It was noted that apologies for absence had been received from District Councillor N S Kenton, County Councillor T A Bond, and Messrs B W Bano (Deal Town Council), K Gowland and A P Minns (Kent Association of Local Councils).

It was noted that Mr L Kettlewell was in attendance as the nominated substitute for Mr B W Bano (Deal Town Council).

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 minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 29 June 2020 (to follow).

The minutes of the meeting held on 29 June 2020 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

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

The Transport and Parking Services Manager (TPSM) introduced the report which reported the outcome of consultation undertaken on proposals to introduce three new car parking permits.  Members were advised that no objections had been received.

AGREED: That the report be noted.

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

The TPSM reported that nine objections had been received following consultation on proposals to extend the Pay & Display charging period for on and off-street parking places in the district (with some exceptions) by one hour.

In response to Mr L Kettlewell who raised concerns that the proposals would affect businesses already struggling with the impact of the pandemic, the TPSM advised that there was no evidence to indicate that the extension would deter people from visiting the town centres.  It was hoped that the extension would in fact free up more parking for those shopping later.   In response to concerns raised by Councillor David Cronk, she advised that town centre workers would be able to purchase one of the new permits which would reduce their parking expenditure quite significantly.  It was estimated that the extension could bring in additional revenue of £50,000. 

AGREED: That the report be noted.

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

The Parking Operations Manager (POM) presented the report and advised Members that there had been no objections raised in connection with proposals to amend the layout of, and re-name, car parks at Kearsney Abbey.   Despite concerns raised by Councillor J P Haste, it was agreed that four hours was an adequate amount of time for people to make full use of the park’s facilities.

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

The POM introduced the report, advising that there had been two objections, ten representations of support and one request received in response to proposals to prohibit on-street parking near Kearsney Abbey.  In response to queries, it was clarified that enforcement would take place on days when visitor numbers to the parks were likely to be at their highest and inappropriate parking therefore an issue.  He confirmed that the scheme would be monitored.

AGREED:        That it be recommended that the parking prohibition detailed at Appendix A to the report be brought into effect by Kent County Council sealing the necessary Traffic Regulation Order.

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

The TPSM introduced the report and advised that no objections had been received in relation to a proposal to amend the charging period for St Margaret’s Bay car park.  She confirmed that noticeboards would be altered accordingly.

AGREED: That the report be noted.

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

The TPSM presented the report and advised that 33 objections and 50 representations of support had been received in response to consultation on a proposal to prohibit motor caravans parking overnight along Walmer seafront. 

In response to concerns raised by some members, she clarified that formal consultation would be undertaken on a proposal to allow motor caravans to park overnight at Borrow Pit car park instead.   Coming out of the summer season, the timing was ideal as Borrow Pit car park should be available by the time the new season started in spring/summer.  This would also address concerns about the displacement of vehicles from Walmer to Kingsdown, a problem which Officers were aware of and would monitor.  Councillor D P Murphy commented that it had taken six years to deliver the proposals which originated from concerns raised by residents about anti-social behaviour.   

AGREED:        That it be recommended that the overnight parking prohibition detailed in the report and shown at Appendix A be brought into effect by Kent Council sealing the necessary Traffic Regulation Order.

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

The TPSM presented the report.  She advised that no objections had been received in response to consultation on proposals to introduce an overnight charge for motorhome parking, and the removal of the option to purchase permits for motorhomes, at The Quay car park.  It was clarified that evening enforcement patrols took place two or three times a week. 

AGREED: That the report be noted.

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

The Schemes Project Manager (Dover) (SPM) introduced the report which outlined proposals to make an experimental prohibition of vehicles in Potter Street permanent.  77 representations had been received in response to the experimental order, with 29 respondents in favour of, and 23 respondents against, the proposal.  Whilst Kent County Council Highways had made no objections to the proposal, the Kent Fire and Rescue Service had raised concerns about illegally parked vehicles. 

Councillor S S Chandler welcomed the proposal and the improvements made to the scheme.  However, she queried the possibility of converting the two surgery spaces into disabled parking spaces due to concerns about disabled access to shops in Potter Street.  Councillor M J Holloway commented that the scheme would improve the flow of traffic and make the town more appealing to visitors.  He suggested that hatching should be installed to prevent delivery vehicles parking for hours at a time at the entrance to Potter Street.   

The SPM confirmed that signage would be replaced and the bollards would incorporate  reflective strips.  He undertook to look at measures to restrict delivery vehicles, and clarified that most of the 25 Freedom of Information requests received about the scheme had come from one individual. 

AGREED: It was agreed to recommend that the Experimental Traffic Regulation Order

                 be changed to a Traffic Regulation Order, and that the scheme be made

                 permanent.  

To consider the attached report of the Solicitor to the Council and Kent County Council.

The Democratic Services Manager advised that the revised agreement had been approved by Cabinet on 7 September 2020.  Councillor N J Collor stressed that the agreement was between KCC and Dover District Council and did not involve any other parties. 

AGREED: That the revised agreement relating to the establishment and operation of

                  the Dover Joint Transportation Advisory Board be noted.

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

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

AGREED: That the report be noted. 

It was moved by Councillor Pauline Beresford, 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.

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

The Parking Operations Officer (POP) presented the report which outlined details of eleven disabled parking bay applications, and proposed the removal of seven bays that were no longer needed. 

Applications A to F and I to K met all the criteria and their formal advertisement was therefore recommended.   Applications G and H, if approved, would mean that the total number of bays would exceed 5% of the overall parking available in the two streets concerned.  For this reason, the Board’s views were sought.  Councillor Collor commented that he had visited the roads which were the subject of Applications G and H, and saw no reason why the applications should not be approved. 

RESOLVED:   (a) That it be noted:

(i)             That Applications A to F and I to K would be formally advertised and, in the event that no objections are received, 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 L to R 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.

(b)  That it be recommended that Applications G and H be approved

      and formally advertised and, in the event that no objections are

      received, 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.)