The Chairman will advise the meeting of the evacuation procedures to follow in the event of an emergency. This is particularly important for visitors and members of the public who will be unfamiliar with the building and procedures.

The Chairman will inform the meeting whether there is a planned evacuation drill due to take place, what the alarm sounds like (i.e. ringing bells), where the closest emergency exit route is, and where the second closest emergency exit route is, in the event that the closest exit or route is blocked.

The Chairman will inform the meeting that:

(a) in the event of the alarm sounding, everybody must leave the building via the nearest safe available exit and gather at the Assembly points at the far side of the Car Park; and

(b) the lifts must not be used in the event of an evacuation.

Any officers present at the meeting will aid with the evacuation.

It is important that the Chairman is informed of any person attending who is disabled or unable to use the stairs, so that suitable arrangements may be made in the event of an emergency.

The Chairman drew attention to the evacuation procedure.

To approve the Minutes of the Meeting held on 19 December 2016 (Minute Nos. 1075 - 1089) as a correct record.

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 19 December 2016 (Minute Nos. 1075 – 1089) were taken as read, approved and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

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.

(c)          Where it is possible that a fair-minded and informed observer, having considered the facts would conclude that there was a real possibility that the Member might be predetermined or biased the Member should declare their predetermination or bias and then leave the room while that item is considered.

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 Monitoring Officer, the Head of Legal or from other Solicitors in Legal Services as early as possible, and in advance of the Meeting.

No interests were declared.

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 3 March 2017.  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.

Councillor George Samuel presented a petition on behalf of local residents which sought support to provide Tunstall School with a pedestrian crossing.  Councillor Samuel reported that the school had been open for a year. He explained that the parking and drop-off facilities at the school were very good, but the lack of a pedestrian crossing presented danger to pedestrians on a daily basis.  A high volume of commuter traffic past by the school, and there was often confusion at the crossing points, which were not pedestrian crossings, where one vehicle from one direction, stopped to allow pedestrians to cross, but the traffic coming from the other direction did not always stop.  Councillor Samuel explained that the school was not yet at full capacity, so the problem would get worse.  Over the past five years there had been five separate incidents on Tunstall Road, with some near misses as well.  He reported that the petition had 278 signatures and he highlighted the importance of having formal pedestrian crossings at this location.

The Chairman accepted the petition and advised that a report would be written and submitted to a future meeting of the Board.

Councillor James Hunt presented a petition on behalf of local residents which sought support to introduce a 20mph restriction on all roads within The Meads, Sittingbourne.  Councillor Hunt reported that 481 signatures had been received, and he explained that speeding vehicles were a concern on the estate.  He considered that as there were only two entrances to the estate, the 20mph restriction would be easy to implement.

The Chairman accepted the petition and advised that a report would be written and submitted to a future meeting of the Board.

Kent County Councillor Roger Truelove presented a petition on behalf of local residents which sought support to address the problems caused by non-permit holders parking on Ufton Lane, Sittingbourne.  He explained that as the road was so near to the town centre, cars were often parked there by visitors to the town centre, which meant that residents were unable to park.  There were 34 signatures on the petition.

The Chairman accepted the petition and advised that a report would be written and submitted to a future meeting of the Board.

The Chairman welcomed the representatives from Eastchurch Parish Council to the meeting.

Parish Councillor Mike Brown explained that Eastchurch Parish Council requested that investigation be made to the possibility of installing a one-way system on the upper section of Church Road, Eastchurch.  Mr Brown provided a background to the problems, caused by Church Road being largely residential, with a lack of driveways and footpaths.  He explained that at the top of Church Road, there was a four-way junction, and vehicles constantly abused the parking restrictions.  Mr Brown reported that the Parish Council had petitioned the Police, and the Council, to impose enforcement of the parking restrictions, but this reverted back to the issue, once the period of enforcement presence had ended.  He explained that the problems increased during the holiday period when caravans passed through the village, and he also highlighted the potential problem of inaccessibility for emergency services.

Mr Brown proposed that Church Road be re-designated into a one-way road with traffic flowing southbound.  He explained that local residents had been consulted and were in favour of the one-way system, and he advised that the Parish Council was happy to fund the scheme.

Members made comments which included:  congratulated the Parish Council on the work they had carried-out; supported the proposals, as residents supported it and the Parish Council were happy to fund the scheme; Kent County Council (KCC) Highways & Transportation would need to look into it further to ensure the scheme was safe; the upper section of Church Road as two-way was ‘laughable’, one-way was more realistic; local residents knew what was best; and this was a necessary scheme.

Recommended:

(1)      That KCC supports the proposals set-out by Eastchurch Parish Council for the re-designation of Church Road, Eastchurch, as a one-way road, and note that the Parish Council was happy to fund the scheme.

Parish Councillor Peter MacDonald, representing Minster-on-Sea Parish Council, spoke on the request from the Parish Council to reduce the speed limit to 30mph along the entire Scocles Road in Minster.

Mr MacDonald explained that half of Scocles Road had 30mph restriction, whilst the other half was 60mph.  He acknowledged that this had been more acceptable in the past, but considered as there was now more housing there, that the entire length of the road should be 30mph.  Mr MacDonald reported that the Police supported the Parish Council on this matter, and advised that only one additional sign was required.   He stated that the road was not designed to be an artery road, and he requested that the JTB supported the scheme and suggested to KCC that they looked at the matter again.

Members made comments which included:  if KCC cannot attend site meetings, the local Member was happy to attend; new roads were being opened-up along Scocles Road and this made the road very dangerous; this was the right thing to do; would the Parish Council consider funding the scheme?; the appropriate speed limit should be implemented; and the whole length of the road should be classed as built-up, with 30mph speed limit.

Recommended:

(1)          That KCC supports the proposals set-out by Minster-on-Sea Parish Council to reduce the remaining part of Scocles Road, Minster from 60mph to 30mph, so that the entire length of road has a 30mph speed limit.

The Board considered the report which provided an update on the identified schemes approved for construction in 2016/17.

Page 3

Sheldwich

A Member agreed to speak outside of the meeting on the progress of gully-clearing.

Page 10

SW/2045 – Mill Way, Sittingbourne

A Member requested more information, and site plans, on the work that would be carried out in the vicinity of the railway station.

SW/3037 – Stickfast Lane, Iwade

The District Manager agreed to look further into the potentially dangerous trenches/indents on the road caused by lorries going to the extraction works.

SW/003025 – Sheppey Way, Iwade

A Member commented that the work had been going on for some time.

Page 11

SW/003035 – Staplehurst Road, Sittingbourne

A Member sought clarification on the road closure and work start dates.  The District Manager confirmed that an update would be sent  to the KCC Member, the Chairman and the Ward Member.

SW/003050 – Love Lane/Graveney Road, Faversham

The Chairman requested a copy of the initial design submission.

Page 13

A2/A251 junction

The Chairman requested that an update report be submitted to the next JTB meeting.

Page 14

Bobbing Village School

A Member reported that some of the markings on the road outside the school had already worn away.

Resolved:

(1)      That the report be noted.

Tabled report added 8 March 2017.

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

Page 19

218/09/14 – Lower Road Junction with Barton Hill Drive, Isle of Sheppey

Members requested an update on this as soon as possible.

Page 20

1079/12/16 – Update on the 20’s Plenty for Faversham Working Group

The District Manager agreed to look into this further and provide Members with a further update.

Page 22

1083/12/16 – Update on the Progress of the Swale Freight Transport Plan

The Chairman drew Members’ attention to the tabled paper which outlined Swale Borough Council’s (SBC) response to the Freight Action Plan for Kent Consultation.

Members made the following comments and suggested amendments to the consultation response:

·         That the Swale Freight Management Plan be included as an appendix;

·         Acknowledge mention of managing the routing of HGVs so they remain on the strategic road network, and not on minor lanes, but hauliers should be encouraged to use SATNAVs designed for HGVs;

·         Lorry parking – massive investment in Dover is a nonsense; better to invest in locations where the HGVs need to be;

·         Overnight lorry parking – effective enforcement was required for this to be effective.

Page 23

1084/12/16 – A2 Teynham Speed Limit Petition Response

Members agreed that a further update be reported to the next JTB meeting.

Resolved:

(1)      That the report be noted.