|
MAIDSTONE BOROUGH COUNCIL
MINUTES OF THE Regeneration & Economic Development Overview & Scrutiny Committee meeting held on Tuesday 31 January 2012 |
|
PRESENT: |
Councillor Burton (Chairman) Councillors Butler, Beerling, Black, English, Mrs Joy, Newton, Ross and Springett |
94. To consider whether all items on the agenda should be web-cast
RESOLVED: That all items on the agenda be web-cast.
95. Apologies
It was noted that apologies for absence had been received from Councillor Cuming.
96. Notification of Substitute Members
It was noted that Councillor Butler was substituting for Councillor Cuming.
97. Notification of Visiting Members
There were no Visiting Members.
98. Disclosures by Members and Officers
There were no disclosures.
99. To consider whether any items should be taken in private because of the possible disclosure of exempt information
RESOLVED: That the items on the agenda be taken in public as proposed.
100. Minutes of the meeting held on 22 November 2011
RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the meeting held on 22 November 2011 be approved as a correct record and signed subject to the amendment of the third sentence of the fifth paragraph of Minute 90 to read:-
She also highlighted that a bus route through Valley Park routinely drove past school children at the bus stop as it was already a full single decked bus.
101. Traffic Congestion Review
The Committee considered the draft report arising from its in-depth review of traffic congestion in Maidstone. During the discussion, the following suggested amendments were put forward:-
· That the “Chair’s Summary” be amended to read “Chairman’s Summary” and that the Chairman’s name be included.
· That the recommendation relating to traffic management on the bridge gyratory system be amended to include the need not only for a camera but for a dedicated screen in the Traffic Control Centre to monitor traffic entering the system from St Peters Street particularly at peak times and weekends.
· That interrupted traffic flows along the A20 at the junctions of Buckland Hill, Leafy Lane and Queens Road with London Road be used as an example of where better information through the use of cameras and traffic sensors etc. would assist the staff in the Traffic Control Centre in making adjustments to expedite the flow of traffic and reduce congestion.
· That the section of the recommendations relating to ways to encourage the use of public transport and reduce congestion be developed to include the wider aspects of the relationship between park and ride, parking standards, on-street parking and development control, including the use of contributions from developers towards highways and public transport schemes.
· That no amendments be made to the contents of the evidence pack subject to the deletion of the paragraph referring to the business interests of a Member of the Committee.
RESOLVED: That the Overview and Scrutiny Officer be given delegated authority in consultation with the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Committee to review the draft report and produce a revised version taking into account the comments set out above for circulation to all Members of the Committee seven to ten days before the next meeting.
102. Future Work Programme
The Committee considered its future work programme. Members indicated that they would be interested to receive an update on the progress being made on the Maidstone Locality Board, including its membership and work programme, and that they wished to be better informed of the arrangements for meetings of the Board, the issues under consideration and decisions made.
RESOLVED: That an update on the progress being made on the Maidstone Locality Board be included in the Committee’s future work programme.
103. Servicing of Meetings of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee
In response to a comment by a Member, the Chairman stated that no decisions had been made yet about the future structure of the Overview and Scrutiny function at Maidstone Borough Council, but it appeared that pre-emptive changes were being made in anticipation of those decisions, and Members’ concerns in this regard should be recorded.
104. Duration of Meeting
6.35 p.m. to 7.10 p.m.