Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Councillor Dennis.

To approve the Minutes of the Joint Transportation Board meeting held on 16.3.17, copy attached.

Councillor Binks proposed, Councillor Crow-Brown seconded and Members agreed the minutes to be a correct record of the meeting held on 16 March 2017.

Paul Valek introduced the report and invited Members to ask questions. He provided a highlight of work progress regarding the implementation of the road works in the 2017/18 work programme.

Councillor Dawson requested that officers looked at the issue regarding street lighting in Minster as there was an elderly person who was concerned about the poor lighting in Watchester Lane.

Mr Valek agreed to look into the issue and report back to the Member.

Councillor Constantine asked for the number of street lights on concrete posts in Thanet that are very difficult to retrofit. In response Mr Valek said that there were 2,000 concrete posts in the area that still need replacing. He will check and report back on the exact figure and report back to the Member.

Councillor Johnston requested that the All Saints Avenue drainage works by Southern Water should be expedited as soon as possible. Mr Valek said that he would report back to the Member on the time scale for completing the project.

Councillor M. Saunders asked for an update regarding the request for crossing on Osborne Road (Broadstairs). Mr Valek agreed to report back to the Member.

In response to a query by Councillor Lewis regarding St Gregory’s School (Nash Road), Paul Valek said that the site was deemed to be too close to the traffic lights and to the junction with Manston Road. Mr Valek was going to inspect the site to check if vegetation was interfering with the road signage.

The report was noted.

Robin Chantrill-Smith, Civil Enforcement Manager introduced the report and advised the meeting that the proposed scheme would be introduced over a period of time. The schemes included residents, mixed residents and pay and display. The proposed schemes were considered by Cabinet on 27 April 2017 and went through a public consultation thereafter. The Board was being asked to comment on the proposals and these comments would be considered along with other comments from the public before Cabinet makes a decision.

Members speaking under Council Procedure Rule 20.1 made the following comments:

• Speaking under Council Procedure Rule 20.1, Councillor Partington said that the Traffic Management Act 2004 is meant to be used by Councils to manage traffic;
• Any new schemes put in place should meet the best interests of the residents;
• Overcharging for parking would harm local interests;
• The main objective of parking schemes should not be to raise revenue;
• Councillor Partington requested that the Board should remove Westgate from the proposed scheme;
• Speaking under Council Procedure Rule 20.1, Councillor Bayford said of Joss Bay, Elmwood Avenue – can the proposals consider providing a 2 hour free parking for local residents who are casual users particularly in-week;
• Botany Bay, Marine Drive - there are a number of parking problems for local residents as the road is always busy. Summer days will not make much of a difference;
• Councillor Bayford requested that the Board makes a visit (particularly on a busy day) to get a better appreciation of parking problems in Marine Drive. If the proposals were to be introduced, there would push the problem to neighbouring streets;
• Speaking under Council Procedure Rule 20.1, Councillor D. Saunders said requested that the disabled badge holders parking be monitored (especially on busy days) to stop overstaying and parking on double yellow lines;

Board Members made the following comments:

• The proposals would overcharge for parking and Thanet would become the most expensive in the region;
• Thanet would lose money as result of these new proposals as this would drive away visitors;
• 2 hours free parking in the mornings would make sense for Joss Bay and Botany Bay;
• Currently road signs for ‘unsuitable for coaches’ in Marine Drive were being ignored;
• The consultation on the proposals were limited;
• The proposals will negatively affect tourism;
• JTB should have been consulted before the public consultation;
• Minnis Bay - The Parade has never had any traffic parking problems. There is no need to introduce the new scheme proposed for that road;
• Beach hut owners and sailing club members pay huge annual fees to access such services in Minnis Bay. There is no need to introduce another fee that these individuals will now have to pay in addition to membership fees highlighted above. Traffic will be displaced to neighbouring streets;
• Station Road (Westgate) - Residents were saying that they do not want these proposed schemes;
• The revenue to be generated was ring-fenced for the highways and local residents do not benefit from this;
• The proposed schemes do not build good  ...  view the full minutes text for item 12.

Mr Chantrill-Smith gave a brief introduction to the report and gave a summary of twenty one requests that had been approved by KCC then invited the Board to ask questions and make comments. Councillor K. Gregory recommended the report.

One Member sought an explanation regarding Albion Street. They reported a constant blockage that prevents buses from going round the end of the high street and would request that this issue be considered as an extension to the other restrictions.

Another Member requested that the Board notes the fact with regards Newington Road that since the sale of the Ramsgate swimming pool there parking amenity that was available to residents was no longer available anymore. This was creating more congestion problems in that road.

Councillor K. Gregory proposed, Councillor Johnston seconded and Members recommended the following:

1.  The proposed decisions shown in annex 1 to the officer report;

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

Mr Chantrill-Smith gave a brief overview of the report and said that the Order on Parking and Waiting Restrictions had been completed.

Members noted the report.

Mr Chantrill-Smith led discussion on the item and said that the council was now looking at making the disabled parking bays become enforceable in law.

Councillor Johnston proposed, Councillor Binks seconded and the Board recommended the following:

1.  Option 1 - that the parking places for disabled person’s vehicles as listed in annex 1 to the Board report be exposed for formal public consultation;

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