Appendix B: Draft SCRAIP Responses

ECD.150311.160.1

That the Cabinet Member for Economic and Commercial Development be recommended to negotiate a deal with Kent County Council to ensure broken streetlights in the town centre are fixed at a faster timescale than 28 days.

Cabinet Member for Economic & Commercial Development

We will speak to KCC to establish the current reporting mechanism and response times and investigate to see if there is any potential to reduce the time taken to fix street lights in the town centre

John Foster; Dawn Hudd

ECD.150311.160.2

That the Cabinet Member for Planning, Transport and Development should ensure there is appropriate lighting for approaches to council owned town centre car parks.

Cabinet Member for Planning Transport and Development

Approaches lit by highway authority managed land will be reviewed, with Kent County Council being advised accordingly.  Lighting within council owned town centre car parks will also be reviewed with any defective lamps being replaced to improve lighting levels.

Jeff Kitson

ECD.150311.160.3

That the Cabinet Member for Economic and Commercial Development invest in, or encourage businesses to invest in, floodlighting of appropriate buildings in the town centre.  Floodlighting of buildings could be included into existing regeneration plans and funded through section 106 money.

Cabinet Member for Economic & Commercial Development

A lighting strategy for the town centre is something the Town Team is keep to pursue. We will discuss with the Local Plan Policy Team the possibility of amending Policy DN6 External Lighting to encourage developers of key town centre properties to floodlight their buildings with appropriate lighting.

John Foster; Dawn Hudd

ECD.150311.160.4

That the Cabinet Member of Economic and Commercial Development, as well as the Head of Commercial and Economic Development, be recommended to support the new Town Centre Manager, help them to engage with local businesses and if required support the BID process.

Cabinet Member for Economic & Commercial Development

A new TCM hasn’t yet been appointed, the potential for a BID will be raised with the new post holder and support provided if required to develop a BID.

John Foster; Dawn Hudd

ECD.150311.160.5

That the Cabinet Member for Economic and Commercial Development work with the business community in the town centre to find a ‘champion’ for the twilight economy.  This person could be the new Town Centre Manager, or could be a separate representative of the businesses who operate in twilight hours.

Cabinet Member for Economic & Commercial Development

Town Centre Management have an existing evening economy sub group.  They will be asked to take on this role.

John Foster; Dawn Hudd

ECD.150311.160.6

That the Head of Commercial and Economic Development be recommended to investigate the costs and possibility of bringing the MyCanterbury app to Maidstone, with a particular focus on twilight economy businesses.

There are already a number of Apps that fulfil this role and more emerging into the marketplace.  The possibility for MBC to bring a version of the MyCanterbury App to Maidstone was investigated but the cost was prohibitive.

John Foster; Dawn Hudd

ECD.150311.160.7

That the Cabinet Member for Economic and Commercial Development make the proposed regeneration work in Week Street, Earl Street and Gabriel’s Hill a priority.

Cabinet Member for Economic & Commercial Development

These public realm improvements are part of a number of infrastructure projects identified in the infrastructure delivery plan to be funded from development contributions of which affordable housing and transport are the top priorities.  Work is being undertaken to agree detailed designs for phase III in readiness for when funding becomes available.

John Foster; Dawn Hudd

ECD.150311.160.8

That the Cabinet Member for Planning, Transport and Development be recommended to negotiate that park and ride tickets be valid on local bus routes after park and ride services finish, and to keep the park and ride car parks unlocked in the evenings.  This could be trialled at the London Road car park, as it has the best local bus services, and the passenger numbers be monitored.  If successful, this could be expanded to all Park and Ride sites.

Cabinet Member for Planning Transport and Development

Negotiations will take place with the service provider to initiate a trial allowing P&R return tickets to be valid on the 71 bus service.  This will enable late night return (up to 10:30hrs) to the London Road P&R site.  If successful, passenger numbers will be monitored to establish longer term viability.

Jeff Kitson

ECD.150311.160.9

That the interaction between Park and Ride sites and local bus services in the evening be considered by the Cabinet Member for Planning Transport and Development, as well as the Planning, Transport and Development Overview and Scrutiny Committee, when considering the Integrated Transport Strategy.

Cabinet Member for Planning Transport and Development

The interaction between Park and Ride sites and local bus services in the evening will be considered as part of the Integrated Transport Strategy

Jeff Kitson