Agenda and minutes

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Items
No. Item

9.

Apologies

To receive any apologies for absence.

 

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from District Councillor N S Kenton, County Councillor S C Manion, and Mrs P M Brivio (Dover Town Council), Mr P I Carter (Sandwich Town Council) and Mr A Minns (Kent Association of Local Councils).

10.

Appointment of Substitute Members

To note appointments of Substitute Members.

Minutes:

It was noted that Mrs A E Fox was the nominated substitute for Sandwich Town Council.  

11.

Declarations of Interest pdf icon PDF 37 KB

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

Minutes:

Councillor T A Bond made a Voluntary Announcement of Other Interests in Agenda Item 6 (Motor Caravan (Motor Home) Parking Controls) by reason that one of the companies he worked for had a business on the seafront.   

12.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 58 KB

To confirm the attached minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 13 June 2019.

Minutes:

Subject to amending Minute No 1 to read ‘Apologies were received from County Councillors T A Bond and D P Murphy’, the minutes of the meeting held on 13 June 2019 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

13.

Update on Bus Services

To receive an update on bus services from Matthew Arnold, Commercial Director at Stagecoach.

Minutes:

The Board received an update on bus services from Mr Matthew Arnold, Stagecoach Commercial Director (South East).  

 

In response to Councillor D G Cronk, Mr Arnold advised that the electric buses being introduced would have a 200-mile range and be based at Whitfield.  He advised that there were no plans to reduce bus services to Dover Grammar School for Boys. 

 

In response to Councillor C A Vinson, he clarified that a review on bus services to Kingsdown, Deal and Walmer was on hold because of BREXIT.  However, the review would look at whether changes to services were necessary as a result of recent housing developments.  Around 20% of bus tickets were being purchased via the App.  Whilst it was not practical to put single and return fares on the App, Stagecoach was looking to speed up online sales as this would speed up bus journeys.

 

Councillor S S Chandler reported that she regularly received e-mails from Sandwich residents who were concerned about the impact of buses on the town’s medieval buildings, in particular buses that turned left at Breezy Corner onto Strand Street.   She queried whether the reserved parking spaces in Harnet Street were still necessary given that the Butchery surgery had reduced in size, and requested that the route be reviewed.  Councillor M J Holloway echoed Councillor Chandler’s concerns, requesting that more modern vehicles be introduced to lessen the impact on buildings. 

 

Mr Arnold reminded Members that bollards had been installed at Breezy Corner 18 months previously.  Every bus tested had been able to negotiate the bend successfully.  Removing the left-hand turn altogether was not an option as this would deprive Ash residents of a bus service.   The buses carried large numbers of children to school in the morning and afternoon and were fully loaded.  He assured the Committee that they were genuinely needed and helped to subsidise the smaller buses that served the community outside school hours.  Smaller single-decker buses had been brought in three years earlier because of concerns about property damage.  He added that a lot of work had gone into improving vehicle emissions.

 

It was clarified that the same bus capacity for schools had been provided at the start of school term in September as July, and this was monitored to identify any shortfall.   Councillor N J Collor thanked Stagecoach for providing services when Dover town centre had been very congested in the summer. 

 

RESOLVED:   That the update be noted.

 

 

 

 

14.

Motor Caravan (Motorhome) Parking Controls pdf icon PDF 81 KB

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

Minutes:

The Transport and Parking Services Manager (TPSM) introduced the report which proposed restrictions on the parking of motor caravans (i.e. motorhomes) and caravans at Dover seafront, The Beach at Walmer and Sandwich Quay car park.  

 

She reminded Members that, at its last meeting in June, the Board had asked Officers to report back on alternative locations for motor caravan parking.  She explained that the proposed £5 charge for overnight parking on Dover seafront was deemed a reasonable charge, and would encourage drivers to use an alternative site at Maison Dieu car park which would be free of charge.  It would also generate a level of income to cover the costs of enforcement.  There was a balance to be struck between addressing residents’ concerns and not deterring visitors who would potentially be spending money in the town.  Overnight enforcement patrols would be stepped up.   It was emphasised that the Council was looking for a solution that could be achieved within its existing facilities and resources. 

 

Councillor Vinson suggested that measures should be monitored to assess whether they had been successful.   Councillor T A Bond was of the view that the parking charge should be higher to deter motor home drivers who he was convinced were ferry passengers rather than tourists.  Councillor Cronk proposed that a £10 charge should be levied, and the results reviewed and reported back to the Board in six months’ time.  

 

Councillor D P Murphy expressed his and residents’ frustration at the situation along The Beach and Kingsdown Road where there had been instances of towed vehicles being left for long periods.  In response to questions, Members were advised that the Government dictated the forms of signage that could be used on the highway.  Signs  could not include information about alternative parking locations. Councillor Collor commented that charges were not levied at Borrow Pit car park so a maximum stay should be imposed.   Councillor Cronk proposed that the toilets at Borrow Pit car park should be opened if there was to be overnight parking there.

 

In respect of Sandwich, Councillor Holloway proposed that, like Dover, a £10 charge should be imposed to ensure that there was consistency across the district.  In response to concerns raised by Mrs A E Fox, the TPSM advised that owners of motorhomes and caravans would be excluded from buying residents’ permits.  The  review would identify whether vehicles were being displaced elsewhere.

 

RESOLVED:   (a) It was agreed:

 

(i)            That a single charge of £10 be introduced for the overnight parking of caravans and motor caravans (motorhomes) along Dover seafront, operating from 6.00pm to 9.00am, 7 days a week. (Cars are excluded)

 

(ii)           That Maison Dieu Road car park be approved as the alternative location for the overnight parking of caravans and motor caravans.

 

(iii)          That caravans and motor caravans be prohibited from parking along The Beach and Kingsdown Road, Walmer (section from The Beach to the entrance to Walmer Castle) between 6.00pm and 6.00am, 7 days a week.  Between 6.00pm and 6.00am (the overnight  ...  view the full minutes text for item 14.

15.

Highway Works Programme 2019/20 pdf icon PDF 158 KB

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

Minutes:

The Dover District Manager (DDM) presented the report which provided an update on schemes that had been programmed for delivery in 2019/20.   

 

In respect of the Sandwich toll bridge, Councillor Chandler advised that Sandwich Town Council was looking for measures to be put in place before the next closure to improve communication with the public, schools, businesses and Discovery Park.  Signage also needed to be improved as it had not been placed far enough outside Sandwich to direct motorists away from the bridge.   She suggested signs should be installed at the Felderland farm shop roundabout, the White Mill roundabout and at Woodnesborough Road.  There should also be closer cooperation between the Council and Kent County Council to ensure better utilisation of the Council’s ‘Keep Me Posted’ facility.  Whilst bus services had operated well during the last closure, she requested that changes be advertised as far in advance of the closure as possible.   Sandwich Town Council had requested that free parking be provided during the week of the closure to encourage people into the town.

 

The DDM assured Members that such measures would be put in place for a routine closure.  The closure of the bridge had been an unexpected incident, and it was recognised that things had not gone as well as they might.  In response to Councillor Vinson who raised concerns about the lack of lighting on Public Rights of Way (PROW), she advised that there were no plans for a review.  However, she encouraged Members to raise specific concerns with KCC’s PROW team.

 

RESOLVED:   That the report be noted.

16.

Exclusion of the Press and Public pdf icon PDF 38 KB

The recommendation is attached.

 

The procedure for determining applications for on-street disabled persons’ parking bays is attached.

 

MATTERS WHICH THE MANAGEMENT TEAM SUGGESTS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED IN PRIVATE AS THE REPORT CONTAINS EXEMPT INFORMATION AS DEFINED WITHIN PART 1 OF SCHEDULE 12A OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT 1972 AS INDICATED AND IN RESPECT OF WHICH THE PROPER OFFICER CONSIDERS THAT THE PUBLIC INTEREST IN MAINTAINING THE EXEMPTION OUTWEIGHS THE PUBLIC INTEREST IN DISCLOSING THE INFORMATION

Additional documents:

Minutes:

It was moved by Councillor N J Collor, duly seconded and

 

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 involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 1 and 2 of Part I of Schedule 12A of the Act.

17.

Applications for Disabled Persons' Parking Bays

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

Minutes:

The Parking Operations Manager (POM) presented the report which outlined details of thirteen disabled parking bay applications, and proposed the removal of three bays that were no longer needed.

 

Applications A to K met all the criteria and their formal advertisement was therefore recommended.   Application L did not meet the criteria as the applicant had access to a private driveway to the rear of the property, albeit that access was severely restricted.    If approved, Application M would mean that the total number of disabled parking bays in the road would exceed the recommended 5% of total parking availability.    

 

In respect of Application D, Councillor Cronk raised concerns about its position on the corner of a junction.  The POM advised that cars already parked there because there were no double yellow lines.  The restriction on junction parking was more applicable to high speed roads than residential ones.   In respect of Application L, Councillor Biggs reported that access was much better from the other end, and he had seen someone reversing a motorhome into the space. He disagreed with the Officer’s recommendation as creating another disabled parking bay would be detrimental to the amenity of other residents and could not be justified.   Councillor Bond argued that it might be difficult for a disabled person to turn their head properly when reversing a car.   The POM advised that turning into the space was the issue, and it was at the Board’s discretion whether to recommend approval or not. 

 

It was moved by Councillor T A Bond and duly seconded that Application L should be approved.  On being put to the vote, the motion was LOST.

 

It was moved by Councillor E A Biggs and duly seconded that Application L be refused.  On being put to the vote, the motion was CARRIED.

 

It was moved by Councillor T A Bond and duly seconded that Application M be approved.  On being put to the vote, the motion was CARRIED.

 

RESOLVED:     (a) That it be recommended that Application L be refused.

 

                          (b) That it be recommended that Application M be approved, and noted that it would be formally advertised and, in the event that no objections are received, it will be sealed by Kent County Council.  (Should any objections be received during the consultation process, the application will be discussed with the Chairman of the Dover Joint Transportation Board for a final decision.)

 

  (c) That it be noted:

 

(i) That Applications A to K would be formally advertised and, in the event that no objections are received, they will be sealed by Kent County Council.  (Should any objections be received during the consultation process, the applications will be discussed with the Chairman of the Dover Joint Transportation Board for a final decision.)

 

                                   (ii) That Items N to P 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.

 

 

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