The Tunbridge Wells Communities, Housing and Environment Cabinet Advisory Board met on Tuesday to discuss a temporary accommodation recharge policy and proposed improvements to the Putlands Sports Centre. The board supported recommendations to the cabinet on both of these items.

Putlands Leisure Centre - Improvement Works

The board supported a recommendation to the cabinet to approve a project to develop and implement a scheme of improvements for Putlands Sports Centre in Paddock Wood. The project is to be added to the Capital Programme, with £1,223,622.43 from Section 106 contributions¹ allocated to fund the design and implementation of the improvements. The report noted that Paddock Wood Town Council (PWTC), who own the freehold of the facility, and Fusion, who manage the site, are both supportive of the project, subject to being involved in the design stage and scheduling of works.

The project will focus on improving the existing building and facilities, taking into account longer-term proposals in the Submission Local Plan to extend the centre's footprint and facilities.

The report listed the following potential improvements:

• Decarbonising the building, including installing air source heat pumps and removing gas
• Installing a solar array
• Thermal upgrades to the building
• Replacing all lights with LEDs and passive infra red sensors
• Ensuring the facility is fully accessible and compliant
• Refreshing walls, flooring and ceilings
• Refreshing accessible WC and toilets
• Replacing basketball nets
• Enhancing male/female changing rooms with possible over tiling
• Adding laminate shower cubicles in male/female changing rooms
• Adding vanity screens to both male/female changing rooms
• Upgrading mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems to modern standards
• Upgrading fire protection along with a revised fire strategy and fire risk assessment
• Undertaking structural and building fabric repairs and renewals
• Installing controlled access barriers
• Re-painting the fire escape
• Repairing and renewing the car park as required

Officers clarified that the planned housing developments would bring further Section 106 contributions for Putlands in the medium term, and that officers were mindful not to compromise or prohibit any longer term designs, including aspirations of a swimming pool. It was expected for the works to be completed by the expiry of the Section 106 contribution in 2028, as well as in line with the timescale for Local Government Reorganisation.

Temporary Accommodation Recharge Policy

The board supported a recommendation to the cabinet to adopt a Temporary Accommodation Recharge Policy. This policy would enable the council to recharge costs to households living in temporary accommodation that are incurred due to malicious or wilful damage, neglect, or unreasonable misuse. The Head of Housing, Health and Environment will have the authority to make minor changes to the policy in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning.

Matt Muddell, Housing Options Manager, presented the report, and members asked questions and sought clarification.

Officers agreed to include acknowledgement of the recently approved Temporary Accommodation Pet Policy into the consideration of 'Fair Wear and Tear' within the Temporary Accommodation Recharge Policy to ensure that the policy referenced damage caused by pets and what damage may be subject to recharge.

Members welcomed the policy, commenting that it was positive to see allowances could be given, as well as the opportunity for families to rectify any damage and proceed with an appeals procedure.

It was clarified that the data presented in Appendix B of the Temporary Accommodation Recharge Report referred to the following types of temporary accommodation:

• Orange bar: Council-owned
• Grey bar: Leased from Town and Country Housing
• Yellow bar: Leased privately
• Blue bar: Overall average

The numbers on the Y axis related to the number of days of the voids². The overall cost for the council to cover damages so far was difficult to determine as there was previously no policy relating to recharges. Where costs were incurred, the funds were added to a general spend that would be used for maintenance repairs of temporary accommodation provisions. Costs had not previously been isolated as relating to deliberate wear and tear. This was therefore an advantage of introducing the recharge policy to pinpoint exact costs from malicious wear and tear.

The recharge procedure would not be used to make a profit. Recharges would only be sought as reasonable and appropriate up to the value of the damage incurred. Repair costs were discussed with building and surveyor colleagues.

Officers acknowledged that many households in temporary accommodation were on low incomes or in receipt of welfare benefits, therefore it may be necessary to work with that household to look at a reasonable repayment plan.

It was requested for paragraph 1.8 of the Temporary Accommodation Recharge Report to be reviewed as it used the word 'prevent' several times, and the suggestion was raised to replace the word 'alarming' with 'warning'. Officers agreed to review this section of the report.

Whilst the number of previous cases that had required recharges was not high, they had required significant repair works. These included theft of fixtures, fittings and carpets.

In regards to recoverable payment plans, it was not expected for residents to pay off charges instantly, however it was hoped that households would take accountability for actions and understand the consequences.

As part of the sign-up process and licence agreements for temporary accommodation, it would be made clear to residents that failure to comply with the policy could result in charges and also exclusion from the Housing Register in future.

Other business

The board also:

• Approved the minutes of the meeting dated 8 July 2025.
• Noted the Forward Plan as at 5 August 2025.
• Confirmed that the date of the next meeting would be Tuesday 7 October 2025.