Agenda item

The Leader reported that the latest number of Covid-19 cases recorded in Tonbridge and Malling through Public Health England was 92 as at 23 October 2020.  He advised that the trend remained constant, with the 7 day rate per 100,000 population at 45.4 between 18 and 23 October.  This was below the Kent average and significantly below the average across England.  He cautioned against complacency and encouraged the use of every opportunity to reinforce public health messaging.  He reported that the Council’s Business Continuity officer group met regularly to discuss how the Council would respond to any potential spike in numbers. He expressed concern that the winter months, with potential flooding and severe weather, would add to the challenges to be addressed.

The Leader advised that two emergency decisions had been made in accordance with the Emergency Provisions set out in Part 7 of the Constitution.   He stated his preference for policy being brought before Members and regretted that the time-scale required for implementing the decisions had not allowed for this.  The first decision had related to setting up arrangements for those who test positive for COVID-19 or are identified by NHS Test and Trace as a close contact, requiring them to self-isolate.  Final guidance for the scheme had been received on a Friday with instructions that it be in place by the Monday. The second emergency decision had allowed the Council to make arrangements for engagement and enforcement work relating to COVID-19 using funding received from the Kent County Council.

The Leader commented that Covid-19 had had an impact on finances across the country, in the business sector, charities, and among families.  Local government had been equally impacted and the Borough Council now faced enormous financial challenges. He stressed the need to work together to ensure the Borough Council’s future financial stability and he welcomed the Government’s most recent tranche of funding to Tonbridge and Malling of £226,802.00, which brought the total of four tranches of funding to £1,776,566.

With regard to Planning, the Leader stated that the scale of the increase in housing numbers planned for Tonbridge and Malling by the Government’s algorithm was totally unsustainable and wrong.   He advised that he and David Lettington had written directly to Robert Jenrick, the Housing Secretary, to amplify the objections raised by Members at the extraordinary meeting of the Planning and Transportation Advisory Board.  He had also made the two local Members of Parliament aware of the objections and welcomed their support in opposing the Government’s calculations.

The Leader advised that, together with David Lettington, he had written directly to the Secretary of State to object to the democratic deficit that would occur from the proposals in the Planning White Paper, which ignored community involvement in individual planning applications.  He stated that this could not be right as communities changed and evolved over time and, whilst having a planning framework in place was crucial to guide development, the individual scheme proposals and their potential impact on the local environment were not something that could be fully considered years in advance.

With regard to the status of the Local Plan, the Leader expressed concern about the response received from the Planning Inspectorate to the first few days of the Examination in Public.  He indicated that it would be unhelpful to speculate in the absence of further details and advised that, once these have been received, the matter would be put to the appropriate forum for member discussion. 

The Leader reminded Members that the Green Flag Award scheme recognised and rewarded well managed parks and green spaces, setting the benchmark standard for the management of recreational outdoor spaces across the United Kingdom and around the world.  He advised that both Leybourne Lakes and Haysden Country Parks had, once again, been awarded this status.  He was pleased to announce that the Tonbridge Racecourse Sportsground had also been put forward for this prestigious recognition and had been awarded green flag status.   The Leader paid tribute to the officers and volunteers who maintain three, much cherished, green open spaces within the Borough and their achievement of the Green Flag Award.  

The Leader advised that, in the build up to Christmas, he would be campaigning to support all of the Borough’s high street businesses and discussing with others how to best support them.  Additionally, he indicated that, since the last meeting of the Economic Regeneration Advisory Board, the Borough Council had received interest from independent retailers for the Local Centres and Parades Shopfront Scheme which was re-launched in mid-September. 

In conclusion the Leader referred to Remembrance Sunday and the preparations made to remember the brave men and women who had made huge sacrifices to defend the liberties and freedoms in this country and abroad.  He regretted that, due to the impact of COVID-19, many people would be unable to personally show their respect to the fallen at a public service of remembrance, with only limited numbers allowed at many services across the Borough.  He advised that the Mayor would be representing the Borough Council at the service to be held at the Tonbridge Memorial Services and that this would be live streamed for those wishing to watch the proceedings.  He was very honoured to be invited to attend, along with the Mayor, the Royal British Legion service in Aylesford.  He extended his best wishes to all communities in arranging their own remembrance services.