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(Report of Director of Central Services and
Deputy Chief Executive)
 
The report gave details about the proposed
Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) for 2026 and details of the
consultation that must take place as part of the PSPO renewal
process. 
 
The PSPO had been in place in the borough
since April 2017 and was reviewed in 2020 and 2023.  The current PSPO was due to end in April 2026 and
could be extended for a further three years.  The report proposed to proceed with a PSPO
containing multiple restrictions.  Some
of these restrictions were the same as included previously, as
evidence had been provided to show that the issues were
continuing.  In addition, the report
proposed one new restriction to prevent camping in the Memorial
Gardens, Tonbridge.  Furthermore, it was
proposed that the restriction relating to the use of drones be
amended to ‘No person may launch or land a drone from any
open space owned by the Borough Council without first obtaining
authorisation from the Borough Council’.  It was believed that each of the proposed
restrictions would help prevent Anti-Social Behaviour in the
borough.
 
On the grounds of public safety and the
protection of wildlife, Members supported the inclusion of a new
restriction prohibiting unauthorised catapult use, whilst noting
that enforcement was only applicable to those persons over the age
of 16 years.
 
Following consideration by the Communities and
Environment Scrutiny Select Committee, the Cabinet Member for
Community Services
 
RESOLVED: That
 
(1)     
the proposed amendments to the Public Space Protection Order, be
agreed, subject to the inclusion of an additional restriction
prohibiting the unauthorised use of catapults; and

 
(2)     
the amended Public Space Protection Order, go out for public
consultation for a six-week period.