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 10 September 2018 (Minute Nos.188 - 201) as a correct record subject to the amendment of Councillor Mike Baldock’s title from County Councillor to Councillor Link to minutes

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 10 September 2018 (Minutes Nos. 188 - 201) were taken as read, approved and signed by the Chairman as a correct record, subject to the amendment of Councillor Mike Baldock’s title from County Councillor to Councillor, and a correction to the third paragraph under Progress Update Report on page 198, as Councillor Cameron Beart advised that the consultation had been carried out 2 years previously, but no update had been received since then.

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.

Councillor Mike Henderson declared a Non-Pecuniary Interest in Item 8, 20’s Plenty for Faversham as he sat on Faversham Town Council

Mr Antony Hook declared a Non-Pecuniary Interest in Item 8, 20’s Plenty for Faversham as he sat on Faversham Town Council.

Councillor David Simmons declared a Non-Pecuniary Interest in Item 8, 20’s Plenty for Faversham as he sat on Faversham Town Council.

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 14 December.  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.

Amanda Russell spoke on Item 8 on the Agenda – 20’s Plenty for Faversham.  She thanked members of the Swale JTB Committee for their support, but said that she was disappointed with the lack of progress made and more engagement with Kent County Council (KCC) was needed.  She detailed the criteria that KCC had set to implement a 20mph speed limit, which included the collection of speed data that showed streets where traffic was already travelling at 24mph or less, and highlighted the issues that excluding some streets might cause.  She asked for the Board’s assistance in progressing the implementation of the 20’s Plenty for Faversham scheme, reported and discussed later in the meeting.

The Seafront and Engineering Manager introduced the report which provided a summary of formal objections and support received in relation to the recently advertised Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) Amendment 13.

Recommended:

(1)  That the proposed double yellow lines extension in Lyndhurst Grove, Sittingbourne be abandoned and removed from the draft Traffic Regulation Order.

(2)  That the existing advisory disabled persons’ parking bay outside 37 Imperial Drive, Warden be formalised.

The Principal Transport and Development Planner (KCC) introduced the report which set out the proposed introduction of parking restrictions on Sydney Avenue, Sittingbourne to enable reduced congestion and enable bus drop-off inside Westlands Secondary School grounds.

The Principal Transport and Development Planner said that the restrictions were proposed to address the congestion on the A2 caused by school bus drop-offs between 0800hrs and 0830hours which was caused in part as a result of buses unable to use the in-school bus stop, due to parked cars in Sydney Avenue, Sittingbourne.  He added that, as a result of responses to the public consultation carried out on 18May 2018, an amendment was made to the original order to include an additional restriction of 14:45hours to 15:45hours.  In response to a further consultation carried out on 19 October 2018, a further amendment restricting the TRO to term-time only was proposed.

In discussing the Order, Members made points which included:

·        Safety, not convenience was the priority;

·        why did buses need to arrive so early?;

·        concern that 14:45hours restriction was not early enough;

·        concern that the restriction would displace parental drop-offs to other areas;

·        clarification of ‘term time’ as Westlands Secondary School was an Academy that could set its own term times;

·        the access to the school was not suitable;

·        lack of enforcement of parking;

·        restrictions proposed would improve the issues; and

·        other roads in the area could be considered in the future.

A Member suggested that the issue of buses arriving so early should be considered by the Quality Bus Partnership and bus companies should be written to.  Another Member sought clarification on the legislation for the Order to apply to term time only.  The Principal Transport and Development Planner agreed to find out.

The Cabinet Member for Housing and Safer Communities, which included parking, explained that enforcement of parking outside schools was carried out on 90 occasions per month, resulting in an average of 15 to 20 tickets being issued.  He said that the proposed restrictions was part of the solution.  In response to a question on the enforcement of buses parking on highways, the Seafront and Engineering Manager agreed to seek clarification from the Parking Manager and report back to Members.

In response to questions, the Principal Transport and Development Planner said that there were a number of different bus operators and advised that if Members chose to move the restriction time back to 14:30hours, a further consultation would be required.  He agreed to contact bus operators as requested.

The Chairman commended officers for acting before any accidents might occur.

Members congratulated and thanked the Principal Transport and Development Planner for his work on the proposal.

Recommended:

(1)  That the proposed Traffic Regulation Order with one amendment to reduce it to term time only be agreed.

The Senior Schemes Programme Manager (KCC) advised that KCC welcomed the continued discussion on 20mph zones and the Schemes Team would consider the report submitted by Faversham Town Council which had only very recently been received, along with the Department for Transport (DfT) report. 

The Senior Schemes Programme Manager said that there had been regular dialogue and meetings with Faversham Town Council and considered progress was being made. He highlighted that changing the speed limits alone would not guarantee that driven speeds would uniformly reduce across all roads, and he stressed that KCC must also be guided by DfT guidance when implementing a 20mph scheme. He referred to Circular 01/2013 and  Kent Police advice, and drew attention to the 2 fixed cameras on the A2, Faversham. He said that the Kent and Medway Safety Camera Partnership were unaware of the proposals and would need to be part of the discussion.  Lastly, the Senior Schemes Programme Manager reminded Members that KCC had been proactive in implementing 20mph schemes that would benefit public health. He referred to the costs involved.

The Senior Schemes Programme Manager advised that a meeting with the Faversham Town Council to discuss the scheme would be held in the New Year.

A Member praised KCC for their assistance and considered meetings to discuss the proposals had been positive.  He drew attention to some of the points raised on pages 46, 48 and 49 of the report produced for Faversham Town Council, and highlighted the variations of traffic calming shown in the photographs on pages 79, 80 and 81.

Another Member referred to the length of time and lack of progress that had been made, said it was more efficient to implement the scheme in a whole Borough, and spoke of the issues in varying speed limits in an area.

A Member appreciated the help that KCC had given and suggested that as much as the town as possible could be restricted to 20mph, and other roads currently excluded might be included in the future after development had taken place.

A Member praised the report, said that the Kent and Medway Safety Camera Partnership were aware of the proposals, the meeting should take place early in the New Year and suggested that a report with a Town-wide scheme with exceptions and recommendations should be presented to the next Swale JTB meeting in March 2019.

Other points raised by Members included:

·        Funding should be secured for the scheme through Section 106 Agreements;

·        unsuitable roads should not delay the scheme;

·        20mph schemes had not always worked in other parts of the Borough and were not always enforced;

·        a TRO should be produced and funding sought afterwards; and

·        there was a review of KCC 20mph policy in light of the Atkins report and the DfT report.

The Chairman spoke of the success of the 20mph speed limit in other areas and agreed that there should be progress by the next Swale JTB meeting in March 2019.

The District Manager (KCC)  introduced the report which included details of overnight lorry parking in Kent over the months of June and September in 2017 and 2018.  He referred to page 85 of the report which showed regular clusters of lorry parking in Swale and drew attention to possible solutions on the same page.

In the discussion that followed, Members raised points including:

·        Concerned that lorries would be displaced to other areas;

·        were there spaces in lorry parks that charged, at the time the surveys were carried out?;

·        more local, smaller lorry parks were needed;

·        as a quarter of the County’s overnight lorries parked in Swale, priority funding should be given to Swale to tackle the issue;

·        could Members suggest suitable locations for lorry parks?;

·        SBC should be looking at enforcement of lorry parking; and

·        health and safety concerns when laybys on the A249 were blocked by lorries parking.

The District Manager welcomed suggestions of sites that should be included as part of the survey.

The KCC Cabinet Member for Planning, Highways, Transportation and Waste referred to the fines leveed for overnight lorry parking in Europe.  He advised that KCC had looked at sites, and 2 were currently being considered.   He said that Swale attracted more HGVs as it was economically attractive. He added that once lorry parking facilities were provided, parking enforcement could be looked at.

In response to a question from a Member on the impact the Lower Thames Crossing would have, the Chairman agreed to forward a press release that had been circulated that day.

As both Parish Council representatives attending the meeting had left by the end of this item, the meeting was no longer quorate and the Chairman advised the meeting would continue as all remaining items on the Agenda were for noting only.

Resolved:

(1)  That the report be noted.

The District Manager introduced the report which outlined KCC’s strategy for implementing the new Code of Practice for highway maintenance management which became fully effective in October 2018.

Resolved:

(1)  That the report be noted.

The District Manager introduced the report which outlined the arrangements that had been made between KCC and SBC to provide a local winter service in the event of an operational snow alert in the Borough.  He drew attention to information in the website link in the report.

In response to a question from a Member on how local farmers could become involved, the District Manager advised that all contracts had been allocated but KCC did produce a list of farmers that could assist on an emergency basis.

A Member highlighted that farmers had not cleared the roads near the prison cluster in Eastchurch this year and applauded the work of prisoners who carried out the work instead.

In response to a question from a Ward Member on whether Admirals Walk, Halfway was on the gritting list this year, the District Manager advised that it was taken out of the primary list because gritter lorries were unable to pass parked cars in the road, and salt bins were provided instead.

Resolved:

(1)  That the report be noted.

-       Phase 1 Barton Hill Drive, Minster – currently under construction

-       Phase 2 – Lower Road, Minster – improvements planned for early 2019

The Project Manager - Major Capital Programmes (KCC)  introduced the report and advised that the roundabout and Barton Hill Drive, Minster in Phase 1 would be opening the next day and other works were scheduled for completion in February 2019.  He advised that the works would necessitate some night-time road closures.

The Project Manager – Major Capital Programmes advised of some amendments to the design of Phase 2, Lower Road widening, with increased capacity at Cowstead, the provision of a ghosted right-turn junction at Wall End Farm, Minster and the repositioning of the new footway/cycleway, so that it could be used for temporary traffic to reduce the need for long lengths of  temporary 2-way traffic lights, whilst the work was being undertaken and therefore lesson the impact on traffic.  He advised that the construction works were due to commence in Spring 2019, subject to funding linked into the planning application for housing in Barton Hill Drive, due to be considered by the Planning Committee in early 2019.  The Project Manager – Major Capital Programmes advised that a consultation was under way on a TRO to make the temporary parking restrictions currently on Thistle Hill Way and Plover Way permanent, and he would report back on this at the next Swale JTB meeting.

Several Members congratulated KCC and Breheny Civil Engineering for their communication whilst the scheme was in progress.

A Member drew attention to the top of page 96 of the report and had concerns on the effect the removal of the vegetation might have on breeding birds.  He also requested that the hedgerow be re-planted.

In response, the Project Manager – Major Capital Programme advised that the hedgerow would not be removed if there were breeding birds and the hedge would be replaced.  He confirmed that Breheny Civil Engineering were the contractors for the second phase and agreed to pass on Members’ congratulations.

The Board considered the report which provided an update on the identified schemes approved for construction in 2018/19.

A Member asked for more detail on the new soakaway at Bell Road, Sittingbourne at Appendix B on page 104 of the report.  Another Member advised that the project was funded by the European Union and residents had been consulted.

A Member drew attention to micro surfacing at Bank Street, Faversham on page 103 of the report and suggested that as Bank Street was a short road, it would be better value for money to include work to other roads in the area at the same time.

A Member drew attention to Tunstall Road on page 106 of the report and said that the roads did not connect as there was no footpath.  He also highlighted the A2 High Street, Newington on page 110 and said that the footpath outside the former Newington Working Men’s Club was not complete. 

A Member said that action was required in Sheerness High Street as it regularly flooded, asked for an update on the LED lights upgrade and referred to Sheppey Way, Iwade on page 107 which was still not finished.  In response, the District Manager advised that the Sheerness High Street flooding was a gully cleansing issue and all lighting was scheduled to be replaced by LED lighting by March 2019.

A Member raised the issue of the number of missing cat’s eyes on the Isle of Sheppey.  The District Manager said that a meeting was scheduled to discuss this issue.

A Member highlighted the drainage issues on the Grovehurst Road, Iwade which KCC had previously worked on but the area still continued to flood.   In response, the District Manager said the issue was still being looked at.

A Member said that the replacement light on Lower Road, Minster on page 105 of the report was urgent as this was an accident black spot.

The District Manager drew Members’ attention to the Pothole Blitz 2018/19 on page 114 of the report and advised that this was an annual programme, contractors had been invited to bid for a longer contract and as money became available, the contractors would already be in place.  He advised that the Swale contract was won by CW Surfacing Contractors and there was a budget of £166k for the scheme, up to the end of March 2019.

A Member urged the KCC Cabinet Member for Planning, Highways, Transportation and Waste to lobby the Highways Agency to fix the potholes on the A249.

Resolved:

(1)  That the report be noted.

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

The Chairman passed on Parish Councillor Peter MacDonald’s thanks and praise of the works on the Barton Hill Drive junction.

A Member thanked SBC’s Seafront and Engineering Manager and KCC’s Scheme Engineer (Paul Brand) for their input on the Bell Road/Highsted Road, Sittingbourne traffic item on page 117 of the report.  The same Member suggested that the consultation on the Highsted Road proposed footway was confusing. He asked that Officers respond to the consultation in more detail. In response, the Senior Schemes Programme Manager said that all information was on the website link, and the three options on the consultation were clear.

The Ward Member said that KCC’s response in relation to the petition on traffic issues at Halfway (page 117), was that no action would be taken as there had been no accidents in the location, but funding could be sought via Cabinet Member grants. He said that he wanted further advice from KCC on the type and cost of a scheme that could be proposed.  In response the Senior Schemes Manager advised that Paul Brand would discuss this further with the Ward Member. 

A Member sought an update from the Cabinet Member for Housing and Safer Communities on parking at The Leas, Minster.  The same Member asked for an update on the one-way system at Eastchurch on page 116 of the report.  In response, the Cabinet Member for Housing and Safer Communities said that prohibition of parking in the area of The Leas, Minster was planned for this year’s budget.  The Senior Schemes Manager agreed to provide an update on the one-way system at Eastchurch.

The KCC Cabinet Member for Planning, Highways, Transportation and Waste agreed to update the Ward Member on a proposed 20mph speed limit on The Meads, Sittingbourne.

A Member was disappointed with the report on the pedestrian crossing at South Avenue School, Sittingbourne on page 115 of the report and agreed to discuss options with the Schemes Engineer.

The Cabinet Member for Planning, Highways, Transportation and Waste requested an update on the A2 Teynham Speed Limit scheme on page 116 of the report. The Senior Schemes Programme Manager advised that the yellow box junction marking was on order and would be put down soon, and he would confirm the date with him.  He added that other parts of the scheme had been delayed.

Resolved:

(1)  That the report be noted.

To be advised.

The Chairman confirmed the date of the next meeting of the board would be moved back to 5.30pm on Monday 4 March 2019 to avoid falling in the pre-election period.