| Item | Description | Resolution |
|---|---|---|
| PART 1 - PUBLIC | ||
| PP 06/021 |
Minutes |
RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the Panel held on 1 June 2006 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman. |
| PP 06/022 |
Update on any action identified in the last Minutes. |
No items were identified. |
| PP 06/023 |
Police liaison. |
Chief Inspector Very provided the Panel with an overview of the achievements made in neighbour policing. Members were pleased to learn that officers and PCSOs of the neighbour team were dedicated to their area and that since responsibility for the Malling team had been transferred not one officer had been moved to other duties. Active recruitment of resource was ongoing and the Panel was advised that a new officer would start duty in Snodland shortly, whilst 13 new PCSOs had been employed but waiting a decision on area allocation. The importance of community engagement was emphasised and local officers had been encouraged to hold regular meetings and surgeries with residents designed to promote this and assist with problem solving. It was hoped that vulnerable and hard to reach groups would be encouraged to report crime if local officers were familiar to them. The crime and disorder statistics provided showed that crime in the borough went against the county trend and residents were least likely to suffer crime in Tonbridge and Malling. However, attention was drawn to the fact that anti social behaviour had risen and the police acknowledged the importance of reducing the problem and confirmed it was being targeted. Members suggested it might prove beneficial to have the parish trend figures so that problem areas could be highlighted. It was confirmed that the Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership was aware of difficulties in certain parishes and multi-agency activity and extra police presence would be noticed by residents in those areas. |
| PP 06/024 |
Speedwatch |
Mereworth Parish Council raised the question of delays in implementation of the Speedwatch initiative. Chief Inspector Very advised that the initiative was based on partnership working between the police, parishes and the county council and the involvement of as many parishes as possible was encouraged. The aims of the partnership were highlighted including the reduction of deaths, injuries and collisions on public roads, the improvement of safety and quality of life for local communities and increased public awareness on speeding. Parishes wanting to become involved needed to liaise with their Speedwatch co-ordinator for assistance with providing a police survey, training and implementation. Copies of the Speedwatch presentation would be circulated with the minutes. Members recommended the implementation of Speedwatch as a very effective instrument against speeding offenders and it showed a strong commitment to taking the problem seriously. Members were also pleased that engineering solutions would be considered if roads were identified as persistently bad. The Chairman advised that the Council supported the Speedwatch Partnership and special works grant applications for assistance in providing equipment would be welcomed. The Chairman thanked Chief Inspector Very for an informative and interesting presentation. |
| PP 06/025 |
Tonbridge and Malling Easy Access Guide |
The Chairman welcomed to the meeting Mr P Stibbard (Chairman), Mr P Shoebridge (Treasurer) and Mrs K Shoebridge (Secretary) of Tonbridge and Malling Access Group (TMAG) who wished to seek the assistance of parish councils in extending the Easy Access Guide across the Borough. Mr Stibbard explained to the Panel that the prinicipal aim of the Tonbridge and Malling Access Group was the promotion of equal access for disabled people to buildings in the public and private sectors, outdoor facilities and all forms of public transport. The Group was a voluntary organisation independent of local government and politicial parties. Meetings were held every two months at Tonbridge Castle and the Group worked in partnership with the Borough Council which provided assistance with printing and publication of the Guide. The second edition of the Guide had been produced in June 2006 and aimed to assist disabled residents and visitors in planning outings and shopping with the minimum of difficulty. It covered premises in Tonbridge High Street and its immediate vicinity and was based on surveys undertaken during the last half of 2005. Owners of premises had been given the opportunity to comment on the draft entry for their premise before publication. The Guide was now available on the Council's website and without charge from Tonbridge Castle. The assistance of parish councils was requested to extend the guide throughout the borough and nominations for 'disability champions' to assess premises would be invited shortly via a letter. Parishes were advised of the undertaking involved but were reminded that accurate information on all premises within the borough was important. Members were advised that the Council was fully committed to the project. The Council would be happy to promote the Guide in Here and Now and would publish names of parish 'disability champions' to support this cause. TMAG offered to provide support and training to parishes. The Chairman acknowledged the tremendous benefit to those who used the Guide and that the community publicy thanked the Group for their hard work and commitment in preparing it. |
| PP 06/026 |
Presentation by the Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust |
Members received a presentation from Mr Frank Simms, the Director of Corporate Development of Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells National Health Service Trust, which outlined the new direction for patient care up to 2010. An outline of the presentation would be circulated with the Minutes. The key policy changes were highlighted including an emphasis on care outside hospitals and the Panel was advised that the major financial investment in the NHS would finish in 2008. Members were informed that as part of the local strategy within Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells emergency surgery and emergency orthopaedic inpatients would be consolidated at one site in Kent and East Sussex, whilst elective surgical inpatients would be based in Maidstone. Public consultation on these measures would start on 9 October 2006 and an invitation was extended to the parish councils to contact Mr Simms to discuss this further. The benefits to patients and Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells were explained with the future implications for the Trust set out. Clarification on where emergency cases would be taken was sought and it was confirmed that it would be a matter for the ambulance service to decide this on a case by case basis. In the future, the emphasis would be to transport emergency cases to the nearest centre with specialist expertise to deal with that case not necessarily the nearest emergency centre. This was intended to improve outcomes for those patients. Members expressed concern about the apparent centralising of services at the southern end of the borough, and highlighted problems relating to travel time. It was accepted that no simple solution existed but that problems could be minimised by the involvement of the South East Ambulance Trust which was keen to undertake extensive staff training in order to progress and develop their service. The role of paramedics was important in providing life saving treatment at the scene of an accident and stablising the patient in order for them to receive further treatment. The Chairman thanked Mr Simms for an excellent presentation and for his hard work and committment which was greatly appreciated. |
| PP 06/027 |
Maintenance of Public Rights of Way and Footpaths |
Following a question raised by West Malling Parish Council, David Munn, Kent County Council's Area Manager for West Kent, and Lucy Breeze, KCC Public Rights of Way Officer, described the work of the Rights of Way Unit responsible for all public rights of way that were open for the use and enjoyment of the public. The Unit's priorities and key service users were outlined and members were advised that the maintenance of urban public footpaths was a high priority for KCC and received significant funding. The biggest single complaint raised by the general public related to vegetation clearance for which the Unit was responsible. Over 400 miles of footpath were maintained every year and a large financial commitment was involved taking two thirds of the KCC general maintenance budget. Important footpaths received two cuts per year in May and August whilst those deemed less important received one cut per year. The Panel was informed that some parish councils had undertaken additional cuttings per year themselves by entering into a contractual arrangement with KCC which assisted with funding. Hadlow Parish Council were grateful for the funding provided and were pleased with the outcome. Members acknowledged the great improvements made in Kent but felt that tarmaced urban utility footpaths still classified as footpaths did not receive the same degree of maintenance as highways. Mr Munn confirmed that this issue was being addressed and that urban footpaths would be adopted as highways and dealt with by the Kent Highways team. The effect of the Disability Discrimination Act on access arrangements to Public Rights of Way was explained and that it was leading to a move away from providing stiles and kissing gates on paths. It was noted that kissing gates could create access problems for wheelchairs and pushchairs and Members asked that the provision of radar gates be considered in certain locations. In response to a question from Aylesford Parish Council Mr Munn confirmed that it was the Borough Council's responsibility to clear rubbish from the highways and this matter would be dealt with by Environmental Health Services. The Chairman thanked the Public Rights of Way team for their attendance and commitment to the maintenance of footpaths in the borough. |
| PP 06/028 |
Untidy Buildings and Land (Section 215 Notices) |
In response to an item raised by East Malling and Larkfield Parish Council, the Director of Planning and Transportation explained the Borough Council's general policy on using Section 215 notices, dealing with land or buildings that adversely affected the amenity of the area including run down industrial or residential sites. The Panel was informed that the use of Section 215 notices was discretionary and could be used in conjunction with other powers such as repair notices, dangerous structure notices, planning regulations and housing act powers. Members were advised that renovation of buildings could be supported with significant grant regimes and that the threat of action could achieve as much as an enforcement notice. The Chief Solictor advised that the enforcement of Section 215 notices was an extremely difficult process and that notices were often appealed as there were considerable areas of defence that could be used. The Director of Planning and Transportation confirmed that the planning and enforcement team was looking at how Section 215 notices could be implemented effectively but warned that there could be a financial or staffing resource implication. The Panel was advised that a fuller report on Section 215 notices would be presented to a future meeting of the Planning and Transportation Advisory Board copies of which would be circulated to all Council Members. |
| PP 06/029 |
Summer Play Scheme |
Representatives of East Peckham Parish Council advised the Panel that they fully supported the Summer Play Scheme and appreciated all the hard work undertaken. However, the parish was experiencing difficulties in allocating all the places for weeks 3 and 4 and asked if there could be some flexibility in the scheme to enable the number of places to be reduced depending on the demand. The Director of Leisure thanked the parishes for all the support received but confirmed that no new measures could be implemented due to the strictly regulated nature of the scheme, which required a fixed number of qualified staff to be appointed in advance. It would not be feasible to adjust the number of staff on the scheme to an individual centre's circumstances as fixed costs and staff contracts existed. The Council would be pleased to look at further promotion and publicity for the Summer Play Scheme to assist in allocating all places. Members felt that a fair explanation and assessment had been given but suggested that a more openly flexible approach be considered to enable payments to be made in instalments. The Director of Leisure confirmed the existence of a flexible approach and advised that this issue had not been raised by service users in the survey undertaken yearly. |
| PP 06/030 |
Christmas Lights |
East Peckham Parish Council requested information on funding of Christmas lights and whether any schemes existed to assist parishes with initial set up costs. The Corporate Services Manager confirmed that the Council was undertaking a scrutiny review of Christmas lighting grants but pending its completion, the Cabinet had agreed to provide grant support to two new schemes this year including East Peckham. In addition, the review had suggested the setting up of a Capital Fund to assist parishes in purchasing and upgrading Christmas lights. Details of grant offers would shortly be notified to applicants and the outcome of the scrutiny review circulated to parish councils in due course. |
| PP 06/031 |
Recycling Update |
Members were updated on the recent expansion to phase 6 of the green waste service with a total of 30,000 households now participating in the scheme. A small number of residents had experienced difficulties but these had been dealt with positively and pro-actively. The sustained period of heat over July had contributed to the problems. The in-vessel composting facility at Blaise Farm had been granted planning permission and was planned to be completed within 9 months. Members were encouraged to hear that a recycling rate of 45% had been achieved in the green waste areas. The Panel was advised that the recycling of plastics would commence shortly with the provision of 8 'bring' sites throughout the borough. Residents and parish councils would receive leaflets publicising the new service and advising on what plastic products could be recycled. Members welcomed this initiative and hoped the service would be expanded in the future especially if public support made this viable. It was agreed that it was essential for these sites to be emptied regularly. Members were informed that the waste-to-energy plant at Allington would be commissioned shortly and would take the Council's residual waste. This meant that 90% of the borough's waste would shortly be converted into either energy, recycled or composted. A wide public consultation was being undertaken on the Joint Municipal Waste Management Strategy for Kent and parish council views on the process were welcomed. The Panel was assured that, following recent press revelations, the secret monitoring of bins in the borough would not take place under the current administration. Members were pleased with the tremendous progress being made and expressed their thanks to Environmental Health Services for their excellent work and commitment and for their quick and effective response to problems. |
| PP 06/032 |
Kent County Council Services Update |
Loic Flory, KCC Community Liaison Manager provided an update on the following matters: - Towards 2010: A report on the consultation exercise conducted on the draft 'Towards 2010' policy statement and the development of action plans for each of the 63 targets was presented to the Kent County Council meeting on 14 September 2006. Towards 2010 set out how KCC would continue to build on success, delivering further service improvements and value for money for the period to March 2010. Details were given of the key consultation events including discussion at every Local Board, distribution to all Kent local authorities, including town and parish councils, publication on the KCC website and media coverage. Detailed action plans for each of the 63 targets outlined in the document were available at www.kent.gov.uk/towards2010 or by calling the 24 hours helpline on 08458 247 247. A DVD programme would be launched later that month and be shown at public events throughout Kent. The county council would welcome invitations to bring the DVD to local organisations and talk about Towards 2010. Primary Schools Strategy: At the Schools Organisation Advisory Board meeting held on 7 September 2006 a majority of the Board considered that the case for the closure of Trottiscliffe Primary School had not been proven and that the Cabinet Member for Education and School Improvement should be advised accordingly. His decision was expected imminently. Aylesford Wastewater Treatment Works: Expansion and improvement of the sludge recycling centre, including improvements to the site access, had been refused at the Planning Applications Committee meeting held on 12 September 2006. Two reasons were given for the refusal: (1) the traffic generated by the proposed development would cause an unacceptable impact on the local highway network, particularly in Eccles village, contrary to policy TP15 of the Kent and Medway Structures Plan; (2) the development would have an unacceptable impact on existing community facilities, particularly in terms of the usage of roads and footways and would therefore be contrary to Policy QL11 of the Kent and Medway Structure Plan. The Chairman thanked Mr Flory for his contribution. |