Agenda and minutes

Notification of substitute members were recorded as set out below:

·         Councillor G Bridge substituted for Councillor T Bishop

·         Councillor A Mehmet substituted for Councillor R Dalton

·         Councillor C Williams substituted for Councillor D Harman

·         Councillor S Crisp substituted for Council G Hines

In accordance with Council Procedure Rules 17.5 to 17.9 these Councillors had the same rights as the ordinary member of the committee for whom they were substituting.

Members are reminded of their obligation under the Council’s Code of Conduct to disclose any Disclosable Pecuniary Interests and Other Significant Interests in any matter(s) to be considered or being considered at the meeting. These are explained in the Code of Conduct on the Council’s website at Code of conduct for members – Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council (tmbc.gov.uk).

Members in any doubt about such declarations are advised to contact Legal or Democratic Services in advance of the meeting.

There were no declarations of interest made in accordance with the Code of Conduct.

Executive Decision D240034CAB (attached at Annex A) has been called in.  In accordance with Overview and Scrutiny Committee Procedure Rule 15 (c), five members of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee have raised a valid call-in of this decision.

The report to Cabinet of 2 April 2024 (Annex B) sets out proposals in respect of off-street and on-street parking, provided an assessment following the recent formal consultation together with the recommendations of the Joint Transportation Board of 4 March 2024.

The consultation responses considered (Annexes 8 -15) are set out in a supplement to the main agenda.

The report of the Scrutiny Officer advised that in accordance with the Overview and Scrutiny Committee Procedure Rule 15 (c) as set out in Part 4 of the Constitution, five members of the Committee had raised a valid ‘call-in’ request in relation to the decision taken by the Cabinet in respect of the parking proposals and changes to on-street and off-street parking fees and charges.

Decision Notice D240034CAB (attached at Annex A to the report) had been published on 5 April 2024 and subsequently called-in by Councillors Thornewell, Dalton, Hoskins, Hickmott and Hood. 

The grounds for call-in were set out in the report, at paragraph 1.2.1, and the decision was ‘deferred’ pending consideration by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee. 

Members of the Committee considered the grounds for the call-in and a supplementary report of the Interim Chief Executive, provided at the request of Councillor Hood, setting out the legal position concerning fees and charges for on-street and off-street parking and the purposes for which any surplus income generation from parking could be used.

The Cabinet Member for Transformation and Infrastructure (Councillor Coffin), Cabinet Member for Finance and Housing (Councillor Tanner), Cabinet Member for Planning (Councillor Taylor) and the Leader (Councillor Boughton) were invited to respond to the concerns raised in the call-in request and provide justification for each of the decisions that were taken as part of Cabinet Decision D240034CAB by the Cabinet on 2 April 2024.  It was explained that, based on the principle of consistency in implementing car park charges across the borough, due regard had been given to the introduction of on-street and off-street parking charges in the proposed areas where no charges were applied in the past, whilst the uniqueness of each and every car park and area was acknowledged and duly considered, including the responses from the public consultation.  Maintaining a balanced budget in the coming years was key for the Borough Council to ensure a continuous provision of a sustainable parking service for the borough amid the ever-increasing costs in the operation and management of parking services and the maintenance and investment of parking facilities.

In addition, six representatives from community organisations and local businesses were invited by the Chair to address the Committee in person (with the exception of one representative whose statement was read out at the discretion of the Chair), during which significant concern was expressed over the potential negative impacts, anticipated to arise from the introduction of parking charges in Larkfield and Aylesford, the extension of the Upper Castle Field car park and the extension of charging hours until 8pm including Sundays and Bank Holidays, on local residents, businesses and visitors.

A detailed and thorough debate followed in respect of Cabinet Decision D240034CAB during which each proposal was considered in order as set out in the Decision Notice.

With regard to Cabinet Decision D240034CAB (1) (ii), it was proposed by Councillor Thornewell and seconded by Councillor Hoskins that reconsideration be given to removal of the proposal for the introduction of  ...  view the full minutes text for item OS 24/28

The Chairman to move that the press and public be excluded from the remainder of the meeting during consideration of any items the publication of which would disclose exempt information.

There were no items considered in private.