PACT (Police and Communities Together) meetings are designed to give residents a space to raise concerns openly, discuss local issues, and ensure their voices are heard by the appropriate authorities. They should be transparent, accurately documented, and representative of what was actually said.
However, the November PACT minutes published here:
http://www.kempseyhub.co.uk/_UserFiles/Files/Minutes%202025%20November.pdf
Present: (31) Ann Smith(Chairman), Cllr Martin Allen (County Council), Cllr David Harrison (MHDC), Cllr John Michael (District Council), Cllr Chris Waller (Chair of Parish Council),Cllr Mike Biddle (Parish Council), John White (Parish Council), Denise White, Rev Kat Mepham (Vicar), Joy Clee (Churchwarden), Neil Stevens (Parish council), Julie Stevens, Claire Witton (Parish Council, Sharon Dunn (Parish Council), Cathy Garner (Community Builder), Simon Bott (Parish Lengthsman), Susan Bott, Helen Fenton, Penny Warren (WI), Malcolm Holland, Peter Benham, Dave Bevan, Brian Hewlett, Maxine Hemming, Jan Harrison, Shalini Bristow, Trevor Geens, Gary Jacobs, Wendy Coen, Newton Coen, Marian Walters.
have caused concern among those who attended.
The Meeting Was Called After Residents Raised Concerns About KPC and Kempsey Live
Several attendees have confirmed that the meeting was called specifically because of growing community concerns surrounding:
- Kempsey Parish Council’s conduct via a petition
- The handling of Kempsey Live
- Public safety and governance issues
Residents who had signed the Change.org petition calling for greater accountability at KPC were also encouraged to attend on a Tuesday at 12:30pm.
Yet despite being openly discussed by multiple people during the meeting, and despite the petition forming part of the context for why the meeting was requested in the first place:
none of this appears anywhere in the official PACT minutes.
There is:
- No reference to the petition
- No acknowledgement that petition signatories were invited
- No mention that this was one of the drivers for the meeting
- No record of the community’s questions or concerns
This omission is difficult to understand.
Reports From Attendees: Open Discussion, Long Speeches, and a Sudden Finish
Residents who were present have reported that:
- Multiple attendees raised concerns about Kempsey Parish Council and Kempsey Live.
- The Change.org petition and wider public dissatisfaction were discussed in the room.
- Cllr Chris Waller spoke at length, taking up a significant portion of the meeting.
- Ann Smith, the current PACT Chair, brought the meeting to a swift close, ending the session before further discussion could take place.
Yet once again: none of this appears in the official record.
Why Were These Discussions Omitted?
PACT minutes should reflect:
- What the public said
- What issues were raised
- What actions were requested
- What concerns require follow-up
When significant, well-attended discussions are entirely absent from the minutes, it raises serious questions about accuracy and transparency.
Residents are now fairly asking:
- Why were conversations about KPC and Kempsey Live left out?
- Why was the Change.org petition not acknowledged, despite petition supporters being invited to attend?
- Why were speeches or contributions from attendees not recorded?
- Why did the Chair end the meeting early?
- How can PACT minutes be trusted if major discussion topics simply disappear from the record?
These are legitimate questions rooted in accountability, not hostility.
Why Accurate Minutes Matter
Transparent minutes matter because they:
- Document the concerns raised by residents
- Provide a basis for police and council follow-up
- Ensure public voices cannot be ignored
- Maintain community trust
- Prevent selective reporting of what occurred
When minutes omit central topics that were openly discussed, confidence naturally erodes.
This Is Not About Blame – It’s About Transparency
Residents are not asking for conflict.
They are asking for accurate, complete, and honest reporting.
If people attend a public meeting, take time to express concerns, and participate in important discussions, the official minutes should reflect that – especially when those concerns relate to public bodies and public safety.
When they don’t, transparency is undermined.
Clarification Is Needed
At this point, residents should reasonably expect:
- An explanation for why key discussions were omitted
- A correction or addendum to the official minutes
- Confirmation that future PACT minutes will accurately record all public contributions
- Clarification on why attendees drawn from the Change.org petition were not acknowledged in the record
These steps would restore confidence and demonstrate good governance.
Conclusion
The November PACT meeting clearly included discussions about Kempsey Parish Council, Kempsey Live, and the Change.org petition that had mobilised many residents to attend.
Cllr Chris Waller reportedly spoke for a considerable period, and Chair Ann Smith brought the meeting to a rapid end. Yet none of this appears in the official minutes.
This discrepancy raises serious concerns about accuracy, transparency, and proper documentation in a forum designed specifically for public accountability.
Residents deserve minutes that reflect what actually happened – not a filtered version.
