Decisions

To seek approval for the Council’s proposed consultation response for Tunbridge Wells Borough Council’s response to the Inspector’s initial findings letter on the Examination of their new Local Plan, as set out in Appendix 1 to the report.

That:

1.  The current consultation on Tunbridge Wells Borough Council’s response to the Inspector’s initial findings letter on the Examination of their new Local Plan be noted; and

2.  The draft response to the consultation, in Appendix 1 to the report, be agreed for submission to Tunbridge Wells Borough Council ahead of the 12 April 2024 consultation response deadline.

To seek approval of the proposed consultation response as set out in Appendix 1 to the report.

That

1.  The current consultation on the draft Royal Tunbridge Wells Town Centre Plan – Vision 2040 be noted; and

2.  The draft response to the consultation, as appended in Appendix 1 to the report, be agreed and submitted to Tunbridge Wells Borough Council ahead of the 15 April 2024 consultation response deadline.

To seek approval for the Elephant House, Cobtree Manor Park to be let to a new tenant and that some landlord’s upgrades are completed as part of that letting.

That

1.  The Elephant House is let to applicant A on the terms shown in exempt Appendix 3 to the report subject to an added clause stating that use cannot be changed without consent and an added clause to specify requirements for fencing;

2.  As landlord, Cobtree Manor Estate Charity (CMEC) invests in upgraded drainage and installs a toilet in the Elephant House;

3.  CMEC approves the capital budget proposed in the landlord’s works section of exempt Appendix 3 to the report, in order to complete the landlord’s works, with a best value approach taken to complete the works;

4.  Delegated authority be given to the Director of Finance, Resources and Business Improvement to agree the final lease with applicant A; and

5.  Delegated authority be given to the Head of Mid-Kent Legal Services to enter into such lease documents and any relevant statutory notices and declarations, as required, to complete the lease process.

To seek approval of Member training and briefings for 2023/24 and proposed training activities for 2024/25.

The Director of Strategy, Insight and Governance introduced the report and thanked Members for their feedback for supporting new Councillors, which resulted in the following actions:

• The induction would be split over two sessions rather than one as feedback indicated this was too much information for one session. These would be hosted in the evening to allow Councillors with daytime commitments to attend;
  
  
• Councillors would have access to an ‘officer buddy’ from the Wider Leadership Team to assist and direct their concerns and queries;
  
  
• Various training sessions would be held throughout the year and repeated to allow flexibility featuring successful courses from last year including Chairman’s training, Carbon Literacy and Nolan Principles, which were well received, and the regular courses such as Overview and Scrutiny skills, how to use the Constitution appropriately, Planning and Licensing;
  
  
• There were plans for the Communications team to make a video identifying Council officers and various sites in the Borough;
  
  
• There would be appropriate support for Cabinet Members relating to their portfolios; and
  
  
• Introducing Equality, Diversity and Inclusion training for Members, which is already in place for officers and should be easy to adapt.

Councillors were pleased with the content of the report and made the following suggestions:

• It was raised that there is a budget available for Councillors that could make use of outside organisations to pursue training of their choosing. It was requested that new Councillors were made aware of this fact;
  
  
• Concerns were raised that the Chairing training sessions were scheduled for later than the first meetings of the municipal year. It was clarified that the first meetings would only involve electing Chairmen, and that the second part of the induction training would include basic instruction and could be amended to include points on Chairing; and
  
  
• That training sessions on the content of the constitution would be useful, both for new and existing Councillors.

RESOLVED: That the approach to Member training for 2024/25 be noted and any additional training requested be agreed.