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Brenchley Gardens- Follow up report

Meeting: 30/11/2021 - Communities, Housing and Environment Committee (Item 123)

123 Brenchley Gardens- Follow-up Report pdf icon PDF 158 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Community Protection Manager introduced the report which had been requested by the Committee. The potential actions were outlined, including improvements of the CCTV in Brenchley Gardens, which could be undertaken under the existing budget. The planned structural works which would take place over the next year could include the reinstallation of the bandstand frill. Motion alarms could be installed to identify when people were in the park at night, and lighting could be improved although this would be subject to planning permission. 

 

The Committee’s request to close the park at night presented challenges and would not prevent antisocial behaviour and crime. Recently reported incidents had happened in daylight and therefore the night time closure of the park would not have had an impact. Securing access to the park would be straight-forward on three sides, but where there was vehicular access at Faith Street significant engineering works would be required, costing over £54,000. In addition, closing the park at night would initially require trained security personnel.

 

It had been reported that the recent PCSO taskforce had reduced incidents in the park, however issues were then displaced to areas including Trinity Park and Whatman Park, where no CCTV was installed. Ambassadors working in the town centre were successful in reducing the escalation of incidents starting in the High Street, actively engaging with young people and were able to provide intelligence to other agencies.

 

Several Committee Members felt that action needed to be taken swiftly, and should go further than the recommendations proposed. The safety of residents needed to be prioritised and safeguarding responsibilities towards vulnerable groups was acknowledged. 

 

The Head of Housing and Community Services acknowledged the desire to act quickly but cautioned that the allocation of additional budget for the works may take time to secure.

 

RESOLVED: That the Committee

 

1.  Ask Officers to pursue with added vigour measures to close and secure Brenchley Gardens at night through locked gates and additional fencing, including doing whatever it takes to secure the necessary variation of budgets, overcome planning control issues et cetera;

 

2.  Accept the recommendations for reinstating the bandstand frill and upgrading the CCTV coverage for the park;

 

3.  Ask that plans and designs for the bandstand frill, the fencing and new gates are circulated to Committee Members as soon as they become available; and

 

4.  Ask that the Council’s Community Protection Team as a priority commence frequent visible foot patrols of the Brenchley Gardens and North Week Street Area, making active use of the Council’s statutory powers for tackling anti-social behaviour, with Officers to seek sources of funding to increase the team’s resourcing as necessary.