Issue - meetings

(Report of the Director of Planning, Housing and Environmental Health)

A consultation draft Freight Action Plan for Kent setting out 5 specific actions on how the County Council and partners planned to reduce the impact of road freight on local communities had been produced by Kent County Council.  Views on the draft document were sought by 12 March 2017.  It was reported that the Freight Action Plan (FAP) acted as a ‘daughter’ document to the KCC Local Transport Plan 4.

Consideration was given to a proposed response to the consultation questionnaire, attached as Annex 1 to the report, which was generally supportive of the actions set out.

Following consideration by the Planning and Transportation Advisory Board, the Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning and Infrastructure resolved that:

(1)         the content of the report be endorsed; and

(2)         the Borough Council’s proposed response to the consultation, as set out in Annex 1 to the report, be endorsed.

Decision Notice D170026MEM

A consultation draft Freight Action Plan for Kent setting out five specific actions on how the County Council and partners planned to reduce the impact of road freight on local communities had been produced by Kent County Council.  Views on the draft document were sought by 12 March 2017.  It was reported that the Freight Action Plan (FAP) acted as a ‘daughter’ document to the KCC Local Transport Plan 4.

Consideration was given to a proposed response to the consultation questionnaire, attached as Annex 1 to the report, which was generally supportive of the actions set out.

It was indicated that funding to proceed with the actions identified in the Plan had been agreed, although there was no clear timetable set out. 

Concern was expressed regarding a number of issues including air quality/pollution in Kent, the importance of the proposed M25/M26 east facing slips at Sevenoaks, ongoing congestion at junction 4 of the M20, the need for improvements along the A20 to ease traffic related problems and the prospect of an additional junction on the M20.   Members were assured that all options continued to be explored and raised as priorities with Kent County Council, Kent Highway Services and Highways England.

Finally, reference was made to a joint project between Kent County Council and Kent Police where local residents were empowered to record details of large vehicles using unsuitable routes or routing through areas with a weight, height or width restriction.  It was suggested that details of this Lorry Watch scheme be shared with the Parish Partnership Panel to promote the initiative.

RECOMMENDED:  That

(1)         the content of the report be endorsed; and

(2)         the Borough Council’s proposed response to the consultation, as set out in Annex 1 to the report, be endorsed.

[In accordance with Council and Committee Procedure Rule 8.6 of the Constitution Councillor M Taylor asked that his vote against the recommendation to endorse the proposed response be recorded.]