MAIDSTONE BOROUGH COUNCIL

COUNCIL

25 OCTOBER 2017

REPORT OF THE MAIDSTONE JOINT TRANSPORTATION BOARD HELD ON 19 APRIL 2017

AMENDMENTS TO THE MAIDSTONE JOINT TRANSPORTATION BOARD AGREEMENT

Issue for Decision

To agree amendments to the Maidstone Joint Transportation Board Agreement in order to allow two Parish Council Representatives at the Joint Transportation Board, and to give these representatives full voting rights.

To agree amendments to the Maidstone Joint Transportation Board Agreement in order to reflect changes in governance arrangements at Maidstone Borough Council and Kent County Council since the previous Agreement was adopted.

Recommendation Made

That the Amended Maidstone Joint Transportation Board Agreement (Appendix 2) is adopted.

Reasons for Recommendation

The background to the amendments to the Maidstone Joint Transportation Board Agreement can be found in the report that was taken to the Joint Transportation Board on 19 April 2017 (Appendix 1).

Since the previous Maidstone Joint Transportation Board Agreement, there have been changes in governance arrangements at both Councils, and the amendments to the agreement reflect these changes. For example Maidstone Borough Council have moved to the Committee System of Governance and Kent County Council have made changes to the names and terms of reference of some of their Cabinet Members and Cabinet Committees.

On 19 April 2017 the Maidstone Joint Transportation Board agreed the amendments to the Maidstone Joint Transportation Board Agreement. As the Maidstone Joint Transportation Board is a committee that is governed by an agreement with another organisation, for it to be ratified each organisation must adopt the amended agreement. For Maidstone Borough Council, the way to do this is through resolution at Full Council.

Kent County Council considered the Maidstone Joint Transportation Board Agreement at their Environment and Transport Cabinet Committee on 21 September 2017, however the minutes of this meeting are not yet available. Once it has been agreed by the Cabinet Committee, the Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport will make a decision on adopting the new agreement.

Once both Councils have adopted the new agreement, the amended rules will be in place in time for the next Maidstone Joint Transportation Board Meeting on 18 October 2017.

Alternatives Considered and Why Not Recommended

Council could decide not to adopt the amended Maidstone Joint Transportation Board Agreement. However this would run contrary to the will of the Joint Transportation Board as they had already approved the amendments to the agreement. Taking this course of action may also cause reputational damage with Parish Councils, which have been lobbying for this change.

Background Documents

Appendix 1: Amendments to the Joint Transportation Board Agreement between Maidstone Borough Council and Kent County Council

Appendix 2: Amended Joint Transportation Board Agreement