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 ensured that those present were aware of the emergency evacuation procedure.

To approve the Minutes of the Meeting held on 25 June 2018  (Minute Nos. 73 - 84) as a correct record.

Link to minutes

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 25 June 2018 (Minute Nos. 73 - 84) 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 7 September.  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.

The Chairman welcomed the members of the public to the meeting.

Councillor Cameron Beart presented a petition on behalf of local residents in relation to traffic issues in Halfway.  He explained that following previous concerns of speeding traffic in the area, a 20mph speed limit had been introduced but this was not enforced and was ignored by many drivers.  Councillor Beart advised that a doorstop survey had been carried out by Members in August 2018 with four different options for possible solutions to speeding traffic, and the results were included in the petition.  He asked for Kent County Council (KCC) to consider the results and suggest options and report back to a future meeting.  The Chairman accepted the petition which was handed to the  District Manager for Swale so that a report could be written and submitted to a future meeting of the Board.

Mrs Jayne Venables, a local resident, presented a petition ‘20’s plenty for Newington’ on behalf of local residents, Agenda item 8. She highlighted the issues regularly suffered by residents and drew attention that other areas have implemented the 20’s plenty scheme.  Mrs Venables suggested that air pollution could be reduced and safety improved in the implementation of the scheme.  Miss Lucy Venables, a local resident, spoke in support of ‘20’s plenty for Newington’.  She said that it was not safe for residents of all ages to walk or cycle in the area and gave accident statistic for the area, which included fatalities.  Members discussed the issue under Agenda Item 8 later in the meeting.

Mr Paul Sherlow, a local resident, spoke on Agenda Item 10: 7.5 Tonne Weight Restriction, Faversham.  He described the negative impact of lorries using West Street, Faversham which included safety, noise disturbance and damage to roads and buildings.   Councillor Mike Cosgrove added that other streets in Faversham should be considered for weight restrictions and there should be more signage to inform users of any road restrictions.

Mrs Tanina Patrick presented a petition on behalf of local residents in relation to issues at The Leas, Minster.  She said that there had been an increase in the number of mobile homes parking overnight and longer, and also highlighted speeding cars.  The Chairman accepted the petition which was passed to Officers so that a report could be submitted to a future meeting of the Board.

The Seafront and Engineering Manager introduced the report and gave a history of options suggested prior to the current request to review parking in the area.  He highlighted that Teynham Parish Council had previously objected to the option of removing the single yellow line outside Bridge Cottages but this option would be discussed again and reported back to a future meeting of the Board.  The Chairman highlighted the difficulties in finding a solution for residents and businesses in the area.

Recommended:

(1)  That the contents of the report be noted.

St. Mary’s School

A Member advised that he had been in communication with the Head of St. Mary’s School and the parking issue was at the school entrance as well as outside the school.  He added that he had witnessed cars parked on the zig-zags at the school but parking enforcement was not carried out.  He suggested that the Head consider the report and a further update report be presented to the next Swale JTB meeting on 17December 2018.  Another Member sought clarification on action that could be taken on private land and suggested a site visit.

A Member sought clarification on whether the land was owned by KCC and the Cabinet Member for Housing and Safer Communities said that parking on private land could not be enforced.

The Seafront and Engineering Manager agreed to contact the Parking Manager with a request for increased parking enforcement.

The District Manager for Swale advised that the school had nominated the Caretaker as the point of contact and he was currently checking ownership of the land.  He added that yellow box markings might be appropriate and this would be discussed with the Caretaker once all the relevant information on ownership had been confirmed.

The Chairman suggested a meeting between the Caretaker of the school, the District Manager for Swale and the Seafront and Engineering Manager, with an invitation to the Ward and KCC Councillors to attend.

Queen Elizabeth School

Members spoke in support of the proposal.

Recommended:

(1)  That an update report on St. Mary’s School be brought back to the next meeting of the Board on 17 December 2018, following a meeting between the relevant Officers and Members with the Caretaker at the school.

(2)  That a short section of single yellow line in Abbey Place, Faversham be added to the next Traffic Regulation Order.

The Ward Member thanked the public speakers for their input and gave his support for the petition.  He said that further development in the area would cause an increase in traffic and that Newington was often the preferred direct route rather than the M2.  He spoke of a joined-up approach of tackling air quality issues through the 20’s plenty scheme.

A Parish Councillor suggested that KCC should reconsider their criteria for implementing 20mph limits and said that the A2 through Newington was the dividing line of the village.

In the discussion that followed, Members raised the following points:

·         Would the proposal be more acceptable if the A2 was omitted?;

·         blanket policies needed to reflect local conditions and should be considered on a case by case basis;

·         the narrowest point of the A2 was in Newington;

·         there should be a KCC review on the 20mph limit policy on A roads;

·         sceptical about the enforcement of 20mph limit and

·         even if not enforced, 20mph signs made some people drive slower and improved safety.

A Member said that Swale Borough Council (SBC) should not be dictating KCC policies and that further discussion should take place after a report had been produced for the next meeting. 

The Principal Transport and Development Planner advised that roads were considered on a case by case basis and although not restricted, the A2 was a primary vehicular route.

County Councillor Mike Baldock proposed: “That consideration be given to review the current 20mph policy with regard to infrastructure, roads not just limits”

This was seconded by Kent County Councillor Antony Hook.

On being put to the vote, the proposal was lost.

Recommended:

(1)  That a report on 20’s plenty for Newington be produced and discussed at a future meeting of the Board.

A Member highlighted the negative impact of overnight parking of HGV’s and said that proper overnight facilities for lorry drivers in the Borough were necessary.

Another Member spoke of the waste and hygiene issues, and noise and anti-social problems.

A Member said that the issues were not just restricted to the Eurolink Industrial Estate, and suggested overnight lorry parking in the whole Borough was included in a future report.  He also drew attention to buses parked on Swale Way.

Recommended:

(1)  That a report on HGV Parking on Eurolink Industrial Estate be produced and discussed at a future meeting of the Board.

A Member spoke in support of the proposed weight restriction and suggested the weight restriction should start at the Sainsbury’s supermarket in Bysing Wood Road, Faversham.

Recommended:

(1)  That a report on a 7.5 Tonne Weight Restriction in West Street, Faversham be produced for a future Board meeting.

The Chairman welcomed the Drainage and Structures Asset Manager to the meeting.

The Drainage and Structures Asset Manager introduced the report and explained that a Section 19 investigation for Sittingbourne and the surrounding villages on the impact of the flooding that occurred on 29 May 2018 was currently in progress, and the report would be on KCC’s website in 6 to 8 weeks.  She explained that, due to the prolonged and intense downpours on that day, even if all drains were cleared, flooding still would have occurred.

A Member thanked the Drainage and Structures Asset Manager and advised that the drainage issues in Bell Road and Glovers Crescent, Sittingbourne were now being resolved.  He suggested that the review should consider residents further along the drainage system where it might be backed up.

A Member suggested drains in rural areas were looked at after crop harvests.

A Member gave an example of a resident reporting drainage issues that did not meet the criteria for investigation and suggested the criteria needed to be reviewed.

Resolved:

(1)  That the report be noted.

The Principal Transport and Development Planner introduced the report and said that it was positive news that the bid had got through the first round but that funding was not yet guaranteed.

A Member said that Borden and Grove Park Wards should have been included as Ward areas and sought clarification on 3.4 in the report.

In response to questions from a Member, the Principal Transport and Development Planner advised that buses stopping on the A2 were a key factor in blocking traffic.  He advised that planned bus parking proposals would be brought to a future Board meeting.

The Principal Transport and Development Planner said that the issues at the Key Street junction had been modelled, and driver behaviour had added to the issues but the Stockbury junction and Key Street scheme would benefit the A2.  He confirmed that there was one set of traffic lights planned.

The Principal Transport and Development Planner referred to the transport model included in the planning application for South West Sittingbourne which would be debated at a future Planning Committee.  He advised that if the HIF bid was unsuccessful, alternative grant funding would have to be sought.

Recommended:

(1)  That the report be noted.

There was no discussion.

Recommended:

(1)  The report be noted.

A Member referred to page 55 218/09/14 Lower Road Junction with Barton Hill Drive, Isle of Sheppey and praised the progress made but asked for action to be taken against the fly-posting on the Heras fencing.  The same Member asked for an urgent update on page 57 1228/03/17 Church Road, Eastchurch.

A Member welcomed the progress made on page 56 383/12/15 Pedestrian Crossing at South Avenue School, Sittingbourne but asked that visibility was also considered.  The same Member sought an update on page 60 78/06/08 Bell Road/Highsted Road Traffic. In response, the District Manager for Swale advised that the consultation was still live and any views should be sent to Paul Brand, as previously minuted.

A Member requested an update on page 57 1228/03/07 Church Road, Eastchurch and advised that work was complete on page 59 209/09/17 Proposed Speed Limit Reduction, Queenborough and Halfway Houses, Isle of Sheppey, but the consultation to make Danley Road one-way had not yet been carried out.

A Member referred to page 59 411/12/17 Kent Community Rail Partnership and advised that the meeting had taken place and the item could be removed from the update.

A Member referred to page 60 78/06/18 Bell Road/Highsted Road Traffic and requested that the trial parking measures be commenced soon, and regular updates be provided.  In response, the Seafront and Engineering Manager advised that he was in communication with SBC and KCC Parking Managers on the logistics of carrying out the temporary parking trial as road lining was not an option.  He added that the bus operators had no particular concern about parking on the east side of the road rather than the west.

Resolved:

(1)  That the report be noted.

 The next meeting will be held at 5.30pm on Monday 17 December 2018.

The Chairman confirmed the date of the next meeting of the Board was 5.30pm on 17 December 2018.