Agenda and minutes

It was noted that apologies for absence had been received from County Councillors N J Collor, D P Murphy and O C de R Richardson, and Dover Town Councillor P M Brivio.

It was noted that Dover Town Councillor R S Walkden was the nominated substitute for Councillor P M Brivio.

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 Board held on 30 June 2022.

The minutes of the meeting held on 30 June 2022 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

1.    To consider the attached report from KCC Highways responding to a 1,200-signature petition received regarding bus services

2.    To receive comments from Stagecoach (attendee(s) to be confirmed)

3.    Speakers - Cllr Linda Keen (District Councillor for Aylesham, Eythorne &               

                   Shepherdswell)

                               Cllr Malcolm Ledger (Chairman of Eythorne Parish  

                               Council)

                               Cllr Jamie Pout (Chairman of Aylesham Parish Council)

4.    Members’ questions and debate

Members received a presentation and report from the Public Transport Planning and Operations Manager (Kent County Council Highways) (PTPOM).  He advised that the report had been written in response to a petition received with 1,200 signatures campaigning to save rural bus services.   He summarised that bus services were provided in a de-regulated, privatised environment where services were operated by private companies based on an assessment which took into consideration demand, fares and costs in order to ensure that services were commercially sustainable.  Whilst Kent County County (KCC) had been able to provide subsidies for bus services in the past, reductions in general funding, which had necessitated the need to make savings of £2.2 million, meant that KCC was no longer able to intervene and replace services that were affected.  Many services were at present being supported by Government funding in the form of the Local Transport Fund (LTF) and Bus Recovery Grant, but this funding was currently only secure until the end of June 2023 and its long-term future was unknown.  Other factors affecting the commercial viability of services were the reduction in passenger numbers arising from the pandemic, increasing fuel and driver costs, a shortage of skilled drivers and engineers, and concessionary travel payments now being made on a sliding scale to reflect actual usage.  The LTF had managed to save a number of services and alleviate the worst effects of the pandemic, but its withdrawal would undoubtedly cause some hardship, particularly to rural communities.

Louise Sills (Operations Manager, Stagecoach South East) advised that passenger numbers in the Dover area were around 70% of pre-pandemic figures.  She clarified that Government funding provided through the LTF had actually been extended until December 2022. Large hikes in fuel costs, together with a rise in salaries for drivers who were proving difficult to recruit and retain, had given the company no option but to increase fares, which had not risen since 2019, in April and again in November 2022.   She reassured Members that she and her team at Dover were committed to providing a good service.  She had recently visited Eastry and understood the concerns raised there about the loss of rural bus services.   On a positive note, she advised that there were plans to introduce a demand response service for the Elvington/Eythorne area towards the end of February (albeit there was no firm date as yet).   Susan Horn (Head of Business Improvement, Stagecoach South East) advised that her team strived to provide a reliable service for customers, focusing on punctuality and network improvements.  One particular area for improvement was the dissemination of information to passengers on delays, pinchpoints, etc. 

The Chairman commented that with the reduction in funding and the withdrawal of seven services it was likely that people would turn to their cars at a time when they were being encouraged to use public transport.  

Councillor Linda Keen (Aylesham, Eythorne & Shepherdswell ward Member) spoke, querying why the service from Kingsdown to Deal had been reinstated when Aylesham  ...  view the full minutes text for item 107.

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

The Highway Manager (Dover) (HM) presented the report which provided an update and summarised schemes that had been programmed for delivery in 2022/23 and 2023/24.   She advised that there had been a ‘blitz’ on potholes, the money for which came from a separate pot. 

The Chairman mentioned Archers Court Road and the junction with Courtland Avenue.  He requested that a single yellow line there be lengthened by 3.4 metres to prevent traffic meeting head on.  The HM thought that the scheme had been funded by Whitfield Parish Council as part of its Highway Improvement Plan.  In response to Councillor Bond, she clarified that the report only included roadworks that required road closures.  A website called roadworks.org showed all roadworks except emergency works.  She asked Members to let KCC know if they encountered problems around roadworks traffic management, such as unmanned traffic signals.  In response to Councillor Cronk, she advised that KCC was looking to find a better solution to the bollard outside the Mill Road Co-op as it was taking up time and resources. 

RESOLVED: That the report be noted.