Agenda and minutes

There were no substitute Members for this meeting.

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 – 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 21 November 2022

RESOLVED:  That the Minutes of the meeting of the Joint Transportation Board held on 21 November 2022 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman, subject to the following amendment:

·        Minute JTB 22/27, Proposed Single Yellow Line Waiting Restrictions – Oldbury Lane, whereby the recommendation to be amended to read ‘Old Lane Junction A25 Only’.

KCC receives many requests from local Members asking to be kept informed and involved in the highways aspects of planning applications. Whilst KCC recognises Members intent is to understand the impacts and mitigations for planning applications to support their local communities, it is not possible for direct involvement for several reasons which are outlined in this report

Members received the report of the Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, Kent County Council which advised of involvement in the highway aspects of planning applications.

There was in depth discussion and a number of concerns were raised, including the confidentiality of pre-application advice and non-disclosure under a Freedom of Information request due to the potential effect on the commercial viability of the site and that the response of the Highways Authority on planning applications could not take into account assumptions or opinions of the local community. 

Members questioned whether Kent County Council officers considered comments submitted via the Local Planning Authority by members of the public, Members and other organisations; whether a Parish Council could claim costs associated with the engagement of a highways engineer whose opinion contradicted that of Kent County Council officers; and if due regard was given to heavier vehicles, parking requirements, off road parking and garage sizes when a planning application was considered.  Members were advised that comments raised at the meeting would be responded to by Kent County Council officers.   

This report updates Members on KCC’s Active Travel Agenda

The report of Kent County Council Highways and Transportation provided an update on Kent County Council’s Active Travel agenda. 

During discussion, Members believed that there could be improved connections between public right of ways and questioned the likelihood of funding to reconstruct the collapsed section of the Medway Towpath, Aylesford and sought details of any data analysis undertaken to determine the popularity of the link.  Furthermore, Members asked how funding for the development of a Local Cycle and Walking Infrastructure Plan would be used.

This 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 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 developer funded works for junction improvements at London Road/New Road, East Malling and associated land ownership issues; and the proposed additional cleansing and CCTV survey to expand the survey area between New Road and new Hythe Lane to address the flooding issues.  Furthermore, reassurance was sought that the programmed machine resurfacing works on the A25 Borough Green would be undertaken on 5 June 2023 and would not be postponed further.

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.