To receive a verbal update from the Cabinet Member for Planning, Highways, Transport and Waste and the Cabinet Member for Community and Regulatory Services.
Minutes:
1. Mr M Whiting (Cabinet Member for Planning, Highways, Transport and Waste) gave a verbal update on the following issues:
Bus Portal
The bus portal was launched on Kent County Council’s website on 25th January 2019 which allowed users to record any issues they had experienced with the bus operators or service providers. Since it’s launch there had been 171 recorded issues, a majority of which related to punctuality. Mr Whiting informed the Committee that the bus portal was an essential tool that would assist the Highways team in addressing such issues with the operators concerned and relieve some of the experienced pressures.
Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) Working Group
The HGV Working Group had examined a number of potential ways to resolve the issue of HGVs travelling through rural villages and town centres. Mr Whiting commended the positive work of the group and the effective meetings held with Kent Police’s Transportation Chief and Department for Transport representatives to explore ways in which Kent County Council could work with national government and build a scheme within Kent. Mr Whiting paid tribute to all those on the Members Working Group and said that a preliminary report of the findings was due to be produced in the late autumn.
Casualty Reduction Activity
Mr Whiting informed Members of the planned casualty reduction events as follows:
· 4th March 2019 - Inappropriate speed on rural roads. Mr Whiting said that Simon Jones, Director of Environment, Transport and Waste was due to review potential pilot schemes for 40 mph speed limit zones to measure the effect of casualty reductions in rural areas,
· 15th March 2019 - A new and improved Licence to Kill programme was launched under the campaign title ‘No Turning Back,’
· March to April 2019 - A new road user campaign was due to be launched to address the issues on the A254
· March to April 2019 – A new campaign was due to be launched to address mobile phone impairment whilst driving
Mr Whiting informed the Committee that the campaign ‘Speak Out’ had been nominated for the Local Government Chronical award.
Local Growth Fund
Mr Whiting informed the Committee that the A226 work had progressed and that the footway and acoustic barrier installations were due to be completed by the end of March 2019. The site compound was yet to be removed, however, the anticipated date of completion was April 2019.
Tonbridge Station Improvements
The Tunbridge Wells station improvements were complete and construction work commence on the Tunbridge Wells public realm on 28th January 2019. Mr Whiting informed the Committee that Civic Way and Monson Road had also closed for planned refurbishment works.
Big Conversation Bus Pilot
Mr Whiting informed the Committee that a Member Review Group would be established to work in coalition with the Big Conversation project team. Mr H Rayner had agreed to chair the cross-party group and arrangements were being made through the Group Leaders’ office and Project Manager, Robert Clarke.
2. Mr Whiting responded to Members comments and questions, which included the following: -
(a) Mr Whiting confirmed that an item on the 20mph speed limit policy was due to be discussed at the Cabinet Committee in May 2019.
(b) In response to queries regarding the remit of the Bus Pilot working group and whether it would include decisions relating to Thanet and Sevenoaks bus services, Mr Whiting said that the working group was established to assist the project manager with the big bus trials with a remit to amend the trials as they progress. Mr Whiting assured Members that changes to subsidised services would have to go through public consultation to ensure full transparency and the proposed decision would be presented to the Cabinet Committee before a final decision could be made. Mr Whiting acknowledged the importance of including those Members in any discussions regarding proposed changes to their local areas and assured Members that those discussions would take place prior to public consultation.
(c) In response to the licencing of Heavy Goods Vehicles, Mr Whiting said that the Government set the required age limit and 18 years of age was perceived to be satisfactory.
3. RESOLVED that the verbal updates be noted, with thanks.