Visitors and members of the public who are unfamiliar with the building and procedures are advised that:

(a)      The fire alarm is a continuous loud ringing. In the event that a fire drill is planned during the meeting, the Chair will advise of this.

(b)      Exit routes from the chamber are located on each side of the room, one directly to a fire escape, the other to the stairs opposite the lifts.

(c)      In the event of the alarm sounding, leave the building via the nearest safe exit and gather at the assembly point on the far side of the car park. Do not leave the assembly point or re-enter the building until advised to do so. Do not use the lifts.

(d)      Anyone unable to use the stairs should make themselves known during this agenda item.

The Chair outlined the emergency evacuation procedure.

Councillors should not act or take decisions in order to gain financial or other material benefits for themselves, their families or friends.

The Chair will ask Members if they have any disclosable pecuniary interests (DPIs) or disclosable non-pecuniary interests (DNPIs) to declare in respect of items on the agenda. Members with a DPI in an item must leave the room for that item and may not participate in the debate or vote. 

Aside from disclosable interests, where a fair-minded and informed observer would think there was a real possibility that a Member might be biased or predetermined on an item, the Member should declare this and leave the room while that item is considered.

Members who are in any doubt about interests, bias or predetermination should contact the monitoring officer for advice prior to the meeting.

No interests were declared.

To approve the Minutes of the Meeting held on 1 November 2022 (Minute Nos. 408 - 414) as a correct record.

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 1 November 2022 (Minute Nos. 408 – 414) were taken as read, approved and signed by the Chair as a correct record.

The Chair invited a Member to speak.  The Member drew attention to the announcement from Chief Inspector Sarah Rivett that there would be a reduction of Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) levels and there were no current plans for recruitment.  He said it was bad news which would affect a lot of people.

The Community Safety Manager introduced the report which provided an overview of the Swale Community Safety Strategic Assessment process and sought feedback from the Committee on the current Community Safety Partnership (CSP) performance and any emerging issues the CSP might need to focus on.  The Community Safety Manager advised that Swale Borough Council (SBC) was a statutory partner of the CSP and was annually required to complete the strategic assessment which included: a review of current performance against priorities; discussion about emerging issues and consideration of wider threats and opportunities which might impact the work of the partnership. 

The Community Safety Manager reported that the CSP Executive Group would meet at the end of January 2023, and would consider data and feedback from partners and the Community Committee.  She drew attention to Appendix I, Swale Community Safety Partnership Priorities 2022/23 and advised that the priorities had not significantly changed much and it was more the specific focus within them that had been amended.  She referred to Appendix 2, Swale Community Safety Partnership Executive Performance Exceptions Report November 2022, and said that the Strategic Assessment was still being drafted.  Members were required to provide feedback based on the questions set out on page 6 of the report.

The Chair invited Members to consider the report.  In the discussion that followed Members made points and asked questions which included:

·         Noted that the Police received more funding from Council Tax than SBC and sought value for money;

·         saddened that PCSOs were being reduced and hoped that any replacement police officers would attend incidents as the PCSOs had;

·         welcomed more police officers as they had more enforcement powers than the PCSOs;

·         referred to page 12 of the report and welcomed the drop in Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) but wondered how the figures compared to 2019-20?;

·         local MPs needed to be lobbied about the illegal use of e-scooters;

·         a visible Police presence in high streets was very important;

·         how could ward members feedback concerns to the Police?;

·         suggested more out-reach education on e-scooters from the Police or CSP;

·         there needed to be clearer information on community events such as litter-picking;

·         would like to see the Swale Fusion Festival held again as it helped to revitalise Sittingbourne High Street;

·         the report lacked information and needed to get the community out-reach going again;

·         welcomed the great work on domestic violence and violence against women;

·         concerned about the increase in hate crime in Kent and the CSP should lead and work with partners on how this could be reduced;

·         referred to the increase in shoplifting and wondered whether it was due to the cost-of-living crisis;

·         important to note the loss of various funding streams within the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 562.

The Greenspaces Manager introduced the report which provided the basis for starting the process and consideration of a reviewed and updated Open Spaces and Play Area Strategy for Swale.  Members thoughts, ideas and ultimate agreement to a process to provide the necessary strategy for the period 2023-2028, focusing on play areas, as the Environment Committee were looking at the open space element.  The Greenspaces Manager said the current open space strategy was developed in 2017 and covered the period 2018-2022, he drew attention to its key principals set out at page 23 of the report.

The Greenspaces Manager said open spaces were a key strand of the Council’s strategic priority 2 (Investing in our environment) and responding positively to global challenges.  He drew attention to Appendix I, Open Spaces and Play Area Strategy 2018-2022 and Appendix II, Play Area Refurbishment-Improvement Plan 2021-25.  He asked Members to consider any changes or additional priorities and drew attention to the questions set out on page 23 of the report.

The Director of Regeneration and Neighbourhoods drew attention to the financial implications set out on page 24 of the report.  She asked Members to bear in mind that most of the play equipment had been funded via Section 106 Agreements and other financial contributions.

The Chair invited Members to consider the report.  Members raised points and asked questions which included:

·         What were the timescales and would the pre-election period have an impact on them?;

·         would like to see more of the Multi Use Games Area (MUGA) surfaces used as they allowed provision of sports for wider age groups;

·         if old equipment was functional and safe and could be refurbished then the Council should keep it;

·         improvements were needed at Sittingbourne Skate Park;

·         if there were any health and safety issues at any of the Council’s play areas then they should be closed until repaired;

·         concerned about the Council no longer adopting open spaces from developers and organisations given the known issues with management companies and their lack of upkeep of such areas after the ten-year period;

·         the Council would not find it easy to find volunteers to manage play areas;

·         the play areas within the Roman Ward of Sittingbourne were adequate and being used;

·         could involvement of volunteers and letting them know how they could help be built into the strategy?;

·         drew attention to some play areas which had been destroyed by fire and the need to explore, “designing out crime” within open spaces which was inexpensive to do;

·         welcomed the focus on making play areas accessible for the disabled;

·         would like to see more focus on liaising with parent groups such local Parent Teacher Associations;

·         the Council needed to be careful of outsourcing play areas and ensure appropriate legal safeguards in respect of their upkeep were in place;

·         important not to ignore the rural areas;

·         felt that sometimes older children missed out as play areas were often aimed at younger children;

·         volunteers and partnerships were fundamental to ensuring play areas were safe and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 563.

Resolved:  That the Forward Decisions Plan be noted.