The Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council's cabinet met on 2 September 2025 and made several decisions, including endorsing the Kent and Medway Local Nature Recovery Strategy, adopting strategies for indoor and outdoor sports facilities, and approving a project to improve riverside lighting in Tonbridge. They also discussed budgetary control, risk management, and cybersecurity.

Here's a breakdown of the key topics:

Environment and Planning

Local Nature Recovery Strategy

The cabinet confirmed its support for the pre-publication Kent and Medway Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS). The LNRS, spearheaded by Kent County Council¹, aims to boost biodiversity by identifying priorities and mapping out nature recovery actions for habitats and species. The council has delegated authority to the Director of Planning, Housing and Environmental Health, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Planning, Councillor Mike Taylor, to finalise the council's response.

Sports Facilities

The cabinet endorsed and adopted the Indoor Sports Facilities Strategy and the Playing Pitches and Outdoor Sports Facilities Strategy, which aim to maintain and improve sports facilities in the borough. The strategies will inform the Local Plan process and negotiations for section 106 agreements² related to development projects. The council also agreed to include the Joint Parish Skate Park (in Borough Green, Platt and Wrotham) in the Playing Pitches and Outdoor Sports Facilities Strategy. The Director of Planning, Housing and Environmental Health has been granted the authority to publish stage E reviews of these strategies, in consultation with Councillor Des Keers, Cabinet Member for Community Services, and Councillor Mike Taylor.

Heritage Information and Conservation Areas

At an earlier extraordinary meeting on 29 July 2025, the cabinet agreed on an approach to gather heritage information and evidence to support the emerging Local Plan, including progressing work on Conservation Area statements and appraisals. The approach aims to ensure that development makes a positive contribution to local character and distinctiveness, as set out in the National Planning Policy Framework³. The cabinet also agreed to produce short Conservation Area Statements for all Conservation Areas that do not currently have a Conservation Area Appraisal.

Community and Infrastructure

Riverside Route Lighting Project

The cabinet approved the progression of the Riverside Route Lighting Project in Tonbridge between Vale Road and Town Lock. The project aims to improve safety along the footpath. The council has delegated authority to the Director of Street Scene, Leisure and Technical Services, Robert Styles, in consultation with Councillor Keers and local ward members, to amend the design based on findings from an ecological appraisal and comments from external bodies like the Environment Agency and Kent Wildlife Trust. The project is fully funded via developer contributions.

Shallows Bridge Replacement

The cabinet recommended to the council that the scheme to replace the Shallows Bridge in Haysden Country Park be transferred to List A of the Capital Plan. The existing bridge has been condemned by a structural engineer. The recommendation is subject to an assessment of the bridge's abutments. The replacement is estimated to cost £265,000, with developer contributions covering just over half the costs and the remainder coming from the Revenue Reserve for Capital Schemes.

Pre-application Development Proposal Briefings

The cabinet recommended to the council the establishment of monthly officer-chaired briefing sessions for members on pre-application development proposals. The aim is to enhance member engagement while maintaining confidentiality and integrity of the planning process. A new charge would be introduced as part of the pre-application charging schedule.

Financial and Risk Management

Budgetary Control and Savings Update

The cabinet noted the budgetary control and savings update for July 2025. There was a net favourable variance of approximately £730,000 compared to the 2025/26 budget. The cabinet also noted the progress towards achieving the savings target for the 2026/27 budget.

Annual Senior Information Risk Owner Report

The cabinet supported the proposed investment in enhanced cybersecurity services and the initiation of a procurement process, as outlined in the Annual Senior Information Risk Owner (SIRO) report for 2024/25. The associated costs for incident response are to be covered using available grant funding, with ongoing operational costs funded from existing reserves initially and incorporated into the core budget in future financial years.

Risk Management

The cabinet noted the updates to the Strategic Risk Register, including risks categorised as RED: achievement of savings and transformation strategy, failure to agree a Local Plan, and managed exit from the Agile System. Councillor Robin Betts proposed, and Councillor Matt Boughton seconded, the approval of the recommendations.

Other Business

Shallows Bridge, Haysden Country Park

The cabinet considered a List C Capital Plan Evaluation for the replacement of the Shallows Bridge in Haysden Country Park and recommended that the scheme be included in List A of the Capital Plan and progressed within the current financial year. Councillor Des Keers proposed, and Councillor Mike Taylor seconded, the approval of the recommendations.

Decisions Taken by Cabinet Members

The cabinet noted the decisions taken by cabinet members since the last ordinary meeting of the cabinet.

Notice of Forthcoming Key Decisions

The cabinet noted the notice setting out the key decisions anticipated to be taken up to October 2025.

Exclusion of Press and Public

The cabinet resolved to exclude the press and public from the remainder of the meeting due to the discussion of exempt information. Councillor Martin Coffin proposed, and Councillor Matt Boughton seconded, the approval of the recommendations.

Bluebell Hill Temporary Accommodation Project

The cabinet granted delegated authority to the Director of Planning, Housing and Environmental Health and the Director of Central Services and Deputy Chief Executive to enter into a Design and Build contract for the enhanced scheme for the construction of modular housing at Bluebell Hill former commuter car park with the lead tenderer.

Larkfield Leisure Centre Wet Change Refurbishment

The cabinet granted delegated authority to the Director of Street Scene, Leisure and Technical Services, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Community Services, to award the contract to the lead tenderer for the refurbishment of the Wet Change area at Larkfield Leisure Centre on the basis that the costs fall within the project budget of £270,000 (excluding locker replacement and internal redecoration).

Tonbridge Town Centre Programme Board

The cabinet noted the notes of the Tonbridge Town Centre Programme Board of 16 May 2025 and 20 June 2025 and agreed to de-couple the Tonbridge Farm Sportsground project from the Tonbridge Town Centre Programme Board.