Councillor Simon Clark (Chair) had sent his apologies and was in attendance remotely.  Kent County Councillor John Wright (Vice-Chair) took the chair for this meeting and would be referred to as ‘Chair’ for the remainder of these minutes.

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 2 October 2023 (Minute Nos. 331 – 342) as a correct record.

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 2 October 2023 (Minute Nos. 331 – 342) 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 1 December 2023.  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.

Some Members spoke in favour of the recommendation.  Parish Councillor Peter MacDonald asked that it be recorded that he had abstained from voting.

Recommended:

(1)      That the report be noted and the proposed loading bay in Victoria Street, Sheerness, be abandoned.

Parish Councillor Peter MacDonald introduced this item and explained that he considered that the conditions imposed on developers and utility companies should be tightened.  He spoke on the poor quality of work carried out by utility companies; that the companies often said their work was an emergency; and he suggested the timescale and quality of some of the work needed to be tightened up.

The Chair responded and said that the Kent County Council (KCC) Cabinet Member for Transport and Highways was looking into utility companies, specifically when they did works under the ‘emergency’ status, when it seemed not to be an emergency.  The KCC District Manager (Swale) explained that the Cabinet Member had recently given a presentation to Parish Councils about this matter, and he assured the Board that this was currently being looked into.  In response to a question, he explained that guarantees on work carried out was two years for shallow repairs and five years for deeper repairs.

A Member suggested that an update report be brought back to the March 2024 meeting on progress made with work by KCC in relation to utility companies.  Another Member suggested that repair statistics also be included.

The KCC District Manager noted the comments and advised members of the Board that they could visit the One.Network site via KCC’s website for information on all road works, countrywide.

Recommended:

(1)      That an update report be provided for the March 2024 meeting on the works carried out by utility companies.

Post published note:  This will be an update from National Highways, not KCC.

Daniel Rollinson, National Highways M2 Junction 5 Project Manager, gave a verbal update on the M2 Junction 5 Stockbury Works, Sittingbourne.

The Chair invited comments from Members and points raised included:

·         Welcomed the improved communications on social media;

·         the aerial shots and maps were very useful;

·         clarification sought on connectivity from west to south east and whether there was going to be an access route across the A249?;

·         acknowledged and congratulated the team that work had continued at a good pace;

·         raised concern with the traffic light system on the roundabout which caused queues; and

·         there was a lack of signage to get into the correct lanes.

In response, the Project Manager said that the feasibility of a bridge had been looked into about one year ago, but there had not been enough support for it, from Stockbury, and proof was also needed that there was a need for it.  He explained that traffic light phasing was constantly being reviewed and tweaked to give the best traffic flow.  The Project Manager acknowledged the signage query, but explained that this had scored highly in a review and he noted that some issues were due to driver behaviour.

The Chair thanked the Project Manager for his update.

Resolved:

(1)      That the verbal update be noted.

Richard Shelton, 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:

·         Suggested this scheme adopted a similar media campaign and updates as on the previous agenda item;

·         there was an issue with speeding vehicles;

·         there were traffic issues from vehicles coming over the old Sheppey bridge into a single lane; and

·         there needed to be a public meeting in advance of further work going ahead.

In response, the Project Manager explained that speed limits were being looked into, and he acknowledged the access issues from the old Sheppey bridge.  He said that a meeting would be held in due course.

The Chair thanked the Project Manager for his update.

Resolved:

(1)      That the verbal update be noted.

The KCC District Manager (Swale) introduced the report as set out in the agenda papers.

In response to some questions on some of the schemes, the KCC District Manager advised that the Parish Councillor could meet on site with the relevant officer.

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 KCC District Manager referred to the Eurolink update (727/02/23) and explained that a plan was available, and Members should contact him if they would like a copy.  A Member advised that historically the KCC Regulations Committee might have some information on that site which could be beneficial.

Resolved:

(1)      That the report be noted.

The next meeting of the Swale Joint Transportation Board meeting is 4 March 2024 at 5.30 pm.

The next meeting of the Swale Joint Transportation Board would be at 5.30 pm on Monday 4 March 2024.