Agenda and minutes

An apology for absence has been received from Councillor Aldred, for whom Councillor Edwards will be substituting.

An apology for absence was received from Councillor Aldred, for whom Councillor Edwards was substituting.  Councillor H Scobie substituted for Councillor Dwyer.

To approve the Minutes of the Joint Transportation Board meeting held on 13 June 2013, copy attached.

On the proposal of Mr Terry, seconded by Mr Latchford, the minutes of the meeting of the Board held on 13 June 2013 were approved and signed by the Chairman.

See reference in minute no. 12(a) below to a correction notified later in the meeting.

Minute No. 4(a) refers

Paul Valek, District Manager, Kent County Council Highways and Transportation, confirmed that the section of Thanet Way between Prospect Roundabout and Brenley Corner Roundabout was included in Phase 2.

Councillor Johnston, in speaking under Council Procedure Rule No. 24.1, pointed out that the ninety letters to the Chief Executive from members of the public, referred to at bullet point no. iii in minute no. 4a of the previous minutes, had been from residents in Monkton and had not related to trial switch off at Royal Approach Road, Ramsgate.  [See minute no. 11 above – this correction had been notified to the clerk before the meeting but had inadvertently been overlooked] 

The letters of objection had, Councillor Johnston added, been forwarded by the Chief Executive to the former Kent County Council Cabinet Member for Environment, Highways & Waste.

Councillor Johnston asked for clarification on the form(s) of consultation that had taken place in relation to the street lighting proposals and also for details of the outcomes.

In reply, Paul Valek gave an update, as follows:

Phase 1 – Trial Switch Off:

a)  Dover district, which was the first district to implement trial switch off, had its trial sites switched off in August 2013.  To date, there were no reported incidents, but the situation would continue to be monitored with the police.

b)  In relation to the sites not yet switched off, all the information that was available to officers was being reviewed in order that a final decision on how to proceed could be made.  This had taken a little longer than expected as representations of concern were continuing to be received and analysed.  Close liaison was taking place with the police to ensure that sites proceeding to switch off had their full support.

Phase 2  - Part Night Lighting

a)  Consultation on the exclusion criteria and hours of switch off, previously reported to the Board, closed on 23 August 2013.  Responses, the majority of which supported the proposals, were currently being analysed.

b)  Amey, Kent County Council’s consultant, was presently undertaking a survey of all street lighting, on a district by district basis.  This involved assessing each street light against the exclusion criteria with a view to compiling a list of street lights that might be suitable for inclusion in the Part Night proposals.  To date, Tunbridge Wells, Sevenoaks, Ashford and Tonbridge and Malling had been surveyed.  Close liaison was taking place with the police to ensure that any areas of anti-social behaviour were excluded and that the proposed areas of part night lighting had their full support.  Specific demographic groups that might be adversely affected by the proposals were also being identified.  Engagement would then take place with those groups to ensure that the proposals were modified, if required, to accommodate any special requirements that they might have.

c)  It was intended that works to convert areas to part night lighting would begin in November 2013, most likely in the west of the county.

Mr W Scobie expressed appreciation for the meetings that had taken place between Highways officers and County and District Councillors to progress drainage issues at Upper Dane Road, Margate [Minute No. 5, page 5 refers], to Robin Chantrill-Smith, Civil Enforcement Manager, Thanet District Council, for addressing concerns in relation to Draper’s Avenue and Farley Road, Margate [Minute No. 4b refers] and to Paul Valek, District Manager, Kent County Council Highways and Transportation, for meeting on site with Councillor S Hart and himself at the zebra crossing at Northdown Road, j/w Godwin Road, Cliftonville and Millmead Road, Margate [Minute No. 4c refers].

The Programme was NOTED.

In response to a query from Councillor D Saunders, Paul Valek, District Manager, Kent County Council Highways and Transportation, confirmed that High Street, Broadstairs had been inadvertently excluded from the list of “Town centre, shopping and other busy areas”.

The Service Plan was NOTED.

In addressing the Board under Council Procedure Rule 24.1, Councillor King referred to the problems associated with the junction of Westbury Road with St Mildred’s Road and The Grove, Westgate, including:  its close proximity to a railway station; difficulty with cleaning the area (only small refuse vehicles having access); and difficulty for emergency vehicles to gain access.

Councillor King asked when consultation on parking restrictions at this location would commence and whether any alternative proposals provided by residents would be given consideration.

In response, Robin Chantrill-Smith, Civil Enforcement Manager, confirmed that consultation would commence within the following month, that he would go out with several proposals and that leaflets would be put through the doors of residents affected.

Councillor King also enquired when the following schemes would go out to consultation and when implementation was expected to take place:

a)  St Crispin’s Road, junction with Lymington Road, Westgate

b)  St Crispins Road, junction with St Margarets Road, Westgate

c)  St Mildreds Road, junction with Wellington Close, Westgate.

The Civil Enforcement Manager responded by stating that: consultation, which would take place over a period of 21 days, would commence the following week; that the schemes were expected to be implemented within 3 months of the start of consultation; and that any objections received would be reported to the Board.

He also stated that consultation would be online and also include advertisements in a local paper and notices on street.

In answer to Councillor D Saunders’ query, the Civil Enforcement Manager reported that a definition of “camper vans” had now been received from the Department for Transport, thus enabling consultation on the scheme at Eastern & Western Esplanades, Broadstairs to start within the next few weeks.

Mr W Scobie requested that Wyndham Avenue, Margate at its junction with Lower Northdown Avenue be looked at, as vehicles, especially buses, had difficulty in getting round this junction.  The Civil Enforcement Manager NOTED this request.

It was proposed by Mr W Scobie, seconded by Councillor K Gregory, and AGREED:

1.  THAT the recommendations as shown at Annex 1 to the report be approved;

2.  THAT the proposals which require statutory consultation are advertised and that any objections are reported back to a future meeting of the Board.

In answer to a query by Councillor K Gregory, Robin Chantrill-Smith, Civil Enforcement Manager confirmed that applicants were informed that on-street disabled persons’ parking bays were available for use by all vehicles displaying valid blue badges.

It was proposed by Mr Terry, seconded by Councillor H Scobie and AGREED:

1.  THAT the requests for disabled persons’ parking bays at the locations shown at Annex 1 to the report be approved; and

2.  THAT the proposals which require statutory consultation are advertised, and that any objections are reported back to a future meeting of the Board.

https://democracy.kent.gov.uk/documents/s40807/B4%20AVIATION%20FINAL.pdf

The report was NOTED.

Report: https://democracy.kent.gov.uk/documents/s40769/B5%20Westwood%20report%20FINAL.pdf

Westwood Scheme Land plan

https://democracy.kent.gov.uk/documents/s40770/B5%20WestwoodSchemeLandplan7-6-13.pdf

Westwood Strategy Plan

https://democracy.kent.gov.uk/documents/s40771/B5%20WestwoodStrategyPlan7-6-13.pdf

Proposed Record of Decision:

https://democracy.kent.gov.uk/documents/s40772/B5%20ROD%20FFFINAL.pdf

John Farmer, Major Projects Manager, Kent County Council, Highways and Transportation, introduced the report, outlining progress made to date on the scheme for improving Poorhole Lane.

He addressed points raised by Members as follows:

1.  Any health risks posed by the alleged existence, in the vicinity of Poorhole Lane,  of an historic burying place would be fully taken into account, with all necessary archaeological investigations being carried out;

[ Post minute note:  Subsequent to this meeting, Mr Farmer advised the clerk that having consulted his Kent County Council Archaeologist colleagues, there was no health risk associated with the historic burying place. ]

2.  A considerable amount of work was still required in relation to the concept and detail relating to the wider Westwood Relief Strategy, but reports would be brought to future meetings of the Board, as and when progress was made.

3.  He would consult with Sally Benge, Strategic Transport Planner, the officer leading on the overall strategy, on the possibility of presenting an introductory overview at the next meeting of the Board.

4.  The necessary removal of trees at Poorhole Lane was regrettable; however, some replacement planting may be possible with the agreement of landowners.

5.  Every effort would be made to minimise disruption when installing the two roundabouts.

Mr Terry requested that the strategy plan encompasses the roundabouts at Westwood Cross Shopping Centre and Toby Carvery.

Appreciation was expressed for the highway improvements that had already been implemented in the area of Westwood Cross.

https://democracy.kent.gov.uk/documents/s40776/D2%20Find%20and%20Fix%20Update.pdf

Mr W Scobie questioned the viability of continuing to surface over holes on an ad hoc basis rather than investing in total resurfacing of roads.

Councillor K Gregory commended Highways and Transportation on their quick responses to requests to repair potholes.

The report was NOTED.

The next meeting of the Board will be held at 7.00 pm on Thursday, 19 December 2013

It was NOTED that the next meeting of the Board would be held at 7.00 pm on Thursday, 19 December 2013.