Agenda and minutes

It was noted that apologies for absence had been received from County Councillors D G Beaney, N J Collor and S C Manion.

There were no substitute members appointed.

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

There were no declarations of interest.

To confirm the attached minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on.9 September 2021.

The minutes of the meeting held on 9 September 2021 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

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

Members received a report on schemes programmed for delivery in 2021/22 and 2022/23.  

RESOLVED: (a) That the report be noted. 

(b) That Kent County Council Highways officers attend future meetings in person or remotely to answer questions.

To consider the attached report of the Strategic Director (Operations and Commercial).

The Head of Commercial Services presented the report which set out proposals relating to an increase in parking charges.  Members were advised that the changes had already been approved by Cabinet, but some of the changes relating to enforcement and charging within Dover Harbour Board’s car parks and on-street areas required Traffic Regulation Orders, the consideration of which fell within the remit of  the Board.  The Board was requested to agree that the Chairman and Vice-Chairman should be given delegated powers to consider any objections received as part of the consultation since waiting until the Board next met in June would cause unacceptable delays in implementing the proposals.

In response to Councillor D G Cronk, the Head of Commercial Services advised that without the increase there would be a deficit in the Council’s parking budget of £400,000 which the proposals would help to plug.  He clarified that parking charges at Borrow Pit car park were being removed as they had not resolved the issue of displacement parking and were merely an irritation to local residents.  He advised that ticket machines would be installed on the street outside Buckland Hospital at Coombe Valley Road to prevent hospital visitors taking up residents’ parking spaces.   In response to Councillor J P Haste, he advised that there was no evidence that free parking increased footfall.  Parking charges within the district were still reasonable and he was of the view that the increases would not have a significant impact.  

Councillor T A Bond expressed concerns about the 20% increase, and the proposal to delegate powers to the Chairman and Vice-Chairman.   Councillor M Bates, as portfolio holder with responsibility for parking, advised that charges were not being increased by 20% and the increase would be spread over 2 years.  This was considered to be a better option than finding savings or increasing Council Tax. By comparison, Canterbury had increased its charges by 70p an hour.  Dover’s charges remained relatively low when compared with other authorities in Kent.   In response to Mr Paul Carter who asked for more details regarding the use of automatic number plate recognition cameras at schools, the Head of Commercial Services advised that static cameras would be used to monitor schools during school hours, being moved around the district three times a year.  He emphasised that parents were the cause of parking problems at schools and those who parked on zig-zags would be ticketed

RESOLVED: (a) That the report be noted.

           (b) That it be recommended that the Chairman and Vice-Chairman consider any objections received in response to the advertised Traffic Regulation Orders scheduled for April and set out in Appendix A on behalf of the Board and, if appropriate, make recommendations to Kent County Council/Dover District Council to bring them in to effect.

            (c) That it be agreed that the same powers, as detailed above, be extended to the Chairman and Vice-Chairman in relation to the other proposals set out in Appendix A for later in the year.  

To consider the attached report of the Strategic Director (Operations and Commercial).

The Head of Commercial Services introduced the report which outlined a proposal to divide the Zone H residents’ parking permit scheme in Deal into three separate zones. 

RESOLVED: That it be recommended that the existing Zone H residents’ permit parking scheme in Deal be split up and three separate zones created.  

To consider the attached report of the Strategic Director (Operations and Commercial).

The Head of Commercial Services presented the report which detailed a proposal to extend the Zone P residents’ parking permit scheme for Bridgeside in Deal to several other roads in the surrounding area.  In response to queries, it was explained that the proposed scheme had come about at the request of residents; removing Matthews Close from the proposed scheme, as suggested, would not resolve the problem.  

RESOLVED:   That it be recommended that the existing Zone P residents’ permit parking scheme for Bridgeside, Deal be extended to various other roads in the area, including Albert Road, Church Path, Matthews Close, Middle Deal Road and Sutherland Road.