Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies for absence received.

The Chairman Mrs Allen welcomed Members to the first meeting of the Municipal Year and announced that she had acceded to a request from Councillor Matthew Davis to address the Board.

To receive declarations of interest from Members including the terms(s) of the Grant of Dispensation (if any).

There were no declarations of interest received from Board Members nor from Councillor Matthew Davis.

That the minutes of the meetings of the Joint Transportation Board held on 3 March 2020 be confirmed subject to the correction of the spelling of the name of Stephanie Thredgle.

The Chairman approved the addition of an item to the Agenda, relating to the Parking Service, which was to be presented to the next meeting of the Cabinet, and decided that it should follow this item on the Agenda.

The Board received the Annual Report of the Parking Service 2018 / 2020 and noted that it was to be presented to Cabinet for approval and once approved would be published in accordance with the Traffic Management Act 2014 and the Local Government Transparency Code.

The report sets out Dartford’s approach to parking management provides information regarding parking provision and gives a break - down of statistical information relating to parking matters.

The report also detailed information on the following parking related projects undertaken in the last two years:

·         Introduction of new residents’ parking schemes

·         Introduction of new parking terminals

·         Introduction of Electric Vehicle charging Points

·         Adoption of new Parking Penalty Charge Software

·         Use of the school safety car.  

The Board expressed concern at the continuing problems being caused by inconsiderate parents when collecting and delivering children to school and highlighted the difficulties faced by enforcement officers when dealing with these persons.

Additionally Members enquired about some statistics detailed in the report as the figures seemed to suffer from unusual fluctuations.

In conclusion the Board commended the Report to Cabinet.

It was noted that there were no references from other Committees for the Board to consider.

This report advises Members on the progress of matters outstanding from previous meetings of the Board.

The Board received and noted a report on matters which were outstanding from previous meetings.

Arising from items 1 Fastrack and 3 Misuse of Busways by Motorists, it was reported that Kent County Council have agreed to pursue the principle of Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) enforcement for the misuse of certain Fastrack route ways.  Formal adoption of the schemes has yet to be approved but it was hoped that this could be achieved toward the end of 2020.

The proposed routes for enforcement were Ingress Park busway; Bluewater to Whitecliffe Tunnel; and the Bridge Estate.

The Chairman has requested a verbal update on the following matter: -

• Corner Protection: Chatsworth Road / Arundel Road Dartford

The Chairman, Mrs Allen, had asked for an update on the provision of corner protection in Chatsworth Road and Arundel Road, Dartford, where the installation of anti - congestion measures, requested in early 2019 had recently been declined by KCC.

Councillor Matthew Davis a local ward Member addressed the Board on this issue highlighting the growth in numbers of children attending the adjacent Holy Trinity Primary school as the prime cause of the problems, and stressing that the problems were related to congestion not parking.

Ms Sutton having noted the reasoning behind the rejection of this area for work, suggested that Councillor Davis could contact Ms Fladgate at Kent County Council Highways to have the decision reviewed.

Additionally Mrs Allen suggested that Councillor Davis arrange with Officers to meet at the site of the problems to assess what might be achieved.

This report was not available for distribution with the main part of the Agenda and will be circulated as soon as possible.

TO FOLLOW

The Board was informed that the Department of Transport has launched a consultation on a possible change in existing pavement parking legislation.

Currently in England parking on verges and pavements is allowed unless specifically prohibited by a Traffic Regulation Order.  The exception to this is in London where pavement parking is prohibited unless exempted at specific locations.

The consultation has asked Local authorities to indicate which of the following options they would prefer, to deal with pavement parking in the future:

1 – Improve the TRO process under which local authorities can already prohibit pavement parking.

2 – A legislative change to allow local authorities with civil parking enforcement powers to enforce against unnecessary obstruction.

3 – A legislative change to introduce a London style pavement policy prohibition throughout England.

Having considered the options provided the Board agreed

To recommend the selection of option 1 to Cabinet as it provided the most manageable way forward for Dartford.

This report was not available for distribution with the main part of the Agenda and will be circulated as soon as possible.

TO FOLLOW

The Board received a report which detailed the principles of a new guidance protocol for the prioritisation of parking issues in the borough for investigation and the development of parking schemes to address identified problems.

It was noted that the report was to be presented to Cabinet for decision and that input by the JTB had been requested.

Having considered the report it was agreed that it represented a sensible starting point in the consideration of parking problems and that it was a useful tool when formulating possible solutions.

It was therefore agreed that the report be commended to Cabinet.

An outline of steps being taken to address medium to long term issues at this junction.

This report was not available for distribution with the main part of the Agenda and will be circulated as soon as possible.

TO FOLLOW

The Principal Transport Planner, Mr Agboola, updated the Board on the structure of liaison taking place between Dartford Borough Council, Highways England, and Kent County Council Highways relating to measures to be introduced to ameliorate traffic congestion at Junctions 1a and 1b of the M25 and surrounding the Dartford crossing, especially focussing on new developments in the Borough and surrounding areas.

This report was not available for distribution with the main part of the Agenda and will be circulated as soon as possible.

TO FOLLOW

The Principal Transport Planner, Mr Agboola, reported that following extensive consultation, Transport for London had decided that their proposal to withdraw routes 428 and 492 should not be implemented, although it was noted that the decision was be reviewed at the end of the current Covid 19 health emergency.

Members have the opportunity to raise  the following: -

·         Questions in relation to capital and revenue funded works programmes

·         Suggestions for future traffic regulation orders or street management proposals

·         Questions on policies, plans and strategies related to highways, road traffic and public transport.

·         Suggestion of a future agenda item (subject to the Chairman’s approval)

Mrs Cole enquired if footpath weed treatment had taken place this year and if it were proposed to repeat the treatment.

Ms Sutton explained that she was aware that some treatment had been undertaken was unaware if further treatment was proposed.  She undertook to investigate this and report back to all Board Members individually.

Mr Ozog raised an issue relating to problems encountered with a number of teams at Kent Highways regarding footway crossings.

Ms Sutton agreed to look into this matter and asked that further information be passed to her in order that she could fully understand the problem.

Additionally Mr Ozog asked if it was possible to stop lorries parking on the footway in Heath Lane and Prices Road.

Ms Sutton reported that KCC Highways had undertaken to install concrete bollards on a long stretch of the road to eliminate this nuisance.

The following have been attached for Members information: -

§    Environment, and Transportation Cabinet Committee – Minutes

NB: If a Member wishes to discuss any of these items at the meeting, please advise the Member Services Section (01322) 343251 prior to the meeting.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Kent County Council, Environment and Transport Cabinet Committee held on 23 January 2020 were noted.