Agenda and decisions

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).

Membersin anydoubt aboutsuch declarationsare advisedto contactLegal or Democratic Services in advance of the meeting.

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of the Communities and Environment Scrutiny Select Committee held on 5 March 2025

A representative of Maidstone Mediation Scheme will provide a brief update on recent activities. 

To set out a scheme in recognition of local individuals and groups for outstanding contributions to community life and service.

(Report of Chief Executive)

Member approval was sought on a Community Awards Scheme which would recognise and celebrate individuals, groups and organisations who had made outstanding contributions through volunteering or initiatives that improved the lives of others. 

In terms of the categories of award, it was suggested that the ‘Individual volunteer of the year’ and ‘Young community champion’ categories be broken down further into age groups.

Following consideration by the Communities and Environment Scrutiny Select Committee, the Cabinet Member for Community Services

RESOLVED:  That: 

(1)      the Community Awards Scheme for Tonbridge and Malling, be approved; and

(2)      the categories of awards and the nomination process, as set out in the report, be agreed.

Annual reporting of progress against the climate change action plan 2024/25, to seek approval for the climate change action plan for 2025/26, and to report council emissions in the annual carbon audit.

(Report of Chief Executive)

Member approval was sought for the publication of the Climate Change Action Plan Year 5 Progress Report; the Climate Change Action Plan Year 6 2025/26; and the Carbon Audit 2024/25 (attached as Annexes 1, 2 and 3 respectively).

The report summarised progress to date, the new action plan and trends in emissions from the Borough Council’s estate and operations.  The progress made against the Climate Change Action Plan across all areas in 2024/25 was good, with most actions either fully complete or ongoing due to the continuous nature of the work.  The most significant sources of emissions across the TMBC estate and operations remained leisure facilities and refuse collection vehicles.  Addressing these would make the largest impact towards the 2030 carbon neutral aspiration.

In the next year, the Council would continue to invest in renewable and low carbon technologies, part funded by grants awarded to the Council, to tackle emissions from leisure facilities.  Furthermore, the new waste contract would offer an opportunity to take steps to reduce emissions from refuse collection vehicles. 

Following consideration by the Communities and Environment Scrutiny Select Committee, the Cabinet Member for Housing, Environment and Economy

RESOLVED: That

(1)      the Climate Change Action Plan Year 5 Progress Report (attached at Annex 1), be endorsed;

(2)      the Climate Change Action Plan Year 6 2025/26 (attached at Annex 2), be approved; and

(3)      the Carbon Audit 2024/25 (attached at Annex 3), be approved.

The report provides details of a proposed Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) for 2026 and the consultation required as part of the renewal process.

(Report of Director of Central Services and Deputy Chief Executive)

The report gave details about the proposed Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) for 2026 and details of the consultation that must take place as part of the PSPO renewal process. 

The PSPO had been in place in the borough since April 2017 and was reviewed in 2020 and 2023.  The current PSPO was due to end in April 2026 and could be extended for a further three years.  The report proposed to proceed with a PSPO containing multiple restrictions.  Some of these restrictions were the same as included previously, as evidence had been provided to show that the issues were continuing.  In addition, the report proposed one new restriction to prevent camping in the Memorial Gardens, Tonbridge.  Furthermore, it was proposed that the restriction relating to the use of drones be amended to ‘No person may launch or land a drone from any open space owned by the Borough Council without first obtaining authorisation from the Borough Council’.  It was believed that each of the proposed restrictions would help prevent Anti-Social Behaviour in the borough.

On the grounds of public safety and the protection of wildlife, Members supported the inclusion of a new restriction prohibiting unauthorised catapult use, whilst noting that enforcement was only applicable to those persons over the age of 16 years.

Following consideration by the Communities and Environment Scrutiny Select Committee, the Cabinet Member for Community Services

RESOLVED: That

(1)      the proposed amendments to the Public Space Protection Order, be agreed, subject to the inclusion of an additional restriction prohibiting the unauthorised use of catapults; and

(2)      the amended Public Space Protection Order, go out for public consultation for a six-week period.

The report presents the Prevent Action Plan for the period 2025/28, which outlines the actions that the Borough Council intends to take over the next three years to help stop individuals from becoming drawn into extremism.

(Report of Director of Central Services and Deputy Chief Executive)

Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council had a duty under the Counter Terrorism and Security Act 2015 to have due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism and were required to develop a Prevent Action Plan detailing actions that the Borough Council would take to help prevent individuals from becoming radicalised.  The Prevent Action Plan was attached at Annex 1 of the report and showed the actions that the Borough Council intended to take over the next three years to help stop individuals from becoming drawn into extremism.

Following consideration by the Communities and Environment Scrutiny Select Committee, the Cabinet Member for Community Services

RESOLVED: That

(1)      the Prevent Action Plan 2025-2028, be supported and endorsed.

The Committee is invited to consider the responses received as part of the public consultation exercise on the draft Haysden Country Park Management Plan and recommend the final Plan to Cabinet.

(Report of Director of Street Scene, Leisure and Technical Services)

The report brought forward comments received as part of the public consultation exercise on the draft Management Plan for Haysden Country Park.

The draft Management Plan was made available for comment between 21 February and 11 April 2025, and six responses were received.  Overall the comments were supportive of the Plan.  All comments received had been carefully considered and a summary of the comments received and Officer responses was attached at Annex 2 to the report.  There were no proposed amendments to the Plan following the consultation. 

On grounds of public safety, the raising of the priority of the footpath along Lower Haysden Lane from 3 to 1 was supported.

Following consideration by the Communities and Environment Scrutiny Select Committee, the Cabinet Member for Community Services

RESOLVED: That

(1)      the Haysden Country Park Management Plan 2025-29 be adopted, subject to a minor amendment to the Access Audit (12.3.3) and the comments of the Communities and Environment Scrutiny Select Committee.

The report lays out the key implications for the Council from the recommendations in the final report of the Grenfell Inquiry.

The Work Programme setting out matters to be scrutinised during 2025/26 is attached for information.  Members can suggest future items by liaising with the Chair of the Committee.  

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.