Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber, - Swale House. View directions

Contact: Democratic Services, 01795 417330 

Items
No. Item

388.

Minutes

To approve the Minutes of the Meeting held on 8 September 2014 (Minute Nos. 213 - 223) as a correct record, subject to recording that Councillor Mike Baldock was the seconder for the proposal on Minute No. 219 (Lansdowne Primary School).

 

Minutes:

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 8 September 2014 (Minute Nos. 213 – 223) were taken as read, approved and signed by the Chairman as a correct record, subject to recording that Councillor Mike Baldock was the seconder for the proposal on Minute No. 219 (Lansdowne Primary School).

389.

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.

390.

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 December 2014.  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:

No members of the public had registered to speak on this item.

Part One - Minutes for recommendation to Kent County Council's Cabinet

The Chairman explained that ‘The speed limit on the B2006 (Staplehurst Road, Sittingbourne)’ item was an Information Item and was considered as such and minuted under Part Three of the minutes.

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

391.

Various Waiting Restrictions pdf icon PDF 37 KB

To consider a report on the results of recent informal consultation on proposals for various waiting restrictions.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

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

 

A Ward Member spoke in support of the recommendations for Bank Street, Faversham and Newton Road, Faversham.  He raised concern with the proposal to change single yellow line times on Preston Street, Faversham.  He considered the proposed restrictions from 8.30am to 5.00pm were too early in the evening as this was the peak period for commuters leaving the station, and because of bus traffic along Preston Street.  He considered the earlier time would increase congestion and cause chaos. 

 

Councillor Bryan Mulhern proposed an amendment to the time, from 8.30am to 6.00pm.  This was seconded by Councillor Ken Pugh.

 

Members spoke in support of the amendment to the proposal.  They considered buses had difficulty turning into Preston Street, and that 5.00pm was too early.  On being put to the vote the amended proposal was agreed.

 

Recommended:

(1)          That the proposed amendments to waiting restrictions in South Road and Preston Street (restrictions 8.30am to 6.00pm), Faversham be progressed.

(2)          That proposed amendments to waiting restrictions in Bank Street and Newton Road, Faversham be abandoned.

 

392.

Formal Objections to Traffic Regulation Order pdf icon PDF 48 KB

To consider a report on formal objections received in relation to latest advertised Traffic Regulation Order, Swale Amendment 13, for various SBC and KCC proposals.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Engineer introduced the report which provided a summary of formal objections received to a recently advertised Traffic Regulation Order for amendments to various waiting restrictions in the Swale area.  He explained that an email had been received in relation to Harold Road/Thomas Road, Sittingbourne, in objection to the proposals.

 

Members spoke on the proposals.

 

Borden Lane, Sittingbourne – proposed ‘School Keep Clear’ markings

 

A Ward Member considered the proposal implied that Borden Lane would be used as a drop-off point for Westlands Primary School which he considered was not feasible, as it was already a congested road.  He raised concern with safety issues and the volume of traffic on the road.  The Ward Member considered the School Travel Plan needed to be in place and the entrance be used as a pedestrian entrance, not a drop-off point, without the need for ‘Keep Clear’ markings.

 

Kent County Council (KCC) Councillor Roger Truelove moved a motion to defer the proposal until a School Travel Plan had been produced, so that a workable pedestrian access could be implemented.  This was seconded by KCC Councillor Mike Baldock.  On being put to the vote, the motion for deferral was agreed.

 

Harold Road/Thomas Road, Sittingbourne – extension of Double Yellow Lines

 

A Ward Member spoke in favour of the proposal to extend the double yellow lines.  He raised concerns with safety and the inability for emergency vehicles to access the road when cars were parked there.  He suggested that access points be installed to allow access for emergency vehicles.

 

Members raised the following points:  understand that emergency vehicles needed access, but residents also needed somewhere to park; a joined-up approach was required with planning/parking;  parking was always a problem in areas where there was terraced housing; peoples lives cannot be put at risk in a situation where emergency vehicles cannot get access; parking had to be restricted to allow access; waste collection vehicles also required access; and this type of issue also occurred on new housing developments.

 

With reference to paragraph three on page 43 of the report, a Member sought clarification on whether residents would be penalised for parking ‘one wheel on, one wheel off’ the pavement.  A Member explained that so long as a metre was left on the pavement for pedestrian access, traffic wardens would not penalise drivers.

 

The Head of Service Delivery advised that enforcement could only be carried out where there was a traffic order in place, so not on a pavement if there were no yellow lines; the Police would get involved if there were obstruction issues.

 

KCC Members, Ward Members and officers agreed to meet to look into the possibility of installing access barriers for the emergency services.

 

Belvedere Road, Faversham – Proposed double yellow lines

 

A Ward Member explained that the parking problem occurred during the working day, by commuter traffic and suggested that restrictions be put in place during the middle of the day, and extended further along Belvedere Road as there were pinch-points.

 

Councillor  ...  view the full minutes text for item 392.

Part Three - Information items

393.

The speed limit on the B2006 (Staplehurst Road, Sittingbourne) pdf icon PDF 20 KB

 

To consider a request to reduce the speed limit on the B2006 (Staplehurst Road, Sittingbourne) from 50mph to 30mph.

Minutes:

The report outlined the response to the request for a lower speed limit, highlighting current County Council policy and national guidance.

 

Recommended: 

 

(1)       That the report be noted.

 

394.

Highway Works Programme 2014/15 pdf icon PDF 119 KB

Members are asked to note the report on the identified schemes approved for construction in 2014/15.

Minutes:

The Board considered the Highway Works Programme which updated Members on the identified schemes approved for consultation in 2014/15.  Members went through the report and made the following comments:

 

Page 55

 

Members congratulated officers for the work carried out on The Broadway, Minster, and also for the work carried out to repair potholes on The Broadway, Sheerness.

 

Page 57

 

Concern with drainage on Milton Road, from Milton Creek; an update was needed.

 

Officers were thanked for drainage work carried out in the Borden area.

 

Page 65

 

School Lane, Iwade – there was mud on the road and pinch-points were not lit well or signposted; illuminated signs were needed as it was quite dangerous and confusing.

 

Page 66

 

Disappointed that traffic lights at Morrisons in Sittingbourne were not linked with the retail park

 

The District Manager explained that there was an error in the report and he reminded Members that the JTB meeting in June 2014 had not wanted a ban on the right hand turn from Lower Road to Barton Hill Road.

 

Page 67

 

In response to a question, the District Manager advised that a consultant had been employed to carry out the further design work on the A2/A251 junction at Faversham and this should take place during the first half of 2015.

 

A Member clarified the options for a new footway at Highsted Road, Sittingbourne and explained that negotiations had stalled as the preferred side for the footway was not available to use as residents were unwilling to give up the land and the other side was too expensive to take forward as a footway.

 

Lorry route signing had been implemented in Faversham, but this had not addressed all the access problems, with lorries still getting stuck.

 

Page 68

 

Officers were thanked for the work carried out at the junction of Swale Way/Lloyd Drive, Sittingbourne.

 

Recommended:

 

(1)       That the report be noted.

 

395.

Progress Update Report pdf icon PDF 59 KB

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

Minutes:

The Board considered the report that gave an update on the progress made in relation to previous recommendations by the Board.

 

Page 72

 

The District Manager agreed to forward a suggestion that there be a cycle route from Cowstead Corner to Minster to the Strategic Transportation Officer.

 

Page 73

 

A Member requested that a letter be written to the KCC Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport to request a copy of the draft Swale Transportation Strategy for discussion with local Members.

 

A Member requested that a letter be written to the KCC Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport to request an update on the Sheppey Crossing.

 

Recommended:

 

(1)       That the report be noted.