Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor J A Cronk and Mr B Scott (Sandwich Town Council).

It was noted that, in accordance with Rule 4 of the Council Procedure Rules, Mr J M Smith had been appointed as a substitute Member for Councillor J A Cronk.

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

It was noted that there were no declarations of interest.

To confirm the attached Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 11 September 2014.

The minutes of the Joint Transportation Board meeting held on 11 September 2014 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

With the consent of the Board, the Chairman announced that the order of business would be varied so that agenda items 7 and 8 would be reversed as item 7 was dependent upon item 8.  Members were also advised that, in accordance with the provisions of Section 100(B)(4)(b) of the Local Government Act 1972, an additional item of urgent business, which had been omitted from the agenda in error, would be considered as agenda item 9a (Thanet Parkway Railway Station).  

RESOLVED:   That the order of business be varied.

To receive a verbal update from Mr Shane Hymers, Policy and Strategy Manager – Public Transport, KCC Highways and Transportation.

As requested by the Board at its meeting held on 11 September 2014, Mr Hymers provided Members with an update on the installation of real-time bus displays.   Members were advised that two locations had been identified at Pencester Road bus station for signage; the window of the Stagecoach office and by the old clock.  The equipment would be installed shortly and it was expected that the system would be operational by the time of the next JTB meeting. 

In response to Councillor B W Bano who questioned the provision of information at South Street, Deal and the Guildhall, Sandwich, Mr Hymers advised that, whilst KCC wanted to see provision at key bus hubs, the issue was one of on-going costs rather than the cost of equipment and installation.  There was no set allocation for real-time displays but, if the pilot at Pencester Road proved successful, there were provisions within his budget to roll out additional screens.  He added that the current trend was to move away from placing displays at bus-stops.  Also in response to Councillor Bano, Mr Hymers advised that KCC would support the installation of displays inside buses, but that this would have to be a Stagecoach initiative.  Councillor Bano noted that it had been agreed at a previous meeting that the minutes of QBP meetings would be circulated to the Board for information.  Mr Hymers undertook to circulate the minutes of the last QBP meeting.

RESOLVED:   That the verbal update be noted.

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

The Board received a report on 20mph limits and zones.  Mr Rivers gave apologies for Andy Corcoran, the author of the report, who was unable to attend the meeting, but planned to attend the next one to answer Members’ questions.  Councillor M R Eddy requested information regarding the cost of installing 20mph zones as it had been mooted that Members’ Highway Funds could be used for this purpose at two places in Deal.  Councillor Bano commented that it would be helpful to know whether and how 20mph zones benefited public health.  Mr P Carter reported that Sandwich Town Council was implementing its own speed restriction measures, and he would welcome advice as to how these and KCC’s measures would dovetail.

RESOLVED:   That the report be noted.

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

Sally Benge presented the report which gave a brief summary of proposals to utilise Section 106 monies for traffic management works in Sandwich Town Centre.  Members were informed that a deed to vary the Section 106 agreement in respect of Phase 1 of the Willowbank development had that day been signed by KCC, DDC and the developers.  Works to Ramsgate Road would now be carried out by KCC and were due to commence the following week.   An additional £50,000 would now be available for works in Sandwich Town Centre.  KCC would work with Sandwich Town Council to prioritise a number of proposed measures.  Members agreed that the issue should be handled at a local level.

RESOLVED:   That it be recommended that the schemes be progressed once prioritised by Sandwich Town Council, in conjunction with Councillor Leyland Ridings and the Sandwich Town Team. 

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

Mr Rivers presented a report which outlined proposed highway improvements in Sandwich.

At the invitation of the Chairman, Mr Mark Moorhouse, representing the Sandwich Town Team, spoke for 3 minutes.

Mr P Carter welcomed the level of assistance that the Sandwich Town Team had received from KCC.  As a medieval town, Sandwich had different highway problems to other towns in the District.   The proposals outlined in the report were fully supported by the Sandwich Town Team and would alleviate many of the problems suffered by the town.  Councillor L B Ridings suggested that he meet with Sandwich Town Council to identify the most urgently needed measures in order to progress those quickly.

RESOLVED:  (a) That it be recommended that the proposed measures be progressed urgently.

                        (b)  That the report be noted.

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

Mrs Benge introduced the report which outlined a proposed improvement scheme at the B2046/Spinney Lane junction that would be funded as part of the Aylesham Expansion planning application.   She also referred to a paper circulated at the meeting which set out consultation responses. The developer’s original proposal to install gates at both ends of  Spinney Lane had received many objections and, following a site visit, the developer’s Transport Consultant had put forward a new scheme which was the subject of the report. 

Councillor S C Manion welcomed the fact that the public’s concerns had been taken into account and was of the view that the new scheme was now acceptable.  Councillor E D Rowbotham raised concerns that the mechanism for community consultation had not been followed and advised that Womenswold Parish Council had been unaware of the proposals. Mrs Benge undertook to check with colleagues what consultation had been carried out as part of the Traffic Regulation Order procedures.  However, notices would normally be placed at both ends of the lane and in the local press.  The woodland was currently being managed by the landowner, but KCC would take action itself if sightlines deteriorated.  It was proposed to permanently remove a number of saplings and shrubs.

RESOLVED:   That it be recommended that the scheme be proceeded with.

Mr Fayyez Qadir presented the report which described plans for a new railway station on the existing line between Minster and Ramsgate stations.  Members also received a presentation.  Consultation with parish and town councils had already been carried out, and public consultation would be undertaken between 2 February and 27 March 2015.

Councillor Bano urged KCC to hold a public consultation event in Deal and queried whether both high speed services would stop at the new station.  Mr P Carter stressed that there should be no closure of train services to Sandwich and Deal as a result of the new station.  Councillor Eddy expressed surprise that there had been no response from Deal Town Council and raised concerns that Walmer Parish Council had not been consulted.  He emphasised that the new station should not have a negative effect on other train services in the district. 

Mr Qadir acknowledged Members’ concerns and undertook to contact the towns and parishes by e-mail again.  He understood that both high speed and mainline services would call at the new station.  The Chairman suggested that Ash Parish Council should also be contacted and requested that the presentation be circulated electronically.

RESOLVED:   That the report be noted.

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

Mr Rivers introduced the report which outlined KCC’s response to requests that waiting restrictions be introduced at Sholden New Road in connection with the new residential development known as Sholden Fields.

Councillor T A Bond commented that double yellow lines had been promised 10 years ago but never implemented. Sholden Parish Council had raised concerns over a number of years, particularly in relation to the cricket ground.  Cars were parking in such a way as to block the emergency exit.  This, together with cyclists using the cycle path exiting between the parked cars, presented a safety hazard and it was only a matter of time before a serious accident occurred.   He was also aware that buses had experienced problems because of cars parking illegally.  Mr Rivers advised that a number of people had been consulted about the matter, including Stagecoach which had not raised any concerns about parked cars at this location.    Councillor Eddy expressed sympathy with the concerns raised and suggested that the problem could be addressed through the Member Highway Fund.  Mr Measey advised that proposals in relation to this site had gone to KCC in 2008/09 but had not been progressed.

RESOLVED:   That the report be noted.

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

Mr Watson presented the report which outlined proposals to amend two Traffic Regulation Orders in order to facilitate the construction of a new ‘Pay and Display’ car park in Bench Street, Dover.  Formal consultation on the proposals had finished on 8 December and no comments or objections had been received.

RESOLVED:   That it be recommended that the following Traffic Regulation Orders be amended to allow the construction of a new off-street ‘Pay and Display’ car park in Bench Street, Dover:

(a)  The ‘one-way’ route on Fishmonger’s Lane, Dover to be reduced by approximately 14 metres west from the junction of Fishmonger’s Lane and Bench Street, Dover.

(b)  Realignment of the southern kerb-line of Fishmonger’s Lane will require the goods vehicle loading area in Bench Street to be shortened by 4 metres.

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

Mr Rivers introduced the report which detailed arrangements made between KCC and DDC to provide a winter service in the event of snowfall.  Of note was that KCC had given DDC two hand salting machines and 10 tonnes of sand/salt mixture.  Members could view salting routes on KCC’s website. A different approach was now being taken in that roads were being ploughed back to black tarmac whereas previously ploughs had been set to plough back to 50 millimetres only.  A successful trial had demonstrated that the additional effort was of benefit to road users.  Members were asked to note that secondary routes would be salted in emergency conditions and that salt bins would be filled once, and again during a declared snow emergency only if resources permitted. 

RESOLVED:   That the report be noted.

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

Mr Rivers presented the report which updated Members on works that had been approved for construction in 2014/15.

The Board was advised that, in relation to Appendix B, works at Adelaide Road were due for completion in January 2015.  Works at Green Lane, Homestead Lane and Hyde Place had already started and works at St Johns Road were due to finish that day.  In respect of Appendix E, works to the ER185/ER25 had started and were due for completion in two weeks.  Works to the EB10 were due to commence in January 2015 and works to the EE245 were due for completion at the end of December.

Mr Rivers undertook to contact Mr Luigi Scott in order that Mrs Burnham could be advised when lamp columns along Deal seafront would be replaced. He also undertook to advise Councillor Eddy when road widening and street lighting works to St Richard’s Road, opposite Mill Hill, and Marke Wood respectively were due to start.  He confirmed that speed limit roundel markings between the Guston roundabout and Ripple Road had been refreshed and further work would be undertaken to refresh road lines and junction markings, weather permitting.

RESOLVED:   That the report be noted.

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 involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 1 and 2 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act.

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

The Corporate Estate and Coastal Engineer introduced the report which gave details of ten disabled parking bay applications.

In respect of Applications A, C, D and F the Board was advised that no letters of objection had been received following informal and formal consultation.  The applicants met all the criteria and it was therefore recommended that the applications be sealed by Kent County Council.  No objections had been received in respect of Application H following informal consultation and it was therefore recommended that the application be progressed to formal advertisement.

In respect of Applications B and G, Members were advised that one letter of objection had been received following informal and formal consultation.  The applicants met all the criteria and it was therefore recommended that the applications be sealed by Kent County Council.  Application E had also received one letter of objection following informal and formal consultation. However, cars would be forced to mount the pavement to pass a car parked in the bay and, in any case, the road was quiet in terms of overall parking.  For these reasons it was recommended that the application should be refused.

Seven letters of objection had been received in respect of Application I following informal and formal consultation.  These raised concerns regarding the narrow width of the road, tight car space and emergency access.  Concerns had also been raised about misuse of the bay and the applicant had been warned about this. The existing width of the road was greater than the minimum width recommended by KCC.  An interim bay had been installed since the last JTB meeting and no concerns had been noted.  Taking into account KCC’s criteria, parking in the road was heavy and it was almost impossible to double park.  Since the applicant met all the criteria, it was recommended that the application be sealed by Kent County Council.

Two letters of objection had been received in respect of Application J following informal and formal consultation.  These raised concerns regarding the shortage of parking and whether a parking bay was warranted.  The applicant met all the criteria and, having reviewed parking in the road, it was recommended that the application be sealed by Kent County Council.

In respect of Application E, several Members questioned why a bay could not be installed since there were no parking issues in the road and the bay could be used by anybody.  The Highways and Parking Team Leader advised that one of the criteria laid down by KCC was that there had to be problems with parking.  This provided justification for installing a bay for which there was a cost.   The Corporate Estate and Coastal Engineer advised Members that the applicant had requested a bay because they had difficulty walking and for peace of mind.   Although parking in the road was very tight, the Council had been advised by two residents that there was an understanding that a space would be kept free for the applicant.    Councillor F J W Scales commented that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 690.