Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from District Councillor D G Cronk, County Councillors L B Ridings and E D Rowbotham, Mr B W Bano (Deal Town Council), Mrs L Burke (Dover Town Council) and Mr M W Moorhouse (Sandwich Town Council). 

There were no substitute members appointed.

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 made by Members.

To confirm the Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 15 September 2016 (to follow).

The Democratic Support Officer advised that the minutes of the last meeting should be amended to include Mr Keith Gowland who had been present.

In respect of Minute No 75, Members were advised that no progress had been made.   Councillor P Walker commented that a wider area than Wigmore Lane was affected.   The Chairman requested that the Highways and Parking Team Leader pass on Keith Jacobs’ (Highways England) contact details.

Subject to the addition of Mr Keith Gowland, the minutes of the meeting of the Joint Transportation Board held on 15 September 2016 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 Highways and Parking Team Leader (HPTL) introduced the report which set out the results of consultation on proposals for two lorry prohibition schemes in Dover: one at Hawkesbury Street and the other at Poulton Close.  The Board was reminded that it had approved plans and consultation on these schemes at its meeting held on 9 June 2016.  One objection had been received from Relyon in relation to the Poulton Close proposal.  

Paragraph 6 of the report referred to a meeting that had been held with St Radigund’s residents who had expressed interest in similar restrictions being applied along Barwick Road and part of Coombe Valley Road.  The HPTL advised that this was a trial prohibition which, if successful, could be extended to other roads.  In response to Members’ queries, it was explained that there had been an increase in lorries parking overnight and through the daytime at Poulton Close.  This had led to complaints from businesses that entry to and from their premises was being obstructed.  It was clarified that the Council was required to advertise any changes to traffic or parking regulations.

Councillor P M Brivio reported that many of the lorries parking in Poulton Close were not doing business there, and feelings were running high amongst residents.  The HPTL advised that, once introduced, the schemes would almost certainly have an immediate impact on neighbouring streets, with lorries likely to move into Barwick Road and Coombe Valley Road.  The Chairman confirmed that other ‘hotspots’ would be looked at.  

RESOLVED:         It was recommended:

(a) That the lorry parking prohibition proposal for Hawkesbury Street, as shown at Appendix A2 of the report, be implemented by  Kent County Council sealing the necessary Traffic Regulation Order.

                               (b) That option a), as set out at paragraph 5 of the report, be approved, namely that the proposal for Poulton Close be sealed as advertised by Kent County Council, thereby bringing it into effect.

                               (c) That Officers be charged with drawing up similar prohibition proposals for other roads, and that these proposals be advertised accordingly.

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

The HPTL presented the report which outlined proposals to provide bus and coach parking in Wellesley Road and Camden Crescent.  It was necessary to provide alternative parking as the existing Pay & Display parking on The Esplanade would be lost as a result of the Dover Waterfront development.    Officers recognised that the turning circle at the end of Camden Crescent was very tight and could lead to difficulties for some coaches. 

Several Members expressed concern at the potential damage that could be caused by coaches to the memorial, and proposed that Officers should consider alternative seafront locations.   The HPTL advised that the Wellesley Road proposal would not present problems as vehicles could exit easily.   The existing coach bays could accommodate up to five coaches but, generally, only two or three were seen there in the summer.   The Chairman advised that the existing bays would be closed by the Port of Dover in January.

RESOLVED:  It was recommended that the proposal for Wellesley Road and a new proposal for the provision of two parking spaces in front of the Charles Rolls statue be formally advertised and, in the event that no objections are received, they be implemented by Kent County Council sealing the necessary Traffic Regulation Order (any objections will be referred back to a future meeting of the Board for further consideration).

To note the attached report of the Head of Highway Asset Management, KCC Highways and Transportation.

The Dover District Manager introduced the report which outlined the arrangements in place in the event of snow.   Members were advised that the new Winter Service plan did not differ from previous plans. 

RESOLVED:   It was agreed to note the report.

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

The DDM presented the report which updated Members on works that had been approved for delivery in 2016/17.  In respect of Appendix A, Members were advised that works at Swanton Lane had already started, and the scheme at Nash Road would not be progressed until trials had finished.  In response to Councillor T A Bond, the DDM advised that, whilst most of the LED light conversions had been completed, there were a few outstanding.  It was likely that light columns which were not working had not yet been converted, but engineers were currently working through a snagging list.   In respect of works to South Street, the HPTL clarified that the bus-stop clearway was the subject of a planning application which was likely to be approved automatically, unless five or more objections were received.   In response to a query from the Chairman, the DDM undertook to find out whether the street-lighting works listed in Appendix C had been completed.

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 1A of the Act.

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

The HPTL introduced the report which outlined details of twelve disabled parking bay applications, all of which met the criteria and had therefore been approved for formal advertisement by the Corporate Estate and Coastal Engineer, in consultation with the Chairman.

RESOLVED:   That the report be noted.