Apologies for absence were received from District Councillor D G Cronk and County Councillors S S Chandler and D P Murphy. 

It was noted that, in accordance with Rule 4 of the Council Procedure Rules, Councillor M R Eddy had been appointed as a substitute Member for Councillor D G Cronk.

To receive any declarations of interest from Members in respect of business to be transacted on the agenda.

Councillor P D Jull made a Voluntary Announcement of Other Interests in Agenda Item 7 (Parking Prohibition Proposal – Marine Road, Walmer) by reason that he was a member of the Deal and Walmer Chamber of Commerce which had made public statements about the proposal.

Councillor T A Bond made a Voluntary Announcement of Other Interests in Agenda Items 5 (Motor Home Parking Controls) and 8 (Bus/Coach Parking Proposal – Dover Seafront) by reason that he was employed by a company that provided services to hotels on Dover seafront.

To confirm the attached Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 30 November 2017.

The minutes of the meeting held on 30 November 2017 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To consider the attached report of the Director of Environment and Corporate Assets.

The Director of Environment and Corporate Assets (DECA) referred Members to the report which set out the lengthy background to the current proposals.  In summary, the Board had recommended in 2014 that there should be a ban on motorhome parking on Dover seafront, with alternative parking sites to be explored.  In respect of the latter, discussions with third parties had come to nothing.  In the meantime, Cabinet had agreed in 2017 to the introduction of overnight parking charges on the seafront, although this had never been implemented.  Motorhome parking issues had also been thoroughly considered during the development of the parking strategies for Dover, Deal and Sandwich.  Whilst it was recognised that this type of parking could be intrusive for residents, there was also a need to encourage visitors to spend time in the town.   The report recommendation was to prohibit parking on the seafront between 8.00pm and 8.00am.  Alternatively, introducing charging would be less likely to discourage visitors from spending time in the town. 

Several Members expressed reservations regarding a complete ban which would discourage visitors to the town at a time when the Council was looking to increase the number of tourists.  Councillor N J Collor suggested that there could be charging in front of The Gateway flats and bans at the other end of Marine Parade and at Walmer.  The DECA advised that motorhome owners were unlikely to use alternative parking sites as these were not as favourably located as the seafront.   Councillor M R Eddy proposed that consultation should be undertaken on a prohibition of parking on Dover and Walmer seafronts between 10.00pm and 8.00am, from 1 April to 30 September.  He also suggested that the consultation should include a question about charging, and that the Council’s new tourism officer could be charged with exploring issues surrounding motorhomes and caravan parking. Councillor P I Carter requested that Sandwich should be included, given the existing problem of motorhomes parking on the Quay for extended periods.

RESOLVED:  That it be recommended:

(a) That consultation be undertaken on the following proposal: To prohibit motorhomes from parking on Marine Parade and Waterloo Crescent, Dover; The Beach, Walmer and The Quay, Sandwich between the hours of 10.00pm and 08.00am, from 1 April to 30 September annually.

(b) That the consultation should include a question on whether parking charges are a better option.

(c)  That, following consultation, detailed proposals be brought back to the Board.

To consider the attached report of the Chief Executive.

The Highways and Parking Team Leader (HPTL) presented the report which set out the results of consultation undertaken on proposals to introduce further lorry parking prohibitions at Barwick Road, Coombe Valley Road and Folkestone Road.  The Chairman and Vice-Chairman had considered the responses received and agreed that the proposals should be progressed, as resolved by the Board at its meeting held on 30 November 2017.

RESOLVED:   That the report be noted.

To consider the attached report of the Chief Executive.

The HPTL reminded Members that the Board, at its meeting held on 30 November 2017, had recommended that a proposal to introduce parking restrictions along Marine Road, Walmer be formally advertised.   Two objections and one e-mail of support had been received which were appended to the report for the Board’s consideration.

Councillors P D Jull and T A Bond disagreed with the proposal which they considered unnecessary.  Councillor Eddy argued that there was a need to remove the parking spaces to ensure that the new car park had adequate sightlines.  The HPTL reminded Members that this measure had been requested by the Kent County Council (KCC) Highways Safety Officer in the light of plans by English Heritage to increase visitor numbers at Deal Castle.  KCC’s concerns related to tailbacks forming along Marine Road.  

RESOLVED:  That it be recommended to Kent County Council that the proposal set out at Appendix A to the report be sealed, so as to bring the proposed parking restriction into effect.

To consider the attached report of the Chief Executive.

The HPTL presented the report which detailed proposals for bus/coach parking along Dover seafront.   These proposals had been approved by the Board at its meeting held on 30 November 2017.  However, KCC had raised safety concerns about the proposals, and the Board was therefore requested to re-consider the original proposals and whether amendments should be made to them.   

RESOLVED: That the coach parking proposal set out at Appendix A to the report be recommended for sealing (against the advice of Kent County Council).

To consider the attached report of the Director of Highways and Transportation, Kent County Council.

Members received the report which provided an update on schemes that had been programmed for delivery in 2018/19.  In response to Councillor Carter, the Dover District Manager advised that the roundabout outside the Willowbank development in Sandwich would be tidied up.  She advised that footway improvement works to Cannon Street, Dover were looking to address the section from The Works to Santander which was degrading more quickly.  Other localised repairs would be carried out following investigations.

RESOLVED:   That the report be noted.

It was moved by Councillor M R Eddy, duly seconded and

RESOLVED:       That, under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the remainder of the business on the grounds that the item to be considered involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 1 and 2 of Part I of Schedule 12A of the Act.

To consider the attached report of the Director of Environment and Corporate Assets.

The HPTL introduced the report which outlined details of ten disabled persons’ parking bay applications.  In addition, it was proposed that twelve disabled parking bays should be removed as they were no longer required.   All ten parking bay applications met all the criteria and it was recommended that they proceed to formal advertisement. 

RESOLVED:  (a) That it be noted:

(i) That Applications A to J would be formally advertised and, in the event that no objections are received, they will be sealed by Kent County Council.  (Should any objections be received during the consultation process, the applications will be discussed with the Chairman of the Dover Joint Transportation Board for a final decision.)

                        (ii)  That Applications K to V would be formally advertised with the intention of removing them and, in the event that no objections are received, their removal will be sealed by Kent County Council.