Cabinet - Thursday 7 December 2023, 6:30pm - Tunbridge Wells Borough Council Webcasting

Cabinet
Thursday, 7th December 2023 at 6:30pm 

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Seat 3 - 0:00:00
Good evening, everybody, my name is Councillor Ben Schaeffler and I'm the leader of Tunbridge Wells Borough Council, I will be chairing this meeting of Cabinet on Thursday, the 7th of December 2023 welcome everybody.
before we start, please could you give your full attention to the following safety and broadcasting announcements? Thank you, Chair. In the event of the fire alarm ringing continuously, you must immediately evacuate the building at walking pace officers will escort you via the most direct available route. This is a public meeting and proceedings are being webcast live online. A recording will also be available for playback on the Council's website shortly afterwards. You should all be aware that any third party is able to record or film Council meetings unless exempt or confidential information is being considered. The Council will not accept liability for any third party recordings
it is very important that the outcomes of the meeting are clear at the end of each agenda item, the Chair will ask whether the matter has agreed in the absence of a clear majority of the Claire Chair decides a full, virtuous, desirable vote will be taken by a show of hands, Members should raise their hand to indicate their vote when called and keep their hand up until the count has been announced.
members requested a recorded vote must do so before the vote is taken, members or members of the public who have registered to speak will have three minutes to address the Committee.
thank you, Chair
thank you, Caroline, for the benefit of a recording the following members of the Cabinet at present Councillor Christopher Hall, Councillor Alan Lovell, Councillor Hugo Pound Councillor Justin Rutland Councillor Jane Sharratt, Councillor Pamela Wilkinson, Councillor MANCEY Waun and Councillor Ben Chappelow, in addition, we have the following members of Tunbridge Wells Borough Council staff.
William Benson Lee Collier, Claudette vulnerable, Carlos home, David Conlon, Jane Feynman, Diane Brady, Alan Gilbert, Kevin Hope and Caroline Britt.
for the benefit of any members of the public who may be watching. I'd like to explain a few things. Each report on the agenda this evening has previously been considered by the relevant Cabinet Advisory Board and the views expressed by the Cabinet Advisory Board have been taken into consideration. Members of a Cabinet have had their agendas for over a week and we have had the opportunity to study the papers and ask of any factual questions of the staff ahead of tonight's meeting. When each agenda item is being considered. The Cabinet Member responsible for the item will provide an overview of the report. Members of staff who have written a report will be available to answer any questions we may have
will then move into Cabinet discussion and I will first ask questions before opening the floor to debate at the end of the debate, I will ask Cabinet Members to confirm they have fully understood the matter and are content that any proposals and or actions have been carefully captured, we will then proceed to the recommendations and vote.
so we'll move on to Item number 1.

1 Leaders Introduction and Announcements

Leader's announcements and any announcements from the Cabinet.
no OK, so my only announcement is we're just going to move the order of.
proceedings tonight will take item 9, which is on the Local Plan and the Inspector's findings, and will follow straight on to Item 13, which is Calverley Terrace, and then we'll do the to exempt items on Royal Victoria Place, and then we'll move back into yes.
the normal order OK.

2 Apologies

will then move to item 2, which are apologies for absence, and we have none.

3 Declarations of Interest

item number 3 is declarations of interest. Do any members of cabinet have any declarations of interests that they wish to make Council unanswerable, yes, Chair, thank you, I wish to declare an interest in item 9.
as I am an employee of natural England, natural England is a statutory consultee on the Local Plan, and my role within natural England involves advising on planning matters, including those in relation to designated landscapes. Whilst I have not advised on this particular agenda item, I am aware that natural England has objected to the allocation of 10 then on landscape grounds and has called in the planning application for turn, then phase 2 to the secretary of State in the circumstances, I have decided in the interests of transparency, not to participate in the debate or to vote on this matter and will therefore withdraw from the Chamber when this item is being debated. Thank you Chair

4 Notification of Visiting Members wishing to speak

thank you, Nancy item number 4, which was notification of visited, registered to speak, and we have one registered speaker on Item 9 Mr Stuart Gledhill, who is a chairman of Safe Cable.
I will move to Item number 5.
which is minutes of the meeting dated the 23 of November,

5 Minutes of the meeting dated 23 November 2023

does anybody have any?
corrections or amendments that they wish to make on the minutes

6 Questions from Members of the Council

7 Questions from Members of the Public

note Simon, we agreed thank you very much item number 6, which are questions from Members of the Council, we have had none, so we'll move swiftly onto questions 7, which are questions from the members of the public and we have five, so I'm going to ask Mr. Chris Wise to come and ask his the first three questions please, sir, thank you very much.
do the button first, thank you, Mr. Chairman, so my first question relates to the Local Plan and the deletion of Dudley garden village from it.
in his November 2022 initial findings, the initiate at the independent inspector set out his extensive list of shortcomings in the Local Plan, particularly relating to Tulay garden village, the Council then set aside 851,000 pounds of taxpayers' money to address them, so firstly how much was spent on matters specific to pursuing the option of retaining Tudeley garden village?
and secondly, how much of the 851,000 pounds overall provision has been committed?
thank you.
I am going to ask Councillor Hugo LB, Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning to respond to your question, thank you, thank you very much, Mr. Wise for your question, the council has been prudent in how it is allocated money to the reserve fund for the preparation of the Local Plan throughout.
the figure within the Local Plan Reserve has varied over the years of the plans, preparation depending on the needs of the service, these have fluctuated each year since 2016 between an upper limit of 1,026,040 pounds to 474 p or a 1,125 pounds
a number of elements of work crossover between the work necessary for Local Plan. Generally with a Tudeley Garden Village remained in or out of the plan, for example the Green Belt stage 3 study of reasonable alternative sites or the costs associated with the KCC visitor transport model, or for the bus study work undertaken. The work associated with responding directly to the Inspector's letter for gathering new evidence is currently 170,130 pounds for all matters raised in the initial findings letter, not just Tudeley Village. It would be very difficult to tease out purely the cost of Dudley village. Those figures are very much in line with spending across Local Plan work generally in the country. Thank you
thank you.
I'm afraid, not, can we move to question 2, please could you ask your second question, thank you.
again, in relation to the decision to proceed to delay, were effective advisers stopped loss or early termination mechanisms built in at the point the decision was taken to address Mr Burke and chorus initial findings, concerns, and did Cabinet keep on top of them, as the case for terminating Chorley Garden Village became ever more obvious.
thank you, I'll ask Councillor Hugo Pound, to answer the second question pulling out, thank you again for your question, the Council received the Inspector's findings, letter initial phone, etc. In November 2022 and all Member briefing was held on the 18th of November to talk through the implications of the initial findings on the local plan and its progress subsequently numerous meetings have been held with elected members, in particular through the planning policy working group which has met on a monthly basis to discuss the ongoing work of officers.
the work to consider the responses to the Inspector's initial findings has been complex, with many into related elements of new and supplementary evidence, required officers have sought to take the approach of looking at each element on an individual basis prior to coming to the conclusions before Members here today and next week at full Council.
the Council at its meeting in February 2021 agreed to submit the Local Plan which included to the garden village with it, it was supported by significant levels of evidence which had been brought together following public consultation over previous years in order to make the recommendations to Members today it is necessary or it was necessary to identify whether the objections raised by the Inspector could be overcome without undertaking that review as officers have done over the last year, the Council could not be reasonably expected to reverse the decision to include Tudeley Garden, visit fit and village in the submission Local Plan.
thank you, Hugo and cast Mr Wise for question 3 Plaisir.
thank you, Chairman says.
listening to all the various numbers, my question is, can Cabinet assure that borrowers council tax council taxpayers that the wasted costs of pursuing TD Garden Village after the Inspector's November 2022 initial findings will be a factor in the determination of this year's variable compensation awards relating to those executives beyond those in planning as well who were responsible for continuing to proceed to the garden village?
Councillor pound, thank you again and I've got two parts to my answer, and the first part is that I don't feel that the process of gathering evidence to undertake the statutory duty to adopt the Local Plan which seeks to meet the needs of the Borough, identifying housing allocations to deliver sustainable communities, affordable housing, infrastructure green spaces and protects the environment is wasted money. Furthermore, to remove to the garden village from the local plan even after receipt of the Inspector's initial findings still requires proper justification and evidence to support the deletion from the Local Plan.
I would also add that the submission Local Plan was democratically voted on by full Council the decision to put the plan forward to the Inspector resides with members not officers.
as I've explained, it is members who then advised officers to gather evidence in relation to the matters raised by the Inspector in his initial findings, letter bed evidence has been considered gone through a further democratic process which will culminate whatever the decision might be at full Council on the 13th of December, I can assure the Borough Council and the Borough Council's taxpayers that the work undertaken to respond to the Inspector's initial findings was required, it was undertaken by officers on the advisement of members and that Members are grateful to them for the huge efforts that they have put into working through the complex interdependencies within the plan to bring forward the recommendation before Cabinet tonight.
thank you Hugo, thank you, Mr Wise, for your question, I sorry, not a cabinet, but thanks for coming to us tonight in asking your questions, thank you OK, we have two more questions from Mr Mike boss.
good evening.
my first question is that the national policy framework requires a local plan to be justified and based on proportionate evidence, the Ramslye Farm area, which was erroneously labelled as Spratt's Brook Farm in the draft draft plan, was incorrectly identified as grade 4 urban, not as grade 3 agriculture,
at a meeting with the Thomas Ross Borough Council Planning Department in March 2023, this point was again raised and later an e-mail was received from the depending department, agreeing that there was incorrect classification and citing the factors responsible for the error as the scale of the assessment by natural England leading to the officers making an assumption that the site was Grade 4, however nothing has changed in the draft plan.
this has led to the Ramslye Fields site being scheduled to be taken out of the protected green belt, which should not be the case.
Will the Cabinet confirm what steps will be taken to correct this mistake and, in the light of this error, ensure that the Ramslye Fields site?
be included in the forthcoming public consultation,
thank you, Mr Vaux, Councillor pounds.
thank you for your service for your first question.
I have to say just before I respond more formally as a good deal of work and checking has gone on in relation to this matter, both in relation to your question and before the matter of the agricultural land classification or the Ailsa grading was raised during the Regulation 19 Pre-Submission consultation on the Local Plan, which was summarised and responded to by the Council in the consultation statement submitted to the secretary of state as part of a package of documents accompanying the submission Local Plan ahead of the start of the examination, the consultation statement summarises that there was a query about the site being a all C grade 3 and 3 A and not grade 4 as stated in the strategic housing and economic land availability appraisal Sheila site assessment sheet for this site. The Council's response of this on this has been that the Sheila site assessment sheet is correct and recording the site as being grade. 4 agricultural land based on the provisional agricultural land classification from natural England
whilst the comments contained sorry, content or higher value, even if this were the case, this would not affect the results of the Sheila, as the land to be built on is not the best or most versatile land classification furthermore, the Inspector examining the plan did identify them.
as a matter for general discussion, though not specifically the site at the hearing sessions, agricultural land, and he has not commented specifically on this in the initial findings letter, it is considered, this matter has been appropriately considered previously both by the Council and through the examination process and it will be for the Inspector to make any further comment on this matter should he wish to do so as part of his final examination report to be issued in due course.
thank you Hugo at Mr Voss, could you ask your second question, please? This is still relates to the same site, so I'd make needs to follow. There are many studies that show that the mental and physical health damage can be caused by reduce access to green spaces in nature and beyond the scientific evidence of our collective experience of lockdown during COVID. What measures will be put in place to ensure that the health of those people from Tunbridge Wells and elsewhere, who enjoy the benefits of access to Ramslye Fields and their current status as green belt and A A and B
thank you.
Councillor Hugo Palmer, thank you. Thank you again, Mr. Ross for your question at the submission Local Plan acknowledges the importance of access to open space outdoors, which is particularly important with regard to the benefits of mental health and wellbeing. The site allocation at Ramslye Fields identifies that part of the site is identified for development and the remainder remaining within the Green Belt for informal, open space or recreation, to protect the High Weald A and B to enhance linkages to the surrounding area and to improve and increase accessibility, and to buffer the impact of the development to the historically sensitive area to the north-west of the site and to the ancient woodland. The policy requires that a suitable legal mechanism shall be put in place to ensure that the provision of public open spaces is tied to the delivery of the housing at a suitable stage of the development to be agreed at the planning application stage.
just speaking at a person as a personal experience, I have many times walked, both from the average road through Ramslye fields, through the woods beyond along the edge of that field and into High Rocks car park and then down into Groombridge and the reverse route coming up to Ramslye field through Broadwater down Forest Road and home I am confident that the residents of Ramslye Broadwater and Tunbridge Wells more generally will continue to be able to access great countryside right on their doorstep.
thank you, thank you, Hagar.
so thank you, Mr wise, and on the service for your questions this evening on behalf of Cabinet, thank you.

8 Consideration of the Forward Plan as at 27 November 2023

we'll move on to item 8, which is consideration of a forward plan,
do any members of cabinet wish to comment on the Forward Plan, no, are we agreed?

9 Response to the Inspectors Initial Findings Letter on The Local Plan

thank you very much and we're now going to move on to Item 9, which is a response to the Inspector's initial findings letter on the local plan, and we have one registered speakers I mentioned earlier and that's Mr Stuart Gledhill, Chairman of Safe Cable, so if you'd like to,
thank you Chairman, good evening everyone, it will come as no surprise that safe cables supports the deletion of Dudley Village in the revised local plan in 2019, there was an overwhelming objection to the proposal in the unprecedented 8,000 responses to the public consultation, save capable is argued at every stage of the process that the garden settlement would be unsustainable and that today is simply the wrong place for it.
so many other organisations agree, including Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council, and, crucially, the Inspector has not determined that the proposal could ever be made inevitably sound.
safe cables supports the progression of the Local Plan but continues to have serious concerns about the development strategy for East Caple and Policy S 1 in particular.
there is a continued apparent disregard by planners and consultants of cable's identity, as highlighted by no allocations being included in table 4 of the development strategy.
identifies an urban expansion.
but the development of around 150 houses in East Caple is unproductive farmland in the Green Belt and represents a nearly 150% increase in cable's population.
councillors, there are around 30 documents for you to consider when making your decision tonight, but the evidence base is not complete, you may wish to obtain clarification of the updated in future infrastructure costs and the viability assessment.
I also know that the development plan appears to be overly optimistic, as it doesn't include a main modification stage in the schedule.
if you are minded to progress the public consultation in the new year, it would be helpful if the dates are clarified, we request that a closing date would be on a Monday rather than the previous Friday, to allow those working the weekend for preparing submissions, there is an inevitable rush towards the end of such consultations in summary,
we urge you to accept the revised plan with the removal of Chorley village, given the national policy and political uncertainties a truly sustainable plan is needed as soon as possible.
save Cable looks forward to participating in the next stages of the process.
thank you very much.
thank you Stuart.
impeccably timed with 30 seconds suspect,
OK, I'm going to pass on to Councillor Hugo Pound Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning to introduce item 9, please thank you very much my starting question really very briefly before we go through officers and we have three officers from Planning here this evening for which I'm very grateful for their presence and hopeful contribution before I turn to them I just want to raise the question of why do we need a local plan?
to my mind, the local plan, other than being a legal requirement for councils which it is and provides, is providing a sense of direction to the borough. It provides a vision of what it might look and feel like to work and live here in the Borough of Tunbridge Wells. But, more importantly, perhaps having a local plan means that the Council has a sense of where it wants development and where it does not. What kinds of development fits its vision and which do not the local locations that are right for our long term sustainable future and which are not not having a local plan, makes it increasingly difficult to say no to developers who want to put up housing in inappropriate locations or more commonly of the wrong tenure for current and future residents needs. A local plan will allow the Council to set out a vision for the future, a vision that we can hold firm on
the plans submitted to the Planning Inspectorate in 2021 was supported by full Council was and remains robust, is well researched, fully assessed and by and large accepted as sound by the Inspector he did, however, come back to the Council on three principal matters and over the last year officers have been working tirelessly to address the issues that the Inspector has raised always hold on to the Inspector's view that much of the plan is already sound but that in addition to relatively straightforward modifications, the with matters that needed to be addressed one as has been alluded to by question as this evening is Tudeley garden, village,
secondly, was building on on recently identified higher risk flood zone land in East Cable, West Paddock Wood and thirdly, undertaking Green Belt stage 3 assessments on sites not included in the submission Local Plan to provide equivalence of assessments for those that had been.
there are five recommendations within our report this evening which the Leader will read out a little bit later, it is on these matters that officers have been working over the last year, the response to the Inspector Cabinet has it has before it this evening is the culmination of that year's work which I would now look to Carlos Hone Kenneth Kevin Hope and Alan Gilbert please to explain in a little more detail I would also ask perhaps that we have some sense of response to Mr. Gledhill s questions about the productivity of farmland and the evidence-based not being complete.
the question on infrastructure costs the over optimism seemingly of the development plan and whether we can close the consultation on a Monday, not a Friday, thank you.
thank you Chair good evening, members, that the reports before you receiving sets out the officer's recommendation for a proposed response to the Local Plan Inspector's initial findings letter, a copy of the digital findings letter is appended to the report at Appendix A. The Luck Plan has been in preparation since 2016 and has been through three rounds of public consultation to date prior to the submission to the secretary of State for examination in November 21.
the appointed Inspector Mr. Burton Shaw has provided his initial findings now to the Council, and section 4 of this report explains these initial findings and the work undertaken by officers in order to consider that and respond to these findings, CasaPound has set out what those main areas of consideration are in section 4 of the report goes into some detail about how officers have sought to resolve those matters,
in particular in regards to Green Belt assessments. Third assessment has been undertaken unreasonable alternative sites following that work, it is considered that the further SA assessment does not provide a basis for concluding the other previously rejected. Omission sites should come forward into the local plan at this stage.
in terms of the the comments made about Chorley village, following on from the assessments of the numerous matters raised by the Inspector, whilst some matters officers feel can be resolved, there is still some uncertainty regarding the impacts of the 5 8 Green bypass required for cheeky village and also there hasn't delivery away right. Consequently, there is some doubt as to whether or not these matters could be addressed to the satisfaction of the Inspector and to meet the threshold required for exceptional circumstances to justify its green belt release.
moving on to the the strategic sites at Paddock Wood and East Caple, where it was explained how officers have considered the consequential impacts on Paddock Wood and Land at East Caple from the removal of Chorley village from the plan. Whilst the location can still accommodate major expansion and still support significant improvements to local community and transport infrastructure without building homes within higher flood risk signs which have now been identified following on from further evidence gathering, it will nevertheless result in a reduction of approximately a thousand homes as part of that strategic allocation. In terms of employment at Paddock Wood, there is still a strong case for employment growth to still be accommodated on land adjoining transfers arrived in the industrial states within flood zone, 2, only in terms of other matters that are raised by the Inspector. In his initial findings, it was felt that these can be addressed through the main modifications passed through the examination process,
however, the fundamental issues relating to the development strategy are considered in quite some detail, officers have gone through seven different development strategy options in the report and in the development strategy topic paper addendum as well.
and he's been identified and discussed in quite some detail.
which cover the the different options which are available on how to consider the spatial distribution of housing, employment and infrastructure provision.
and the impacts of the spatial distribution of housing supply over the plan period, including whether a 10 or 15 year housing land supply can be achieved, as required by the National Planning Policy Framework.
members will see that the the revised Development Strategy proposed today does provide 10 year rather than a 15 year housing land supply, which would mean that upon adoption, the Council would need to start the process of undertaking a review of the plan, it's important to acknowledge that in the Inspector's nights,
in his findings that a significant amount of hard work has clearly gone into the preparation of the Local Plan, which is positively prepared and seeking to meet housing needs, despite lodges areas of green belt and High Weald Allenby, he feels that the majority of changes to the submitted plan set out in the letter are relatively straightforward and can be dealt with through main modifications at Paddock Wood and East Capel the Inspector was relatively confident that the strategic changes can be achieved without fundamental changes.
however, in respect to the village, the Inspector has suggested three ways forward for the Council to consider and Lisa, as set out in section 5 of the report, essentially they are to provide additional information to justify Chorley village allocation, as submitted option 2 is to modify the master plan by making significant changes to Chorley village and in doing so seek to overcome the soundness issues identified and option 3 is to delete the allocation entirely from the plan the officer recommendation on the way forward following on from the further evidence gathering is proposed via an amended development strategy.
this identifies that officers feel that the the the Tudeley village.
sites should be deleted from the Local Plan.
but it sees a reduction in growth around 1,000 homes at Paddock, Wood Capel Dewi reconfigures and provision of sports or recreation and employment at Paddock Wood.
and it provides a strategy for provision of both primary and secondary school provision at Paddock Wood as well.
along with these changes, there would be some modifications to the strategy at Hawkhurst, as set out in a recommendation and papers.
in terms of the the recommendation itself, flows are set out in detail in five different recommendations.
how officers presented the the reports of planning and transportation Cabinet Advisory Board on the 13th of November in detail, at the meeting the CAB members were in support of the work that has been undertaken and the officer recommendation subject to a further recommendation being added, which is number 5 in the report.
this has set out on page 2 of the report, this reflects the wishes of CAB for the consultation, not starting until after the Christmas break in January, this would only delay the consultation by one week in the sports by officers.
as Councillor pounds said, I'm supported by Alan Gilbert, who is the Planning Policy Manager, and Kevin Hope whose strategic sites and delivery team leader were happy to answer any questions.
but we can't go through those constantly raised cash pounds if that's OK now yeah.
yes, please, okay.
the consultation documents.
I thank you very much, so I'd like to make a comment on the query about the the the public consultation, so essentially the the recommendation on the report this evening is that the the public consultation would start in January, so we are as a team currently in the process of getting the arrangements.
finalise for the public consultation and essentially we are looking at 6.00 week public consultation starting on or around the the 3rd of January, which is a Wednesday, and that programme would take it through to the the 14th February, which is midweek as well.
looking at the the dates
you know to to make sure it ends at a weekend, essentially we have two options available, as I as I see it, the first of which is we could extend the length of the public consultation slightly to.
include the following weekend.
the the second option is that we begin the public consultation a few days later.
and have the six weeks, so essentially you could have a six week consultation if it started slightly later or you can have a slightly longer consultation to include the weekend.
and but obviously that's something I appreciate members would like to discuss this evening, but we can incorporate either of those approaches, thank you.
thank you.
and to some further responses, so in terms of the the development strategy for Paddock Wood and East Capel, with the aim of the Local Plan has always been to deliver sustainable communities and that's required by national policy, so that is the aim and in order to do that it's important to have a development which is of a scale that will deliver infrastructure to meet the needs of those.
residents, and that is still considered to be the the position of.
the the report and the officer recommendation at this stage, the the development of Paddock Wood anise cable would be reduced by approximately a thousand homes, but it would still deliver approximately two and a half thousand homes plus all the infrastructure, as set out in the in the table. There has been quite a lot of work done with David Lock Associates, who are the masterplanners to in order to still maintain this 10 year housing land supply in the plan, which has resulted in some changes to where sport and leisure might be provided and where the secondary school education would be provided as well. So it is still felt by officers that the the development in the plan would deliver a sustainable community
in terms of the the comment with regards to being overly optimistic and not having a schedule of main modifications, we have informally discussed this with the Planning Inspector and his his position is set out in the initial findings letter and he wants us to focus on the work that is necessary to resolve the matters that he's raised in that letter. The main modifications process would come at a later stage, subject to his agreement. Essentially, the main modifications is is at the Inspector's request. It is necessary to make plans sound in final stages throughout the hearings, officers were keeping track of what modifications might be necessary in order to make the Plan sound
so that work has been undertaken to a degree, but we would be required to negotiate with the Inspector at a later date in order to do that main modification process.
in terms of viability and infrastructure, 2 of o viability assessments have been undertaken to date for the submission Local Plan, they are published, one of his focused on strategic sites and its deliverability, Dixon Searle, Partnership, who undertook those infrastructure modelling and reports have been re-engage to complete a final review of the viability of the revised position that we've put before Members today, we've had initial discussions with them, they've run the model, and the final report will be subject to the consultation when we do that in January.
Mrs. Dunham report will be published at that point, viability is very much a process of assessment based on the health of a development and how the phasing of the development will come forward in terms of its housing and when the infrastructure is is needed, and that's what was done throughout the plan making process so the high level assumptions at this stage assume deliverability of the Paddock Wood site.
as set out today in the in terms of the the whole of the planning and its policy requirements.
and this was a will result in an updated infrastructure delivery plan, which is one of the documents that supports Local Plan which essentially, as a live document, that the changes spending on the infrastructure needs of development so that will be updated as part of the main modifications process thank you.
thank you for comprehensive and introduction and answers to those questions, and do any members of cabinet have any questions to ask, but just for the benefit of the recording Councillor Nancy one is going to leave this part of the item and won't be voting on this item, so thank you Nancy does anybody have any questions Councillor Hugo pounds?
and I'm not sure this is a question for planning, but can I just confirm that in my head, if we start on Wednesday the 4th of January with the consultation that finishes on the 15th of February, that would seem fine, because then you have a weekend and a couple of days in which to polish your submission before it is submitted on the Wednesday but if for any reason it's delayed if we started it,
on Monday, the eighth of journey does that clash with any other consultations or any other Council business in that period, beginning the 19th of February, which would be the end of the consultation.
I think.
just just to be clear about the recommendation isn't given specific dates, all it all is doing is saying that the local plan, as per recommendation 5.
that the consultation should not start until January 2024, so there is some further work to do. We had been planning, when we met with the Cabinet Advisory Board, to start that a week before Christmas, but we accept that that can roll over now and starting in January. We can certainly work if, if members are are keen to have it end on a Monday, I think the the the Speaker requested
to to
to allow that to happen, so I think that that's something that we can take away and work on should Cabinet want that to happen.
thank you OK, so so if we if we leave it with you that were whatever date it starts, it will not finish on a Friday, but it will be for six weeks, then we're fine.
no sign that the minimum requirement is a six-week consultation, so we can do that and we can factor in whatever Cabinet require.
thank you, that's very clear, did you want to ask a question Chris yesterday's Cheltenham, just in the terms of the consultation, please, so we've heard from residents from Broadwater this evening, will there be an opportunity for them to comment during the consultation and will those comments be sent to the Inspector for consideration?
thank you, and there will be the this consultation is very much a focused consultation on the the response to the initial findings letter. However, the the the form that is being developed and the the the software on the consultation portal will have one and any other comments box at the end of it. So anyone wishing to make comments on anything else would do so on that part of the form. At the end of the process, we will collate and summarise all the representations received and provide a Council response to the comments, in the same way as we have previous consultations and all that information will be collated and returned to the Inspector and along with the the Council's official response and the evidence to determine the next steps in the examination, thank you
thank you Alan.
thank you, Chair, with regards to the consultation, the development at Hawkhurst for 70 houses and land for potential medical centre has already gone to the Planning Committee and been approved, so where does that sit in terms of an open consultation in for the Local Plan?
can I thank you the the resolution made by Planning Committee has informed our decision to to revise the site policy to include the residential and
the residential element that that now has the resolution to grant by the Planning Committee and that forms part of our response to the Inspector, so it set out within the Development Strategy topic, paper addendum and people will be able to.
comment on it as part of the consultation, obviously having regard to the fact it has got the resolution to grant permission, but they can still comment and the Inspector will consider those comments in due course, thank you.
thank you, does anybody else have any other questions, I was just going to ask Kevin a question if, on my I know, Kevin you've put in a lot of work, trying to solve the education conundrum at Paddock Wood does, or does a plans have a preferred option whether to put the extra forms of entry or mass schools or on the new site potentially in North Paddock Wood for a brand new school, what's the your sense on that one, please? Thank you.
thank you, yeah, the the masterplanning study that would be sent out the addendum to the original study.
go through, essentially what we are looking to do for for education there, essentially, there are two options.
it has presented with either.
a new school being provided and they are safeguarded land as part of the amendments we have we've put forward for that in the north-western parcel.
the paddock would nice capable.
that is essentially one option, a new school would be the land for it would be for six iffy school, a school can open up for fee.
but the essentially the the fee requirement from the development of a peddler in East cable is 3 F a two form entry rather.
so what we're looking at is and option 2, which is potentially the expansion of muscles to accommodate that three form entry.
so.
where we currently sit and are essentially how it is presented in the report, is that both options are on the table and they carry sort of equal weight at this time, what we are doing also is we are going through a feasibility process for essentially the ability for Moscow to accomodate that 3 F growth were in discussion with the trust the operate Moscow School.
as well as the Education Authority, essentially on that process and then essentially working through the deliverability of the expansion of Meskel School.
if that was to conclude that that wasn't workable, then obviously we have the safeguarded option set out in the documents so yeah, to answer a question, the there isn't a preferred option at this time and we really want to see the results of the feasibility work, but clearly it's right that we we explore both options and essentially we've included the the option of the safeguarded land, so there is a sort of reserve if mescal season is impossible, so if you want to add to that cos
yeah, what we're working with the as Kevin set out with the developers the
the Academy Trust and the Education Authority to to look through the feasibilities is very much in enhance, I would say, of Kent County Council as Education Authority, to set the terms of all that feasibility are to make sure they are satisfied that not only can the school accommodate the additional buildings that it needs, but it also can be managed effectively at the size that it would be which would be, I think 12 F A so that there's some current concerns I would say from from a management perspective, but that's why we're going through this feasibility study and have also safeguarded land as well.
thank you that that's really good for the clarification that we've got there's a back-up plan, if if Mascalls doesn't happen because a 12 Effie school is a very big school, OK does anybody else have any questions, no, in that case let's move into the debate, does anybody wish to make?
any comments on the Local Plan.
Councillor Chris Hall,
thank you, Chair yeah, I just first and foremost I think you know we do need a local plan, I think that's really important that we have one, but I'd I'd like to actually thank Mike Bowers for his attendance at tonight's meeting
and for raising his questions on behalf of residents in Broadwater, which is my own ward, I think they have every right to raise these issues, which I think deserve some further investigation and comment I actually do share the concerns raised around the issue of accuracy in the classification of this site.
and the fact that the Ramslye fields had always previously been assessed as grade 3, A and three B agricultural use, right up into the drafting of the first iteration of the Local Plan in 2019 when it was changed to Grade 4 urban before the plan was drafted for inspection. It's never really been explained to our satisfaction anyway as to why this change in classification was made and we are not convinced. It was justified when compared with alternative green belt sites in the Royal Tunbridge Wells area, which are comparatively of a lower value and where the impact of development would be less damaging.
the fact that the Planning Inspector didn't comment
I don't think really does the issue justice. I think it's a flaw in the process. Unfortunately, I think it leaves a vacuum whereby the carefully prepared and research objection objections, section 19, and the representing representations that were made at the inspectors hearings are left entirely unanswered, so I am deeply disappointed on behalf of my ward. The residents did not receive specific answers from the Inspector, either to acknowledge their points and recommend modifications, or to explain why the land would still be suitable to be released from the Green Belt for development. I think at the very least they deserve that and for that reason I think the residents of Broadwater who are trying to protect these ancient fields should have another opportunity for the Planning Inspector to comment. But I agree that the purpose of the this evening is to proceed with Council business, so I can understand why the local plan should be sent to Full Council to debate the motion about moving forward final consultation where Councillor Johnson and I, who represent broader water, will have a further opportunity to comment on these matters specifically around this and other issues raised this evening on behalf of our residents, thank you,
thank you, Chris, does anybody else wish to make a comment, no, in that case I'm going to move to some very lengthy recommendations, please bear with me.
I think the recommendations will take longer than the debate and put the figure, so there are five recommendations on item 9.
number 1 Cabinet recommends to Council that the examination of the Local Plan be progressed, in accordance with Section 6 of this report and the Inspector's option 3 paragraph 5.1 6 and 5.1 7, of the Inspector's initial findings.
the first bullet point reads that the Chudley village allocation SDA S S 3 be removed from the plan bullet point to reads that housing in Paddock Wood and East Cable SDC S S 1 be reduced, with all housing being on flood zone 1 and employment land on flood zone 2.
bullet point 3 reads, along with changes to the Development Strategy at Hawkhurst, to revise site A all hot air force slash h A 5 in accordance with the Planning Committee resolution on application reference 22 Ford slash 0 2 6 6 4 forwards slash hybrid and to remove site A L Ford slash h A 8 Lime Grove,
the next bullet point reads, and to progress a 10 year housing land supply position, including the requirement for an immediate review of the plan.
and that these changes with a sustainability appraisal will be subject to public consultation. Bulletpoint numbered. Sorry recommendation 2 is that the responses to the public consultation be collected collated and put forward with additional evidence to the Inspector for further consideration in order to progress the examination of the submission Local Plan recommendation, 3, that up until the date of the start of the consultation on the strategic changes to the Local Plan, the Head of Planning be authorised to make minor modifications to the consultation information should it be deemed necessary to wreck to correct minor errors. Recommendation 4 that, subject to the conclusion of the consideration of the additional evidence of and hearings should they be necessary by the Inspector and TW B C, receiving a recommendation from him that the local plan can move forward to main modifications that the Head of Planning, in consultation with the Chief Executive, the Leader of the Council and the portfolio holder for housing and planning be granted the authority to undertake the main modification process in accordance with a detailed strategic changes made in this report and a schedule of other modifications as deemed necessary by the Local Plan Inspector in order to make the Plan sound.
recommendation 5 that public consultation on the proposed changes to the Local Plan, as set out in the report, and that recommendation
one shall not start until January 2024 and shall run for a period of six weeks are we agreed?

13 9-10 Calverley Terrace - Disposal

agreed. Thank you very much, so we're now going to move on to items 24 sorry 13 24 and 25, and before I ask Councillor Chris Hall, to introduce item 13 there, each of these three items that come up next of all got a.
confidential, exempt appendix, and if we want to discuss what's in the confidential papers, we can't do that in open session will have to go into.
closed session at privately afterwards, so will proceed and see how we go, but Chris can I hand over to you on Item 13 9 and 10 Calverley terrorists, please?
yes, thank you very much, Chair so yeah this item was discussed at the Finance and governance Cabinet Advisory Board and at it.
is around the disposal potential disposal of nine to 10 Calverley Terrace and giving delegated authority to myself and chief financial officer.
to dispose of.
of the asset.
this was given quite considerable amount of time.
at finance and governance where it was debated extensively, and we heard from Paul Davis, the chair of the Civic Society and we have heard from Members and their views and there were some modifications or recommendations to Cabinet which has set out in the report as a result of that discussion, and so I will just remind you what they were. One was the possible deferral of a decision subject to the timing of the town centre plan and the materiality of 9 to 10 Calverley Terrace within the plan, so Members were concerned that if the Town Centre plan was potentially imminent, in other words, potentially in the next six months or so, that perhaps we should allow that process to be fulfilled and reach its conclusion before deciding on whether or not to proceed with 9 to 10 Calverley Terrace
but also whether or not it was of some material importance to the plan itself, so that was raised as a question on the evening, and though also I mean I've I promised at the meeting way way before I guess we got to the Romeo recommendations because it's something I just think is the right thing to do I want to do any wage is to refer the bids that we've received back to the property asset oversight panel
for review before a final decision is taken, and that was endorsed by the Cabinet Advisory Board as well, so those are the two recommendations, so are there any any questions?
David First, David, would you like to add anything else on on this item?
just to thank you, thank you, our leader, just to confirm that the asset is listed in the 23 24 Asset Management Plan, as both being surplus to the Council requirements and being an asset for disposal.
the building has lain empty for a number of years, as it is no longer suitable for.
Council accommodation and their use for services, although it does have some tenants in the building, we currently let a small area of it to the ambulance service and we also have, at least with police for Epsom spaces within the in the car park in front. The site is currently at market, we have advertised in the Kent, Can Cam and we have it's been on the market since October 2023 and we achieved some further coverage in the Daily Mail
which means that we've actually looked to extend the period of time that it is open on on the market.
mainly because it has been some interest or as a result of the Daily Mail article.
we haven't closed that opportunities,
we have received a number of bids, however, they have not been opened and will not be opened until there would be closed, we can open and assess all of those together.
so we are waiting for a and seeking a decision from Cabinet at to progress with the disposal, and then we can move forward to clause the consultation or sorry the the bits that we are currently seeking.
thank you, the do Members have any questions Nancy.
just picking up on this point of whether we can defer the decision until the development of the town centre plan, I wonder if Carlos you could give some commentary on how long the town centre plan might be in the making and what the status of that those particular buildings would be within it, but what what would be would it be a helpful thing to,
delay us are owning it or not in the development of the panel, or does it not, you know it, does it not really factor in in the plan itself, thank you.
thank you.
while the cast has plants in its early stages of production, so far, nice guy through.
initial Regulation 18 issues and options. Consultation when lights are Regulation 19, draft plan stage, consultation, and then in an examination, very much like the local plan that we've just discussed, so the likelihood is that it won't be adopted until very late in 2025, so there's there's quite a long process to go through before the the town centre plan is,
adopted, the red line of the Thompson's plan does include 9 10 Calverley terrorist within it, so it could be subject to a vanilla subject of an allocation in that plan, however, there wouldn't necessarily necessarily need to be a specific use at this stage it would be further to evidence gathering that we undertake which we're undertaking at the moment and subject to really the issues and options consultation which will run beginning of next year.
as helpful, thank you very much.
thank you, Councillor Hugo pounds.
thank you as the I think that's probably a question for either Leon or David and only today, as some of us have received a potential alternative structure and proposal for 9 Calverley Terrace, I assume that we can still support the recommendation within the report here, because those activities will run in parallel and our acceptance this evening if that's where we go on the recommendations in no way precludes discussions taking place elsewhere.
thankfully, I would urge all potential parties, interesting and acquire 9 10 Corey Terrace to make contact with the letting agents and to seek legal representation, and the matters can be handled that way, but certainly this Council can still progress with its delegated decision to consider proposals to dispose.
thank you, Leigh is very clear, does anybody else have any questions, no okay, so, just to clarify we cabinet sorry, I received an e-mail communication this this morning from the Civic Society slash Decimus Burton society about an alternative proposal.
for the site, and I think I agree with with Lee that this does not preclude us from looking at that option whilst we go through these these recommendations tonight.
members of the cabinet have had their that e-mail, but I'm I'm not we're not being asked to vote on that proposal, it's another offer with the other offers that have been put on the table, does anybody else wish to comment on the
on the
Councillor Justin Rutland.
thank you Chair. I have given this issue a lot of thought over the past few months, especially since taking on the culture portfolio, as time has gone on, it has become any more apparent that the council is finding it difficult to care for the entirety of its property portfolio as it and its residents would wish. We are in very challenging times. I am already asking our culture team to generate more income, reduced costs and quite literally fix the roof as a council. We need to keep our heads above water and do our best to deliver on projects that have been identified as priorities.
and to do this we need capital receipts in order to invest in and repair our properties, there is a risk attached to keeping 9 and 10 Calverley Terrace, one of which is that the buildings deteriorate further with the recommendation from F and G for the sale to be referred back to the property oversight panel, I am reassured that any purchaser will be scrutinised twice over and that we have some control over the sale and that we have the ability to sell to a sound custodian who will respect the heritage of the listed property which is itself protected under planning legislation.
therefore, I will be recommending supporting the recommendations as the best option available to us at this time, thank you, thank you, Justin does anybody else wish to spook Councillor Gary Neville?
thank you Chair just quickly, I'd like to point out that I am very much heartened by the planning committee's decision last night to turned down the
extension of Decimus Burton Building in Calverley Park, which makes which lie which?
yes, I am heartened by that because I believe that the scrutiny of which any proposed buyer would come and out it would be of the highest degree, so the building would be looked after very well and still be something of a source of pride for Tunbridge Wells, thank you.
thank Helen. Does anybody else wish to comment okay? In that case, I will move over to the recommendations of which there are three recommendation. 1, that Cabinet approves the disposal of the land referred to in this report and the appendices to the delegated authority is granted to the Head of economic development and property, in consultation with the Director of Finance Policy and Development, the monitoring officer and the Cabinet Member for Finance and performance to negotiate and agree the terms of the disposal recommendation, 3, that the head of Mid Kent legal Services is authorised to negotiate and complete all necessary ancillary legal documentation and formalities to give effect to these recommendations and the disposal of the land, are we agreed

24 New Lease on Asset - Royal Victoria Place, Royal Tunbridge Wells

thank you very much, we're now going to move on to Item 24, which is the new lease on asset at Royal Victoria Place in Tunbridge Wells, and before I ask Chris and Diane to introduce the item, just to say there is an exempt appendices and if we need to discuss the
appendix C that's confidential, we'd need to go into closed session on that one, so Chris over tea.
thank you very much, Chair, yes, we have a new lease Downing introduced this item at finance and governance.
and I think the the main comments from cabinet Advisory Board were really about how we can speed up the process by which these leases are agreed, without having to come back to the finance and governance Cabinet Advisory Board each time, so there was general consensus I think across the board if we can make some changes, I think potentially some constitutional changes. That would be a wise move so that we can actually proceed with these at a much faster pace and and delegate that potentially to the investment panel Tollner handover to Diane and if you'd like to make any further further comment.
thank you, I don't need to say that this item, it deals with a lease renewal, so it's dealing with and occupied for part of the RVP premises, and it was raised specifically because of a compensation payment which will be due at the end of the lease if the lease is not renewed because a security of tenure was agreed to be are removed from the tenants' rights in return for the payment of the compensation sum.
thank you.
thank you, does anybody have any questions of Bayern on this one?
no, okay, does anybody wish to come in?
apart from its really good news, which is fantastic and I share Chris's issues are currently constitutionally, all of these leases have to come to Cabinet, and I'm looking forward to not have to hold back from the exciting things that are in the confidential appendices, so very exciting in that case shall we move to the recommendations which are,
sorry.

25 New Lease in Royal Victoria Place, Royal Tunbridge Wells - 2

recommendation 1 approves the grant of a new lease on key terms set out in Appendix exempt appendix A to delegate authority to the Head of economic development and property, in consultation with the Director of Finance Policy and Development, and the Cabinet Member for Finance and performance, to agree the final terms of the lease and exempt appendix A recommendation, 3 delegate authority to the Head of legal Services to be authorised to complete all legal formalities as are necessary and incidental, to the recommendations in this report and to negotiate, execute and complete all necessary agreements indeed arising from ork, ancillary or incidental to these to those decisions are we agreed? Thank you very much. We're gonna move on to
item 25, which is a new lease on asset at Royal Victoria Place in Tunbridge Wells, and again it there is a confidential appendix, and I'm going to ask Chris to introduce the item before Diane thank you thanks for that had nothing to add on this this item, so unless diamonds to say something about it,
if I could just say that this is a new lease and it is a an opportunity which is thought to enhance the future of the RVP and it is a la lease for 10 years inside the Act and it provides an opportunity to to have another retail adjacent to significant shops within the centre.
it's important that we progress with the timetable if that's the decision, because there is a risk that this tenant would pull her up if we don't meet the timetable, and that's the reason that it came to this cabinet late, because we needed to make the urgent decision which was supported by the Chair of Overview and Scrutiny.
thank you,
thank you, Diane does anybody have any questions on that item?
does anybody wish to comment on the item now?
just to say, this one is particularly exciting, I could even see myself in there making the odd purchase, but my lips are sealed.
but very good news for Tunbridge Wells, so we'll move straight to the recommendations number 1 that Cabinet approves the grant of a new lease on the key terms set out in appendix exempt appendix A a recommendation to the Cabinet delegates authority to the Head of economic development and property in consultation with the Director of Finance Policy and Development and the Cabinet Member for Finance and performance to agree the final terms of the lease in exempt appendix A
recommendation 3 that Cabinet delegates authority to the Head of legal services to complete all legal formalities, as are necessary, and incidental, to the recommendations in this report and to negotiate, execute and complete the lease and all necessary agreements and deeds arising from all ancillary or incidental to the decisions or to appoint external solicitors to undertake the work are we agreed.

26 Urgent Business

23 Draft Asset Management Plan 2024/25

Andrew fantastic, thank you, we'll move on to Item number 23, which is the draft asset management plan for 22 sorry 2024 to 2025, and I'm going to ask Councillor Chris Hall Cabinet Member for Finance and performance to introduce the item, thank you Chris.
thank you Chair, there are quite quite a number of items on the agenda, as you'll have seen from the finance and governance Cabinet Advisory Board, so I am going to withhold from commenting on each item if you don't mind perhaps to speed up business I'll comment on the draft Budget we when we get there but perhaps,
in the meantime, maybe just hand over to David if he wishes to say anything before questions.
if if I'm if I'm a German just to introduce
the draft Asset Management Plan 24 25 is attached to item 23 annually, we bring the draft to cabinet via the Cabinet Advisory Board version is a consultation version, and we're seeking permission to go out to consultation and then with the aim of bringing a subject to that consultation bringing a version of the asset management plan back to Cabinet and Full Council for decision in February March 2024 just to highlight the AMP sets out the principles, procedures and mechanisms in which we are going to be seeking to manage the
property portfolio Councillor
Councillor Hall, as portfolio holders has highlighted the the elements in terms of that, I would just draw to your attention that at the F and G CAB, they asked for a couple of elements in terms of whether
and while supporting recommendations, whether there was a request for further explanation on why assets listed
in appendix 4 for disposal, and also maybe a additional commentary on implications regarding a revenue impact, loss of rent and loss of income, so I just draw that to Members' attention, thank you.
thank you, does anybody have any questions for David?
does anybody wish to comment?
Councillor Hugo pound thanks Ben it's in relation to Appendix 4, actually of the report that I just make the the comment that there has been a huge amount of inaccurate and misleading and somewhat provocative commentary in recent months about the Asset Management Plan and and our plans for disposal, and I have to say that this year I think that the definitions and explanations are much clearer in the report than perhaps they had been before and it's been very helpful to understand the feasibility and the implementation phases.
of disposal and A and R and I, I don't know how we get over it really.
but I think we somehow need to educate the public and others, including our own MP, about what is meant by disposal just to say in his most recent leaflet, R and P has said, and now the council is cutting car parking in the town selling off a central car park despite promising not to,
when that is currently simply not true, and it is during the week at least two or what was leased to a leaseholder, it's only available at weekends, it is not a central car park for public use, and somehow we need to explain better the position that we take in relation to these matters I think.
so, although I'm frustrated by the misrepresentation of some of the information within the report, I wholeheartedly supported and think that it is better explained than it ever has been before, thank you, thank you, Hugo, does anybody else wish to comment on that one notes?
Lee prior to publication of the draft, would members agree to the removal Great Hall car park from the list of car parks for disposal.
and also to remove a lot of Linden Park car park.
he said there was no intention to further dispose of those particular assets, particularly Great Hall West Cabinet is my decision to invest in that asset.
and we can remove those prior to the consultation on the draft, if that is what cabinet would prefer.
yeah, if we were refurbishing a carpet, we're not gonna dispose of it so that those two make sense to to all of us, I think, yeah, that's yes, okay, and can I just take on the Cabinet Advisory point about just I think helpfully clarify clarifying the nature of the disposal and what it means and also Hugo's point I think.
before it goes out to public consultation, that would be very, very helpful and also David thank you for the very synced recommendation but which we can move to now, which is beautifully one line, one sentence recommendation 1 is that Cabinet approves the draft Asset Management Plan for 2024 to 2025 for consultation are we agreed agreed? Thank you very much, we're gonna move on to,
item number 10

10 Contracting out of the Homelessness Reviews Function

which is currently contracting out of the homelessness reviews function, and I'm going to ask the Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning Councillor Hugo Pound to introduce the item, thank you, thank you Chair very briefly just to introduce this item, there is a requirement for the Council to provide a facility for homeless people who wish to have the decision about their homelessness reviewed to be undertaken by somebody who is independent of the decision making process that has taken place prior to that.
and therefore, within a relatively small District Council, it is very difficult to find an officer who has is so removed from the initial decision that they are able, then to act objectively in that review and therefore.
the recommendation before us this evening is for the continuance of a contractual arrangement whereby we use expert opinion from outside to undertake those reviews if you look at your papers, you'll see that actually in the last five years there have only been 14 of them undertaken in total the cost of each of those is only about 450 pounds per review, but they are undertaken by people who are doing them all day long, they understand the issues they know how to deal with representations, and sometimes those representations are quite complex and legal.
and I think that is wholly appropriate that we don't have the resource internally, nor should we try to find it internally what we should recognise is that sometimes contracting out on such a small scale is wholly appropriate and it does allow us to feel that we are getting a review which is independent of the original Council decision, so I would simply recommend support of the recommendations in your papers, of which there are three. Thank you, thank you. Does anybody have any questions for Hugo
no.
no notice is just to say that this came to communities and economic development Cabinet Advisory Board and was supported by them.
thank you for that helpful clarification, does anybody wish to comment now, in that case we'll move straight to the recommendations on item 10, recommendation 1 is that Cabinet approves the contracting out of the section 2 0 2 brackets the Housing Act 1996 homelessness reviews function in accordance with the local authorities,
contracting out of allocation of housing and homelessness functions, order 1996 recommendation 2 that Cabinet delegates to the Head of Housing, Health and Environment, the authority in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning to procure for and appoint a contractor to carry out the Council s homelessness reviews function and to agree the final terms of and enter into legal agreement or contract recommendation, 3, that Cabinet delegates authority to the Head of legal services to complete all legal formalities, including any procurement processes, in consultation with the Council's procurement manager, and to negotiate, execute and complete all necessary agreements. Indeed, to give effect to these recommendations, are we agreed

11 Economic Development Strategy

thank you very much, we're going to move on to Item number 11, which is the economic development strategy, and I'm going to ask Councillor Justin Rutland cabinet member for economic development to introduce the item. Please, thank you, thank you Chair. And pleased to bring the economic development strategy 2023 to 2026 back to this Cabinet for approval following its public consultation. Thank you to members of the communities and economic development CAB, for their input and to all members of the public organisations and businesses who responded. The document has been amended to reflect the feedback received. I'd like to thank in particular officers Hilary Smith and James Reid, but their exceptionally hard work in bringing the strategy together.
if you have any questions, I'm sure David and I be happy to take them, thank you.
thank you just saying there's any David, do you want to add anything or?
no, I'm I'm perfectly fine with the introduction, thank you.
thank you, does anybody have any questions or comment on the item, no, in that case we'll move on to the recommendations.
recommendation 1 to agree adoption and publication of the final economic development strategy for 2023 to 2024 shown in Appendix A of this report.
recommendation 2 to agree that the action plan and economic indicators dashboard will be reviewed and updated on an annual basis and reported back to communities and economic development Cabinet Advisory Board are we agreed?
thank you very much.
just to flag up, you said 2023 to 2024, I'm not sure whether OK, sorry, I should have read 2023 to 2026, was spotted and apologies.
thank you.
we'll move on to.

12 RTWT BID Business Improvement District Renewal Ballot 2024

item 12, which is the Royal Tunbridge Wells together, bid business Improvement, District renewal ballot at 20.24, and I'm going to ask Justin Wetlands to introduce the item. Thank you. Thank you, Chair. As portfolio holder for economic development and the Council's representative on the business improvement district board, I'd like to take Hillary for this report and her tireless work in launching and supporting the bid and to orbit directors and board members past and present for their contributions over the past five years. The bids first time is now coming to an end and this report seeks the support of the Council for a second term
the BID plays a crucial role in the economic vitality of Royal Tunbridge Wells town centre and hence the Borough as a whole, it is in line with our vibrant and safer towns and villages, priority which, according to our most recent surveys, is highly valued by residents of all ages, we are fortunate to have a bid team that works hard to ensure that its levy payers see a return on their investment and good value for money.
those levy payers include us, the Council not only has a bid taken on many things that people might assume the Council is responsible for, but it also dedicates time and funds to the council's many activities, including tourist information events, safety partnerships and the street scene, it is an essential sounding board and an important voice for local businesses.
the BID is currently firing on all cylinders, and I am confident that it benefits from sound governance, proactive business engagement and energetic leadership that will generate an exciting and advantageous second term that will benefit residents as well as businesses, should February's ballot be successful,
I have no hesitation in endorsing the recommendations in this report, thank you all, and I am sure David Nye can help with any queries, thank you.
thank you just doing Bobby, did you want to add anything?
if I may, Mr. Chairman are just to clarify that the first year of the first term achievements are set out in paragraphs 1.5 to 1.8 of the report, while section 2
it is a key element for for Cabinet to consider it sets out the Council role in terms of the bid, including managing the ballot collection of the levy, the the fact that we are also seeking confirmation regarding continued
contribution towards the Christmas lights in Royal Tunbridge Wells as well, thank you, thank you, David, and do we have any questions?
Hugo
it's a very simple question, I was looking through the papers and earlier in the week, and I just couldn't find it what happens if the vote says no.
if the vote is no, then the business Improvement District ceases to exist.
it will, it will be round, it will be wound up and there will be no levy being paid into a pot for Royal Tunbridge Wells.
the any of the benefits that are being done by the work that they bid have been carrying out will will will come to them, because there'll be no funding.
can you guess, and I think I might anticipate the answer, but does then economic developments step in to undertake the work that is currently being done by the bid?
if Cabinet are prepared to the current budget, that the bid secures as a result of the levies ran about 450,000.
if Members wish to give economic development about 450,000 per annum to actually put into what the work that the bid does will be more than happy to take that forward, the finance director has just given me a look, that's fine.
thank you any other questions does anybody wish to comment on the item?
I would just like to say.
the I'm amazed by how much the bid does on behalf of businesses in Tunbridge Wells and what positive contribution they make to our community, and I wish him well and I'm personally very happy to support the recommendation as I'm sure cabinet are and lend out all our support in our in our vote as one of the levy payers will move to the recommendations number 1 is that Cabinet endorses the work that is being undertaken by the Royal Tunbridge Wells together are TW t to prepare a second term business plan for the business improvement districts.
district B I D HRA recommendation, to delegate authority to the Director of Finance Policy and Development S 1 5 1, Officer to cast the Council's votes in favour of the bid at ballot recommendation. 3 agrees that there that if there is a successful, yes vote for the BID that the Council enters into an operating agreement and a baseline agreement with R T W T recommendation iv, delegate authority to the Director of Finance Policy and Development S 1 5 1 Officer, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for economic development, to sign off the operational and baseline agreements with R T W T recommendation, 5 agrees to continue to contribute 15,000 pounds per annum to the be id, the bid from the economic development budget to deliver the Christmas lights are we agreed
thank you very much, that's good news as well for Thomas Wales.

13 9-10 Calverley Terrace - Disposal

14 Procurement Strategy 2023-26

we're gonna move on to Item 14, which is the procurement strategy for 2023 2026, and I'm going to ask Chris Hall cabinet member for finance and performance to present the item, thank you, thank you very much, Chair, no comment on this other than to say that it was presented to finance and governance and where it was unanimously approved by members.
thank you.
thank you, Chris, does anybody have any questions for Chris or wish to make any comments?
Justin
yes, I just wanted to say to Dan in the team I really enjoyed reading the report, it had loads of great things in it, lots of good things, about communicating with local suppliers and
but there's going to be very helpful and how it's going to be doing a lot of re outreach to businesses, I'm really delighted by the report and thanks to the team.
and I'll be supporting thank you,
I can't see anybody else wishing to speak, so I will move straight to the recommendations and recommendation 1 that Cabinet approves the wording of the procurement strategy for 2023 to 2026 in Appendix A recommendation to the Cabinet recommends the procurement strategy for approval and subsequent publication and implementation are we agreed?

15 Performance Summary Quarter 2

lovely as unanimous we'll move on to Item 15 performance summary for quarter 2, and I'm going to ask Chris to introduce the item please.
thank you Chair, this item was also presented at finance and governance where again it was unanimously approved by members, thank you any questions or comments from Members of Cabinet on this item now, all I would say, is.
as part of a corporate plan that we're going through at the moment, I'm keen to have a look at our performance indicators and review those, so they're, perhaps more meaningful them.
for some of those that we currently track at the moment, and that's my only comment really so, so we'll move over to the recommendations recommendation 1.
that the Cabinet notes the summary of the project performance over quarter 2 for 2023 2024 at Appendix A recommendation, 2, that Cabinet notes the summary of service performance over quarter 2 for 23 24 at Appendix B, and recommendation 3, that the Cabinet notes the recovery plans for Quarter 2 for 2023 2024 at Appendices C and the are we agreed.

16 Complaints Summary Quarters 1 & 2

thank you very much item 16 is the complaints summary for quarters 1 and 2.
I am going to ask Chris Hall to introduce the item, thank you, and thank you very much Chair, this report is for members of Cabinet to note, it was also unanimously approved by finance and governance, thanks.
thank you, does anybody have any questions or comments, no, in that case we'll move straight to the recommendations for item 16, which is recommendation 1, that Cabinet notes the summary of complaints over period 1, which is from the 1st of April 2023 to the 30th of September 2023.

17 Draft Budget 2024/25 & Mid Term Financial Strategy Update

we agreed, thank you very much, we're now going to move on to Item 17, which is the draft budget for the financial year 2024 to 2025, and the mid-term financial strategy update, and I'm going to ask Councillor Crystal Cabinet Member for Finance and performance to introduce the item.
thank you, thank you very much Chair, I might have a little bit more to sounds this item as you might expect, so we're now nearing the end of the budget setting process and that will end with the presentation of the final Budget to Full Council in February and,
draft budget is now ready to go out to public consultation.
the outlook for the next financial year is progressively getting better, we're gradually improving our financial position year on year by closing the deficit for 2023 24 to under 200,000 and reducing the deficit forecasted for 24 25 to 489,000, with the intention of further closing this gap before February next year, so we've seen some very positive trends.
parking income is up on forecast as his income from the Assembly Hall, Theatre and from our investments less favourable from a resource perspective, but benefiting the budget this year also is an underspend on our staffing costs.
the implementation of the savings plan, as we promised at the last budget, is helping us to stabilise the financial position of the revenue budget for the coming financial year, and I'm pleased to see Town Square already repurposing the council offices for rental in the spring of next year where we stand to make savings on our operating costs so some very positive and progress is definitely being made.
there are still some challenges and risks, as there always are,
in terms of, for instance, the local government settlement, which we should hear about later on this month as to whether or not we will continue to receive the same level of revenue support as last year, we need a good Christmas, as we always do good weather to help making the scouting a success and strong footfall in the town centre which will help not only our local retailers but also help our revenue position.
the next quarter where it's still possible that we can close the budget deficit set at full Council in this financial year 23 24 potentially without having to draw upon reserves, so just like to offer my thanks to cabinet for your leadership and to Lee and Jayne for their hard work on the budget this year. Thankfully, I think we're in a stronger position to go forward to full Council with a budget which shows strong and steady signs of progress to narrowing the budget gap I'll now hand over to leave Lee would like to make any further comment.
or take any questions.
thank you, Councillor Hall, I've got nothing further to add to that comprehensive introduction.
thankfully, does anybody have any questions lie on the draft Budget, no okay?
any comments Does anybody wish to comment on it?
no Christian said at all.
so we'll move to the recommendations of which there are two recommendation, 1, the Cabinet comments on the draft Budget and identifies any areas that they believe need to be strengthened or where there are emissions and recommendation 2, that, subject to the above recommendation Cabinet agrees a draft budget for public consultation are we agreed?
thank you very much, we'll move on to Item 18, which is a calculation of Council Tax Base, and this is an unwanted Chris, please, thank you, Chair, I'm going to hand over to Jane actually on this one to update us on the calculation of the council tax base.

18 Calculation of Council Tax Base

thank you, yes, this paper didn't go before F and G, I gave a verbal update and that's because there's a statutory requirement to calculate the tax base between the 1st of December and the 31st of January, so the report was published on the 1st of December.
basically, the tax base is the number of properties in the borough eligible to pay council tax, and we need to calculate that as as a base to the budget, it's quite a technical calculation and, as I've said, it's laid out in a statutory instrument and there is,
very little ability for the Council to influence that calculation, except for the impact of our own locally determined council tax reduction scheme, which this year it's already been decided, will remain the same and some discounts on empty properties and second homes, and those are all detailed in the report.
you'll see that the levelling up and regeneration Bill 2023 received its Royal Assent in October, and that gives the Council the ability to make two changes to its scheme, firstly to charge 100% long term empty premium after a year rather than the two years which it is currently.
and this can be applied from the 1st of April 24, the second is to charge 100% premium for a second home, but you have to give at least one year's notice before you can bill for the first time, so this can be implemented therefore only from the 1st of April 25 but it is recommended in the report that both amendments are adopted.
just to point out that this is really good news in this report as well.
and that's that 660 new homes have been built in the borough since this time last year and a further 679 are forecast for next year.
also that the number of residents claiming under our council tax reduction scheme has continued to decrease, and that reflects the really low unemployment rates in the borough and that the recovery rate of Council Tax has also improved since COVID, and that's, despite the cost of living crisis,
so really positive news there to share, and overall the tax base therefore is forecast to grow by 2.02%, which which is really positive. Thank you
thank you, Jane, does anybody have any questions on the tax base for Crystal train, does anybody wish to make any comment on it?
OK, so we'll move to recommendations recommendation 1 that Cabinet approve the Tunbridge Wells tax base for 2024 2025, as shown in Appendix B of this report, recommendation 2 that Cabinet approve the adoption of the 2023 2024 levelling up and Regeneration Act, 2023 amendments for long term empty homes and second homes, as explained in note 2.8 are we agreed,
thank you very much.

19 Community Support Fund 2023/24

non item 19 is a community support funds and I'm going to ask.
Councillor Chris Hall, to introduce the item and then Nancy probably.
yeah
thank you very much.
not just to say that I am really delighted that this second version of the Community support Fund, which will run for this financial year, was unanimously supported by the finance and governance Cabinet Advisory Board.
that is pretty much all I want to say on the matter, thank you.
lovely Nancy I, I, it's not with great relish that actually I find this back here in cabinet because I think it's actually quite depressing that here we are in 2023 nearly a quarter of the way, through the 21st century, in the comparatively affluent borough of Tunbridge Wells, and we're Kevin to consider a repeat of what we had hoped would be a one year event only the community sport fund and means for this Council to support those residents who continue to find themselves in desperate need of the basics for living. I would like to just thank Jane for enabling the scheme which allowed an efficient distribution of last year's grants. Unfortunately, the cost of food and energy have remained stubbornly high throughout the year and the demand on our voluntary sector organisations who bring alleviation to the impacts of these havoc have yet again increased. I'm not sure how long we can keep calling what we are experiencing, a cost of living crisis, as it now appears to be moving into the realms of depressing normality in the absence of sufficient government action to alleviate this problem. I would like this Council to do what we can, and I would ask the Cabinet to kindly support this year's Community support Fund. Thank you,
thank you Muncie, does anybody wish to comment, I'll go to Councillor Jane Sharp first and then Councillor Hugo Palmer?
thank you.
I share.
Councillor Watson and Councillor Hall all sports about the need for best in supporting people who are struggling to feed or heat their homes in the borough, but I also wanted to draw attention to one of the cow benefits of some of the
res recipients of last year's fund is to also reduce carbon emissions because they, by reducing food waste, Charlie's Angels, kitchens and the six community ladders, do save food from landfill, which also Shenzen climate change, will contribute to making people making the cost of living crisis which has now nance Councillor Warner says it is becoming normalised.
yeah, climate change will contribute to making that worse, so helping people is the right thing to do, but it also has cow benefits as well, thank you.
thank you, Joan, Hugo.
thank you, Ben yeah, so I would concur with all three speakers comments so far.
add from or from a ward perspective, and also from my portfolio perspective, I've just jotted down some of the issues that I think that we are trying to address with or with a very small sticking plaster by providing this community support fund, because that is all it is 100,000 pounds even in a district of our size is absolutely nothing in relation to the needs of very many people across the borough.
but in the last six months.
you know I have had dialogue with people about nurseries, closing mental health support not being available, homelessness, accommodation not being available, youth work being cut, I wrote to the TV, the Leader of Kent County Council on the 18th of October about the homelessness connect programme and the mental health housing related support programme both of which are proposed to be decommissioned I wrote to them on the 18th of October I still haven't had a reply, despite a request again this week for one.
and it just seems as if by central government and even Kent in its parlous financial state and his negligent of residents, and it is a great shame that it is our responsibility at district level to have to pick up on that, and I think it is absolutely disgraceful. I'm really glad that we're doing it. I wish that it was many multiples more which we can't achieve Con. I can't afford to do I suspect, but I think we should recognise that we are doing the best we can and it is a sticking plaster, but at least it's doing something which is rather more than some other levels of government are doing currently
thank you, God does anybody wish to say anything else, I just want to point out that.
yeah again, it's local government that's having to clear the mess from central government, and if there's anybody out there listening tonight, that we need fair funding to be able to do those tasks, we're willing to do it, but we need the money to do it and just to give you an example Charlie's Angels, with the grant that they got yes last year provided 23,000 free meals from the money we provided and as your points said, Nancy, that was in 2023, it's shocking, but also even perhaps me in my my day, role
when I'm not here is that the community number one community support trust provided free meals for 25 vulnerable children. Because I didn't have enough food to eat. I mean that is truly truly shocking in this modern day and age, for the sixth largest economy in the world that we can't fund and support those vulnerable people. So I'm really proud that Tunbridge Wells Borough Council is renewing the community support funds. It is a shocking state that we have to do it and I hope that local government will be financially rewarded to be able to do that role. We're willing to do it, but we need the funds to do it, so it is 100,000 pounds. We'd like it to be more
so.
Mr Hunt, where we're waiting for your chequebook, when you get many, thank you. On that basis, we'll move to the recommendations of whichever 3 that Cabinet approves the creation of a community support fund to the value of 100,000 pounds for 2023 2024 to be funded from the revenue budget recommendation to this fund be allocated to charities based in the Borough to deliver assistance to residents of the borough, with the express purpose of supporting them through the cost of living crisis recommendation 3, that Cabinet delegate the allocation of the funding to the Community Grants Panel following an application process. Are we agreed
Mr Hunt, we're making it happen.

20 Revenue Management Report Quarter 2

OK, we'll move on to recommendation 20, which is a revenue management report quarter 2, and I'm going to ask Christopher introduced the item, please.
thank you Chair, so this this report is for your information, I'm sure or myself or Jane would be happy to take any questions if you have any questions.
thank you Jane, do you want to add anything or?
I think Councillor Hall has has explained most of it, I think the only thing that I would say is that we've managed to reduce the forecast outturn budget deficit in quarter 2 to 194,000, so we're steadily moving.
towards a year end where we are going to have a a a balanced budget, we've done very well with our investments, we we've got an additional 1.7 million in investment interest.
and we, we have done very well being able to prop up our reserves again and we now in a reserves surplus.
unfortunately, we've done rather well financially, as Councillor Hall says, with staff costs savings because we haven't been able to recruit, but the 42 full-time equivalent staff that we are missing from our headcount is causing issues of being able to deliver some of the services as well as we would like and as quickly as we would like thank you.
thank you, Joan, does anybody wish to comment?
I'm going to comment on this, the original budget deficit for 23 24 in May, 2022 was 2.8 million, we set a deficit budget in February this year of 943, and we're down to less than 200 a quarter to so we're making a lot of progress and,
thank you, everybody for for your efforts on that, so we'll move to the three recommendations for item 20 recommendation. 1 is a Cabinet note that Quarter 2 net expenditure on services year to date was 5.471 million pounds 1.183 million pounds less than budget recommendation 2. That Cabinet note that by year end the Council anticipate net expenditure of 15.054 million pounds on services. This forecast is 1.9 sorry 1.932 million pounds and the budget, and 3 that Cabinet note, but that by year end the Council anticipates receiving an increase in funding of 2.633 million due to the initial additional investment income. Overall, this means an improvement to the budget of 4.565 million pounds the Council will transfer 3.816 million pounds of this to earmarked reserves and 749,000 pounds will reduce the budget deficit that was to be met from reserves. Are we agreed

21 Capital Management Report Quarter 2

thank you item 21, which is a Capital Management report for Quarter 2 back to you, Chris, thank you, Chair, I mean yeah, these quarterly reports are for your information, obviously they're all passed unanimously by finance and governance, I'll see if Jane wants to say anything about it, otherwise we're happy to take questions.
no notifying epilepsy case, does anybody have any questions or comments on this one?
okay, lovely, so we'll move on to.
the recommendations for item
21 recommendation 1 that Cabinet note the actual gross and net expenditure for the year, and the sources of finance, as shown in Appendices B to D. Recommendation to the Cabinet, approves the proposed variations to the capital programme set out in notes for point 3 to note for point 1 0 recommendation 3 that Cabinet approves the inclusion of new schemes into the capital programme as set as set out in notes for point 1 1 to 4.1 7, recommendation 4 that Cabinet approves the proposed movement between years, set out in Note 4.1 8 are we agreed

22 Treasury and Prudential Indicator Management Report Quarter 2

item 22 is treasury and prudential indicator management report for Quarter 2, and I'll pass it back to Chris again.
again, Cabinet, are there any questions that you'd like answered on this and Jane would you like to comment on it, otherwise we can go straight to questions.
and perhaps just to say that we informed Cabinet previously about the
cashing in of the property investment fund, it was repaid on the 4th of October and we received 9.9 3 3 million pounds so we have again which we can put to our reserves of 933,000 pounds.
thank you Chair.
thanks Jane.
any questions or comments on this one

23 Draft Asset Management Plan 2024/25

26 Urgent Business

in that case, will go to recommendation 1 of to the cabinet note, treasury, management and prudential indicator position for 2023 2024 and recommendation to the Cabinet notes the forecast for investment and bank interest is 3.120 million an increase of 1.700 million from the approved budget of 1.420 million and a further 452,000 pounds from the quarter 1 position are we agreed? Thank you very much, without we've done items 23 24 25, so we're now going to move on to Item number 26, which is urgent business which we have known.

27 Date of Next Meeting

and then the final item, although before we do that items 28 and 29 were covered in open session, so we won't be covering those, so we'll move back to item 27, which is the date of the next meeting, so our next scheduled meeting is on Thursday the 8th February at 6.30.
but we also have an additional special Cabinet meeting which is scheduled for Thursday, the 25th of January 2024, and I'd just like to wish everybody on behalf of Tunbridge Wells Borough Council, a very happy Christmas and a healthy new year, and we look forward to seeing you in 2024 thank you the meetings closed.