Agenda and minutes

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of Tonbridge Community Forum held on 28 February 2022.

RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the meeting held on 28 February 2022 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

There were no actions identified.

To appoint a second vice-chair from the community representatives.

Nominations for the appointment of Vice Chair from community representatives had been received for Lee Athwal and Tom Simmonds.  Upon voting, 6 community representatives voted in favour of Lee Athwal being appointed and 5 in favour of Tom Simmonds, following which Lee Athwal was duly appointed as the second Vice Chair of the Tonbridge Community Forum.

RESOLVED: That Lee Athwal be appointed as the second Vice Chair of the Tonbridge Community Forum.

Members of the Forum received a presentation from Ms F Long, Tonbridge Bicycle Users Group, on Active Travel.  The presentation is attached at Annex 1 to these Minutes. 

Members discussed a number of points, including crossing points within the Borough and safety concerns, the infrastructure in the Borough compared to European countries and the need for Government funding to implement highway improvements.

Mr P Jesson, Tonbridge District Scouts, introduced the item on charging charities and community groups for the use of Borough Council public open spaces and car parks, during which concern was raised regarding the impact that the fees were having on charity and community group budgets when organising events for residents.  It was requested that the issue be taken forward and the decision to charge rescinded.  The Leader advised that the local authority’s adopted Open Space Policy included such charges due to the need for accelerated works because of increased wear and tear. 

A request had been received from Tonbridge Dementia Friendly that contact details of members of the Forum be shared amongst its members. The Chair would ask Lee Athwal to facilitate the collation and distribution of contact details.

EMBER event at Longmead Park in July 2022.

Members noted the forthcoming events to be held in Tonbridge:

·       Tonbridge Calling fund raising disco/bingo night - 12 May 2022

·       Understanding Dementia session as First Tonbridge Scout Hut at Lambeth Yard - 18 May 2022

·       Dementia Information stand in Town Centre - 21 May 2022

·       Kids Out Day - 8 June 2022

·       Tonbridge Carnival – 12 June 2022

·       Tonbridge Lions Fete and Dog Show – 12 June 2022

·       Repair Café, St. Stephen’s Church - 18 June 2022

·       Kingfisher Cruises – June and July 2022

·       EMBER event at Longmead Park – 23 July 2022

·       Car tour at Tonbridge School – 24 July 2022

·       Tonbridge Pride – 6 August 2022

·       Tonbridge Castle Lawn Concerts - July and August 2022

·       Tonbridge Half Marathon - 9 October 2022

·       Christmas Festival - 27 November 2022

·       Outreach event at St. Phillip’s Church on Saturday mornings and weekly health walks.

Tonbridge Calling Charity extended an invitation to charities to have a promotional stall at their summer festival event to be held on the                                      13 August 2022.

To consider any other issues raised at the meeting.  Any answers, actions and/or outcomes may be provided at the next meeting of the  Tonbridge Community Forum.

The Chair invited the County Councillors to speak on any matter, upon which County Councillor Mark Hood provided reassurance that he was working closely with Highway Officers at Kent County Council to ensure that emergency road works by utility companies were completed expediently and roads reopened.

Members expressed a desire for an audit of the current provision of live and passive cameras and the effectiveness of their locations and requested that a report be presented to the next meeting of the Forum on the CCTV provision in Tonbridge.

The Leader took the opportunity to invite members to respond to the consultation on the future use of Tonbridge Castle and provided reassurance that the historical aspect would be taken into consideration.