Agenda item

(1)               The report informed Members about the recent launch of Growth without Gridlock, KCC’s landmark transport delivery plan for the county and invited comments on the proposed innovative ways of delivering the programme.

(2)       Between March and November 2009, a draft Integrated Transport Strategy (ITS) was prepared by the County Council’s Transport Policy Team. Following consultation the ITS was re-drafted during early 2010 with a particular emphasis on ensuring consistency and linkages with the emerging Environment and Housing Strategies.  During the summer of 2010, in response to the changing political and economic landscape and an emphasis on local decision making and increased flexibility for local councils, the ITS was revised into a groundbreaking 20 year Transport Delivery Plan. This became a document which KCC could submit to the Coalition Government, highlighting those schemes that could be delivered by KCC and its partners, asking for greater powers and flexibilities and calling on the Government to progress those schemes of national importance including a Lower Thames Crossing, a long-term solution to Operation Stack and a scheme of foreign lorry road user charging.

(3)       Growth without gridlock – A transport delivery plan for Kent was successfully launched at a well attended media event on 1 December 2010 at County Hall and an executive summary was made available to attendees. At this event, KCC also launched two reports on the Lower Thames Crossing which looked at the feasibility of various crossing locations and the business case and regeneration benefits of a crossing to the east of Gravesend.

(4)       Members and officers would be meeting with Ministers to press for the freedoms to implement the Transport Delivery Plan and also to seek a commitment to hypothecate new money raised from foreign lorry charging etc to Kent. The Kent, Greater Essex and East Sussex Local Enterprise Partnership would provide an opportunity to secure funding and deliver strategic transport infrastructure and the County Council would work with all its partners to maximise the benefits for Kent and its communities.

(5)       During debate the following issues were raised:-

(a)         Mr Whiting requested an update on the Operation Stack situation.  Mr Crick stated that the delay was a combination of both planning permission and funding.  The key issue was to establish a source of funding and he was working with Ministers and officers to bring some of the proposed funding sources forward.  

(b)         Mrs Tweed asked if there was a plan B if the extra funding was not forthcoming.  Mr Crick confirmed that there was, but he remained positive as several sources of funding were highlighted in Growth without Gridlock.

(c)         Mr Harrison referred to the Banning of ‘belly tanks’ and asked if the banning could be achieved now, more as a safety issue rather than funding, and not delay until the whole package was delivered.  Mr Crick stated that several avenues were being considered for funding, which would enable certain elements of the package to be delivered.  KCC was pressing Ministers and officers to introduce legislation to ban ‘belly tanks’.

(6)       RESOLVED that the publication of KCC’s Growth without gridlock - A transport delivery plan for Kent be noted.