The Communities and Environment Scrutiny Select Committee met to discuss updates from outside bodies, environmental health, and public health in Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council. The committee approved the minutes from their previous meeting and received updates on parking and traffic regulations, environmental health services, and public health initiatives in the borough.

Parking and Traffic Regulations Outside London (PATROL) Update

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Matt Boughton, provided an overview of the Parking and Traffic Regulations Outside London (PATROL) Joint Adjudication Committee, an organisation involved in civil enforcement and setting parking policies for councils with parking powers.

A report was provided to the committee that detailed PATROL's recent activities. Some key points from the report included:

• Pavement Parking: PATROL is awaiting a formal response from the Department for Transport (DfT) regarding policy changes on pavement parking. The Minister for Roads has indicated a formal response to the 2020 consultation will be published later this year. PATROL has encouraged authorities to write to the Secretary of State about pavement parking issues in their areas and provided a briefing document to help them frame their letters[^1]. [^1]: The briefing document can be found on the Member Portal at: https://www.patrol-uk.info/ctspoyc
• Civil Parking Penalty Charges: Research conducted by PATROL indicated that over a third of authorities' parking services no longer pay for themselves, and more than half believe the current penalty charges are ineffective as a deterrent. PATROL, with the support of the British Parking Association (BPA), is engaging with the DfT and the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG) to recommend increasing civil penalty charges and granting authorities approved device enforcement powers for off-street car parks.
• Moving Traffic Powers: Applications for a fourth tranche of authorities to receive moving traffic enforcement powers closed on 7 July. The Designation Order for Tranche 3 came into force on 7 December 2024, adding 22 new authorities.
• Private Parking Penalty Charges: The then Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) consulted in 2023 on the level of penalty charges that private parking operators can charge, as well as the associated debt recovery fees. PATROL's response is available to view or download.
• Restricting Surplus Funds from Traffic Contraventions: The DfT gathered evidence on councils' abilities to generate and retain a surplus from traffic enforcement. PATROL responded to the call for evidence, referencing its findings that councils are facing financial shortfalls.
• Remote Attendance and Proxy Voting: Legislation is planned to enable local authorities in England to adopt remote attendance and proxy voting, with principal councils required to offer proxy voting at full council meetings for members absent due to new parenthood or serious illness.
• Blue Badge Scheme: Updated guidance was issued on the Blue Badge scheme, covering the use of the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) 'Searchlight' system to validate Blue Badge applicants.
• National Parking Platform: Responsibility for the National Parking Platform has been transferred to the BPA, which will work with councils to run the platform on a not-for-profit basis.
• Littering from Vehicles (Offences) Bill: Claire Hughes MP has proposed a bill to increase penalties for civil offences related to littering from vehicles.
• Driving Improvement Awards: The 2025-26 Driving Improvement Awards has invited bids from authorities on the theme of Blue Badge abuse and misuse.

Environmental Health and Health Services Update

Councillor Matt Boughton, on behalf of the Cabinet Member for Housing, Environment and Economy, provided an update on the council's environmental health and health services. The update included the functions and staffing of the teams, their links to the council's corporate strategy, service performance, key achievements, challenges, and future plans.

The Environmental Protection Team handles nuisance complaints, contaminated land enquiries, and air quality monitoring. The Food and Safety Team conducts inspections of food premises to ensure compliance with food hygiene legislation. The One You Team focuses on healthy lifestyle advice, including health walks and weight management programmes, delivered with funding from Kent County Council's Public Health function.

Members acknowledged the challenges faced by these services, such as managing public expectations, increasing numbers of new food businesses, complex casework, difficulties in recruiting and retaining regulatory services officers, and funding dependency for the One You Team. The council is committed to embedding environmental health and health priorities into its corporate strategy.

It was clarified that the borough council seeks to influence health through wider determinants such as housing, income, and leisure, and through close partnership with public health authorities to support community initiatives. The One You Team's healthy living programmes were noted as being well-received, despite funding constraints.

Health in Tonbridge & Malling Report

The Director of Planning, Housing and Environmental Health's report presented a health report for the borough council and updated members on the council's One You Team and the work of the Health Action Team. The report highlighted that while the borough council is not directly responsible for health services, its services play an integral role in improving residents' health.

The One You Team continues to deliver healthy lifestyle services with grant funding from Kent County Council, and the Health Action Team provides a forum for sharing knowledge and planning actions to improve health and wellbeing services. A Health Action Plan for the borough council is underway.

Members welcomed the achievements of the One You Team and the Health Action Team, particularly their contribution to promoting wellbeing and healthy lifestyles. It was suggested that mental health, neurological support, and welfare be explored in future planning. The importance of engaging schools and families in health promotion was also discussed, with resource constraints and the need for coordinated interventions identified as key challenges.

The Health Report presented to the committee included the following data:

• The population is expected to increase within TMBC by 23.5% by 2042 and within this the number of elderly people is expected to rise by 47.9%.
• TMBC has lower rates of general smoking prevalence amongst adults and under-75 mortality from cardiovascular and respiratory diseases and diabetes when compared to England.
• The prevalence of severe mental illness is significantly lower than the Kent average.
• Mental health remains a concern with a high prevalence of depression.
• There are higher smoking rates for individuals with long-term mental health conditions.
• Although overall there is a lower prevalence of overweight and obese children in reception it varies within the district with some wards having higher rates.

Work Programme 2025/26

The committee's work programme for 2025/26 was presented for information, and members were invited to suggest future matters for scrutiny. The work programme included items such as the Snodland Partnership, a cabinet member report on community services from Councillor Des Keers, a review of fees and charges, biodiversity duty and action plan, green infrastructure action plan, review of roadside nature reserves, evaluation of hydro treated vegetable oil, youth and community centres, and a cabinet member report on waste, technical services and parking from Councillor M Coffin.