Decision Taken By: CABINET MEMBER FOR Planning and Transportation
Decision No: D110151MEM
Date: 16th November 2011
Decision(s) and Reason(s)
Borough Transportation Matters
Minutes
The report provided an update on a number of transportation matters on which the Borough Council had recently been focusing and sought retrospective endorsement of letters sent to the Minister of Transport with responsibility for rail and to the Managing Director of Southeastern Railway. The letters expressed deep concern about the impact that imminent rail fare increases would have on residents of the Borough who travelled regularly by train and urged restraint in the scale of the proposed increases.
Members welcomed the Kent County Council proposals to deliver the A21 Tonbridge to Pembury Dualling Scheme and requested that this be supported in a further letter to the Minister of Transport. In addition, reference should be made to the recent comments made by the CBI regarding the importance of the A21 dualling scheme to the economic vitality of the area.
Following consideration by the Planning and Transportation Advisory Board, the Cabinet Member for Planning and Transportation resolved that:
1) the letters, set out in Annex 2 of the report, from the Leader and the Cabinet Member for Planning and Transportation to the Minister at the Department for Transport and to the Managing Director of Southeastern railway be endorsed;
2) the principle of joint consideration of the forecourt remodelling at West Malling Station and the planning obligations associated with the bus gate be endorsed;
3) support for the proposals by the local Health Trust to explore the possibilities of response transport arrangements using the voluntary sector for community access to the new hospital at Pembury from the rural parts of the Borough be endorsed;
4) the submission to South East England Councils, set out in Annex 4 of the report, be endorsed; and
5) a further letter supporting the Kent County Council proposals regarding the A21 Tonbridge to Pembury Dualling Scheme and referring to the recent CBI comments be sent to the Minister of Transport.
Reasons: As set out in the report submitted to the Planning and Transportation Advisory Board of 16 November 2011.
Signed N Heslop (Cabinet Member for Planning and Transportation)
Signed Leader: M Worrall
Signed Chief Executive: D Hughes
Date of Publication: 18 November 2011
This decision will come into force and may then be implemented on the expiry of 5 working days after publication unless it is called in.