Agenda and draft minutes

It was noted that apologies for absence had been received from District Councillors E A Biggs, S B Blair and M F Hibbert, County Councillors N J Collor, S S Chandler, S C Manion and D P Murphy, and Mrs P M Brivio (Dover Town Council) and Mr K Gowland (Kent Association of Local Councils).

In the absence of both the Chairman and the Vice-Chairman, it was proposed, duly seconded and

RESOLVED: That Councillor T A Bond be elected as Chairman to preside over the

                      meeting.

It was noted that, in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 4, Councillors M J Nee and D G Cronk had been appointed as substitute members for Councillors E A Biggs and S B Blair respectively.

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 30 March 2023.

The minutes of the meeting held on 30 March 2023 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Vice-Chairman.

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

The Dover District Manager (Kent County Council Highways) (DDM) introduced the report which outlined proposals for a bus contraflow scheme in Pencester Road to support the new Dover Fastrack service which was due to start operating in spring 2024. 

In response to queries from Councillor D G Cronk, the DDM confirmed that a pelican crossing would be installed in zone 1 (marked on the map attached at Appendix A to the report).  However, it was not proposed to install a crossing where the road merged into one lane/continued down into Pencester Road.   He advised that the proposals would be subject to a safety audit, but he would take comments back to the safety project team in the meantime.  Councillor M Bates queried whether there would be a separate lane for cyclists and expressed concerns about their safety.  The DDM commented that it appeared that cyclists would use the lane designated for buses, emergency vehicles and bicycles but promised to find out. 

Councillor O C de R Richardson commented that, although the lane would be open to cyclists and buses, buses would not be using the lane all the time.  He queried whether the parking spaces would be drop-off spaces for a 20-minute stay rather than full parking bays.  He had received a lot of correspondence about the proposals and had been in touch with Dover Town Council about them.  He urged Members to raise their concerns as part of the public consultation which would be open until 11 December. The DDM advised that waiting restrictions rather than parking bays were proposed.  He stressed that the scheme was at an early stage of design and everything was out for consultation.  He undertook to take comments back to the project manager. 

Mr Mike Walters appreciated the aims of the contraflow proposal but was concerned about rigid buses having to get into tight spaces in Worthington Street.  He understood that electric buses had been ordered and there was a waiting list for these.  His view was that there was a high probability of accidents and personal injuries happening if electric buses were used.  Mr Anthony Minns queried whether there was scope for restricting the speed of electric buses given the concerns raised.   The DDM reminded Members that buses that were speeding were committing a road traffic offence.  He undertook to report Members’ concerns about electric buses to the project team.  Councillor M J Nee sought clarity about a raised kerb for buses to manoeuvre over and whether it had been included in a swept path analysis.  The DDM advised that in zone 1 the old kerb line in Worthington Street was shown on the plan and he could see that there had been a realignment to take into account the results of the swept path analysis. 

Councillor G Cowan commented that the proposal would take out all parking along Pencester Road, including taxi ranks.  He asked whether the Pencester Road car park would also be removed.   The Community and Transport Services Manager confirmed  ...  view the full minutes text for item 120.

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

The DDM introduced the report which provided an update and summary of schemes programmed for delivery in 2022/23 and 2023/24.   

Councillor Richardson raised concerns about flooding on Jubilee Way which was caused by a lack of drains maintenance by National Highways (NH).   He understood that drains were not being cleaned properly and requested that his concerns be raised with NH.  In respect of Appendix E, Mr Walters asked for an update on Station Road, Walmer and whether the reference was to the footpath from Cross Road to the railway bridge. Councillor Nee commented that it would be helpful if the report could mention disputes or issues that were causing delays to planned works.  Councillor Bond commented that there were no timings in relation to the Section 38 sites (specifically Betteshanger, Cross Road and Dover Road) which, if works were to coincide, would cause problems.  In respect of Appendix G, he commented that the works at Canada and North Barrack Roads seemed close together.  Finally, he asked that works at The Strand and Dover Road in Walmer not be carried out at the same time in future as had happened recently. 

The DDM advised that there had been a few issues in respect of works at Station Road which had been investigated with the development manager, and he believed that works were now going ahead as planned.  In respect of Councillor Bond’s concerns, the DDM advised that the team was trying to coordinate Section 38 works.  He would relay Members’ comments on timing and get an update.  He also undertook to check on timings for works at Canada and North Barrack Roads to see if there were plans to do them together. 

RESOLVED:  (a) That the Dover District Manager be requested to check on timings

                             and provide updates in respect of the works raised at the meeting.

(b) That future reports include additional information on disputes or

      other issues where these are causing delays to works.

At its meeting held on 30 March 2023, the DJTAB requested that the Chairman writes to Mr David Brazier, KCC Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, to raise its concerns about KCC’s report entitled ‘Involvement in Highway Aspects of Planning Applications’.

For information only, copies of the Chairman’s letter and Mr Brazier’s response of 19 June 2023 are attached.

Councillor Back advised that, through Democratic Services, and at the request of the Board, he had written to the KCC Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport in June, expressing concerns that a KCC officer had not attended the meeting to answer questions about the report and explain the new ‘Vision and Validate’ policy.  His view was that KCC officers should attend Planning Committee meetings.  Furthermore, it was all very well having a policy that focused on sustainable travel, but the majority of planning applications were not in a position to accommodate/promote cycling, walking, etc. Councillor Nee agreed, adding that the Committee generally received very little information on KCC’s reasons for supporting or objecting to applications, and commenting that it would be useful to see a comprehensive reply from KCC with all the comments made about an application.  Councillor Beaney mentioned that there was a new Cabinet Member at KCC, and suggested that it would be worth sending the correspondence to him in case he had a different view to his predecessor.

RESOLVED:   That the correspondence be copied to Neil Baker, the new Cabinet

                        Member for Highways and Transport, to seek his views on the matter.    

At its meeting held on 18 September 2023, the Overview and Scrutiny Committee made the following recommendation:

That it be recommended to the Dover Joint Transportation Advisory Board that the proposed Fasttrack timetable and publicity to support the service be considered at a future meeting of the Board.

If agreed, a KCC Officer will attend a future meeting of the Board to give a presentation on Fastrack. 

Members agreed that the proposed timetable and publicity for the Fastrack service should come to a future meeting of the Board.

RESOLVED: That the proposed Fastrack timetable and publicity be considered at a  

                      future meeting of the Board.

To consider the attached report of the Strategic Director (Place and Environment).

The Parking Operations Manager introduced the report which outlined proposals to extend the existing residents’ permit parking scheme in Dover to include Park Avenue.  The Community and Transport Services Manager added that the scheme was a simple one and welcomed by residents.

RESOLVED:   That it be recommended that the existing Zone F Residents’ Permit Parking Scheme in Dover be extended to Park Avenue (from Maison Dieu Road to Salisbury Road).