Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Butterfill and Mr Kevin Gore.

The Chairman welcomed Mr David Brazier, the Kent County Council Cabinet Member with responsibility for Highways and Transport, to the meeting.

Mr Brazier was attending our meeting, and others across Kent, as an observer.  

Councillor Garden reminded Members of the recent death of the Vice Chairman of the Joint Transportation Board, Councillor Ann Allen MBE.

Councillor Allen, in her capacity as a County Councillor, had served on the JTB for a considerable period and as Chairman on a number of occasions.

She was recognised as being an excellent ward Councillor and warm personality as well as being a particular advocate for the elderly and children.

Members, Officers and attendees stood and observed a minute’s silence in her memory.

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.

That the minutes of the meeting of the Joint Transportation Board held on 7 September 2021 be confirmed as a correct record.

The Chairman will announce whether there are any urgent items and their position on the agenda.

The Chairman reported that there were no urgent matters for the Board to discuss.

It was reported that there were no matters referred to the Board for consideration.

The Board received a report on matters which were outstanding from previous meetings and which set out the schedule of work for future meetings.

It was noted that, following consultation with Members, a number of issues had been removed from the report as these had been addressed.  However, information which had been requested on a number of other matters had still not been provided by the relevant Kent County Council (KCC) Officer, and the Clerk was asked to pursue these matters further.

Following a last minute COVID related decision taken by KCC that Officers should not attend face to face meetings the KCC Officer responsible for Fastrack was not in attendance at the Board this evening and that reports on a number of matters were thus not available for the Board.

A short presentation by leading members of the Forum.

The Chairman introduced Mr. Andrew Patrick and his colleague Mr. Alex Hills from the Dartford and Gravesend Cycling Forum, who had requested an opportunity to address the Board on a number of cycling related issues.

Mr. Hills firstly informed the Board of the physical and mental benefits of cycling both as a means of transport and a leisure activity.  He spoke about the Central Government commitment to supporting cycling and went some way to explain processes related to obtaining funding for cycle routes.

Mr. Andrew further informed the Board of the provisions of LTN120, a policy document introduced by Central government, and the way in which it provide funding opportunities for the introduction of cycle paths and similar schemes.

He explained that the gateway to such funding was by the development of a Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP) and sought a commitment from the Board to ask Officers to develop such a plan.

Mr. Agboola responded that Officers within his department had already commenced work on this and had secured funding for an Active Travel Officer who he felt sure would be happy to liaise with the Forum.

The Chairman thanked the Forum Members for their presentation.

Mr Martin Smith, Dartford Parking Services Manager, will present the Annual Report for Member approval, prior to it being published on the Council website.

Mr Martin Smith, the Dartford Borough Council Parking Manager, introduced the Annual report on the Civil Enforcement and Parking Service for 2020 – 2021.

The Report which detailed the full range of services and actions of the Service for 2020 – 2021, was intended to be an informative and helpful document which sets out the Council’s approach to parking management and provide information on parking provision, as well as statistical and other relevant and comparative data.

Arising from consideration of the report Members asked for the inclusion, in future Annual Reports, of more detailed statistics relating to the numbers and location of Penalty Charge Notice issue.

Mr. Smith informed the Board that he was more than willing to respond to individual Member enquiries but could not include more closely focused statistics in the Annual Report.

It was also stressed that the purpose of parking enforcement was not income generation but to ensure that motorists were deterred from unsafe and thoughtless parking.

Board Members broadly welcomed the report and were particularly pleased to note the successes achieved in deterring dangerous parking by the siting of mobile CCTV adjacent to some schools.

The Board therefore RESOLVED to Commend the Annual Report to the Council and for publication.

Mr Shane Hymers will report verbally on the following issues concerning Fastrack.

·         Fastrack Operational and Performance Update

·         Fastrack Development Update

·         Successful DfT ZEBRA Bid and Next Steps

In the absence of Mr Hymers, the KCC Fastrack manager, the Chairman gave a brief update on the following matters:

·         Fastrack Performance/Reliability Statistics

·         The new Amazon Service

·         Misuse of Busways and the future introduction of ANPR

·         Bluewater Tunnel

Details of locations with Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) schemes which are to be progressed by Officers under delegated authority following the requisite statutory consultation and engagement with local Councillors.

Mr Agboola presented a report which listed locations within Dartford which had been identified as requiring the introduction of Traffic Regulation Orders (TRO), which were to be progressed by Officers under delegated authority.

It was noted that the process was subject to standard statutory consultation and engagement with local Members before implementation.

Arising from the report Mr Ozog requested that further investigation be undertaken relating to Item 2 – Nelson Road, as he was aware that some issues existed with this disabled persons’ parking space.

Mr Agboola undertook to look into this and report to Members on this matter.

A verbal update by Mr Agboola, Dartford Borough Council, Principal Transport Planner.

Mr Agboola gave a brief update on the progress of the preparations for the planning application for the proposed new Lower Thames Crossing. 

It was noted that the fourth Non Statutory consultation on the proposals had now been completed and that considerable challenges to the details of the crossing are still apparent.

It is proposed that proposals for the crossing will be presented to the Planning Inspectorate in 2022.

A verbal update by Mr Agboola, Dartford Borough Council, Principal Transport Planner.

Mr Agboola reported briefly on the work being undertaken to alleviate traffic issues on the M25 / A 282 and surrounding areas arising from collaboration between DBC, KCC Highways and National Highways.

He explained that a consultant had undertaken an analysis of the issues and previous schemes and works to address problems, and was to present proposals on a way forward for Member consideration in the New Year.

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 points:

Mrs Grehan asked that her concern be recorded at the delay in undertaking a safety assessment following a fatal road accident in her Ward.

Mr Ozog requested guidance on a request from the public to commence the maintenance of street planters which were not currently being kept in good order by KCC. 

The following Minutes are attached for Members information: -

Environment and Transport Cabinet Committee – Minutes 29 June and 8 September 2021

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 meetings of the Kent County Council Environment and Transport Cabinet Committee held on 29 June and 8 September 2021.

With the permission of the Chairman, Mr Brazier addressed the Board. 

He expressed concern at the absence of KCC Officers at our meetings and undertook to address this matter as soon as he was able.

The Chairman thanked Mr Brazier for his concern and assurance.

(Post meeting note: as mentioned above this absence was due to a last minute decision taken by KCC)