Agenda item

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

The DDM presented the report which updated Members on works that had been approved for delivery in 2015/16. 

Councillor N J Collor pointed out that developer-funded works to the A20 York Street roundabout were due to start on 22 February, with completion scheduled for August. Councillor T P Johnstone reported that he had raised concerns about the design layout at Spinney Lane, Aylesham.  The DDM advised that Kent County Council’s (KCC) Section 278 team was overseeing the project and currently in discussions with the farmer over access to his land.  He undertook to provide a written update for Members.  In respect of Appendix H, Councillor M J Ovenden stated that the leaflet distributed to residents on proposed works to Sandown Road, Sandwich had failed to include any details of the scheme or a contact point and looked unprofessional.   The DDM undertook to give feedback to those responsible for producing the leaflet.   In response to Councillor T A Bond, the DDM advised that the highways budget for 2016/17 was still being finalised and, until known, the highway works programme could not be finalised. 

Mr Walkden raised concerns about the amount of litter and waste on the A20 and A2.  Councillor Collor advised that these routes were the responsibility of Highways England (HE).  This matter had been raised with HE by Dover District Council and the MP for Dover and Deal.  It was unfortunate, but the high cost of lane closure meant that litter picking could not be done as frequently as the Council would like. 

In response to Councillor G Cowan, the DDM advised that a decision had been taken that the strategic road network should be separate from the local road network and managed by a Government body.  Part of the A20 was an extension to the M20 and therefore regarded as part of the strategic network.  Councillor Ovenden queried why litter picking could not be dovetailed with highways maintenance lane closures.   Councillor Collor suggested that the Director of Environment and Corporate Assets be requested to bring a report to the Board.  Councillor M R Eddy suggested that the Chairman should write to the MP for Dover and Deal to request that he attempts to influence HE.  The District was the gateway to England and the appalling amount of litter reflected badly on Kent.  He noted the amount of litter on all main roads in the District, including the A256, and supported Councillor Collor in requesting a report to the Board on what steps were being taken to address the situation.  In response to the Chairman, the DDM undertook to report back on the latest situation in respect of Cooting Road, Aylesham.

The DDM gave a verbal update on Combined Member Grants which had been reviewed in the context of the delivery of highway projects.  As a result, the scheme would be revised from 1 May 2016.  The principal changes were that District Managers would support Members in identifying highway projects from the annual programme of works.  This would allow resources to be effectively planned in order to deliver projects.  The intention was that the DDM and colleagues would deal directly with Members, making a quick assessment of proposals to establish whether they were worth pursuing.  However, some design costs would still need to be factored in.

Councillor Cowan raised concerns that, not only had Members’ individual budgets been cut by £5,000 to £20,000 for 2016/17, but they were expected to cover the cost of preliminary viability surveys/assessments too. He requested that KCC consider waiving the cost of surveys/viability assessments so that Members could spend their entire budget on worthwhile schemes.   Councillor Eddy agreed, stating that once the cost of viability and design works were factored in, there was not much left to cover road safety measures and community schemes.  The Chairman supported this view, arguing that design costs rendered some schemes unviable.   Councillor Cowan reiterated his concerns that budgets were being reduced year-on-year, and were being further eroded by design costs. 

The DDM reported that the capital and revenue budgetary allocations had been reduced by 50% and 33% respectively.  This meant that the amount of money for larger patching schemes had been halved, and for routine maintenance had dropped by a third.  With £521,000 less than the previous year’s highways operations budget, the team would probably only be able to deliver safety critical works. The backlog of maintenance and capital projects would undoubtedly increase. 

Councillor Collor commented that this was unfortunate given that the District’s roads were subject to more wear and tear due to the port.  In response, the DDM stated that he believed that Dover had received a fair allocation. In response to questions, he promised to investigate the situation in relation to the county-wide surfacing and drainage budgets.  

RESOLVED:   (a)        That the Director of Environment and Corporate Assets be

requested to bring a report to the Dover Joint Transportation Board outlining what steps are being taken to address the amount of litter along the grass verges of the District’s main roads.

(b)        That the Chairman write to Mr Charlie Elphicke, MP for Dover and Deal, to request that he brings his influence to bear on Highways England in order to address the amount of litter alongside the A20 and A2.  

(c)        That the report be noted.