Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from District Councillors D G Cronk and D A Sargent and County Councillor G Lymer.

It was noted that, in accordance with Rule 4 of the Council Procedure Rules, Councillors M R Eddy and S F Bannister had been appointed as substitute Members for Councillors D G Cronk and D A Sargent respectively.

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

Mr K Gowland made a Voluntary Announcement of Other Interests in Agenda Item 10 (Proposed Waiting Restrictions – Archers Court Road, Whitfield) by reason that he had instigated the proposal.

To confirm the Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 7 September 2017 (to follow).

The Minutes of the meeting held on 7 September 2017 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To receive a petition from Mr D Overal and Ms K Blackstock in respect of speed controls in Beaconsfield Avenue and the surrounding area.

Members are asked to note that the Scrutiny (Policy and Performance) Committee of Dover District Council considered the petition at its meeting held on 10 October 2017 and resolved:

(a)      That the petition be referred to the Dover Joint Transportation Board.

(b)     That the Dover Joint Transportation Board be requested to note the support of the Scrutiny (Policy and Performance) Committee for the petition and the introduction of speed controls in Beaconsfield Avenue.

The Chairman received a petition from Mr D Overal in respect of traffic-calming measures in Beaconsfield Avenue, and advised that it would be passed on to the Kent County Council (KCC) Cabinet Member who would respond.

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

The Highways and Parking Team Leader (HPTL) presented the report which set out proposals for bus and coach parking at the seafront.   The background to the proposals was set out in paragraphs 2 and 3 of the report.  At its meeting held on 16 March, the Board had resolved that coach parking should be provided in Waterloo Crescent, outside and opposite Harbour House, and this proposal had been advertised.  Following consultation, two objections had been received from the Port of Dover and the Dover Society that were primarily concerned with highway safety issues.  Alternative options had been exhausted and, subject to Kent County Council Highways’ approval on safety grounds, Members were requested to agree that the proposal be implemented by sealing the requisite Traffic Regulation Order.   

RESOLVED:  That it be recommended that the bus/coach parking proposal set out at Appendix A of the report be implemented by Kent County Council sealing the necessary Traffic Regulation Order.

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

The HPTL introduced the report which outlined proposals to prohibit lorries parking in Barwick, Coombe Valley and Folkestone Roads, Dover.  At its meeting held on 7 September 2017, the Board had approved the proposals for consultation.  Although the consultation period had not expired, there was a need to progress the proposals as quickly as possible and it was therefore proposed that, rather than waiting for the next meeting of the Board in March, any objections received would be considered by the Chairman and Vice-Chairman.

The HPTL clarified that, whilst the Council could enforce double yellow lines by issuing Penalty Charge Notices, it did not have the powers to move lorries on.  The police could enforce double yellow lines but generally left this to the Council.   Councillor P Walker urged KCC Members to resolve the wider problem of lorry parking across Kent. Councillor Collor reported that KCC continued to look at potential sites for a lorry park.  KCC and Ashford Borough Council had been involved in a joint venture to clamp illegally parked lorries but this had proved financially prohibitive.

RESOLVED:  That the Chairman and Vice-Chairman be authorised to consider any objections received, and to decide thereafter whether to progress all or any of the proposals set out in Appendices A1 to A3 of the report.

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

The HPTL introduced the report which set out proposals for prohibiting parking at Marine Road, Walmer as a result of the refurbishment of the car parking area adjacent to Deal Castle.

Councillor M R Eddy welcomed the proposal which would make the car park entrance wider and therefore safer for vehicles entering from the busy main road.  Councillors Eddy and A Friend commented that the improvements justified the loss of three or four on-street parking spaces.

RESOLVED:  That it be recommended that the parking prohibition scheme set out at Appendix A of the report be formally advertised and, in the event that no objections are received, sealed by Kent County Council.  Any objections received to the formal advertisement will be referred back to a future meeting of the Board for further consideration prior to making any final recommendations.

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

The HPTL presented the report which detailed proposals for the inclusion of Northcote Road into the Zone L residents’ parking scheme.   The road was now being used by a significant number of non-residents, and some residents had now requested that the road be included in Zone L.   The removal of parking on one side of the road would lead to the loss of eight parking spaces.  Following consultation, seven letters of support and five letters of objection had been received. 

RESOLVED:  That it be recommended that the inclusion of Northcote Road in the Zone L Parking Scheme, as set out at Appendix A of the report, be formally advertised and, in the event that no objections are received, sealed by Kent County Council.  Any objections received to the formal advertisement will be referred back to a future meeting of the Board for further consideration prior to making any final recommendations.

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

The Schemes Programme Manager presented the report which outlined proposals to make temporary waiting restrictions in Archers Court Road permanent.   Whitfield Parish Council had requested that they be made permanent, and consultation on the proposal had been undertaken.   Councillor J S Back welcomed the proposal which had made a significant difference to traffic flow in Archers Court Road.

RESOLVED:  That it be recommended that the proposed waiting restrictions, as set out at Appendix A of the report, be made permanent.

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

The Dover District Manager (DDM) introduced the report which detailed proposals to implement waiting restrictions by the entrance to Goodwin Academy.   The proposal was designed to improve the sightlines for drivers and children outside the school.  Following consultation, objections had been received and the original proposal had been amended to a Monday to Friday, 8.00 am to 6.00 pm restriction. 

Councillor Friend commented that Goodwin Academy had a duty to secure the safety of students.   However, it was unfortunate that the residents of Hamilton Road, where parking was already under pressure, would be adversely affected by the proposal.  Councillor Eddy echoed these views, adding that removing parking spaces could increase problems with speeding traffic.    Councillor Bond suggested that, rather than an all-day ban, restrictions should be limited to the school’s drop-off and pick-up hours (e.g. 8.00am to 10.00am and 2.00pm to 4.00pm).   He also suggested that school holidays should be excluded.

The HPTL advised that school zig-zag or keep clear markings were preferable to double yellow lines as timings could be controlled and they were easier to enforce than yellow lines.  However, lifting the restrictions during school holidays was a problem because the dates of these varied, and the signage used to enforce the restrictions had to be completely accurate. 

RESOLVED:  That the Schemes Project Manager (Dover) be requested to investigate the possibility of ‘School Keep Clear’ markings and a report be brought back to the Dover Joint Transportation Board.

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

The DDM introduced the report which set out proposals to close Austins Lane to traffic by installing removable bollards at each end.  Although objections had been received, the proposals had the support of all the residents of Austins Lane and Sandwich Town Council.

RESOLVED:  That it be recommended that the proposal be progressed to formal consultation in order for the Traffic Regulation Order to be made.

To consider the attached report of the Head of Highway Asset Management, Kent County Council.

The DDM presented the report which explained arrangements made between KCC and Dover District Council (DDC) to provide highway services in the event of significant snowfall.  Members were advised that DDC’s waste staff were tasked with carrying out localised salting.   A good deal of assistance was also provided to rural communities by farmers.  It was explained that, whilst it would be good to have more gritters standing by, this would be a waste of resources given that they were usually needed for only a few days a year.  KCC’s priority was to keep primary and secondary routes open, with other routes tackled as and when resources allowed.   Members were reminded that, during such events, KCC posted a good deal of information on Twitter and Facebook.

RESOLVED:   That the report be noted.

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 2017/18.  The DDM advised that the only scheme outstanding in Appendix A was the work to the Copart roundabout which would be completed by March 2018.

RESOLVED:   That the report be noted.

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 involves 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 eleven disabled persons’ parking bay applications. In addition, it was proposed that nine disabled parking bays should be removed as they were no longer required.  Ten of the parking bay applications met all the criteria and it was recommended that they proceed to formal advertisement.  The eleventh application did not meet the criteria and the Board’s views were therefore sought.   The HPTL confirmed that any objections received during informal consultation would also be counted as formal objections.  In respect of Application K, it was clarified that there was a flight of steps leading from the applicant’s garage to the house which were on an incline.    

RESOLVED:  (a) That it be recommended that Application K be formally advertised and, in the event that no objections are received, it be recommended for sealing by Kent County Council (with any objections being referred back to a future meeting of the Dover Joint Transportation Board for further consideration).

                        (b) That it be noted:

(i)   That Applications A to J would be formally advertised and, in the event that no objections are received, they be recommended for sealing by Kent County Council (with any objections being referred back to a future meeting of the Dover Joint Transportation Board for further consideration).

(ii)  That Applications L to T 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.