Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Butterfill.

The Board noted the appointment of Councillor Barham as a substitute for Councillor Butterfill.

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.

That the minutes of the Joint Transportation Board held on 8 December 2020 be confirmed as a correct record of that meeting.

The Chairman reported that there were no urgent items for the Board to consider, although it was noted that the formal agreement between Dartford Borough Council and Kent County Council (KCC) regarding the status and conduct of Joint Transportation Boards was now to be formally adopted by KCC.

It was noted that no issues had been referred to the Board for consideration.

The Board noted a report on progress made on issues raised at previous meetings.  It was noted that Mr Harman had advised the Clerk that item 2 “Parking Issues on Ingress Park”, had now been resolved and could be removed from the report.

A verbal update on this will be provided by Mr Shane Hymers, the KCC Fastrack Development Manager.

Mr Hymers the KCC Fastrack manager reported on a number of issues relating to the system.

He firstly reported that KCC had approved the installation of camera enforcement at three locations on Dartford Fastrack busways;

·         Ingress Park where installation of cameras was to take place as soon as possible,:

·         The Fastrack Tunnel at the Bluewater shopping complex, where installation work would commence in the summer of 2022: and

·         The Bridge Estate in Dartford, where installation would commence following the transfer of responsibility for route A from Prologis to KCC in 2022.  It was noted that cameras would replace the barriers currently installed on this route.

In addition to camera enforcement Mr Hymers informed the Board that KCC were preparing a survey / information leaflet for residents of The Bridge estate seeking feedback from residents on usage and informing travellers of new fares and ticketing arrangements.

Mr Hymers also reported that the current contracts for the operation of Fastrack expired in 2022 and that these were to be re - tendered on an amended basis, with operators to be paid a fee for operating services and fares being paid to KCC.  It was planned to introduce in lower fares and more flexible travelling / ticketing arrangement.

Councillor Allen thanked Mr Hymers for his report and asked that a written summary be passed to the Clerk for circulation to Board Members.

Mr Agboola, the Principal Transport Planner, reported to the Board on the outcome of the pilot study on the use of a parking management prioritisation process, which had been undertaken in the St John’s Road, Dartford area.

Mr Agboola reported that following a limited public consultation exercise and a number of meetings involving local ward members, the Cabinet Portfolio holder and representation from the Brent School and an assessment process, a number of proposals had been formulated to address parking issues in this locality. 

It was noted that Kent County Council  were also investigating traffic issues in adjoining streets and have agreed to include certain measures within their proposals, and that as a result it was considered that there was no justification in including further investigations into issues in St John’s Road in the DBC parking programme.

Arising from the report the Board expressed concern at the following

·         Parking Issues surrounding Brent School were extremely difficult to resolve as parents seemed to be oblivious to the problems that they cause when taking children to school

·         Any forecast improvements which related to the introduction of parking restrictions were wholly dependent on adequate enforcement to act as a deterrent

·         An issue seemed to exist relating to motorists parking wholly on the footway, and unless parking restrictions were in place this was extremely difficult to prevent and enforce.

In conclusion Mr Agboola reported that it was now proposed to apply the prioritisation process to an area in Bow Arrow Lane.

The Chairman thanked Mr Agboola for his report.

A list of proposed minor TRO’s is attached for Member Information.

The Board received a short report presenting details of a number of minor amendments and additions to existing Traffic Regulation Orders which were to be implemented by Officers under delegated authority.

Mr Agboola will update Members verbally on this matter.

Mr Agboola reported on the on - going collaboration between Dartford Borough Council, Kent County Council Highways, and Highways England which aimed to address issues arising from congestion occurring at the A282/ M25 junction.

He informed the Board that a consultant had been employed to work on issues caused by the junction.  It was also noted that arising from this a feasibility study is to be undertaken to consider issues arising from the Dartford Crossing and traffic management practices currently employed.

Arising from the report a particular issue was identified relating to road signage for vehicles leaving the A282 at Junction 1a to access Stone and Greenhithe.

Members noted the information provided.

Mr Agboola will update Members verbally on this matter.

Mr Agboola, the Principal Transport Planner, gave a brief update on the situation regarding the planning application for the proposed Lower Thames Crossing.

It was noted that an application for a Development Consent Order had been submitted to the Planning Inspectorate by Highways England in October 2020 but had been withdrawn due to a number of concerns raised by the Inspectorate.

It was reported that the Application will be re submitted in July /August of 2021.

Additionally Highways England have announced that a non - statutory consultation exercise with residents is to be undertaken commencing in April 2021 and that this will invite comment on land take, environmental impact and construction methods for the crossing.

Mr Agboola undertook to report further on the progress of the scheme at future Board meetings.

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)

Members raised the following matters:

Mr Ozog enquired at the situation regarding parking machines, as they currently seemed to be out of commission, and the phone in payment method (RINGO) was also inoperative.

Mr Kite informed the Board that use of parking machines and RINGO had been suspended during the current medical emergency and that their use would be re - instated when the lockdown was released.

Mr Ozog also asked who was responsible for litter picking on certain borough roads.

Ms Sutton informed the Board that while litter picking was the responsibility of DBC it was sometimes undertaken by KCC verge maintenance staff when their work was being carried out.

Mr Kite enquired if the Zebra Crossing in Hartley Road was to be reinstated following recent work by a Highway contractor.

Ms Sutton responded that she was aware of the issue and that the contractor concerned had been instructed to repaint the crossing as a matter of urgency.

Mrs Allen enquired if there were any results to report following the recent “Lorry Watch” in Wilmington.

Ms Sutton reported that the results were still being collated and that a review of signage for the Village was also to be undertaken.  Details of these would be circulated to Mrs Allen as soon as possible.

Additionally Mrs Allen reported that she had been approached by a local cycling and pedestrian group with a request to attend a Board meeting and make a presentation to Members.

It was agreed by the Board that the Clerk contact the Group and invite them to attend a future meeting.

Councillor Wells asked if the Board could receive details of works proposed to Central Road Dartford as he understood that major restructuring of this road was to take place.

Councillor Reynolds informed the Board that he had received number of complaints regarding the service being provided generally by Arriva buses in the Borough.  He understood that the Board had little influence over Arriva – other that regarding Fastrack – but expressed frustration at the poor services being provided.  He also stressed that this would probably be worsened with schoolchildren returning to school as school buses were not available to the travelling public to use.

Mr Agboola undertook to raise this with Arriva buses at their next liaison meeting.

Councillor Mrs Ozog enquired at the progress made regarding a request for the installation of Double Yellow Lines in Priory Close and relating to feedback on a parking consultation in Anne of Cleves Road.

Officers undertook to respond on these matters.

Finally Mrs Ozog sought clarification on the responsibility for maintenance of the planters on West Hill adjacent to the Masonic Hall.

Ms Sutton confirmed that KCC were responsible for the planters themselves and the planting but that DBC undertook litter picking from them.

For Members information the following has been attached: -

Environment and Transport Cabinet Committee – Minutes 12 November 2020

(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 Board received and noted the Minutes of the Kent County Council Environment and Transport Cabinet Committee held on 12 November 2020.

Mrs Allen announced that this was the last Board meeting of the current Municipal Year, and her last as Chairman, with that role now passing to a Dartford Borough Council Member.

Mrs Allen thanked all Board Members for their hard work in the current difficult situation, and thanked Officers for their efforts on behalf of the Board and individual Members.

Mrs Allen also reported that as a result of the forthcoming County Council elections in May the Kent membership would alter, and thanked the Kent Members accordingly, with particular thanks to Councillor Butler – Rhule, who she knew was not seeking re – election.