Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber - Swale House

Contact: Democratic Services, 01795 417330 

Items
No. Item

45.

Confirmation of Chairman and Vice-Chairman

To confirm the Chairman and Vice-Chairman for the 2015/16 municipal year.

Minutes:

Resolved:  That Councillor Mike Whiting be confirmed as Chairman and Kent County Councillor Tom Gates as Vice-Chairman for the 2015/16 municipal year.

46.

Minutes

To approve the Minutes of the Meeting held on 9 March 2015 (Minute Nos. 526 - 534) as a correct record.

 

Minutes:

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 9 March 2015 (Minute Nos. 526 – 534) were taken as read, approved and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

 

In response to a question, the Traffic Schemes Team Leader provided an update on Tonge Road, Sittingbourne, as follows:  ‘the original scheme required alterations to the vehicle access to adjacent land.  During the continuation of the detailed design it was found that there was not enough verge width to place the 30mph signs in advance of the footpath crossing.  The 30mph limit will now be extended to the existing footpath and the actual crossing point located approximately 10 metres west, within the extended 30mph section.  A new street light will also be installed to increase the visibility of people crossing, as well as other new lighting down the footpath.  There will not be build-outs anymore due to the reduction of the proposed 30mph limit.  The vegetation will start to be trimmed back/removed sufficiently to improve visibility for users.  Changing the design reduces the amount of work to the adjacent private vehicle access and the scheme can progress without further negotiations.

 

Recent discussions have been held with the contractors regarding the construction method required to minimise disruption to all users.  There are electrical connections required as part of the street lighting improvements and these are carried out by UKPN.  Their dates for cabling are out of our control but, due to the high use of the path by school children, I am attempting to have everything in place for construction at the start of the school holidays.  Due to the restricted space available at the site it is anticipated that Tonge Road will need to be closed for two weeks with the footpath closed for one day.  The overall duration of the works will be five weeks.  These dates will be publicised closer to the start of works.

 

Tree clearance cannot be done until after the end of August, due to the bird nesting season, which pushes the works outside of the summer holiday window.  A request was made to close the footpath between 10am and 2.30pm for one day to enable the footpath to be constructed, and the road would need to be closed for a further two weeks, also during school term time.’

 

The Board were happy to support closure of the footpath between 10am and 2.30pm for one day as above.

47.

Declarations of Interest

Councillors should not act or take decisions in order to gain financial or other material benefits for themselves or their spouse, civil partner or person with whom they are living with as a spouse or civil partner.  They must declare and resolve any interests and relationships.

 

The Chairman will ask Members if they have any interests to declare in respect of items on this agenda, under the following headings:

 

(a)          Disclosable Pecuniary Interests (DPI) under the Localism Act 2011.  The nature as well as the existence of any such interest must be declared.  After declaring a DPI, the Member must leave the meeting and not take part in the discussion or vote.  This applies even if there is provision for public speaking.

 

(b)          Disclosable Non Pecuniary (DNPI) under the Code of Conduct adopted by the Council in May 2012.  The nature as well as the existence of any such interest must be declared.  After declaring a DNPI interest, the Member may stay, speak and vote on the matter.

 

Advice to Members:  If any Councillor has any doubt about the existence or nature of any DPI or DNPI which he/she may have in any item on this agenda, he/she should seek advice from the Director of Corporate Services as Monitoring Officer, the Head of Legal or from other Solicitors in Legal Services as early as possible, and in advance of the Meeting.

 

Minutes:

No interests were declared.

48.

Public Session

Members of the public have the opportunity to speak at this meeting.  Anyone wishing to present a petition or speak on this item is required to register with the Democratic Services Section by noon on Friday 5 June 2015.  Questions that have not been submitted by this deadline will not be accepted.  Only two people will be allowed to speak on each item and each person is limited to asking two questions.  Each speaker will have a maximum of three minutes to speak.

 

Petitions, questions and statements will only be accepted if they are in relation to an item being considered at this meeting.

Minutes:

There had not been a request to speak at the meeting from members of the public.

 

The Chairman drew Members’ attention to the tabled paper from Teynham Parish Council which outlined information on a new timetable consultation programme from Southeastern Trains; the deadline for response to the consultation was 26 June 2015.  The Board agreed that the Chairman wrote to Southeastern Trains in support of the measures the Parish Council had stated in their letter, and he encouraged Members to forward any further comments to him which he would then pass on to Southeastern.

 

Discussion ensued on the issue of trains passing through rural stations during periods of train delays and the potential safety issues of stranded passengers as a result of this.  Suggestions were made that the four-way track outside Newington be utilised to address this issue, so that faster trains could pass those that had stopped at the station.  It was also suggested that Parish Councils attended SwaleRail meetings.

 

Resolved: That the Chairman writes to Southeastern Trains in support of Teynham Parish Council’s comments and also forwards any further comments from the Members of the Board to Southeastern Trains.

Part One - Minutes for recommendation to Swale Borough Council's Cabinet

49.

Proposed Waiting Restrictions - Informal Consultation pdf icon PDF 67 KB

To consider a report on the results of informal consultation with residents and statutory consultees on proposed amendments to waiting restrictions in various areas of the Borough.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Engineer introduced the report which provided a summary of informal consultation results with residents and statutory consultees on proposed amendments to waiting restrictions in various areas of the Borough.

 

Belvedere Road, Faversham

 

A Ward Member supported the proposal.

 

The recommendation in the report was agreed.

 

South Road, Faversham

 

A Member spoke in support of the proposal and considered it would allow buses and other vehicles to use the gap in the parking for access along the road.

 

The recommendation in the report was agreed.

 

Luton Road, Faversham

 

A Ward Member welcomed the proposal and considered the extension of double yellow lines  would help to address access problems in the area.

 

The recommendation in the report was agreed.

 

All Saints Close, Iwade

 

A Member welcomed the corner protection that the proposal offered, but considered further consultation was needed on the single yellow line option.

 

Kent County Councillor Mike Baldock moved a motion that further consultation be carried out on the single yellow line option and this was seconded by Kent County Councillor Lee Burgess.

 

The Engineer outlined the consultation process that had taken place, and explained that it was standard practice to consult with Parish Councils, Ward Members and County Members.  Neighbouring properties would also have been consulted and the proposals advertised on site.

 

Discussion ensued on the potential access issues to the nearby cemetery.

 

The amended proposal was agreed.

 

Recommended:

 

(1)  That the proposed double yellow lines in Belvedere Road, Faversham proceed.

(2)  That the proposed double yellow lines in South Road, Faversham be abandoned.

(3)  That the proposed double yellow lines in Luton Road, Faversham, plus additional double yellow lines across the other entrance to Sommerville Close proceed and the existing double yellow lines near the junction with Westgate Road, Faversham be reduced.

(4)  That the double yellow lines on the corner of All Saints Close, Iwade proceed and further consultation on the remaining proposed restrictions be carried out.

Part Two - Information Items

50.

Lansdowne Primary School, Gladstone Drive, Sittingbourne pdf icon PDF 76 KB

Members are asked to note the report which provides an update on the traffic review associated with the expansion of the school to a 2-Form Entry.

Minutes:

This report provided an update on the traffic review associated with the expansion of the school to a 2-form entry.

 

A Member considered there should have been more information on the impact of the additional 30 pupils on the parking in the surrounding roads.

 

Resolved:

(1)  That the report be noted.

51.

Highway Works Programme 2015/16 pdf icon PDF 131 KB

Members are asked to note the report on the identified schemes approved for construction in 2015/16.

Minutes:

The Board considered the report which provided an update on the identified schemes approved for construction in 2015/16.

 

Members went through the report and the following comments were made:

 

Page 29

 

Lower Road, Minster – a request was made for work to be carried out at night time, due to the busy road.

 

Page 30

 

The District Manager reported that Epps Road, Sittingbourne should also be included in the list for surface dressing.

 

Page 31

 

A request was made that more precise details be given for the location of street lighting columns.

 

Page 35

 

A Member considered that traffic lights at Barton Hill Drive/Lower Road were a waste of money.

 

Page 38

 

Highsted Road, Sittingbourne – the Traffic Schemes Team Leader reported that not all the landowners were willing to donate sections of land within their ownership so a footpath/footway was unable to be constructed on this route.

 

Eastchurch Primary School - a Member considered that the 30mph sign should be moved towards Bay View Road and replace those near Warden Bay Road, and that variable speed measures were unsatisfactory. The Traffic Schemes Team Leader reported that works had already been ordered so the original scheme was set to go, and work was likely to start prior to the summer holidays.  She stated that she would report the comments made by Members to officers.

 

Page 39

 

Discussion ensued on dropped kerbs and the consultation process.  The Traffic Schemes Team Leader explained that the dropped kerb process worked via a priority queuing scheme.  In response to a question, she advised that works near the rugby club on Lower Road, Minster were with consultants and the plans could be distributed, when available, to Parish Councils and Ward Members.

 

Page 40

 

The District Manager confirmed that he would provide further information on the footpath and road on Clarence Row, Sheerness with regard to ownership and maintenance.

52.

Progress Update Report pdf icon PDF 107 KB

To consider the Progress Update Report which outlines progress made following recommendations and agreed action at previous meetings.

Minutes:

Members considered the report that gave an update on the progress made regarding various schemes in the Borough.

 

Page 45 – Sittingbourne Retail Park site

 

The Traffic Schemes Team Leader updated the Board and read out a statement as follows:  ‘Investigation work in advance of detailed design has commenced .  Initial findings have revealed BT Openreach equipment in a location that is highly likely to require diversionary works to accommodate the carriageway widening.  Trial holes wil be undertaken shortly to establish whether such diversionary works will be required.  If so, a quotation for such works will be required from Openreach.  If diversionary works are required, the time it will take to obtain the costs from the third party will delay the implementation of the scheme, with the associated high risk of being unable to complete the widening scheme in time for the start of Christmas 2015 peak shopping period, which is being demanded by the retail park tenants.  I am keeping retail park representatives informed of progress.’

 

Page 46 – Sittingbourne Market

 

Members spoke in frustration of the time taken to relocate the market.  The Engineer agreed to provide an update from the meeting held week commencing 1 June 2015.

 

Page 47 – Sheppey Crossing

 

A Member considered there should be an efficient method of closing the crossing when required.

 

Northern Relief Road, Sittingbourne

 

In response to a question, the District Manager explained that the Northern Relief Road was covered in the Swale Transportation Strategy Draft in paragraph 6.4 and included in Table 8 (Line 13) and Table 12 (Line E15) as identified improvement schemes.

 

The link to the Swale Transportation Strategy Draft (to which the above statement refers) is given below.

 

http://archive.swale.gov.uk/assets/Planning-General/Planning-Policy/Evidence-Base/Local-Plan-2014/Swale-LTS-Final-Draft.pdf

 

Lower Road Junction with Barton Hill Drive, Isle of Sheppey

 

The District Manager provided an update on the Barton Hill Drive junction with A2500 Lower Road, Minster, to confirm: we are working on a roundabout design and are in negotiation with potential developers with respect to funding etc. We cannot reveal any more detail as it was only at pre-application stage.

 

Members urged KCC to proceed as soon as possible.

 

A Member requested that Swale Rail be added to the agenda for the next meeting.