Agenda, decisions and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber, Gibson Drive, Kings Hill

Contact: Democratic Services  Email: committee.services@tmbc.gov.uk

Link: View Meeting

Items
No. Item

PART 1 - PUBLIC

SSE 21/17

Declarations of interest pdf icon PDF 3 KB

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

Minutes:

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

SSE 21/18

Minutes pdf icon PDF 194 KB

To confirm as a correct record the Notes of the meeting of the Street Scene and Environment Services Advisory Board held on 8 June 2021

 

Minutes:

RESOLVED:  That the notes of the meeting of the Street Scene and Environment Services Advisory Board held on 8 June 2021 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

Matters for recommendation to the Cabinet

SSE 21/19

Tonbridge Town Centre - Residents Parking Season Ticket pdf icon PDF 136 KB

This report brings forward the outcome of a formal consultation on a one-year trial proposal to reduce the cost of Season tickets in Tonbridge town centre for residents. 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Decision Notice D210078MEM

 

The report of the Director of Street Scene, Leisure and Technical Services brought forward the outcome of a formal consultation on a one-year trial proposal to reduce the cost of Season tickets in Tonbridge town centre for residents.

 

During discussion, Members recognised that the reduction in the cost of Season tickets would be welcomed by residents, and it was therefore proposed that consideration be given to the further sale of Season tickets once 100 tickets had been purchased.

 

RECOMMENDED: That

 

(1)        the objections be noted but set aside, in light of the Council’s responses to those objections;

 

(2)        the proposal for a one year trial of a Tonbridge Residents Season ticket be introduced from 1October 2021 as advertised; and

 

(3)        the Street Scene and Environment Services Advisory Board receive a review report following the one year trial or give consideration to the further sale of Season tickets once 100 tickets have been purchased, whichever is sooner.

SSE 21/20

Food and Safety Service Plan 2021-24 pdf icon PDF 214 KB

The Council is required to produce a Food & Safety Service Plan by the Food Standards Agency.  The draft of the Plan is reported for the Board’s consideration and comment.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Decision Notice D210079MEM

 

The Council is required to produce a Food and Safety Service Plan by the Food Standards Agency.  Consideration was given to the draft Plan which had had been produced for a three-year period and reflected the timetable for the Food Standards Agency Covid-19 Recovery Plan.

 

Members noted that Local Authorities were expected to move at a faster pace in realigning interventions in line with the Food Law Code of Practice and the report proposed that £15,000 from the Contain Outbreak Management Fund be used to instigate a catch-up plan.

 

RECOMMENDED: That

 

(1)        the Food and Safety Service Plan (2021-2024) be noted; and

 

(2)        the expenditure on a catch up inspection programme to restore the Food and Safety service to pre-pandemic levels in terms of the inspection programme, be agreed.

SSE 21/21

Updated Air Quality Action Plan pdf icon PDF 149 KB

The report presented an updated Air Quality Action Plan for consideration and provided details of the public consultation conducted earlier in the year.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Decision Notice D210080MEM

 

The report of the Director of Planning, Housing and Environmental Health provided an update on the Council’s Air Quality Action Plan.  With six declared Air Quality Management Areas (AQMA), the Council had a statutory duty to keep updated an Air Quality Action Plan to outline the actions it would take to reduce concentrations of the pollutant of concern in the AQMA’s so that they could all eventually be revoked.  Identified actions were proposed up to 2026 to tackle Nitrogen Dioxide, primarily within the remaining AQMA’s, but also across the Borough as a whole. 

 

Members were advised that the proposed actions would also support the Borough’s Climate Change Strategy and Kent Council Council’s Energy and Low Emission Strategy.  A draft appraisal on the Plan had been received from the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), and although there were minor comments, overall the appraisal was positive.

 

Members discussed the option of full pedestrianisation of the high street in Tonbridge and the introduction of a one-way system and noted that neither were contained within the action plan, as the plan focused primarily on residential properties.

 

RECOMMENDED: That subject to any further amendments from DEFRA, the Air Quality Action Plan as set out in full at Annex 1, be endorsed.

SSE 21/22

Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council - Tree Charter pdf icon PDF 279 KB

To seek endorsement of the Tonbridge and Malling Tree Charter

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Decision Notice D210081MEM

 

The report of the Chief Executive sought endorsement of the Tonbridge and Malling Tree Charter attached at Annex 1.  The Tree Charter was aligned to the Climate Change Strategy and supported the Council’s ambition to be carbon neutral by 2030.  It also supported the commitment to biodiversity protection and enhancement.

 

The benefits of trees in relation to health and wellbeing, air quality, flood management and carbon capture were contained within the Charter, as well as opportunities to increase tree coverage on the borough’s estates, and working with landowners, community groups and developers.  Members noted that in order to implement any schemes, funding opportunities would be explored and opportunities to promote tree planning on new developments through the review and refresh of the Local Plan and planning decisions would be considered. 

 

RECOMMENDED: That

 

(1)        the Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council Tree Charter, as set out at Annex 1, be adopted; and

 

(2)        a proposed review of Council owned land to assess the potential for tree planting schemes, be endorsed.

SSE 21/23

Natural Flood Management Programme pdf icon PDF 230 KB

This report provides information on two projects in the borough that it is proposed could be supported through an agreed £20,000 allocation in the Business Rates Retention Pilot reserve earmarked for Natural Flood Management

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Decision Notice D210082MEM

 

The report of the Chief Executive provided information on two projects in the borough that it was proposed could be supported through an agreed £20,000 allocation in the Business Rates Retention Pilot reserve earmarked for Natural Flood Management.

 

Members were advised that whilst the Business Rates Retention Pilot reserve was to support the local economy, the economic success of the area was dependent on the borough’s resilience to climate change and flood management.

 

RECOMMENDED: That

 

(1)        the report be noted;

 

(2)        the proposed £8,000 contribution towards the creation of new wetland habitat at Leybourne Lakes Country Park, be agreed; and

 

(3)        the proposed £12,000 contribution towards flood mitigation works at Ightham Mote, be agreed.

Matters submitted for Information

SSE 21/24

Waste Services Update pdf icon PDF 265 KB

This report updates on a number of issues and initiatives managed by the Waste & Street Scene Services team, including service performance, fly tipping & enforcement, and the recycling bin pilot to flats in Tonbridge.

Minutes:

The report of the Director Street Scene, Leisure and Technical Services updated on a number of issues and initiatives managed by the Waste and Street Scene Services team, including service performance, fly tipping and enforcement, and the recycling bin pilot to flats in Tonbridge.

 

In terms of default notices, Members were advised that these would be applied in accordance with the specifications as contained within the contract and allowing for current restrictions in terms of national HGV driver shortages and Covid.  Key Performance Indicators would continue to be presented to the Board. 

 

 

SSE 21/25

Saturday Freighter Service pdf icon PDF 308 KB

This report outlines a range of issues relating to the Saturday Freighter Service and highlights that due to current national issues impacting on the delivery of the waste services contract the reintroduction of the service should not be progressed at the present time.  The report highlights that the decision to  reintroduce the Service will be taken by the Cabinet Member once these issues have been satisfactorily resolved by the contractor. 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The report of the Director of Street Scene, Leisure and Technical Services outlined a range of issues relating to the Saturday Freight Service and highlighted that due to current national issues impacting on the delivery of the waste services contract the reintroduction of the service should not be progressed at the present time. The report highlighted that the decision to reintroduce the Service would be taken by the Cabinet Member once these issues had been satisfactorily resolved by the contractor.

SSE 21/26

Minutes of Climate Change Forum pdf icon PDF 11 KB

To provide an update on the first Climate Change Forum Meeting

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The report of the Chief Executive provided an update on the first Climate Change Forum meeting which was held on the 14 June 2021.  The minutes of the meeting were attached at Annex 1 for information.

SSE 21/27

Exclusion of Press and Public pdf icon PDF 4 KB

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.

Minutes:

There were no items considered in private.

PART 2 - PRIVATE