minutes

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 17th September 2007 (Minute Nos. 436 - 454) were taken as read, approved and signed by the Chairman as a correct record, subject to the amendment of Minute No. 445 (Faversham Town Centre Traffic Restrictions), to read:

'The Head of Amenities explained that the proposed changes to the traffic signals at the Crescent Road/Market Street junction, as part of the Tesco development, were being designed to accommodate traffic from possible future changes in traffic flow in Preston Street. He also advised that the possibility of securing Section 106 funding to take the preferred option forward was being progressed'.

A Member explained that with regard to Minute No. 442 (Progress Update) she had requested when a speed limit would be in place on Jenkins Hill. The Senior Transportation Engineer confirmed that work would begin in February 2008.

declarations of interest

No interests were declared.

public session

There were no items to consider under this item.

part a minutes for confirmation

progress update

Members examined the chart, which provided an update on the progress made in relation to various schemes within the Borough.

With regard to Faversham Parking Review, Preston Grove Area, the Senior Transportation Engineer confirmed that he would clarify the situation with SBC's Head of Environment and Amenities. He also explained that he would look into progress of work in locations around Minster Road/Scrapsgate Road.

Senior Transportation Engineer

The speed limit works in Love Lane would be completed in January 2008.

The parking issues along Ashford Road were being incorporated into the A251 speed review which would begin early in 2008.

The Senior Transportation Engineer updated Members on the highway safety issues at Jenkins Hill and explained that the last working group meeting with Parish Councils had been in October 2007 and he would provide an update before the next meeting of the Board in March 2008.

With regard to Faversham Town Centre, the Principal Engineer (Transportation) explained that talks were ongoing with Tesco regarding their contribution towards funding the works.

A Kent County Councillor requested that the Kent County Councillor representative for Milton High Street be kept informed of any progress.

parking restrictions - various locations (a)

The Head of Environment and Amenities introduced his report which updated the Board on progress of various Traffic Regulation Orders and also considered the results of recent consultation exercises carried out in various locations, in relation to new waiting restrictions. He explained that a petition had been received from residents in Queenborough in objection. In response to a question, the Head of Environment and Amenities explained that no yellow lines would be added at the locations in Queenborough until the Board had seen the report which would be submitted at the next meeting in March.

parking restrictions - various locations (b)

The Head of Environment and Amenities introduced his report which considered the results of recent consultation exercises carried out in various locations in relation to new waiting restrictions.

Some Members expressed concern about the amount of times a road was dug up and suggested that agencies consulted each other to ensure that any work was done at the same time.

The Head of Environment and Amenities confirmed that he would look into when double yellow lines on Scrapsgate Road would be provided; he confirmed that a Traffic Order existed for this location.

Head of Environment and Amenities

faversham parking review

The Head of Environment and Amenities introduced his update report which considered the progress of the Faversham Parking Review, following the recommendations of the Joint Transportation Board at their meeting on 25th June 2007.

sittingbourne residents' parking scheme review (outskirts)

The Head of Environment and Amenities introduced his report which considered the formal consultation undertaken with respect to the residents' comments on a proposed expansion of the Sittingbourne Residents Parking Scheme to the area of Chalkwell Road north of the railway bridge. He reported that generally there had been no support for extending the scheme. In response to a question regarding a low response to consultation, the Head of Environment and Amenities suggested that smaller sections of Sittingbourne could be reviewed in the future.

scarborough drive, minster - petition received

The Senior Transportation Engineer introduced his report which updated the Board on the petition received requesting traffic calming in Scarborough Road, Minster. He reported that an investigation indicated that the speed limit was consistent with a 30 mph limit and explained that there had been no reported accidents.

highways advisory board decisions

The Senior Transportation Engineer introduced his report which updated the Board on the decisions made by the Highways Advisory Board (HAB) in November 2007 with regard to a proposed traffic management scheme on Richmond Street/Marine Parade, Sheerness and proposed traffic calming measures on Ruins Barn Road, Tunstall. The HAB supported both the proposals and requested that a report for the proposed scheme in Sheerness be submitted to the HAB before it went out for consultation. A Member considered that a more co-ordinated approach was needed, especially with regard to the Ruins Barn Road area and the growth of the Science Park.

prioritising investment programmes on the kent integrated network (pipkin) progress update

The Senior Transportation Engineer introduced his report which set out the proposed programme of works that were considered through the PIPKIN process. He brought the Board's attention to Appendix One which showed the countywide priority rating and Appendix Two which showed the schemes proposed in Swale. Swale schemes that did not receive funding were included in Appendix Three. He advised that the PIPKIN process was evolving and improvements were being made which would be incorporated into the assessment next time.

Members raised concern with regard to the schemes in Swale that did not receive funding, inconsistency and that rural areas had been left out. The Transportation Manager explained that scoring was not financially led, but led by priority and there was no manipulation in the way the process was carried out.

The Principal Engineer (Transportation) explained that SBC would continue to work with KHS to develop schemes to be put forward for assessment by PIPKIN and agree how the schemes were to be represented.

The Chairman suggested that all Members of the Board be invited to a PIPKIN 2 presentation.

Transportation Manager

capital works programme 2007/2008

The Senior Design Engineer introduced his report which updated the Board on the proposed identified schemes that were intended for completion by Kent Highway Services within the 2007/2008 programme. Works on the A2 would be completed in January 2008, Gordon Avenue and Stanley Avenue work would start in February 2008.

A Member raised concern with regard to patchy re-surfacing on St Georges Avenue, Sheerness. The road had been dug up by different agencies; the Senior Transportation Engineer agreed to keep the Member informed on the situation.

Senior Transportation Engineer

The Senior Design Engineer confirmed that he would report back to the Board with regard to works on the Broadway, Sheerness. He confirmed that he would report back to Councillors Bowles, Davis and Prescott on work planned on Brogdale Road.

Senior Design Engineer

A Member raised concern with regard to the closure of Minster Road for road works as it was the main arterial road. The Senior Transportation Engineer agreed to update the Member with regard to closure notices.

Senior Transportation Engineer

petition received - traffic problems in tunstall village including heavy goods vehicles (hgv) passing through the village

The Chairman acknowledged a petition sent in by local residents relating to traffic speed, highway safety and lorry management issues in Tunstall.

A Member reported that a meeting had been held on 12th December 2007 between various groups in Tunstall and they had requested traffic calming measures to be implemented.

Following the meeting KHS Officers were to consider what improvements could be made to slow traffic and improve pedestrian safety.

cleaning of gullies and drains

The Senior Design Engineer introduced the report which updated Members on the highway drainage cleansing work that had been carried out in the current financial year.

Members raised concern with regard to a lack of routine maintenance and that work was carried out on a reactive, ad-hoc basis.

The Senior Transportation Engineer emphasised that improvements were being made which included using data capture techniques to locate drains.

disabled access to sittingbourne high street

The Senior Transportation Engineer introduced the report which considered proposals for implementing a strategy and programme of works to carry out a range of access improvements for disabled people on the key routes into Sittingbourne, Faversham and Sheerness town centres.

He explained that £50,000 had been set aside to meet obligations under the Disability Discrimination Act to improve areas of concern where mobility problems could occur and to identify improved access routes. Areas that were identified could then be assessed under PIPKIN criteria.

The Senior Transportation Engineer confirmed that the £50,000 was for the whole of Swale.

speed bumps in gadby road and sandford road, sittingbourne

The Ward Member introduced his report and considered that speed bumps should not have been put on the entire road.

The Transportation Manager expressed his concern about the content of the report and why the matter was being raised as the original scheme had been approved by the Board, following public consultation and majority support. He considered that spending money on their removal would be a poor use of public money. He was also concerned that the potential safety issue that could arise following the removal of the speed bumps. He also thought that a 17 per cent response to the survey in the report was very low.

Some Members of the Board and members of the public were in support of the bumps.

The Chairman suggested that the Ward Member met with a KHS Officer to write a short report to be considered at the next meeting of the Board and assessed by PIPKIN.

Senior Transportation Engineer

supplementary item - sittingbourne industrial park

The Principal Engineer (Transportation) introduced his report which considered the damage and vandalism that had taken place on the industrial estate. Temporary road closure to control vehicular access was sought. Officers needed to determine that this was the appropriate use of the Highway Act before the amended recommendation was carried out. He confirmed that the site would have 24 hour presence.

exclusion of the press and public

part a minutes for confirmation

proposed disabled bay installations and deletions

The Chairman brought the Board's attention to a tabled letter from a Ward Member in support of the application for a disabled parking bay at 35 Goodnestone Road, Sittingbourne.

The Head of Environment and Amenities introduced his report which informed Members of the various consultations carried out as part of the process for individual disabled persons parking applications and deletions.