Support given by the two local major newspapers, PR and marketing is up and running to find contributors, donators, sponsors, supporters and volunteers.
At their meeting on 4 February 2010, the Cabinet agreed the Budget for 2010/11 for recommendation to Council and acknowledged the forecasts into future years. This report provides Full Council with the summary of the revenue budget, proposed council tax levels and the capital programme.
Tunbridge Ware part of 'A History of the World'
Chinese New Year celebration 13 February
'High Street' 16-19 February (during Half Term Holidays)
Museum & Art Gallery
Woodbury Park Cemetery
31 January 2010
When Holy Trinity Church's burial ground was not used anymore, the land (Woodbury Park Cemetery) became a burial site for the town when it was consecrated by the Archbishop of
Canterbury in 1849 until the new Hawkenbury ground was opened in 1873.
"A walk among the dead" — KOS / www.kentnews.co.uk - Sunday 31/01/2010
Royal Tunbridge Wells in Bloom
Royal Tunbridge Wells in Bloom is back in 2010
29 January 2010
Announcement at yesterday's Town Forum meeting
New Licensing Partnership of Three Kent Councils
26 January 2010
The new 'Licensing Partnership', made up of Tunbridge Wells Borough Council, Sevenoaks District Council, and Maidstone Borough Council was launched on Tuesday 14 January 2010. The three Kent councils have joined forces to provide a shared licensing service and in doing so have become one the biggest licensing administrators in England. The joint licensing team is responsible for issuing licences for sale of alcohol, regulated entertainment, gambling premises and permits, street trading, and taxis.
Call on councils to use their powers to stop 'garden grabbing'
21 January 2010
Planning Policy Statement 3 (PPS3 - para 41), which explains that brownfield land is the priority for development, will also now say that "there is no presumption that previously developed land is necessarily suitable for housing, or that all of the curtilage should be developed".
Planning minister John Healey said: "Councils are leaving an open door for inappropriate development if they do not have local plans in place, and the power to stop this lies in their hands. Councils already have the tools they need to deal with this issue and this evidence shows that when they have a local policy in place they can accurately judge the need for new homes on previously developed land, using their own discretion, and protect the essence of a neighbourhood."
Bill to protect gardens and urban green spaces
- Parliament News
13 January 2010
The Land Use (Gardens Protection) Bill, which aims to make provision for the protection of gardens and urban green spaces, has been proposed by Labour MP Andrew Dismore. The Land Use (Gardens Protection) Bill has received its first reading in the House of Commons and was briefly debated in Parliament on 8 May 2009 before being adjourned for further discussion; but it did not make it through last year's legislative session.
The Bill will receive its second reading in the House of Commons on 26 February 2010.
Report of the Mayor's visit to Twinning Town Wiesbaden
TWBC looks for new Parks/Grounds Maintenance Contractors
for 1 January 2011
8 January 2010
Tunbridge Wells Borough Council invites expressions of interest from suitably qualified and experienced grounds maintenance contractors for the delivery of the grounds maintenance service within the borough.
The service consists of 5 Parks in Royal Tunbridge Wells, play areas, sports facilities, woodlands and a range of other open spaces.
The contract is due to commence on 1st January 2011 for an initial period of 10 years with an option to extend for a further period of up to 5 years. The closing date for the return of fully completed questionnaires to the Parks Manager, Mel Henley, is 12 March 2010. It is expected that successful applicants will be invited to tender in April/May 2010.
Urban Parishing
Establishment of Parish Councils
December 2009
Urban Parishing was discussed at the TWBC Cabinet on 17 December 2009, namely parishing of Rusthall (at the moment, part of Royal Tunbridge Wells).
Route to implementation/timetable, finance, other resources and the costs associated with the review and the establishment of a parish council were detailed in the Council's Delivery Unit's report. A decision was made that a Community Governance Review be conducted.
The Director of Change and Business Support, William Benson, reassured Councillors that the Manor of Rusthall and the Commons Conservators would be included in the consultation process. In addition the Cabinet stated that the consultation should be extended to other parts of the urban area (i.e the Royal Tunbridge Wells Town Forum).
The Royal Tunbridge Wells Town Forum has in their objectives as first issue:
'Royal Tunbridge Wells is becoming clear of ‘Grot Spots’ with priority on the Ritz Building / Cinema Site by 2010' The Minutes of the RTW Town Forum Meeting 30 July 2009 state: "Cllr Leonard Price (Culverden Ward) to inform Daniel Bech regarding answers to questions relating to the Cinema site (Business Rates - Demolition - Construction) and RTW Conservation Area at Risk (English Heritage Register 2009)." On 17 December 2009, Trevor Gasson, Tunbridge Wells Borough Council Interim Director Development & Planning, gave answers to the questions.
At today's Full Council William Benson was affirmed the next Chief Executive of Tunbridge Wells Borough Council. Sheila Wheeler, currently chief executive of Tunbridge Wells Borough Council, will leave end of January 2010.
William Benson joined with Robert Cottril (former Director of Development and Planning) and Richard Powell (former Director of Services to the Community) the Council in 2006.
At the moment he holds the position of Director of Change and Business Support (responsible for Financial Services, Overview and Scrutiny, Performance Management, Committee and Democratic Services, Legal Services, Human Resources, Transformation and Delivery, Customer Access and Customer Care and Communications).
Local Development Framework - Core Strategy
Hearing Session - Day 6 - Matter: Royal Tunbridge Wells
4 December 2009
During the Independent Examination's Hearing Session - Day 6, Friday 4 December 2009, Planning Inspector Roy Foster provided the opportunity for the Town Forum to make a contribution to the proceedings. Points were made, which have been related to sections of Core Policy 9 - "Development in Royal Tunbridge Wells".
The Borough Council submitted its Core Strategy / Development Plan Documents (DPDs) to the Planning Inspectorate on 12 August 2009. A Planning Inspector (Roy Foster) has been appointed to conduct an Independent Examination to determine whether the Core Strategy is sound.
The Hearing Sessions are scheduled to commence on 25 November 2009 and take place over eight days until 9 December. - Draft Programme and Participants for each Hearing Session
— The Royal Tunbridge Wells Town Forum had not been informed of the Hearing Sessions.
LDF - Core Strategy RTW Town Forum submission - Stage 3: 'Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (SHLAA) Methodology' — 22 March 2008
LDF - Core Strategy RTW Town Forum submission - Stage 2: 'Preferred Options' — 10 January 2008
LDF - Core Strategy RTW Town Forum submission - Stage 1: 'Issues and Options Report' — 19 March 2007
Selection of new TWBC Chief Executive
Appointment of next Chief Executive (February 2010)
27 November 2009
After 4 years in office - Sheila Wheeler, currently chief executive of Tunbridge Wells Borough Council, will leave end of January 2010 to take up the position of chief executive at Somerset County Council .
On 14 December 2009 all 48 Tunbridge Wells Borough Councillors, including the Ward Councillors of Royal Tunbridge Wells, will have an opportunity to meet the final short list of four candidates for a new TWBC chief executive; the final interviews will be on 15 December and the Council will approve the person the next day (Full Council 16 December 2009).
In 2005, when the former Chief Executive, Rodney Stone, left the Tunbridge Wells Borough Council, Philip Thomas took up the appointment as an interim Chief Executive (April - September 2005).
— This time there is no intention to appoint an interim Chief Executive.
Tunbridge Wells Regeneration Company
Questions & Answers
20 November 2009
Lee Moran, The Courier, spoke about the Tunbridge Wells Regeneration Company (TWRC) to David Candlin, Head of Economic Development and Regeneration, Tunbridge Wells Borough Council.
Questions & Answers - Tunbridge Wells Regeneration Company The Courier 13.11. & 20.11.2009
Tunbridge Wells Regeneration Company
Regeneration in the Borough of Tunbridge Wells
Regeneration in the town Royal Tunbridge Wells
19 November 2009
At the Overview and Scrutiny - Local Economy & Housing (LEH) Select Committee - on
5 November 2009, David Candlin, Head of Economic Development and Regeneration, gave a presentation to the Committee on the Tunbridge Wells Regeneration Company (TWRC), its background, its remit and its structure.
Town marks royal title centenary - The Duke of Kent is visiting Royal Tunbridge Wells on Friday to view a centenary exhibition and unveil the plaque at the town hall.
BBC News - England 13.11.2009 and
KentTV 13.11.2009
Royal Tunbridge Wells Streetscene / Streetscape
TWBC / RTW Town Forum Meeting
to discuss issues under the responsibility of Kent Highways Services (KHS)
4 November 2009
Following the 30 July 2009 Town Forum Meeting (issues: Royal Tunbridge Wells Conservation Area at Risk, detractors in Royal Tunbridge Wells, problems blighting Royal Tunbridge Wells, grot spots) - Cllr Roy Bullock arranged a meeting with Councillors (Leader of the Council and Cabinet Members, Catherine Mayhew, Elizabeth Thomas), TWBC officers (Gary Stevenson, Head of Environmental Services, Lene Beynon, Borough Highways Engineer) and Kent County Council Officers (Kim Hills, KCC Head of Community Operations, Kent Highway Services, and Mark Simmons, KHS) to present the Town Forum’s concerns of the numerous Highways issues affecting the streetscene / streetscape of Royal Tunbridge Wells.
Throughout 2009, the town, Royal Tunbridge Wells, has been celebrating the centenary of the grant of its Royal prefix. As part of those celebrations, the Mayor, Cllr Leonard Price is very pleased to announce that we shall be receiving a visit by HRH The Duke of Kent, on Friday 13 November 2009.
The royal visit will focus on two main events:
first, the Duke will visit the Gateway customer centre in the town centre and meet Borough and County Council staff and representatives from the many voluntary organisations who work there;
next, he will come to the Town Hall for a civic reception, to meet community representatives and to view a special display which charts the history of the town’s royal connections.
TWBC Chief Executive Sheila Wheeler plans to leave
29 October 2009
Sheila Wheeler, currently chief executive of Tunbridge Wells Borough Council, has been recommended by the Somerset Counil Council’s appointments panel to take up the position of chief executive at Somerset County Council.
Once confirmed in office at November’s County Council meeting (Ken Maddock, leader of Somerset County Council), Sheila Wheeler will take over the post previously held by Alan Jones, who retired after 6 years as Somerset County Council’s chief executive in July 2009.
Sheila Wheeler has been TWBC Chief Executive during the last 4 years, since autumn 2005.
Tunbridge Wells Land Registry closing down
(Hawkenbury, Royal Tunbridge Wells)
22 October 2009
Major restructuring to save £500m over five years will also mean closing five local offices. The Land Registry has announced a major reorganisation in which it will cut one-quarter of its 6,000 staff and close five local offices in an attempt to save almost £500m over the next five years. The registry said it would close its offices in Croydon, Peterborough, Portsmouth, Stevenage and Tunbridge Wells in order to respond to the downturn in the housing market. One-quarter of staff will lose their jobs at the organisation. The downturn has led to a slump in workload at the agency, which registers the ownership and sale of land in England and Wales. Its work volume fell by more than one-third between 2008 and this year, landing it with a £130m loss last year. The restructure, which will be phased over five years, will involve the departure of 1,500 staff from the organisation. The registry also said it had 100,000m2 excess office accommodation, equating to more than 60% of its total of 146,000m2. — Building - Joey Gardiner
The Land Registry was constructed adjacent to Camden Park and Forest Road, (Hawkenbury) Royal Tunbridge Wells, in 1998.
Draft Sustainable Community Plan 2010-2026
'Tunbridge Wells Together' - Local Strategic Partnership
05 October 2009
The Stronger Communities Sub-group of 'Tunbridge Wells Together' (Local Strategic Partnership) discussed objectives, plans, strategies at its meeting on 23 September. They will form part of the Draft Sustainable Community Plan 2010-2026 which will be presented by Raymond Warren, Head of Community and Corporate Planning, at the Local Strategic Partnership Meeting.
TWBC / RTW Town Forum Meeting
to discuss issues under the responsibility of the Borough Council
23 September 2009
Following the 30 July 2009 Town Forum Meeting (issues: Royal Tunbridge Wells Conservation Area at Risk, detractors in Royal Tunbridge Wells, problems blighting Royal Tunbridge Wells, grot spots) - Cllr Roy Bullock arranged a meeting with Councillors (Leader of the Council and Cabinet Members, Cllr Paul Barrington-King and Cllr Mrs Elizabeth Thomas) and Officers (Gary Stevenson, Head of Environmental Services; Alan Legg, Principal Design and Heritage Officer; Lene Beynon, Borough Highways Engineer) to present the Town Forum’s concerns of the numerous environmental issues affecting the streetscene / streetscape of Royal Tunbridge Wells.
Audit Commission calls for more focus on maintaining existing homes
15 September 2009
Ministers have given the go-ahead for 2,000 council houses to be built across England.
But the Audit Commission report says there is too much emphasis on building new homes and that councils could do more to improve health and educational achievement by improving existing stock.
Service Structure - Tunbridge Wells Borough Council
after 3 years – Director of Planning & Regeneration leaves
2 September 2009
After Richard Powell, Director of Services to the Community, left in April 2009, – Rob Cottrill, Director for Planning & Development and one of the Directors of the Tunbridge Wells Regeneration Company, is leaving Tunbridge Wells Borough Council on 11 September.
Trevor Gasson, recently retired Deputy Chief Executive at Maidstone Borough Council, will act in the role of Director on a temporary basis.
Empty no use properties – residential and commercial
Street scene changes (front gardens - removal of hedges, walls)
Unsympathetic changes impairing facades
Satellite dishes
Street clutter
Real Estate agents / Letting agents signs
Bins in prominent/unsuitable places
Royal Tunbridge Wells Conservation Area at Risk
— unsympathic, damaging changes to facades, streetscene, streetscape
15 August 2009
"Royal town told to clean up a very modern mess"
"Clutter-hating residents in genteel Tunbridge Wells have set about clearing the town’s streets of satellite dishes, plastic window frames and unsightly annoyances."
DESIGN OF HOARDING
around derelict Cinema Site/Ritz Buildings
5 August 2009
It had been mentioned in 2006 and again in September 2008, during the exhibition of the development of the New Ritz Building, to the architects (Panter Hudspith) and development agent (Landlord Europe, David Swann), that Daniel Bech and Katharina Mahler have a large digital archive of "Old Tunbridge Wells" (engravings, etchings, postcards, maps); the huge compilation was produced for "Historical and Interesting Views of Tunbridge Wells", a scheme to help the Royal Tunbridge Wells Symphony Orchestra with funding.
Daniel Bech suggested that many images, especially the engravings and restored maps, are suitable for Hoarding Prints around the derelict Cinema Site/Ritz Buildings.
On 5 August 2009, at a meeting with Hugh Strange (Panter Hudspith architects), Daniel Bech, Katharina Mahler, Cllr Leonard Price (Culverden Ward - the location of the site) and members of the Royal Tunbridge Wells Town Forum, it was decided to choose site specific pictures and images of the cinema's surroundings.
