a)      High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) Management Plan

It was moved by Cllr. Reay and duly seconded by Cllr Thornton that the recommendation from Cabinet, to adopt the High Weald AONB Management be agreed.

Cllr. Reay spoke to the motion stating that the plan was a statutory document required every five years and put together by the High Weald Joint Committee with input from affected Local Authorities. The Joint Committee approved the plan on 27 March 2024 he thanked Officers for their work.

Members debated the motion noting that the Plan referred to a climate emergency which the Council had not adopted. Concerns were raised as to the monitoring of the ambitions set out in the plan and how these would be monitored. Further concerns were raised as to how the conservation area would be enhanced, and flightpaths over the High Weald and how this would affect the rural communities.

In Cllr. Reay’s right of reply, he advised that he would address the points raised with the Councillor at the meeting he had previously suggested for arrangement, and would take on board the comments raised for future plans.

The motion was put to the vote and it was

Resolved: That the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Management Plan, be adopted.

b)      Sevenoaks District Community Safety Partnership Strategy & Action Plan 2024-25

It was moved by Cllr. Dyball and duly seconded by Cllr. Thornton that the Sevenoaks Community Safety Partnership Strategy and Action Plan, be adopted.

The Council had a statutory responsibility together with other key partners to undertake an audit of crime and disorder in the district and cooperate in the development and implementation of a Strategy and Action Plan on local crime and disorder. The audit was known as the Strategic Assessment and sets the safety priorities identified for the District. Seven priorities were agreed in December 2023, and within each of the priorities were five to six actions. The action plan was a multi-agency document and was monitored on a quarterly basis by the Community Safety Partnership. In addition to the action plan the Council also had a duty to include the serious violence, such as homicide, knife crime, robbery, gun crime, hate crime and where serious violence or its threat was inherent.  A multi-agency partnership would also be working to prevent and reduce serious violence in Kent and Medway.

Members debated and raised questions in regards to CCTV and whether there were any financial contributions from Kent Police to assist in funding the service which had helped to assist with arrests. It was highlighted that Kent-wide, regular requests were made to Kent Police to assist with the funding of the service. Some Members questioned why there was an increase in business crime, and how the Police could assist when calls were made regarding shoplifting.   It was noted that the report highlighted that Sevenoaks District remained one of the safest places to live. Concerns were raised as to where national and county budget cuts were having a negative impact and the wellbeing of young people in the district, as well as a priority for managing causes of anti-social behaviour. During debate it was raised that the Public Spaces Protection Orders would assist with tackling anti-social behaviour and that there had been an increase in shoplifting charges through working with shops, the Police and MPs.

Neighbourhood policing was also raised and discussed, with some Members expressing differing experience of visibility. It was also raised in debate concern for abandoned cars and violence against girls and women. It was brought to Members’ attention that since 2019 there was an overall reduction of 13.3% in crimes. The types of crimes were being split up and addressed as far as the focus was required.

Cllr. Dyball in her right of reply, thanked Members for their comments which would be considered for future strategies and encouraged their early contribution through the Advisory Committee process and reminded Members that the Council did not have a statutory provision for youth services as this responsibility was with Kent County Council. If there were anti-social behaviour concerns she expressed the need to contact the Community Safety Unit who would look at the issues raised.

The motion was put to the vote.

Resolved: That the Sevenoaks District Community Safety Partnership Strategy & Action Plan 2024-25, be adopted.