town for these businesses?”

 

Supplementary Answer from Councillor Dawlings:

 

“What we are administering are funds received from Government. The Borough Council hasn’t got any money to do this ourselves. We lobby Government as hard as we can to make the position in Tunbridge Wells clear. We all feel as powerless as you must think we are, and I am sorry for that.”

 

7. Question from Mrs Shadi Rogers:

 

“One of the Council’s eight big projects in its current Five Year Plan is the development of Community Centres. Can you tell me what you have actually put into the TN2 Community Centre in resource or finance to develop its engagement with the community over the last three or four years?”

 

Answer from Councillor Mackonochie:

 

“The Council’s current Five Year Plan had an objective to support the development of Community Centres within the Borough and has worked closely with Southborough Town Council, Cranbrook and Sissinghurst Parish Council and Paddock Wood Town Council who all expressed aspirations to build new community facilities. Tunbridge Wells Borough Council has continued to run the TN2 Community Centre three evenings a week with a full programme in place. Tunbridge Wells Borough Council had also offered other groups such as badminton to use the centre during the day to enable them to undertake their activity which suited the needs of the client. Menshed has also continued using the facility during the day. The pottery activities from the adult education centre have been rehoused for two years whilst the Amelia Scott is being built, making this service more accessible for residents of Sherwood. Health Team Walks and Healthy diet advice, along with some coffee mornings have also been run from TN2. No additional resources or finance has been spent on TN2 Centre in the last 3 to 4 years. However, we have continued to carry out maintenance on the building throughout to ensure it meets the need of the hirers.”

 

Supplementary Question by Mrs Shadi Rogers:

 

“So if there hasn’t been any resource or finance put into the centre, how do you expect to develop the engagement with the Community?”

 

Supplementary Answer by Councillor Mackonochie:

 

“The building has been maintained and we do expect that to make the building usable and keep it usable.”

 

8. Question from Mr Bjorn Simpole:

 

“What additional support has been provided to the Voluntary Community and Faith Sector to help facilitate the incredible community response in Tunbridge Wells.”

 

Answer by Councillor Mackonochie:

 

“Thank you Mr Simpole for your question. The Council has provided a huge amount of support to the voluntary community and faith sectors, including grants, crowd funding and lobbying for Central Government support. The sector is represented on the Council’s Covid-19 Panel and on the country wide recovery structures, and the Council has a full work stream dedicated to the voluntary and community sector as part of its recovery work. Full details were presented to all three of the Cabinet Advisory Boards, Overview and Scrutiny Committee and Cabinet.”

 

Supplementary Question by Mr Bjorn Simpole:

 

“In hindsight therefore given the Covid-19, does the Council regret its cuts in funding to the Citizen’s Advice Bureau over successive years?”

 

Supplementary Answer by Councillor Mackonochie:

 

“The Council has an excellent working relationship with the Citizen’s Advice Bureau and with other advice bureaus in different places and I hope that will continue on.”

 

9. Question by Mr Bjorn Simpole:

 

“Tunbridge Wells found itself placed in Tier 3 Covid-19 restrictions, yet there are currently no plans for mass testing in the Borough and Tunbridge Wells Hospital at Pembury is not one of the first 50 hospital vaccination sites. Could the Leader please set out what justification has been provided by Government and/or Kent’s Public Health Team for placing the Borough in tier 3 on 2 December when Covid-19 case rates in Medway and Swale were around four to five times higher than Tunbridge Wells.”

 

Answer from Councillor McDermott:

 

“The decision on the allocation of authorities to Tiers was made by central Government not anyone in Tunbridge Wells Borough Council or Kent County Council.”

 

10. Question by Mr Bjorn Simpole:

 

“When will mass testing be rolled out across the Borough to enable us to drive rates of transmission down?”

 

Answer from Councillor McDermott:

 

“This is probably more a question for Kent County Council. Mr Simpole might be interested to see their recent press release on a mass testing which will hopefully provide the information he is seeking.”

 

Supplementary Question by Mr Bjorn Simpole:

 

“If I could make the point that I think the Borough Council does have a role really in standing up for Tunbridge Wells and putting our case to County for resource.  Tunbridge Wells this morning was trumpeting the mass testing in Tunbridge Wells, the reality is that no date has been set for testing in Tunbridge Wells. Do you actually think this is good enough for residents, when as you said in your opening remarks, that rates are climbing very high despite the Tier 3 imposition, clearly it is not working.”

 

Supplementary Answer from Councillor McDermott:

 

“It is very interesting because Kent County Council is the one that organises it.  They organise all of these sites.  We have got one site that we are working on at present which should open in the middle of Tunbridge Wells, hopefully quite soon – before Christmas hopefully.”

 

11. Question from Mr Bjorn Simpole:

 

“What explanation has been received on why it has been deemed safe to go shopping 24 hours a day or to participate in socially distanced Ice Skating in Calverley Grounds but not to enjoy a pint (with a substantial meal) in one of Tunbridge Wells’ many fine public houses?”

 

Answer from Councillor McDermott:

 

“Again this is a question that is more properly addressed to the Prime Minister. If Mr Simpole wants to do that, he can register to do this on the Government.UK website.”

 

Supplementary Question by Mr Bjorn Simpole:

 

“Was the decision to proceed with ice skating in Calverley Grounds predominately a financial consideration by the Council rather than one based on sound public health guidance?”

 

Supplementary from Councillor McDermott:

 

“No it was to show that Tunbridge Wells is open for business and in fact it is going to cost us money. We are giving a gift to the town.”