Agenda and minutes

An apology for absence was received from District Councillor J H Goodwin. 

To note appointments of Substitute Members.

It was noted that there were no substitute members.

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

Where a Member has a new or registered Disclosable Pecuniary Interest (DPI) in a matter under consideration they must disclose that they have an interest and, unless the Monitoring Officer has agreed in advance that the DPI is a 'Sensitive Interest', explain the nature of that interest at the meeting.  The Member must withdraw from the meeting at the commencement of the consideration of any matter in which they have declared a DPI and must not participate in any discussion of, or vote taken on, the matter unless they have been granted a dispensation permitting them to do so.  If during the consideration of any item a Member becomes aware that they have a DPI in the matter they should declare the interest immediately and, subject to any dispensations, withdraw from the meeting.

Where a Member is declaring an Other Significant Interest (OSI) they must also disclose the interest and explain the nature of the interest at the meeting.  The Member must withdraw from the meeting at the commencement of the consideration of any matter in which they have declared a OSI and must not participate in any discussion of, or vote taken on, the matter unless they have been granted a dispensation to do so or the meeting is one at which members of the public are permitted to speak for the purpose of making representations, answering questions or giving evidence relating to the matter.  In the latter case, the Member may only participate on the same basis as a member of the public and cannot participate in any discussion of, or vote taken on, the matter and must withdraw from the meeting in accordance with the Council's procedure rules.

It was noted that there were no declarations of interest.

To confirm the attached Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 28 February 2013.

In respect of Minute No 525, the Board was advised that Officers proposed to make some changes to the wording of the Minutes to clarify the decisions taken.  Firstly, it was proposed to add 'In response to concerns raised about the A256 at Eythorne' to the last sentence of paragraph 2.  Secondly, it was proposed to add the following to the resolution at (a) and (b):

(a)          Phase 1 – Trial Switch-Off

(b)          Phase 2 – Part-Night Lighting – That proposals proceed as per the report recommendations for the exclusion criteria and hours of switch-off.

Subject to the changes above, the Minutes of the meeting of the Joint Transportation Board held on 28 February 2013 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To note the attached Minutes of the EHWCC meeting held on 10 January 2013.

The Board received the minutes of the Environment, Highways and Waste Cabinet Committee (EHWCC) meeting held on 10 January 2013. 

In response to a query by Councillor B W Bano, Members were informed that the issue of 20mph speed limits would come back to Joint Transportation Boards once the results of the Maidstone survey had been evaluated and considered by the    EHWCC.  The final decision on whether a policy change was appropriate would be taken by the Kent County Council (KCC) Cabinet Member.  

RESOLVED:    That the minutes be noted.

To consider the attached report of the Head of Transportation, Kent County Council.

Mr Heaps presented the report which outlined measures to address road safety issues at four sites which had been identified following an analysis of crash clusters within the District.  

In response to Councillor S C Manion, Mr Heaps advised that proposals for Ringwould Road would be sent to Kingsdown Parish Council, Kent Police and a number of other bodies.  In respect of the A256, and concerns raised by Councillor Manion that the safety measures proposed were inadequate, Mr Heaps undertook to review measures at Barville Roundabout.  It was accepted that the reference in the report to a site at Manor Road, junction with Addelam Road, Deal should be to the mini roundabout at the Manor Road junction with London Road.   

RESOLVED:    That the report be noted.

To consider the attached report of the Head of Transportation, Kent County Council.

Mr Heaps introduced the report which updated the Board on River Dour Greenway developments.   Since the report was written, there had been some minor delays caused by crews being redeployed for gritting and very low temperatures which had affected the use of mortar.   Parts of the route including Buckland Bridge, Ladywell, K-College and the seafront were open, with the whole scheme due for completion by 26 April.   In response to Councillor C J Smith, it was confirmed that KCC was liaising closely with Sustrans on funding and developments.  

RESOLVED:    That the report be noted.

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

Mr Rivers presented the report which updated Members on works that had been approved for construction in 2013/14.

In respect of Appendix A, Members were advised that works to Balfour Road, Dover had taken place and had involved the surface being scarified, combined with new material and then re-laid.  Further works would be carried out in September to seal the surface.   Referring to Appendix C, the Board was advised that orange lights were being replaced with more energy efficient white lights.  In respect of machine resurfacing at West Street, Deal, it was reported that there had been a policy change in the gas industry and older pipe work was not now being replaced.  This meant that KCC would be able to complete the planned works in April.   Also in respect of West Street, Mr Rivers undertook to ask engineers to inspect the entire length of the road for defects following concerns raised by Mrs M Burnham, although funding for any additional work identified was unlikely to be available for some time.   On street lighting, Mr Rivers advised that works to columns in Dover Road, Walmer were part of a structural testing programme which would see corroded columns and columns most at risk of failure replaced.  Members were advised to report blocked drainage gullies using the 0845 number given on KCC's website.  In respect of Appendix F, Councillor N J Collor requested that KCC engineers coordinate works to the A256 London Road/Cherry Tree Avenue traffic signals with those in operation at the Coombe Valley junction to avoid traffic build-up.  In respect of Appendix D1, Mr Heaps advised that there was a programme of works for real-time bus information and an update would be provided at the next meeting.   In respect of works to a gulley in Brook Street, Eastry, Mr Rivers undertook to ask the Drainage Manager to contact Councillor Manion.  

RESOLVED:    That the report be noted.

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

Mr Rivers introduced the report which had come about as a result of a petition received from residents in Birdwood Avenue, Deal requesting that grass verges in their street be tarmaced because of problems caused by parked cars.  It had been agreed that the problem was a district-wide one and options should be considered on this basis. 

The Board was advised that options were limited due to a lack of funding.   Bollards were easily knocked down and were likely to move the problem elsewhere.   Other options, outlined in the report, were even costlier.   It was suggested that East Kent Housing could be approached for funding, but Mr Rivers advised that KCC had no leverage over East Kent Housing or housing associations.  In any case, residents at Birdwood Avenue had submitted a petition to KCC for the very reason that they were frustrated with the lack of interest shown by their housing association.   When it was suggested that appropriate signage might help with the problem, Members were advised that signs could not be installed on the highway.   Members mentioned Stockdale Gardens, Deal – where East Kent Housing had installed Grasscrete – and Telegraph Road, Deal – where a raised kerb and re-grassing had worked to good effect, funded by Section 106 monies.   

Members were advised that statutory inspections of verges were carried out annually, with ad hoc requests followed up and repairs made as appropriate.    It was agreed that, after the elections in May, KCC Members should consider whether to use their Member Highway Fund for this purpose.

RESOLVED:    That the report be noted.