1.        PURPOSE OF REPORT AND EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

1.1     This report considers revised versions of the Maidstone Integrated Transport Strategy (ITS) 2011-2031 and the Maidstone Walking and Cycling Strategy (WCS) 2011-2031. Copies of the documents are attached to this report at appendices One and Two respectively.   

1.2     Members are recommended to approve the documents for consideration by the Maidstone Joint Transportation Board at its meeting on 13 July 2016.

2.        INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND

2.1     Section 80 of the Local Transport Act 2008 gives local authorities, acting jointly, the power to review the effectiveness and efficiency of transport within their area and to propose their own arrangements to support more coherent planning and delivery of local transport. Kent County Council and Maidstone Borough Council cooperated to prepare a document for public consultation for local transport provision in 2012.

2.2     The Maidstone Integrated Transport Strategy was first published for public consultation in August 2012. It aimed to set out the future for transport in Maidstone until 2026 and described the policy context, the existing transport networks and the challenges they face. Objectives for transport provision were identified and an action plan proposed to address the requirements for the new development proposed by the Maidstone Core Strategy at that stage.

2.3     Following public consultation and as a result of the publication of the NPPF in March 2012, the Borough Council decided to proceed with the preparation of a Local Plan to replace the Core Strategy and this necessitated a major review of supporting documents and policies.

2.4     A revised draft ITS was prepared to inform and guide transport policies and proposals in the emerging Maidstone Borough Local Plan which was submitted for examination on 20 May 2016. The Strategy was considered by the Maidstone Joint Transportation Board (JTB) and Maidstone Borough Council’s SPS&T Committee prior to public consultation which as indicated above took place between 5 February 2016 and 18 March 2016.  

2.5     Some 83 representations were received during the consultation period together with one late representation from the British Horse Society following confusion over the appropriate e-mail address to which responses should be sent. These representations were reported to and considered by the Maidstone Borough Council’s SPS&T Committee on 14 June 2016.

2.6     Kent County Council, in its capacity as local Highway Authority, raised objections to the draft ITS as part of its response to the Regulation 19 consultation.  The objections highlighted how the ITS should accord with the resolution made by this Board on 7^th December 2015 regarding the initial implementation of a strategy covering the period to 2022, as part of ensuring that it is founded on a package of transport improvements that have been agreed by the County Council.

2.7     There has also been continuing engagement between Maidstone and KCC over the Strategy as well as with Highways England and other key stakeholders.

2.8     As a result of these continuing discussions, in particular with KCC, the principal change is that the draft ITS and the draft Walking and Cycling Strategy have been split into two separate documents. Appropriate amendments have been made to each document. These reflect the consultation responses and the other discussions that have taken place. The revised documents are attached at Appendices One and Two to this report respectively.  

3.        REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS

3.1     The ITS and the WCS have been revised following consideration and assessment of the representations and continued engagement with stakeholders notably KCC and Highways England. A key outcome is the agreement between the County Council and the Borough Council that the ITS and the Walking and Cycling Strategy (which for the consultation was appended to the main ITS) would be separated to form two documents. This is how they are presented to this meeting.

3.2     The ITS and the Walking and Cycling Strategy have been produced as part of the evidence base of the Maidstone Borough Local Plan and will assist in the delivery of appropriate mitigation and sustainable transport measures and improvements in support of the allocations in the Maidstone Borough Local Plan.   

3.3     The ITS sets-out all the highway and sustainable transport interventions previously agreed by Committee and the Maidstone JTB. It is again confirmed that these have been incorporated into the submitted Maidstone Borough Local Plan and the Infrastructure Delivery Plan.

3.4     The WCS contains a number of actions to improve walking and cycling infrastructure and the measures are intended to support the delivery of the ITS. 

4.       NEXT STEPS: COMMUNICATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DECISION

4.1     Both the ITS and the WCS are scheduled to be reported to the Maidstone Joint Transportation Board that is to meet on 13 July 2016. Subject to the decision of this Committee, the Board will be asked to recommend to this Committee and the KCC Cabinet Member for Highways & Transportation that both documents are approved and adopted.

4.2      If approved by the Board, the final version of both documents would be reported to a future meeting of this Committee to seek approval for formal adoption and publication.

5.       CROSS-CUTTING ISSUES AND IMPLICATIONS

6         REPORT APPENDICES

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

·         Appendix 1: Maidstone Integrated Transport Strategy 2011-2031