Agenda, decisions and minutes

There were no declarations of interest in accordance with the Code of Conduct. In the interest of transparency County Councillor T Dean advised that she had promoted the proposed reduction in speed limits to various roads in Larkfield and intended to use the local County Members Combined Member Grant to fund its implementation (Minute number JTB 21/6 refers).

To confirm as a correct record the Notes of the meeting of the Joint Transportation Board held on 21 September 2020

RESOLVED:  That the Minutes of the meeting of the Joint Transportation Board held on 21 September 2020 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

This report updates Members on the outcome of the recent formal consultation on changes to the Traffic Regulation Order with regard to on-street parking fees and charges and makes recommendations to the Borough Council’s Cabinet.

The report of the Director of Street Scene, Leisure and Technical Services provided an update on the outcome of the formal consultation undertaken between 27 November and 21 December 2020 in respect of proposed changes to the Traffic Regulation Order regarding On-Street Parking Fees and Charges.

RECOMMENDED: That

(1)   in relation to the on-street Pay & Display charges, the Borough Cabinet note that there were no objections and agree to make the Traffic Regulation Order to facilitate the change to charges in line with the recommendation made by the Street Scene and Environment Services Advisory Board at its meeting held on 30 October 2019; and

(2)   in relation to the on-street permit charges, the Borough Cabinet note that there were a significant number of responses, set aside the objections and agree to make the Traffic Regulation Order to facilitate the change to charges in line with the recommendation made by the Street Scene and Environment Services Advisory Board at its meeting held on 30 October 2019.

*Referred to Cabinet

The Borough Council has for many years divided requests for new and revised parking restrictions into separate phases of the “Parking Action Plan”. This report covers the investigation and informal consultation stage of the parking restriction proposals contained in Phase 12 of the Parking Action Plan, and seeks approval to proceed to formal consultation.

Due to its large size Annex 5 (Formal Consultation Responses – redacted) will be published as a supplement to the main agenda.

(Decision Notice D210034MEM)

The report of the Director of Street Scene, Leisure and Technical Services presented the outcome of the investigation and informal consultation stages of 19 parking restriction proposals contained in Phase 12 of the Parking Action Plan.  The report sought approval to proceed to formal consultation in respect of 10 locations and invited consideration of whether the schemes at Wyvern Close, Snodland (Location Ref: 12-07) and Gorham Drive, Tonbridge (Location Ref: 12-08) should be abandoned or proceed to formal consultation. 

RECOMMENDED: That, subject to the inclusion of the schemes at Wyvern Close, Snodland and Gorham Drive, Tonbridge in the formal consultation, the recommendations for each location in Phase 12 shown in Annex 1 to the report be adopted and, where appropriate, the proposals be taken forward to formal consultation.

This report covers the formal consultation on proposals in Access Group 3 & Access Group 4 – subsets of the Parking Action Plan where the Council has applied a streamlined process for the consideration and promotion of minor changes to the Traffic Regulation Order.

(Decision Notice D210035MEM)

The report of the Director of Street Scene, Leisure and Technical Services presented the outcome of the formal consultation on proposals contained in the Access Group 3 and Access Group 4 subsets of the Parking Action Plan where a streamlined process had been applied to the consideration and promotion of minor changes to the Traffic Regulation Order.  

RECOMMENDED:  That, subject to the removal of the proposal to provide double yellow lines across a dropped kerb at 37 West Street, Wrotham, the recommendations for each location in Access Group 4 shown in Annex 1 to the report be adopted and, where appropriate, the proposals be implemented.

This report provides details of the consultation that took place on the proposed reduction in current speed limits to various roads in Larkfield and is being promoted by Trudy Dean (County Member for Malling Central). The report recommends the proposals are taken forward to detailed design and implementation in a phased approach.

The report of the Head of Transportation, Kent County Council, provided details of a consultation undertaken between 8 January and 1 February 2021 in respect of the proposed reduction in current speed limits to 20mph on 84 roads within Larkfield to encourage driver compliance with lower speeds and, thereby, making the local road network safer for all methods of transport.  It was noted that, due to the potential scale of the scheme and the availability of funding via the local County Member Combined Member Grant, a phased approach would be required to the implementation of the scheme. Details of the locations which required minimal signing and lining to provide a 20mph speed limit were set out in Appendix A to the report (identified as blue routes) and it was noted that any proposals for traffic calming features on red routes, apart from signage and road markings, should be subject to further consultation.

RESOLVED:  That

(1)   the proposals set out in the report be taken forward to detailed design and implementation;

(2)   a phased approach to implementation be adopted, with the extent of the reduced speed limit dependent on the availability of funding; and

(3)   any proposals for traffic calming features on red routes, apart from signage and road markings, be subject to further consultation.   

This report provides an update on outline design options being developed to improve the road and junction alignment at Kent Street, Mereworth. A recommendation is sought to endorse the proposals for Officers to develop an affordable option that is also supported by the landowner.

The report of the Head of Transportation, Kent County Council, provided an update on the development of outline design options to improve the road and junction alignment at Kent Street, Mereworth.  The Board was reminded that funds for ‘Local Traffic Management and Calming’ had been secured through a S106 agreement in respect of Kings Hill.  Details of four options aimed at improving visibility at the Kent Street junction with the A228 were set out in the report and Members expressed a preference for Option 4. It was noted that this option, at an estimated scheme cost of between £1,000,000 to £1,200,000, exceeded the funding of £826,609 available for the design and construction of the Kent Street improvements. It was acknowledged that a phased approach could be adopted if further funding became available. The Board was advised that negotiations with the landowner were at an early stage and would require further, detailed consideration.  The Board requested that the local County and Borough Members and Parish Councils be consulted on the detailed design. 

RESOLVED:  That

(1)   the options outlined in the report be noted and approval be given to progress Option 4 as the preferred option to detailed design, pending land negotiations; and

(2)   a report on the detailed design be submitted to a future meeting of the Joint Transportation Board.

A verbal update on this project will be provided by KCC officers

The Senior Project Manager for the Major Capital Programme Team, KCC, provided an update on the Coldharbour Roundabout scheme due to commence construction in May/June 2021.  In addition, he outlined the proposals for the junction of the A20 with the Aylesford Retail Park, advised that the online consultation would close on 18 March 2021 and anticipated that construction would commence in the summer.

This report updates Members on the identified schemes approved for construction

The report of KCC Highways, Transportation and Waste summarised the schemes programmed for delivery in 2021/22 and provided updates on the Road, Footway and Cycleway Renewal and Preservation Schemes (Appendix A), Drainage Repairs and Improvements (Appendix B), Street Lighting (Appendix C), Transportation and Safety Schemes (Appendix D), Developer Funded Works (Appendix E), Bridge Works (Appendix F), Traffic Systems (Appendix G) and the Combined Member Grant programme (Appendix H).  It was noted that the programme was subject to regular review.  The Tonbridge and Malling District Manager offered to respond direct to Members on a number of matters identified at the meeting.

RESOLVED:  That the report be received and noted.

The Chairman to move that the press and public be excluded from the remainder of the meeting during consideration of any items the publication of which would disclose exempt information.

There were no items considered in private.