Agenda, decisions and minutes

There were no declarations of interest made 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 12 March 2018

RESOLVED:  That, subject to the amendment of the resolution at Minute JTB 18/5 to read ‘That Kent County Council be commended to proceed with the scheme and retain the short stay drop off spaces outside the front of the station with no room for a further bus stop’, the Minutes of the meeting of the Joint Transportation Board held on 12 March 2018 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

The Borough Council has for many years divided requests for changes to parking restrictions into separate Phases of the “Parking Action Plan”.

This report covers the content of the next Phase (Phase 10) of the Action Plan and also reports on the future extension of the inclusion of Snodland as a separate Parking Review.

Decision Notice D180045MEM

The report of the Director of Street Scene, Leisure and Technical Services set out details of the proposed sites and the associated proposals to be included in Phase 10 of the Parking Action Plan together with a list of locations to be held for consideration in future phases of the Plan.  Members were reminded of the current procedures and informal consultation process for promoting changes to parking restrictions and advised that, separate to the Phased Parking Action Plan, Parking Reviews would be undertaken in Kings Hill, Hildenborough and Hadlow.  In addition it was noted that, due to the number, variety, size and scope of requests received in respect of Snodland, the town should be considered for a future Parking Review.  

RECOMMENDED:  That

(1)          the list of locations identified in Annex 1 to the report be taken forward for investigation and informal consultation as Phase 10 of the Parking Action Plan; and

(2)          the parking issues in Snodland be considered as a separate Parking Review. 

This report relates to a review of Business Permits within the D2 Parking Zone in the Barden Road Area, Tonbridge.

Decision Notice D180046MEM

The report of the Director of Street Scene, Leisure and Technical Services set out details of the outcome of a review of Business Permits within the D2 Parking Zone in the Barden Road Area, Tonbridge.  A summary of the results of a survey undertaken to identify the location and number of business permit holders parking in the area was set out in Annex 2 to the report. 

The report explored the advantages and disadvantages of a number of options which could address the concerns of both residential and business permit holders and support was expressed for Option 3 which would restrict business permits for ‘commercial-office’ parking to specific underused roads and allow the remaining ‘commercial-retail/showroom’ businesses to park in the D1 Zone.  It was noted that this proposal could be further modified by offering season tickets for the long-stay car parks at a reduced-rate for two years to those business permit holders displaced by this option.  It was indicated that the changes could be introduced without a change to the on-street Traffic Regulation Order and that Business permit holders would be advised that the changes would come into effect at the next permit renewal date.

RECOMMENDED:  That

(1)          Option 3 be taken forward to address the concerns around Business Permit Parking in the D1 and D2 Zones; and

(2)          the review of D1 and D2 Business Parking Permits be added to the holding list for review as part of the Phased Parking Review.

Following public consultation on the Holborough Lakes Waiting Restrictions (Amendment No. 17 Order 2017) this report details the responses received.

The report of the Head of Transportation, Kent County Council, set out details of an application received from Berkeley Homes (Eastern Counties) Ltd. for a Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) to restrict waiting on various roads within the Holborough Lakes housing development.  Details of the extent of the proposed new waiting restrictions were set out in Appendix B to the report and it was noted that some of these related to locations where double yellow lining was already in pace.  A summary of the responses received by 4 September 2017 to the advertisement of the proposed TRO, and subsequent replies from the applicant, were set out in Appendix D to the report. 

Members expressed concern about the ‘retrospective’ nature of the application, the existence of an extant TRO for the development which the developer had failed to comply with and that double yellow lining had been laid in locations which were the subject of this application.  Particular reference was made to the need to provide parking for residents within the development as the lack of this would exacerbate on-street parking issues elsewhere in Snodland.  The Board acknowledged that the applicant would be able to seek minor amendments to the existing scheme if it could be demonstrated that these were required for safety reasons.

RESOLVED:  That the proposed traffic regulation order ‘The Kent County Council (Various Roads, Tonbridge and Malling) (Waiting Restrictions & On-Street Parking Places) Amendment No 17 Order 2017’ be rejected in its entirety and the previous (existing) Traffic Regulation Order be adhered to. 

This report updates Members on the identified schemes approved for construction in 2018/19

The report of KCC Highways and Transportation provided an update on footway and carriageway improvement, drainage repairs and improvements, street lighting, transportation and safety schemes, Developer Funded Works (Sections 278 and 106 works), bridge works and approved traffic schemes.  In addition the report provided details of current County Member funded schemes within the Borough.

RESOLVED:  That the report be received and noted.

The report outlines the pre and post scheme monitoring that has been undertaken.  The scheme has been evaluated against the original objectives of the project, namely to provide an attractive, safer environment, improve access to jobs and public transport, improve air quality and alleviate congestion.

The report of the Head of Transportation, Kent County Council, outlined the pre and post scheme monitoring undertaken in respect of the Tonbridge High Street Improvement Scheme completed in June 2016.  It was noted that that the scheme had been evaluated against the original objectives of the project, namely to provide an attractive, safer environment, improve access to jobs and public transport, improve air quality and alleviate congestion. 

RESOLVED:  That the report be received and noted.

The report informs of options currently under consideration to address congestion issues around Bus Stop G (outside No. 34 High Street - Café Nero)

Further to Minute JTB 18/14 the report of the Head of Transportation, KCC outlined the options under consideration to address the congestion issues at Bus Stop G located outside 34 High Street, Tonbridge and sought guidance on those to be taken forward to the detailed design stage.  The Board requested that Option 3a (2/3rds width lay-by with bus 2/3rds on lay-by and 1/3rd on carriageway) and Option 4 (Splitting services by moving some services from Stop G to other location) be investigated further.

RESOLVED:  That the Report be received and noted.

The report provides an update on progress for the Tonbridge Station project.

The report of the Head of Transportation, KCC provided an update on progress with the West Kent Local Growth Fund (LGF) funded scheme for the Transport Interchange Improvements at Tonbridge Station.  The Board noted that construction would commence on 25 July 2018 and that it was anticipated that the majority of the difficult works would be undertaken during the school holiday period to minimise disruption to traffic flow.  It was noted that a meeting had been held with the bus operating companies to help plan the works to mitigate impact on customers accessing bus stops and that the relevant companies would continue to be kept involved and consulted both before and during construction of the access improvement scheme.  

Attention was drawn to recent advice received from the anti-terrorism police requiring the installation of anti-ram bollards near the station forecourt.  Members were extremely concerned about the effect the installation of bollards could have on the provision of more space for pedestrian movements, which was an integral part of the Interchange Improvements, and suggested that legal advice be sought on the consequences of undertaking a fundamental change to the agreed project.  The Board noted that the Principal Transport Manager, KCC would seek clarification on the design around the station in respect of the anti-ram bollards and report back to the Chairman, the Leader of the Borough Council and the KCC Cabinet Member for Planning, Highways, Transport and Waste to take instruction on how to proceed with the scheme.

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.