Maidstone Borough Council

Planning, Transport and Development Overview & Scrutiny Committee

Tuesday 17 March 2015

Final Draft Report of the review of Transport in Maidstone - alternatives to using a car

Report of: Tessa Mallett, Overview & Scrutiny Officer

1.          Introduction

1.1        Since June 2014 the Planning, Transport and Development Overview and Scrutiny Committee have been carrying out a review of Transport in Maidstone – alternatives to using a car.

1.2        At the Planning, Transport and Development Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting of 30 September 2014 the committee agreed to receive the draft report for stage one, Walking and Cycling and stage two, Bus Services at the meeting of 18 November 2014. 

1.3        At the committee’s meeting of 18 November 2014 the committee agreed the full draft report for the review of Transport in Maidstone – alternatives to using a car, will be presented to the committee at their meeting of 17 March 2014.

1.4        The final draft report is attached as Appendix A and includes stages one, two, as above and stages three, rail services and stage four park and ride services as well as the Chairman’s Opening Statement and the Executive Summary.

1.5        The Committee will notice the recommendations have been reworded to take into account the changes to the governance structure and the move to the Committee System from the new municipal year 2015.

2.          Recommendations

2.1    The committee are recommended to:

2.1.1 Agree and make recommendations for changes and additions to the contents of the report, including the recommendations;

2.1.2 Consider any further recommendations they would like included in the final report;

2.1.3 Following any requested amendments to the report, the Committee are recommended to approve the report for submission to the appropriate Cabinet Member and external bodies.

3       Reasons for the recommendations

3.1     The attached report for the review of Transport in Maidstone – alternative to using a car the review; is the final draft report.

3.2     The committee agreed the walking and cycling and bus service sections of the report at their meeting of 18 November 2014.  At this meeting the committee also agreed to include a section on the Park and Ride service in Maidstone.  This section is included, as is the section on rail services.

3.3     The report also includes the opening statement by the Chairman and the Executive Summary

3.4     After reading the draft report presenting all the evidence gathered to date the committee may consider there are further recommendations it would like to make.

4.      Impact on Corporate Objectives

4.1     The Strategic Plan sets the Council’s key objectives for the medium   term and has a range of objectives which support the delivery of         the Council’s priorities. 

4.2     The Committee will consider reports that deliver against the     following priorities:

·         ‘For Maidstone to have a growing economy’ and ‘For Maidstone to be a decent place to live”. 

5.      Financial Implications

5.1     There are no financial implications.

6.      Relevant Documents

6.1     Appendix A – Final Draft Report – A Review of Transport in Maidstone – alternative to using the car

7.      Background Documents

6.1     None