Agenda, decisions and minutes

The were no substitute members.

Members are reminded of their obligation under the Council’s Code of Conduct to disclose any Disclosable Pecuniary Interests and Other Significant Interests in any matter(s) to be considered or being considered at the meeting. These are explained in the Code of Conduct on the Council’s website at Code of conduct for members – Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council (tmbc.gov.uk).

Members in any doubt about such declarations are advised to contact Legal or Democratic Services in advance of the meeting.

There were no declarations of interest in accordance with the Code of Conduct.

To confirm as a correct record the Notes of the meeting of the Joint Transportation Board held on 5 June 2023.

RESOLVED:  That the Minutes of the meeting of the Joint Transportation Board held on 5 June 2023 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

The report provides an update regarding the petition received requesting an   off-road cycle path along the A26 Hadlow Road East / Tonbridge Road from Tonbridge to Hadlow.

In accordance with Rule 6.2 of the Joint Transportation Board agreement, the lead petitioner shall be invited to speak.   

The report of Kent County Highways and Transportation provided an update regarding the petition in respect of an Off Road Cycle Path for the A26 Hadlow Road to Hadlow which was received by the Board at their meeting on the 5 June 2023. 

The petition was to keep the route along the main A26, however it had since been found that an alternative route potentially existed which would take users away from part of the A26 by using the old alignment of Tonbridge Road and part of a Public Right of Way (PROW).  The entire route had been broken down into sections starting from Tonbridge along the length of the A26 until it reached Hadlow College Campus.   Kent County Council Highway Improvements team saw the merits and benefits of this scheme, however there was currently no funding in place to deliver improvements along the A26, therefore any works would be subject to successful funding bids.  There was also ownership and/or changes to an existing PROW route which would also need to be overcome. 

Members were advised that the Highway Improvements Team would be willing to create an internal bid via the Local Transport Plan (LTP) budget which was administered directly by Kent County Council.  The bidding process usually took place in December with successful bids approved in March the following year. Outline design and initial communications could be started with other internal stakeholders to identify the correct procedure for upgrading the PROW.  This could also include obtaining utility assets within the area to give a better picture as to what additional works may be required, however until a source of funding was confirmed, public consultation could not take place.

In accordance with Rule 6.2 of the Joint Transportation Board agreement, the lead petitioner was invited to address the Board, following which Members indicated their support of the scheme.

The Borough Council has for many years divided requests for changes to parking restrictions into separate Phases of the “Parking Action Plan”, or for wider areas as discrete “Parking Reviews”.  This report covers the Phase 14 informal consultation.

Due to its size Annex 5 (Consultation responses) is attached as a supplement to the main agenda.

(Decision Notice D230077MEM)

The report of the Director of Street Scene, Leisure and Technical Services covered the investigation and informal consultation stage of the parking restriction proposals contained in Phase 14 of the Parking Action Plan and sought approval to proceed to formal consultation. 

Following the meeting of the Joint Transportation Board on the 5 June 2023, investigations into proposed parking changes had been undertaken at 30 sites across the Borough. A list of these sites, the issues raised and a recommendation for each was attached at Annex 1 to the report.  A location summary and a more detailed response rate, analysis and recommendation was attached at Annex 2.  The views of Local Members were sought on Ph 14-32 (West Street, Wrotham) and it was commented that the proposal should proceed to formal consultation.

The report also considered a Satisfaction Survey relating to new restrictions introduced in Shakespeare Road, Tonbridge (between Burns Crescent and Scott Road).  It was highlighted that if changes were made to remove the double yellow line restrictions, these could be made without invalidating the current Traffic Regulation Order.

The Borough had taken forward the Kings Hill Parking Review and was about to undertake the installation of the scheme. Unfortunately, there had been a procedural issue by Kent County Council that too much time had elapsed since the formal consultation was carried out, and Kent County Council were unable to seal the Traffic Regulation Order.  To address this, the statutory consultation would be repeated on the proposals as previously circulated, with the exception of the proposals for Fortune Way and Milton Lane, which were subject to Kent County Council developing proposals for one-way traffic flow.  The aim was to provide a report to the next meeting of the Board.  Subject to the outcome of the consultation and the agreement of the Board, the plan was to implement the proposals in Spring 2024.

RECOMMENDED: That

(1)        the recommendations for each location for Phase 14, shown in Annex 1 to the report, be adopted and where appropriate the proposals be taken forward to formal consultation.  Furthermore, Members views were sought on West Street, Wrotham and agreed that this be taken forward to formal consultation; and

(2)        following consideration of the views of the Joint Transportation Board and local Members, the double yellow lines on Shakespeare Road (between Burns Crescent and Scott Road) be removed.

The report summarises the public consultation that has been undertaken on the proposed Kent Street/Malling Road highway improvements and recommended next steps.

The report of Kent County Council Highways and Transportation summarised the public consultation that had been undertaken on the proposed Kent Street/Malling Road highway improvements and recommended next steps. 

Options had been presented to the Joint Transportation Board in March 2021, with the recommendation to progress to designs on a scheme that would give the most amount of improvement.  Subsequently, various schemes had been investigated with the main aim to provide better visibility at the junction and proposals were consulted upon.  The full consultation report and plans were attached at Appendix A to the report.  If the proposal were to be supported as a whole or amended, there would be insufficient funding, however if an alternative option to amend the scheme by reducing the cycle facility but providing a footway between Kent Street and Beech Road were to be supported, this would reduce the costs and bring it in line with the existing available budget along with reduced land requirements. 

During discussion, Members recognised that there was an urgent need to improve visibility at the junction and enhance safety and conditions for local residents, pedestrians and cyclists. 

RECOMMENDED: That Kent County Council proceed to detailed design and construction, with an amendment to the scheme of removing the cycle facility but providing a footpath between Kent Street and Beech Road.

The report updates Members on the identified schemes approved for construction.

The report of the Kent County Highways, Transportation and Waste summarised schemes programmed for delivery in 2022/23 and 2023/23.  The report provided an update on 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 Funding Works (Appendix E), Bridge Works (Appendix F), Traffic Systems (Appendix G) and the Combined Members Grant (Appendix H). 

Members sought an update on the refurbishment of the existing traffic signal-controlled crossing and conversion to near-sided pedestrian facilities.  An update was provided on the Members Grant programme in respect of West Peckham 30 mph and it was noted that the scheme was currently at the design stage and the Traffic Regulation Order was being drafted.  

In relation to the replacement of the lamp column on Western Road Borough Green, the Chair invited the local Ward Member to submit a representation for Member Grant funding. 

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.