Agenda and draft minutes

Venue: Town Hall, High Street, Maidstone

Contact: Committee Services  01622 602899

Items
No. Item

261.

Apologies for Absence

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Carter, Clark, Daley, Prendergast, Sams, Webb and Young.

 

262.

Notification of Substitute Members

Minutes:

The following Substitute Members were present:

 

Councillor English for Councillor Clark;

Councillor Jeffery for Councillor Sams; and

Councillor Spooner for Councillor Young.

263.

Urgent Items

Minutes:

There were no urgent items, however the Chairman informed the Committee that an incorrect appendix was attached to the agenda papers for Item 12 – Kent Bus Service Improvement Plan and National Bus Strategy Funding Update. A printed copy of the correct appendix had been distributed and would be published following the meeting.

 

264.

Notification of Visiting Members

Minutes:

Councillor Cleator was present as a Visiting Member for Item 13 – Maidstone Integrated Transport Package.

 

265.

Disclosures by Members and Officers

Minutes:

There were no disclosures by Members or Officers.

 

266.

Disclosures of Lobbying

Minutes:

Councillor Parfitt-Reid had been lobbied on Item 12 - Kent Bus Service Improvement Plan and National Bus Strategy Funding Update.

 

Councillors Cannon and Grigg had been lobbied on Item 13 – Maidstone Integrated Transport Package.

 

 

 

267.

Exempt Items

Minutes:

RESOLVED: That all items be taken in public as proposed.

 

268.

Minutes of the Meeting Held on 3 August 2022 pdf icon PDF 77 KB

Minutes:

RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the meeting held on 3 August 2022 be approved as a correct record and signed, subject to the following amendment to the note at Minute 255:

 

Councillor Parfitt-Reid left the meeting during this item’ amended to ‘Councillor Parfitt-Reid left the meeting at the end of this item’. 

 

269.

Presentation of Petitions

Minutes:

There were no petitions.

 

270.

Questions and answer session for members of the public

Minutes:

There were no questions from members of the public.

 

271.

Maidstone Joint Transportation Board Work Programme

Minutes:

RESOLVED: That the Committee Work Programme be noted.

 

272.

Kent Bus Service Improvement Plan and National Bus Strategy Funding Update pdf icon PDF 175 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Ahead of introducing the report, the Public Transport Planning and Operations Manager (KCC) explained that Appendix A had been attached to the report in error, and should be replaced by the updated version which had been distributed to the Committee and would be published with the Minutes.

 

The Public Transport Planning and Operations Manager (KCC) explained that the National Bus Strategy published in 2021 provided a guide to recover services following the impacts of the pandemic, and also to drive improvements across the bus network. Having fulfilled the criteria of submitting a Bus Service Improvement Plan and forming Enhanced Partnership Agreements with bus operators, KCC received an indicative funding allocation of £35.1 million. Details of the proposed use of the funding were set out in Appendix A, and was in line with the Department for Transport guidance.

 

The next steps would be for the funding to be confirmed which was expected in the following few weeks. After reviewing conditions attached to the funding, revised schemes would be developed in early 2023.

 

Members of the Committee felt that the conditions on how the funding could be spent were too restrictive, and there would be significant benefit to sustaining existing networks. However it was understood that the conditions had been applied by DfT and were not likely to be revised.

 

Responding to questions, the Public Transport Planning and Operations Manager explained that the principle behind DfT’s condition was to look at different ways of providing a service, rather than supporting a service that consistently required subsidies to run. It was clarified that of the three schemes priority schemes mentioned, two were accounted for within the allocation to line IP16 of Appendix 1, ‘Feasibility studies and delivery of bus priority measures (two schemes)’, and one within line ADM14, ‘Development of a Superbus scheme – i.e bus priority with reciprocal benefits’. 

 

Driver training had not formed part of the initial funding bid as it was submitted a year previously, and did not present as a priority at that point. However since then, low driver recruitment had become a prevalent issue nationally, and discussions were taking place between KCC and bus operators to this regard. The initial bid had contained a significant funding request to improve emissions standards, particularly for buses running in Air Quality Improvement Areas. The indicative grant however was much less than requested and therefore areas were prioritised following consultation.

 

The funding allocation to ‘Continued support of Community Transport sector through facilitation role’ listed in Appendix A was intended to bolster the funding that already existed to Parishes and community groups, and was not related to any specific service.

 

An update could be given to the Committee on a six-monthly basis, although it was highlighted that when funding was allocated, decisions would need to be made very quickly.

 

RESOLVED: That the report be noted. 

 

273.

Maidstone Integrated Transport Package pdf icon PDF 974 KB

Minutes:

The Major Projects Team Project Manager introduced the report.

 

The A249 Bearsted Road Major Infrastructure Project was initially due to commence in August 2022, however the main construction works were now expected to commence in January 2023. This was due to delays in finalising the detailed design, which impacted the discharge of pre-commencement planning conditions. MBC had submitted a bid for funding for capacity improvements at J7 of the M20, alongside which KCC had applied for Strategic CIL funds, should MBC’s bid be unsuccessful. 

 

The A20 Coldharbour Roundabout / A20 London Road – Hall Road scheme procurement process had been deferred following delays to the commencement of the Bearsted Road scheme. It was expected that works would commence in September 2023, and would be carried out over nine to twelve months.

 

The A229 Loose Road Corridor Scheme would comprise four separate junction improvements. The junction with the A274 Sutton Road (Wheatsheaf junction) had seen the first phase of the Experimental Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) and responses to the consultation were being collated. Of the 96 representations received, 73 were against the TRO, the majority of which were from the local community rather than those using the junction. However there had been an overall improvement in traffic flow and it was expected that the traffic data would show capacity benefits. The second phase of the scheme would be carried out between Spring 2023 and Spring 2024, and would include the demolition of the pub and construction of the new junction.

 

The A229 Loose Road junction with Armstrong Road / Park Way works were expected to be completed prior to Christmas 2022.

 

The A229 Loose Road junction with Sheals Crescent works would be delayed to allow the impact of the Armstrong Road / Park Way works to be assessed.

 

The A229 Loose Road junction with Cripple Street / Boughton Lane works remained the same as reported to the August meeting of the Board.

 

The A20 Ashford Road junction with Willington Street works would need to be coordinated with the completion of the A249 Bearsted Road project, and the Wheatsheaf improvement scheme. It was expected that the works would be delivered after January 2024.

 

The A26 Tonbridge Road junction with Fountain Lane scheme remained the same as reported to the August meeting of the Board.

 

The A274 Sutton Road junction with Willington Street scheme would be delivered at the end of the programme, in order that the delivery of projects with funding constraints be prioritised.

 

In response to questions, the Major Projects Team Project Manager acknowledged that the disruption caused by junction improvement works would be a continuing problem. A team was in place to coordinate the programme of works, however when emergencies happen, there would be an impact on road users. The delay in delivering half bus laybys at the Loose Road junction with Cripple Street was due to the location of utilities, which would need to be diverted if the carriageway was widened. A report would be presented to the Board  ...  view the full minutes text for item 273.

274.

Maidstone Highway Works Programme pdf icon PDF 404 KB

Minutes:

RESOLVED: That the report be noted.

275.

Duration of Meeting

Minutes:

6.31 p.m. to 7.59 p.m.