Sevenoaks District Council Seeks Public Views on Extending The Vine Anti-Social Behaviour Order

Sevenoaks District Council is consulting residents on whether to extend the Public Spaces Protection Order at The Vine until December 2029, with views needed before 5 August 2026.

What the Council Is Asking

A public order designed to tackle anti-social behaviour at one of Sevenoaks’s most visited open spaces could remain in force for another three years — but only if residents get a say first.

Sevenoaks District Council posted on social media this week inviting the public to share their views on extending the Public Spaces Protection Order, known as a PSPO, currently in place at The Vine. The consultation closes on 5 August 2026.

A PSPO — in plain terms, a legal order that restricts certain types of behaviour in a specific public area — was first introduced at The Vine in December 2023. The council brought it in to address what it described as anti-social behaviour affecting people’s quality of life at the site. Under the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, councils can impose these orders where behaviour is considered harmful to the local community, and they can last for up to three years at a time.

That initial three-year period is now approaching its end. So the council needs a decision.

What the Data Shows — and What It Doesn’t

According to Sevenoaks District Council, anti-social behaviour at The Vine has fallen since the order was introduced, with the work carried out in partnership with Kent Police and Sevenoaks Town Council. The council points to this reduction as evidence that the PSPO has been effective.

But there’s a caveat worth flagging. The exact scale of that reduction — whether it’s a 10% drop or a 60% drop — hasn’t been published in the council’s consultation materials. The figures show a reported improvement, but the precise data behind that claim remains unverified from publicly available sources. Residents reading the council’s announcement are, for now, being asked to take the direction of travel on trust rather than a specific number.

That’s not unusual for PSPO consultations, which are primarily about gathering community views rather than presenting a detailed statistical audit. But it does mean any assessment of the order’s success is, at this stage, based on the council’s own characterisation of events.

The Case For and Against Extending the Order

The council’s argument for extension is straightforward. The PSPO has, according to the authority, made The Vine a safer and more pleasant space since December 2023. Extending it for a further three years — potentially running until December 2029 — would, in the council’s view, allow that improvement to continue.

And the statutory consultation process itself reflects a degree of built-in caution. Councils are legally required to consult before extending a PSPO; this isn’t optional. The People & Places Advisory Committee will review the consultation results on 10 September 2026, before Cabinet considers the matter on 22 September 2026. If Cabinet agrees, the extension would be confirmed. If it doesn’t, the order lapses.

The other side of the argument is harder to pin down from available information. No formal objections or organised opposition to the extension have been identified at this stage. That could mean broad community support — or it could simply mean the consultation hasn’t yet surfaced dissenting voices. Civil liberties organisations have historically raised questions about PSPOs more broadly, arguing that they can restrict lawful behaviour and disproportionately affect certain groups, including young people and homeless individuals. Whether those concerns apply specifically to The Vine in Sevenoaks is something the consultation process is designed to explore.

The council has said respondents’ personal details will not be used publicly, which should lower the barrier for anyone who wants to raise concerns but worries about being identified.

The Decision Timetable

The process from here is fairly clear-cut. The consultation runs until 5 August 2026. After that, the People & Places Advisory Committee meets on 10 September 2026 to review what residents said. Cabinet then meets on 22 September 2026 to make the final call.

This is not yet a done deal. The Cabinet decision on 22 September is the point at which the extension becomes official — or doesn’t. Until then, the outcome remains open.

Paper copies of the consultation are available on request from the council for anyone who can’t access it online.

Why This Matters Beyond The Vine

The Vine is a well-used open space in Sevenoaks town centre, drawing residents, visitors, and people passing through. Any order governing behaviour there affects a broad cross-section of the local community — not just those who’ve experienced anti-social behaviour, but anyone who uses the space regularly.

PSPOs carry real legal weight. Breaching one can result in a fixed penalty notice or, in more serious cases, a criminal prosecution. That makes the decision to extend — or not — more than an administrative formality.

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Key Takeaways

• Sevenoaks District Council is consulting on extending the PSPO at The Vine, originally introduced in December 2023 to address anti-social behaviour
• The consultation closes on 5 August 2026, with Cabinet making a final decision on 22 September 2026
• If approved, the extension could run for up to three years, taking the order through to December 2029

What This Means for Sevenoaks Residents

If you use The Vine — whether you live nearby, work in the town centre, or visit regularly — this consultation is your opportunity to tell the council what you think before the decision is made. The deadline is 5 August 2026, and the council has confirmed that paper copies of the survey are available on request if you’d prefer not to respond online. Once the consultation closes, the next public milestone is the Cabinet meeting on 22 September 2026, where the extension will either be confirmed or rejected — so anyone who wants to influence the outcome needs to act before the summer deadline, not after it.