Joint Transportation Board				14 October 2020
Objections to Traffic Regulation Orders
Final Decision-Maker		Strategic Planning and Infrastructure Committee.
Lead Head of Service		Jeff Kitson Parking Services Manager
Lead Officer and Report Author		Charlie Reynolds, Operations Engineer
Classification		Public
Wards affected		North
Executive Summary
Requests have been received by Parking Services for the introduction of parking restrictions at several locations across the borough. These locations have been surveyed and evaluated to assess the current conditions and impact of the restrictions requested on parking provision within each local area where significant parking difficulties were identified.   Proposed orders were advertised, and all representations received during the formal consultation period have been reviewed and considered.   Proposals for the introduction of restrictions were advertised for 14 locations.  During the consultation period representations were received for two locations – Loose Road and Northdown Close.   A more extensive proposal for major road improvements in Loose Road has subsequently been put forward and as a result it is recommended that the proposed waiting restrictions are not progressed.   This report sets out details of representations for Northdown Close and seeks the views of the JTB on the officer recommendation that the proposed waiting restrictions are implemented.
Purpose of Report   To consult the Joint Transportation Board on the intention to recommend to the Strategic Planning and Infrastructure Committee that a Traffic Regulation Order is made to introduce parking restrictions in Northdown Close Maidstone.    This report sets out the background for the proposed parking restrictions   and the representations received during the consultation period including Objections.   The purpose of the report is to formally consider these objections and bring forward recommendations.
This report makes the following recommendations to this Committee:
1.   The proposed parking regulations for Northdown Close are proceeded.
Timetable
Meeting			Date
Joint Transportation Board			14 October 2020
Strategic Planning and Infrastructure Committee.			18 November 2020

Objections to Traffic Regulation Orders

1.       CROSS-CUTTING ISSUES AND IMPLICATIONS

 

Issue	Implications	Sign-off
Impact on Corporate Priorities	The Strategic Plan objectives are: ·         Embracing Growth and Enabling Infrastructure	Parking Services Manager
Cross Cutting Objectives	The report recommendations support the community by taking into consideration the traffic issues and managing the parking demand.	Parking Services Manager
Risk Management	Consideration must be given to objections and formal letters of support in relation to each proposal. However, this must be balanced against the risks involved in relation to road safety, free flow of traffic, environmental impact and vehicle migration.	Parking Services Manager
Financial	The costs of the order variation and implementation will be met from within the existing Parking Services budget.	Finance Team
Staffing	There will be no impact on staffing.	Parking Services Manager
Legal	Formal orders will need to be made and signed by Kent County Council as the Highway Authority under their statutory powers	Mid Kent Legal Services (Planning)
Privacy and Data Protection	Parking Services will hold that data in line with our retention schedules.	Policy and Information Team
Equalities	The public consultation has identified a possible impact in terms Disabled residents or ones in poor health who require regular visits as a result of the proposed restrictions.   The proposed restrictions are as minimal as feasible to cause as little disruption as possible to the residents, disabled badge holders can also park on restrictions for 3 hours when displaying a valid disabled badge.	Equalities and Corporate Policy Officer
Public Health	None.	Public Health Officer
Crime and Disorder	None.	Parking Services Manager
Procurement	None.	Parking Services Manager

 

2.      INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND

 

2.1        Requests have been received by Parking Services for the introduction of parking restrictions at several locations across the borough.

 

2.2        These locations have been surveyed and evaluated to assess the impact on parking provision within each local area where significant parking difficulties were identified.

 

2.3        Proposed orders were advertised, and all representations received during the formal consultation have been reviewed and considered.

 

2.4        This report identifies those proposals where objections have been received. Parking Services received a survey from the residents of Northdown Close requesting a parking restriction from Monday – Friday 1.00 -1.30pm to prevent all day parking to improve levels of parking availability and manage parking demands.

 

2.5        During the Consultation Period, Parking Services received 7 objections and 14 representations in support of the proposed waiting restrictions in respect of Northdown Close.

 

2.6        A full summary of the consultation results is contained in Appendix B

 

2.7        The residents of Northdown Close have petitioned the council for the introduction of waiting restrictions to prevent all day parking, the survey received indicated that out of 39 households surveyed, 30 were in support of Restricted Parking Monday-Friday, 2 for No change 1 with other suggestions with 1 abstaining and 5 with no response indicated.

 

2.8        The proposal was advertised and during the formal consultation period 7 objections were received on the grounds that the restriction times would have an impact on residents and their visitors and would inconvenience people and dispersion of vehicles into other surrounding streets would also have a detrimental effect on the mainly residential streets.

 

2.9        We also received 14 representations in support of the proposals, all properties have driveways and a proportion of vehicles parking in the location are non-residents. The proposed restrictions are as minimal as feasible to cause as little disruption as possible to the residents, any vehicle dispersion will be monitored and if identified surveyed and considered for further restrictions.

 

2.10     As the proposal was put forward initially after we received representations from the residents and during the formal consultation the majority of residents are in favour of the proposal we would recommend to proceed with the proposal.

 

 

2.11    A summary of the proposed action for the proposal is summarised in the table below.

2.12     

Proposed Restriction in;	Recommendation
1 Northdown Close	To proceed with the proposal.

 

3.   AVAILABLE OPTIONS

 

3.1        To accept the recommendations will recognise objections made in relation to specific proposals and will allow orders to be implemented to regulate parking to reduce difficulties.

 

3.2        Rejecting the recommendations will result in some orders not being implemented, which are intended to regulate parking to reduce identified difficulties.

 

3.3    To make the orders as advertised would not take account of comments received during formal consultation.

 

 

4.        PREFERRED OPTION AND REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS

 

4.1     To proceed with the recommendations will recognise objections made 

         in relation to specific proposals and will allow orders to be implemented to regulate parking to reduce difficulties.

 

4.2       Appendix A provides details of the proposed orders receiving objection, to the Kent County Council (Various Roads, Borough of Maidstone) (Waiting

     restrictions and Street Parking Places) (Variation No 30) Order 2020

     with a summary of the objections and the relevant recommendations.

 

4.3     Appendix B provides a summary of the consultation and responses.

 

4.4            Appendix C provides a map of the proposal.

 

 

5.       RISK

5.1     As part of the legal process to amend Traffic Regulation Orders, formal consultation was undertaken and any objections received considered. As this is a legislative process, the risks associated to legal challenge are reduced.

 

 

 

 

 

6.     CONSULTATION RESULTS AND PREVIOUS COMMITTEE FEEDBACK

 

6.1    Correspondence was sent to statutory and non-statutory consultees; Public Notices were also posted in the affected roads.

 

6.2    A Public Notice formally advertising the orders for The Kent County Council (Various Roads, Borough of Maidstone) (Waiting restrictions and Street Parking Places) (Variation No 30) Order 2020 were published in the Local Press during the week ending Friday 19^th June 2020.

 

6.3    Full details were contained in the draft orders which, together with a copy of the Public Notices, site plans and a statement of the Council’s reasons for proposing to make the orders were placed on Maidstone Borough Council website: https://www.maidstone.gov.uk/ 

 

6.4   Proposed orders were advertised, and all comments received during the formal consultation were reviewed and considered.

 

 

7.       NEXT STEPS: COMMUNICATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DECISION

 

7.1   The recommendations of the Joint Transportation Board will be presented to the Strategic Planning and Infrastructure Committee for consideration on 18 November 2020 and thereafter the Traffic Regulation Order progress accordingly.

7.2   The objectors will be informed of the outcome.

7.3   Once the formal process has been completed the Has Made Order will be submitted to Kent County Council for sealing.

7.4   After the Order has been sealed then the restrictions will then be implemented in Northdown Close.

 

8.        REPORT APPENDICES

 

8.1  The following documents are to be published with this report and form part of the report:

       Appendix A: Proposed orders receiving objections and recommendations.

       Appendix B: Consultation summary of responses.

       Appendix C: Maps of the proposal.

    

 

9.        BACKGROUND PAPERS

 

None