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Active Travel and Green Transportation

Action 1.1 Update the Integrated Transport Strategy, and work towards a Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan to prioritise walking, cycling, public transport, and electric vehicles. 

Councillor Paul Cooper

Planning, Infrastructure, And Economic Development Policy Advisory Committee

Alison Broom

William Cornall

Rob Jarman

Karen Britton

Mark Egerton

Tom Gilbert

Business as usual.  In September 2023 a report was taken to PIED PAC (06/09/23) on the Council’s response to the KCC Consultation on Local Transport Plan 5. It stated that a review of the Integrated Transport Strategy should be commenced and cover the period to 2050. No timeframe to commence this work was given.

Funding has been secured for the development of a Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP) for the Borough and the work is currently out for tender.  If the tender is successful this work aims for completion in July 24.

Fundamental review of the ITS will be undertaken upon completion of the Local Plan Review.

NA

Early 24

Across timeline to 2030

On track

Action 1.2 Deliver policies that enable infrastructure for:

• Low carbon transportation,
• Active travel, and that
• Facilitates high quality public transport connectivity in new developments and existing communities.

Councillor Paul Cooper

Planning, Infrastructure, And Economic Development Policy Advisory Committee

Alison Broom

William Cornall

Rob Jarman

Karen Britton

Mark Egerton

Tom Gilbert

From Authority Monitoring report 2022-23:

Indicator M48: Projects remain on track to be delivered within the broad time periods identified within the Infrastructure Delivery Plan. In total 18% of the actions within the ITS have been rated as red in terms of delivery, with the remainder being 27% amber and 55% green. This has meant there has been a minor increase in red actions due to worsening delivery in the past year. This is felt to be a temporary anomaly caused by changes in Government policy around public transport areas, such as buses, and general low recovery in bus patronage following the Covid-19 pandemic. It is the ambition of the Council to undertake a full review of the Integrated Transport Strategy following the Local Plan Review. Partial updates have been proposed as part of the Local Plan Review.

Percentage change of low carbon transportation, active travel, and public transport

2017

Across timeline to 2030

On track

Action 1.3 Identify low carbon transportation, active travel, and public transport indicators that align with strategic planning and monitor implementation of sustainable transport policies.

Councillor Paul Cooper

Planning, Infrastructure, And Economic Development Policy Advisory Committee

Alison Broom

William Cornall

Rob Jarman

Karen Britton

Mark Egerton

Tom Gilbert

See response to Action 1.2.

Percentage change of low carbon transportation, active travel, and public transport

2017

Across timeline to 2030

On track

Action 1.5 Deliver an Electric Vehicle (EV) Strategy for the borough that provides sufficient EV charging infrastructure to support the transition to EVs and reduces range anxiety, with consideration of changing and new emerging technologies.

Councillor Paul Cooper

Planning, Infrastructure, And Economic Development Policy Advisory Committee

Jen Stevens

Waiting for KCCs review and guidance before starting development of Maidstone Borough EV Strategy, which is expected to be delivered later in 2024.

EV public charge points have increased slowly compared to national average in Maidstone. 37 devices in Oct 2019 to 66 devices in January 2023 below the 55.7 average for England. This is 37.3 Devices per 100,000 people in Maidstone compared to Folkestone and Hythe have 106.3, Dartford have 73.6, and Dover have 70.3 Devices per 100,000 people.

Total devices in Maidstone: 66

Devices per 100,000 people: 37.3 below the 55.7 average for England

Total 50kWh or rapid devices: 27

Late 2024

2025

On track

Action 1.6 Facilitate a move to electric taxis by providing nine rapid charge points in total by 2025, and twelve rapid charge points by 2030.

Councillor Paul Cooper

Planning, Infrastructure, And Economic Development Policy Advisory Committee

And

Councillor Claudine Russell

Communities, Leisure and Arts Policy Advisory Committee

John Littlemore

Lorraine Neale

Officers are working with KCC to look at the feasibility of installing a further 2 rapid charging points at Sittingbourne Road car park. Investigation with Swarco is ongoing to look at cost electrical connection work to see if the location is within budget. If the project goes ahead the legal agreement will be the same terms as with the Pudding Lane chargers. It is also suggested that one of the 2 bays served by the charger is open for general public access, and one is reserved for taxis. If Sittingbourne Road car park chargers are installed this would bring total to 4 of required 9 by 2024.

Number of Electric Vehicle Charging Points Installed

2023

9 by 2025

12 by 2030

On track

Action 1.7 Work with the taxi trade to find solutions to licencing that will encourage gradual business led shift to EVs’ and promote greener accreditation and campaigns to support taxi trade to move to EVs.

Councillor Paul Cooper

Planning, Infrastructure, And Economic Development Policy Advisory Committee

And

Councillor Claudine Russell

Communities, Leisure and Arts Policy Advisory Committee

John Littlemore

Lorraine Neale

This is a joint Kent project and Kent Taxi Licencing meetings continue to be held every quarter. Officers are supporting KCC with developing district net zero plans in terms of target/deadlines/progress for taxis in relation to EVs. Solutions under investigation, include:

·         A switch that all new taxis licenced should be Euro 6 compliant, need to follow government guidance so that drivers are subject to changes in requirement at the same time by all licensing offices, so drivers don’t switch where they licence.

·         Requirement for new and reregistered taxi must be euro 6 compliant.

·         Green taxi scheme for modest incentive,

Number of EV taxi

2023

Across timeline to 2030

On track 

Action 1.8 Actively participate in Quality Bus Partnership and ensure that the borough’s infrastructure is bus friendly.

Councillor Paul Cooper

Planning, Infrastructure, And Economic Development Policy Advisory Committee

Tom Gilbert

Duncan Haynes

The Council has been informed that KCC are no longer supporting Quality Bus Partnerships and are promoting the development by Boroughs of Local Bus Focus Groups.

The Council is actively investigating the development of a successor organisation to the Quality Bus Partnership with a decision to be taken by members in the new year the ‘Maidstone Local Bus Focus Group’ report going to PIEDPAC 29-1-2024.

The air quality action plan has now been agreed by cabinet – Environmental Health officers and William Cornall are due to meet the area manager for Arriva to discuss the makeup of the Arriva fleet which has improved recently and the potential to ensure that the least polluting buses are routed on upper stone street (the AQMA). 

This Action will be updated when a way forward is determined.

Improvement in Borough Air Quality

n/a

Across timeline to 2030

Action to be revised

Generating Renewable Energy

Action 3.1 Ensure Sustainability DPD as part of larger Development Plan requires on-site renewables on all types of new developments and identify indicators that align with strategic planning and monitor implementation.

Councillor Paul Cooper

Planning, Infrastructure, And Economic Development Policy Advisory Committee

Rob Jarman

Karen Britton

Mark Egerton

Thom Hoang

The Planning Team are leading on the development of the Design and Sustainability Development Plan Documents. The timeframe and details for this action are dependent on the completion of these documents.

The latest DPD version included the following draft policies which meets this action:

-          D&S DPD SB1: Sustainable Design and Construction Overarching Requirements

-          D&S DPD SB2: Minimising Greenhouse Gas emissions in New Development

-          D&S DPD SB3: Passive Design of Buildings

There is no further update at this stage.

Percentage of onsite renewable energy generation in new developments 10% adopted standard

2022

Adoption expected 2025

On track

Adapting to Climate Change

Action 5.1 Deliver policy as part of design and sustainability DPD and future Development Plan evolution for long term climate change adaptation in new developments to flooding, heatwaves, and drought and ensure longer term climate impacts are being considered as part of planning and policy decisions. Identify indicators that align with strategic planning and monitor implementation.

Councillor Paul Cooper

Planning, Infrastructure, And Economic Development Policy Advisory Committee

Rob Jarman

Mark Egerton

Thom Hoang

The latest DPD version included a set of draft policies which meet this action.

There is no further update at this stage.

NA

2022

2025

On track

Enhancing and Increasing Biodiversity

Action 6.1 Monitor Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) to adopted 20% standard.

Councillor Paul Cooper

Planning, Infrastructure, And Economic Development Policy Advisory Committee

Mark Egerton

Thom Hoang

Within the emerging LPR, Policy LPRSP14A (Natural Environment) contains a requirement for 20% BNG subject to other considerations.

Once adopted, this requirement regarding the 20% BNG will be monitored.

Percentage of planning applications meeting Biodiversity Net Gain 20% adopted standard

2024

Across timeline to 2030

Not yet due

Action 6.2 Ensure sustainable urban drainage schemes (SuDS) maximise biodiversity potential.

Councillor Paul Cooper

Planning, Infrastructure, And Economic Development Policy Advisory Committee

Mark Egerton

Thom Hoang

Within the emerging LPR, Policy LPRSP14C (Climate Change) contains a requirement for SUDS provision.

The draft Policy ON5 (Sustainable Drainage Systems) in the emerging D&S DPD goes further and contains requirements to maximise biodiversity potential of SUDS.

Percentage of planning applications meeting Biodiversity Net Gain 20% adopted standard

2024

Across timeline to 2030

Not yet due

Action 6.3 Develop Supplementary Planning Documents for Garden community and other strategic development sites that ensure are exemplar for biodiversity and deliver semi natural open space.

Councillor Paul Cooper

Planning, Infrastructure, And Economic Development Policy Advisory Committee

Mark Egerton

Thom Hoang

This work will take place following the adoption of the Local Plan Review.

It is intended that SPDs are produced for the key strategic development sites once the LPR is adopted.

NA

2024

Across timeline to 2030

Not yet due

Action 6.4 Enhance and expand wetland coverage across the Borough to support nutrient neutrality, flood prevention, and enhance biodiversity.

Councillor David Burton

And

Councillor Paul Cooper

Planning, Infrastructure, And Economic Development Policy Advisory Committee

And

Councillor Patrik Garten

Housing, Health and Environment Policy Advisory Committee

Mark Green

Rob Jarman

James Wilderspin

Officers are preparing to go out to tender for specialist expansion and desilting of several MBC wetland and pond areas (see July report for further details). Works in parks and on MBC land is planned to commence in autumn 2024.

Officers are working with South East Rivers Trust (SERT) to identify funding, and partners with Ashford Council to expand the “Bring back the Beult” project to introduce wide scale water retention and nature based solutions to the Upper Medway catchment. Senior officers have met with SERT and further meetings are to be held with Alsford Council to determine project and funding scope.

Water quality

2022

2025

In progress

Action 6.5 Implement a Nature Recovery Strategy, linking habitat restoration and creation to improve flood protection and water quality.

Councillor Paul Cooper

Planning, Infrastructure, And Economic Development Policy Advisory Committee

Rob Jarman

James Wilderspin

The LNRS is being developed as part of the MS4N (Making Space for Nature) initiative which government has funded KCC to deliver.  The current timeframe is that the LNRS will be developed by December 2024, with the required consultation with neighbouring authorities and public consultation taking place in 2025.

Officers are working with KCC and other districts to agree priorities for nature’s recovery, map the most valuable existing areas for nature, map specific proposals for creating or improving habitat for nature and wider environmental goals, and identify locations where the creation or improvement of habitat is most likely to provide the greatest benefit for nature and the wider environment.

As part of this officers are investigating supporting the delivery of mandatory Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) which came into law in January 2024, by identifying where delivery under this new policy will have the most impact.

A BNG working group comes together each month at MBC, and is currently developing plans and a business case for MBC offsite provision in the borough.

NA

2025

Across the timeline to 2030

Not yet due

Action 6.6 Work with local farms and landowners to deliver landscape scale biodiversity initiatives Nature Recovery Strategy – including reconnection of habitats, floodplain restoration, reduced chemical inputs and reintroduction of lost native species.

Councillor Paul Cooper

Planning, Infrastructure, And Economic Development Policy Advisory Committee

And

Councillor Claudine Russell

Communities, Leisure and Arts Policy Advisory Committee

Rob Jarman

James Wilderspin

Gemma Bailey

NA

2025

Across the timeline to 2030

Not yet due

Making our Estate Carbon Neutral

Action 7.6 Deliver 100% LED lighting in MBC carparks.

Councillor Paul Cooper

Planning, Infrastructure, And Economic Development Policy Advisory Committee

Jeff Kitson

Parking Services remain committed to 100% LED lighting in MBC car parks by the end of 2025. Lamps are being replaced with LED lights as and when they require replacement.

NA

2022

2025

On track