| Item | Description | Resolution |
|---|---|---|
| PART 1 - PUBLIC | ||
| PP 08/014 |
Minutes |
RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the meeting held on 6 March 2008 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman. |
| PP 08/015 |
Update on any action identified in the last Minutes. |
The Cabinet Member for Community Development provided a brief update on the current position relating to the Parish Charter (Minute PP/08/004 refers) advising that work on finalising the Charter was progressing with replies still awaited from some parishes. The Cabinet Member for Community Development again offered to visit the parishes individually to sign the Charter and welcomed the opportunity. The Chairman took the opportunity of thanking parishes, on behalf of the Borough Council for their support on the stance adopted by the Borough Council on budget and grant award issues. |
| PP 08/016 |
Presentation by the Mayor |
The Chairman introduced the new Mayor, Councillor C Smith, who was delighted and honoured at his election and looked forward to a challenging and enjoyable year. He advised that he had chosen the theme 'Care for your Borough' for his Mayoral year which was reflected in his two charities, The Bridge Trust and Heart of Kent Hospice emphasising the importance of caring, not only for individuals, but for the area and borough. The Chairman wished him a successful year in office. |
| PP 08/017 |
Police liaison. |
Chief Inspector Tony Thomas provided an overview of the achievements made in performance and the neighbourhood policing agenda. Members were pleased to note a positive direction of travel and the continuing reduction in crime across the Borough, showing the effective partnership working and commitment of all agencies. Points of note were highlighted including a multi media counter terrorism exercise at the Angel Centre; the Valley of Vision, an initiative to secure the landscape and Hop Farm events. A new scheme aimed at making residents aware of those who called and preyed on elderly and vulnerable people called Cold Calling was being piloted in Trench Ward. It was hoped to gain additional funding to cover more areas within Tonbridge and Malling and would be discussed further with the Community Safety Partnership. Parishes were invited to contribute towards the project as it was important to maximise the scheme to gain larger benefits for the wider community. The Chairman suggested that the Neighbourhood Watch Co-ordinator be invited to attend a future Parish Partnership Panel to explain the scheme. Members were advised that Inspector Gian Chalal was moving on and thanked him for his contribution to the Parish Partnership Panel, acknowledging his support and commitment to neighbourhood policing and the effective way it operated. At the request of the Chairman copies of the presentation would be circulated to Members of the Panel. |
| PP 08/018 |
Youth Forum Presentation - including the showing of their new DVD |
The Chairman welcomed Francesca Heard, joint Chair of Tonbridge and Malling Youth Forum and Billy Mankelow, a member of its Executive Board who gave a presentation outlining the work of the Forum to date and plans for the future. A promotional DVD on the work of the Youth Forum and how to get involved was shown at the meeting and questions invited. Members complimented the Youth Forum on the activities and it was noted that Leisure Services would be pleased to receive any information on youth groups or schools where the DVD would be welcomed. In thanking the members of the Youth Forum for their contribution, the Chairman introduced Councillor Martin Coffin, the new Cabinet Member for Leisure, Youth and Arts who had replaced Councillor Sue Murray upon her election as Deputy Mayor. At the request of the Chairman copies of the presentation would be circulated to Members of the Panel. |
| PP 08/019 |
Housing Services Update |
The presentation of the Chief Housing Officer updated on the two key service areas of the Home Improvement Agency and the Homelessness and Housing Register. He reported that following a Scrutiny Committee review a decision was taken by the Cabinet to outsource the Council's Home Improvement Agency. Outsourcing would allow an enhanced service to be provided to residents that would offer a handyperson service and greater flexibility to deal with fluctuations in workload. The service in future would be managed by a not for profit company called ‘in touch'. Hand over to ‘in touch' was expected to take place during the summer. The Panel was advised that from March 2008 the housing register and homelessness service previously delivered under contract by Russet Homes were brought back in-house. In future any queries from those seeking rehousing assistance should be directed to the Council's Housing options team. Members were reminded, however, that existing Russet Homes tenants should continue to liaise with their landlord over any tenancy/rehousing issues. Knowledge of benefits available to older persons would be promoted via publications and the website. Members were reminded that Citizens Advice and Age Concern also offered advice on attendance allowance, benefits and entitlements. The Panel welcomed further partnership working with Kent County Council if it was offered. At the request of the Chairman copies of the presentation would be circulated to Members of the Panel. |
| PP 08/020 |
Leisure Strategy |
The Chief Leisure Officer gave a presentation on the forthcoming consultation on the draft Leisure and Arts Strategy for the period 2008-2013. It was noted that this document was an overarching strategy with other policies beneath it. The 10 themes within the strategy were outlined together with the key issues for the next five years. Members were advised that comments on the document were required by mid-September and responses were encouraged. Members were pleased to note that the Angel Centre had been selected as an Olympic 2012 training camp. This was based on the existing facilities and not due to the potential development of the town centre. The Borough Council had committed to providing replacement facilities within the development which would be used as the training camp if ready before 2012. At the request of the Chairman copies of the presentation would be circulated to Members of the Panel. |
| PP 08/021 |
Kent County Council Services Update |
The Kent County Council Community Liaison Manager, Loic Flory, provided an update which would be circulated with the Minutes and invited questions from the Panel none of which were forthcoming. |