To confirm the Chair and Vice-Chair for the municipal year 2024/25.

Kent County Councillor John Wright was confirmed as Chair and Councillor Simon Clark as Vice-Chair for the Municipal Year 2024 – 2025.

The Chair confirmed that Councillor Derek Carnell had replaced Councillor Elliott Jayes on the Board.

Visitors and members of the public who are unfamiliar with the building and procedures are advised that:

(a)      The fire alarm is a continuous loud ringing. In the event that a fire drill is planned during the meeting, the Chair will advise of this.

(b)      Exit routes from the chamber are located on each side of the room, one directly to a fire escape, the other to the stairs opposite the lifts.

(c)      In the event of the alarm sounding, leave the building via the nearest safe exit and gather at the assembly point on the far side of the car park. Do not leave the assembly point or re-enter the building until advised to do so. Do not use the lifts.

(d)      Anyone unable to use the stairs should make themselves known during this agenda item.

The Chair outlined the emergency evacuation procedure.

To approve the Minutes of the Meeting held on 4 March 2024 (Minute Nos. 713 – 726) as a correct record.

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 4 March 2024 (Minute Nos. 713 – 726) were taken as read, approved and signed by the Chair as a correct record.

Councillors should not act or take decisions in order to gain financial or other material benefits for themselves, their families or friends.

The Chair will ask Members if they have any disclosable pecuniary interests (DPIs) or disclosable non-pecuniary interests (DNPIs) to declare in respect of items on the agenda. Members with a DPI in an item must leave the room for that item and may not participate in the debate or vote. 

Aside from disclosable interests, where a fair-minded and informed observer would think there was a real possibility that a Member might be biased or predetermined on an item, the Member should declare this and leave the room while that item is considered.

Members who are in any doubt about interests, bias or predetermination should contact the monitoring officer for advice prior to 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 4 October 2024.  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.

There were no registered speakers.

The Seafront & Engineering Manager introduced the report as set out in the agenda papers.

The Chair moved the recommendation in the report, and this was seconded by Councillor Tony Winckless.

Recommended:

(1)      That the results of the recent informal consultation with residents of Wellwinch Road, Victoria Road and Regency Court, Sittingbourne be noted and the Residents’ Parking Scheme is not extended into any of these roads.

The Seafront & Engineering Manager introduced the report as set out in the agenda papers.

The Chair invited comments from Members and points raised included:

·         Clarification sought on why the Parking Operations Team had requested the short section of double yellow lines on Park Road, Faversham;

·         not in favour of double yellow lines being installed at this location; and

·         considered the way forward was to carry out an informal consultation.

In response, the Seafront & Engineering Manager explained that the Parking Operations Team had received a complaint from a local resident who had concerns with access issues to the nearby oast house.

Parish Councillor Julian Saunders moved the following motion:  That the proposed double yellow lines in Park Road, Faversham be removed from the current Traffic Regulation Order until an informal consultation had taken place with residents on these and other requested double yellow lines in Park Road.  This was seconded By Kent County Councillor Mike Dendor and on being put to the vote was agreed.

The Chair moved the other recommendation in the report, and this was seconded by Kent County Councillor Mike Whiting.

Recommended:

(1)      That the formal responses received during the consultation period for the Traffic Regulation Order be noted, and:-

a.         The disabled persons’ parking bay outside 6 Bredhurst Close, Sheerness be formalised.

b.        The proposed double yellow lines in Park Road, Faversham be removed from the current Order until an informal consultation has taken place with residents on these and other requested double yellow lines in Park Road.

The Seafront & Engineering Manager introduced the report as set out in the agenda papers.

Parish Councillor Julian Saunders moved the recommendation in the report, and this was seconded by Kent County Councillor Mike Whiting.

Recommended:

(1)      That the submitted petition be noted and officers undertake an informal consultation with residents of Belmont Road, Faversham on the possible introduction of a Residents’ Parking Scheme on this road.

The Engineer introduced the report as set out in the agenda papers.

The Chair invited comments from Members and points raised included:

·         There was an issue throughout Sheerness with the size of vehicles parking on streets which restricted access;

·         concerned with the loss of the disabled parking bays;

·         dashed lines would help to de-lineate where disabled people could park their vehicles;

·         parking enforcement needed to monitor the area;

·         considered the proposal was a sensible one;

·         people attending the church could still park for up to three hours; and

·         clarification sought on the Council’s byelaws which stipulated the size of commercial vehicles which could park on residential streets.

Kent County Councillor Mike Whiting moved the recommendation in the report, with the following amendment:  That residents be consulted upon the option of extending double yellow lines on the opposite side of the road.  This was seconded by Kent County Councillor Mike Dendor and on being put to the vote was agreed.

Kent County Councillor Mike Whiting moved the following motion:  That the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Joint Transportation Board (JTB) looked further into the Council’s byelaws at the next JTB Chair’s briefing.  This was seconded by Councillor Tony Winckless, and on being put to the vote was agreed.

Recommended:

(1)      That the results of the recent informal consultation with residents be noted and the disabled bays be removed, and a double yellow line be installed, and officers look at installing dashed lines for parking partially on the footway.

(2)      That residents be consulted upon the option of extending double yellow lines on the opposite side of the road.

(3)      That the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Joint Transportation Board (JTB) look further into the Council’s byelaws at the next JTB Chair’s briefing in relation to the issue of parked commercial vehicles on residential streets.

An officer will be attending remotely to respond to any questions.

Local Transport Plan 5 - Striking the Balance | Let’s talk Kent

Tabled report added 7 October 2024.

The Transport Strategy Manager gave a presentation and drew attention to the tabled paper which had also been added to the online agenda.  He reminded the Board that the consultation ended at midnight on 8 October 2024.

Members were invited to comment.  After much discussion, Kent County Councillor Mike Whiting moved the following motion:  That the views of the Swale JTB be formally sent as a response to the consultation.  This was seconded by Councillor Karen Watson, and on being put to the vote was agreed.

The points that members of the Board wanted to be considered are set out below:

1) The Board would like the Local Transport Plan 5 (LTP5) to contain a specific aim of restoring direct train services from Sheerness to London, via Queenborough, Swale, Kemsley and Rainham, to help improve the economy of the Isle of Sheppey.

2) The Board would like the LTP5 to contain a specific aim of restoring half-hourly off-peak rail services between Sittingbourne and Sheerness to reduce reliance on car use, improve the tourist economy of the Isle of Sheppey and improve connectivity with the North Kent Mainline.

3) The Board would like the LTP5 to contain a specific aim of increasing parking capacity at Swale Station (formally Swale Halt) to provide an alternative for those who drive to Sheerness, Queenborough, Kemsley and Sittingbourne stations, where car parking is limited, and to reduce town centre congestion.

4) The Board would like the alignment of the Sheerness to Leysdown walking and cycling route within the Kent Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (KCWIP) and Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP) to be altered to run from Queenborough to Leysdown, with branches via Westminster and via Halfway to connect Sheerness to the route.

5) The Board would like the LTP5 to contain a specific aim of opening up the freight rail lines into Ridham Dock and Sheerness Docks to support industrial growth in those areas and relieve traffic congestion and associated air pollution.

6) The Board feels the Draft LTP5 does not contain enough data regarding current and projected CO2 and NOX emissions and particulate air pollution across the borough and more widely in Kent to both guide broader transport policy and support suitable mitigation measures. This should be addressed.

7) The Board would like the LTP5 to contain a specific aim of improving bus services to both rural and urban communities in Swale to help ensure communities and residents were not isolated, and to improve the economic development potential of all tiers of settlement within the Borough.

8) The Board would like the LTP5 to contain clarity on KCC’s view of the desirability, or otherwise, of the completion of the Sittingbourne Northern Relief Road from Great Easthall to the Bapchild, and the creation of a new Sittingbourne Southern Relief Road from Bapchild to a new M2 motorway junction (J5a) south of the Kent Science Park.

9) The Board would like the LTP5 to contain a specific requirement to improve J7 of the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 321.

Parish Councillor Jeff Tutt will be invited to speak on this item.

This item was abandoned as Parish Councillor Jeff Tutt who was due to speak on the matter left the call as he needed to attend another meeting.

A representative from Network Rail will join the meeting remotely to give an update on the project.

The Senior Stakeholder and Communications Manager, Network Rail and the Project Manager, Network Rail gave a presentation on the Kingsferry Bridge closure.

The Chair invited comments from Members and points raised included:

·         Acknowledged that there was never a good time to do these major repair works to the bridge;

·         clarification sought on the shift patterns;

·         was there a ‘Plan B’ in the scenario of the work not being completed in time and/or another issue coming up?; and

·         clarification sought on bus replacement services.

In response, the Senior Stakeholder and Communications Manager explained that there would be some 24-hour shifts.  A bespoke contractor was carrying out the work and some of the work needed to be carried out in daylight hours.  He explained that in terms of a ‘Plan B’, some of the works had already been completed, and a lot had already been learnt about the project.  The contractor was due to commence another project in November 2024, and so the works on the Kingsferry Bridge could not be delayed.  If another issue was found, there were skilled workers, such as welders, on site to deal with the issue.  The Senior Stakeholder and Communications Manager explained that there would be a replacement bus service, but noted that a lot of people would likely revert to using their cars which then increased congestion.  He also confirmed that in relation to the Grovehurst Road works, two lanes would be opened up to help mitigate any congestion.  The Project Manager – Major Capital Programme also confirmed that traffic management from the northbound (not southbound) A249 would be removed and free vehicle recovery would be provided from Bobbing Roundabout to Cowstead Corner.

Resolved:

(1)      That the update be noted.

The National Highways M2 Junction 5 Project Manager gave a verbal update on the M2 Junction 5 Stockbury Works, Sittingbourne.  He explained that it was likely the last time he would present to the Board, as the flyover was opened in both directions in July 2024.  There was some snagging work and some overnight/weekend work to complete, but the site should be de-mobilised by Christmas 2024.  The Project Manager said that overall the scheme was performing as expected and he thanked everyone for their input over the past three years.

The Chair invited comments from Members and points raised included:

·         There was still quite a lot of damage on the roads used as ‘rat-runs’;

·         wanted to thank and congratulate the Project Manager and his Team on the work carried out, and it being ahead of schedule;

·         considered the junction improvements had made a difference;

·         hundreds of trees had been chopped down to allow the works to go ahead and hoped these would be replaced soon, and maintained;

·         clarification sought on the loss of one of the lay-bys; and

·         some of the new signposts were not clear.

In response, the Project Manager said the contract had a five-year aftercare in terms of the planted saplings, and any damaged saplings would be replaced.  After five years, the responsibility for the saplings/trees would be passed to the relevant highway authority.  The Project Manager explained that the lay-by in question had to be closed as it was too close to the flyover and there were no plans to replace it.  Some of the signs were being updated so that they were clearer to understand.  In response to a further question, the Project Manager explained that as yet there had been no monitoring on the impact of the works on Junction 7 of the M20.  This would be carried out over the next couple of years.

Resolved:

(1)      That the verbal update be noted.

The Project Manager (Major Capital Programme Team, KCC) gave a verbal update on the Grovehurst Road Junction Works, Sittingbourne.

The Chair invited comments from Members and points raised included:

·         Clarification sought on how well the road closures had gone on Swale Way and Grovehurst Road;

·         more information needed on the diversion of traffic along Grovehurst Road and near Nicholls Transport, as this could result in one housing estate being cut-off;

·         it had been hoped that there would have been some alternative parking arrangements for the residents on Keycoll Hill; and

·         very impressed with the signage along Saffron Way.

In response, the Project Manager said that there had been very few complaints; there might need to be a temporary diversion near to the Nicholls Transport depot and he hoped to be able to provide an update on this shortly.  The Project Manager said there was no plan to add any alternative parking for Keycoll Hill residents as there were challenges with the utilities in the area which were too expensive to re-locate.

Resolved:

(1)      That the report be noted.

Members were advised that the KCC District Manager (Swale) had left KCC and the person to contact going forward was the Swale Highway Manager, Daniel Cannon-Skeet (Daniel.cannon-skeet@kent.gov.uk).

The Chair asked that Members contact the relevant officer direct if they had any queries on the report.

Resolved:

(1)      That the report be noted.

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

Resolved:

(1)      That the report be noted.

The next meeting of the Swale Joint Transportation Board meeting is 2 December 2024.

The date of the next Swale Joint Transportation Board meeting is 2 December 2024 at 5.30 pm.