Minutes:
The Leader began by referring to the recent announcement that Sainsbury’s was pulling out of the plans to redevelop Tonbridge Town Centre which he judged to be a strategic error by the company which had previously aborted attempts to redevelop the land adjoining the store in 1996 and 2008. The Leader had written to the Chief Executive of Sainsbury’s arguing that the decision was tactically misguided, had taken a short term view and failed to consider the poor quality retail environment currently offered by the Tonbridge store to its loyal customers. In expressing the disappointment of the Council the Leader took the opportunity to record his appreciation to the Chief Executive, Management Team and other officers who had worked tirelessly on progressing the project. He remained committed to delivering regeneration and economic development in Tonbridge as a key priority of the Council and was pleased to report that the Management Team had begun discussions with other agencies and potential partners to identify future options.
The Council was updated on a number of elements relating to recovery from the flooding over the Christmas and New Year period including receipt of a Severe Weather Grant of around £250,000 to assist in meeting the Council’s own costs of recovery. The Leader indicated that a claim had been submitted under the Bellwin Scheme for funding towards costs incurred in responding to the flooding. He was pleased to advise that the full sum of £99,176 net of the threshold of £26,262 had been accepted and thanks were recorded to the Chief Financial Services Officer for his work in putting forward the bid.
The Leader outlined the funding available to residents and businesses affected by flooding and the commitment to assisting communities in the ongoing recovery process. In particular he thanked those officers who had attended the information fair in East Peckham and reported the appreciative comments received from a resident of another authority. The Leader emphasised the Council’s community leadership role in securing works to help reduce the risk of further incidence of flooding given the distress caused by the events over the winter. Work was accordingly being undertaken with the Environment Agency and others to promote a package of measures to provide flood defence for the most vulnerable communities. He indicated the schemes that should receive high priority for the earliest possible funding including works to increase the Leigh flood storage area, extensions to the river walls in Tonbridge, flood prevention measures around the Hawden Stream, Hildenborough and schemes to mitigate flooding from the Medway and Bourne in East Peckham. The Leader hoped that his fellow council leaders would provide support in lobbying for such flood prevention measures in view of the compelling financial case for investment in capital projects to reduce the recurring levels of public expenditure on recovery and compensation schemes in the future. To this end the Leader was attending a meeting of the South East England Councils with Government ministers the following day to discuss flooding in the South East and stimulating economic growth when he would stress the link between investment in improved infrastructure and the human and financial cost of recovering from the recent flooding.
The Leader was pleased to inform the Council that Tonbridge Swimming Pool was now open for business and was a credit to the officers working closely with the insurers and the Leisure Trust. All the costs of repairing damaged equipment and the subsequent clean-up operation, amounting to £300,000, would be met by the Council’s insurers. The Leader observed that it had taken nearly six months to reopen the facility after it had been flooded on the previous occasion.
The Council was advised that following considerable lobbying at the Kent and Medway level, the final South East Local Enterprise Partnership (SELEP) growth plan had recently been submitted to the Government and fully recognised the importance of a strong West Kent economy to the wider SELEP area. Details were given of the priorities included in the plan which would be assessed by the Government. It was hoped that funding would enable some of the local priorities to be brought forward.
The Leader outlined plans for the Heritage Open Days on the weekend of 13 and 14 September. He referred to the approach by the Mayor to all parish councils encouraging them to help register properties and gardens of historical and cultural interest in the Borough that were not normally open to the public to take part in the Open Days. It was noted that more than 20 had been involved last year and hoped that even more would participate this time.
Finally, the Leader referred to the recent marriage of Councillor Steven King and conveyed the congratulations and good wishes of the Council to him and his wife.