Name of Review:
‘Ready, Steady…Go?’
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The Regeneration &
Economic Development Overview and Scrutiny Committee have decided to cover Traffic
Congestion as a major review topic for 2011-2012. They wish to investigate
the current priorities of the local and regional Transport Plans with a view
to making recommendations to reduce congestion and take a full view of what
is being achieved in the rest of the Country.
What are the objectives
and desired outcomes of the review?
- Identify how to unlock
the congestion in Maidstone town;
- Identify opportunities to
engage and support the business community in reducing peak traffic roads
and establish what businesses in the borough have to come through the
town and for what reason;
- Investigate
best practice for incentivised traffic reduction (i.e. Chelmsford City
Council’s, The Essex Transport
Strategy: the Local Transport Plan for Essex);
- Examine best practice in
established County Towns and other congested town centres in terms of volume,
problems and solutions for traffic congestion;
- Investigate the
consideration given to new developments by the planning authority in
relation to traffic volume and road maintenance; and
- To make recommendations
as appropriate.
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What equality issues
will need to be considered as part of the review – giving consideration to
the 9 protected characteristics?
Age, Gender, Race, Sexual
Orientation, Faith, Disability, Marriage & Civil Partnership, Pregnancy
& Maternity, and Sex
- Check whether there are
any issues affecting a protected characteristic when identifying
recommendations.
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Which witnesses are
required?
- Businesses (Invicta
Chamber of Commerce, Town Centre Management, Arriva, Nu-venture,
Stagecoach)
- John Luckcock, Transport
Planner KCC
- Cllr
Brian Sweetland, Cabinet Member for Environment, Highways and Waste KCC
- Cllr Tony Harwood,
Emergency Planning Officer KCC
- Graham Dalton, Highways
Agency Chief Executive
- Economic Development (to
explore transport issues with business)
- Cllr Norman Hume, Cabinet
Member for Highways and Transportation Essex CC
- John Taylor, Chairman of
LSP subcommittee
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Other ways to seek evidence
e.g. site visits, involving members of the public, consultation. *
Dependant on the Committee Member’s experience of
this topic prior to the review evidence would be sought by including:
- Visit to the traffic
control centre in Maidstone to fully understand the aims, achievements
and resources available to the traffic control team;
- Visit to Godstone Control
Centre to gain an understanding of other neighbouring traffic control
resources and management including other areas identified as
demonstrating best practice;
- Visit Chelmsford Borough
Council/traffic control centre –alternatively hold meetings with
Officers/Members from Chelmsford to allow us to learn from their
experiences as a neighbouring County Town;
- Hold external meetings
eg. with employees from public transport and heavy goods companies;
- Evidence from Department
for Transport, Highways Agency and other advisory organisations; and
- Desktop research looking at best practice,
beacon councils, studies and economic development strategies.
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What
information/training is needed?
Calendar of important dates
relating to important decisions made by the relevant authorities.
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Suggested time for
review and report completion date
4-6 months
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How does the review link
to council priorities?
- For Maidstone to have a
growing economy
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How does this item
deliver CfPS effective scrutiny principles?
1
Provides ‘critical friend’
challenge to executive policy-makers and decision-makers
2
Enables the voice and concerns
of the public
3
Is carried out by ‘independent
minded governors’ who lead and own the scrutiny role
4
Drives improvement in public
services
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Any co-optees or expert
witnesses?
- KCC
- Highways Agency
- Essex CC
- Transport for London
and/or Mayor of London
- Other expert/academic
witnesses
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* What do you know about the equality groups and the make-up
of the people using the service or in the area? Qualitative and quantitative
information
Think of the wider ‘community’ including people who possibly
do not currently use the service but could or should.