MAIDSTONE BOROUGH COUNCIL
MAIDSTONE JOINT TRANSPORTATION BOARD
Minutes of the meeting held on 23 January 2013
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Present: |
Councillor Cooke (Chairman) and Councillors Ash, Beerling, Bird, Mrs Blackmore, Brown, Chittenden, Cuming, Daley, Hotson, Moss, Mrs Stockell, Vizzard, Mrs Whittle and J A Wilson |
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Also Present: |
Councillors Burton, Garland, Paine and Mrs Wilson |
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41. Apologies for Absence
It was noted that apologies for absence had been received from Councillors Carter, English, Moriarty and B Mortimer.
42. Notification of Substitute Members
It was noted that Councillor Vizzard was substituting for Councillor English.
43. Item withdrawn from the Agenda
Joint Report of the Development Agreement Manager and the Regeneration and Economic Development Manager – Responses Received to Maidstone High Street Experimental Traffic Order
The Chairman stated that he had agreed to the withdrawal of this report from the agenda to enable consideration to be given to representations received recently that had not been assessed in the Jacobs report.
44. Urgent Items
The Chairman stated that, in his opinion, the following reports/plans should be taken as urgent items for the reasons specified:-
· The report of the Future Highways Manager relating to the updating of the JTB Agreement and governance arrangements to enable the Board’s views to be referred to the Cabinet Member for Environment, Highways and Waste at the earliest opportunity.
· A verbal update on petitions submitted to Kent County Council Highways and Transportation as the item had been inadvertently omitted from the agenda.
· Plans which were inadvertently omitted from the report of the Assistant Director of Environment and Regulatory Services relating to proposed Traffic Regulation Orders.
45. Notification of Visiting Members
Councillors Burton, Garland, Paine and Mrs Wilson were in attendance.
46. Disclosures by Members and Officers
Councillor Vizzard stated that, as a Ward Member, he was aware of the proposals regarding the implementation of parking restrictions around the entrance to St Francis Catholic Primary School, Queens Road, Maidstone and the introduction of a One Way Traffic Order on a section of Marigold Way, Maidstone.
47. Disclosures of lobbying
There were no disclosures of lobbying.
48. Exempt Items
RESOLVED: That the items on the agenda be taken in public as proposed.
49. Minutes of the meeting held on 24 October 2012
RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the meeting held on 24 October 2012 be approved as a correct record and signed subject to the addition of Councillor Bird to the list of those present.
50. Petitions
Mr Peter Griffiths presented a petition calling for road safety measures on Sheals Crescent, Hayle Road and Postley Road, Maidstone, including the installation of signage, a pedestrian crossing, a speed camera and permanent bollards along the central markings on the bend where Upper Stone Street meets Sheals Crescent.
The petition was referred to Kent County Council Highways and Transportation.
51. Questions/Statements by members of the public
There were no questions/statements by members of the public.
52. Update on Petitions Submitted to Kent County Council Highways and Transportation
The representative of the Head of Transportation reported that, in October 2012, a petition concerning highway safety had been received from residents in Grove Green Lane, Weavering. Consideration had been given to the issues raised, but since Grove Green Lane was a private road, the Highway Authority could only look at the point where it joined the public highway. No recorded personal injury crashes had been recorded at this location, and the petitioners had been informed that their concerns could not be addressed from a Kent Highways’ perspective, and the case had been closed.
RESOLVED: That the report be noted.
53. Kent County Council Highways and Transportation - Winter Maintenance
RESOLVED: That Kent County Council Highways and Transportation be thanked for its response to the recent severe winter weather conditions.
54. Joint Transportation Boards Agreement and Governance
The Board considered the report of the Future Highways Manager setting out a revised JTB Agreement which, inter alia, provided flexibility for the Chairman to vary the number of Parish Council representatives on the Board. Having first indicated that he would not wish to exercise this delegation without the endorsement of the Board, the Chairman proposed that the number of Parish Council representatives be increased to two, with nominations being made by the Area Committee of the Kent Association of Local Councils.
RESOLVED:
1. That the revised draft JTB Agreement and the process for its implementation be noted.
2. That the Cabinet Member for Environment, Highways and Waste be recommended to agree that the JTB Agreement be amended to provide for the number of Parish Council representatives to be increased to two, with nominations being made by the Area Committee of the Kent Association of Local Councils.
55. Queens Road, Maidstone - Parking Restrictions
The Board considered the report of the Head of Transportation setting out the response to the advertisement of the proposed implementation of parking restrictions around the entrance to St Francis Catholic Primary School, Queens Road, Maidstone. It was noted that the majority of the respondents objected to the proposals on the grounds that the removal of parking would increase the speed of through traffic. Parking in close proximity to the school entrance did result in the obstruction of visibility for traffic leaving the school site, and the installation of the corner protection element of the proposals would mitigate this.
RESOLVED: That having considered the response to the advertisement of the proposed implementation of parking restrictions around the entrance to St Francis Catholic Primary School, Queens Road, Maidstone, the Cabinet Member for Environment, Highways and Waste be recommended to approve the installation of corner protection only.
56. Marigold Way - One Way Traffic Order
The Board considered the report of the Head of Transportation setting out the response to the advertisement of the proposed One Way Traffic Order on a section of Marigold Way, Maidstone. It was noted that:-
· No formal objections had been received from members of the public. However, Kent Police had objected strongly to the proposal on the grounds that the length of the restriction was so short that it was likely to be ignored and regularly abused by drivers to the detriment of road safety. The Police had asked that the Order be made self enforcing so as to reduce the level of enforcement needed on site by their Officers.
· Kent County Council Highways and Transportation could install advance signage to ensure that the restriction was conspicuous from the road. However, it was the recommendation of the Officers that the Order should not be implemented.
The Board supported the implementation of the scheme and considered that the installation of the additional signage and road markings would reinforce the restriction. In addition, it was suggested that representatives of the Police should be invited to attend a future meeting of the Board to explain their approach to traffic regulation enforcement.
RESOLVED:
1. That the Cabinet Member for Environment, Highways and Waste be recommended to approve the implementation of the proposed One Way Traffic Order on a section of Marigold Way.
2. That representatives of the Police be invited to attend a future meeting of the Board to discuss their approach to traffic regulation enforcement.
57. Objections to Traffic Orders
The Board considered the report of the Assistant Director of Environment and Regulatory Services setting out the response to the formal public consultation relating to various Traffic Regulation Orders.
RESOLVED:
1. That the Cabinet Member for Planning, Transport and Development be recommended to approve each of the recommendations identified in the Appendices to the report of the Assistant Director of Environment and Regulatory Services and that the objectors be informed of the outcome.
2. That Kent County Council be recommended, as the Highway Authority, to implement the Orders as outlined in the Appendices to the report of the Assistant Director of Environment and Regulatory Services.
58. Integrated Transport Strategy Update
The Board considered the joint report of the Head of Transportation and the Director of Change, Planning and the Environment setting out details of the progress to date in relation to the redrafting of the Integrated Transport Strategy and of the implications of the Borough Council’s decision to reschedule its Core Strategy programme.
During the discussion on the report, Members made reference to the following:-
· The need for Officers to respond to the concerns expressed by Members at the last meeting of the Board, particularly in relation to the bus lane and the proposed scheme of mitigation for current and forecast congestion at the A26/B2246 Fountain Lane junction.
· The likely timescale for the presentation of the revised Strategy, particularly taking into account the strength of feeling locally against the proposal to construct a one-way gyratory system in Barming, and the implications for the residents of St Andrews Road and Fountain Lane whose properties are affected.
· The arrangements for funding the infrastructure required to support housing and employment growth and other necessary infrastructure improvements. It was suggested that funds should be set aside by the Borough Council from its New Homes Bonus and that a case be made to the County Council for funding to implement schemes to relieve congestion and improve road safety in the Borough.
· The Informal Member Group comprising representatives of the Borough and County Councils and the Joint Transportation Board should continue to meet on a regular basis to support the Officers in the redrafting of the Strategy and it was hoped that the outcome would be a document that had the general agreement by Members.
· The Core Strategy and the Integrated Transport Strategy were interlinked because of the need for transport infrastructure to support strategic site allocations. Any substantive changes to the Borough Council’s housing and employment targets and the strategic site allocations originally proposed would need to be addressed in the revised Integrated Transport Strategy.
RESOLVED:
1. That the report be noted.
2. That the Borough and County Councils be recommended to agree that the composition of the Informal Member Group set up to support the Officers in the redrafting of the Integrated Transport Strategy be as follows:-
Three Members of Kent County Council – Currently Councillors Carter, Daley and Mrs Whittle
Three Members of Maidstone Borough Council – Currently Councillors English, Garland and Paine
The Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Joint Transportation Board – Currently Councillors Cooke and J A Wilson
59. Lorry Watch
The Board considered the report of the Head of Transportation setting out details of the background to and operation to date of the pilot Lorry Watch scheme launched in Leeds and Langley in November 2012, focussing on the B2163 Leeds Road which, although subject to a 17 tonne vehicle weight restriction, was often used as a cut through between the A20 and the A274. It was suggested that the Officers be requested to look into the possibility of imposing fines on the operators of vehicles which fail to comply with weight restrictions, with the income generated being used to repair the resultant damage to roads and property.
RESOLVED:
1. That the report be noted.
2. That the Officers be requested to report back to a future meeting of the Board on the possibility of imposing fines on the operators of vehicles which fail to comply with weight restrictions, with the income generated being used to repair the resultant damage to roads and property.
60. Highway Works Programme 2012/13
This report was for information only.
RESOLVED: That the report be noted.
61. Member Highway Fund Programme Update for Maidstone Borough
This report was for information only.
RESOLVED: That the report be noted.
62. Gas Works, Maidstone Town Centre
This report was for information only.
RESOLVED: That the report be noted.
63. Duration of Meeting
5.00 p.m. to 6.30 p.m.