Interview with the Cabinet Member for Environment, Councillor Mark Wooding.

The Chairman welcomed the Cabinet Member for Environment, Councillor Wooding, to the meeting and requested a brief statement on the progress he had made in his portfolio during the municipal year 2009/10.  Councillor Wooding highlighted that the previous year had been difficult financially as they had made efficiency savings, however progress had been made in all areas of his portfolio and discussed the following with the Committee:

Parking

• Changes to residents parking arrangements had resulted in improved parking availability during the day with a 20% decrease in on street parking during the day, benefiting both residents and businesses.  Residents had been surveyed and had informed the Council that they were finding it easier to park in the day time but that there continued to be overnight parking problems.  However, this would only be eased by issue of 24 hour parking permits, and this move was unpopular with residents; 
• The improved parking services system provided registered keepers with a photograph of the parking infringement online. It was anticipated that this would result in significant savings in processing appeals.  Real time information was also made available to bailiffs to ensure they had the most up to date information when acting for the Council;

·  In response to a question, Councillor Wooding stated the revenue from Sunday parking fees varied between £1,800 and £2,700 per day.  Members agreed to receive an update on the relationship between Sunday parking revenue and the level of trade in the Town be investigated;

Public Transport

• The new park and ride contract had enabled the 2009 -10 budget to be reduced from £450,000 to £225,000. The numbers using the scheme had reduced by 14% as a result of the recession, so the Council had set aside £425,000 to fund the service in 2010 – 11. Kent County Council (KCC) had agreed to provide some funding for the service from April 2010.
• Members were concerned at the continuing costs of the Park and Ride scheme and agreed that the Cabinet Member should discuss the Park and Ridge marketing strategy with officers to encourage town centre users to use the service.  Furthermore, Members notes that there was a lack of road signage to the Willington Street Park and Ride site and asked that this be improved;
• The Cabinet Member for Environment was investigating how Park and Ride fitted into the Local Development strategy to ensure that it met future needs.  An integrated transport strategy, which considered town centre and out of town parking, was expected to be completed by the end of 2010-11.  The Committee requested an update be provided to the Committee in 2010/11;

Concessionary Fares

·  Funding for concessionary fares would be reviewed for 2011 – 12.

• KCC were responsible for the national bus pass scheme from 2011 -12.  Councillor Wooding did not anticipate a change in service, but noted that the funds would be transferred from the Council to KCC as a result.  Furthermore, the Council currently accepted concessionary fare passes on Park and Ride buses and therefore KCC would have to pay the Council for these journeys;

Road Safety

·  There were three accident hotspots in the Borough out of a total of ten in Kent. In response to a Committee recommendation, the Cabinet had considered arranging an annual road safety day to highlight the risks. Cost had been a concern when most of the responsibility for road safety lay with other bodies such as KCC.  The Committee did not feel there were significant costs and requested that the Cabinet Member for Environment update the Committee on the response of partners on leading an annual event in Maidstone.

The Chairman thanked Councillor Wooding for his hard work in the year and wished him well for the future.

Resolved: That the Cabinet Member for Environment:

a)  Discuss and improve the Park and Ride marketing strategy with officers;

b)  Improve the road signage to the Willington Street Park and Ride scheme; and

c)  Update the Committee on the following in 2010 – 11:

  i.  Sunday car parking revenue and the level of trade in the town centre

  ii.  The integrated transport strategy

  iii.  The progress of Kent County Council’s response to an annual road safety day