Agenda item

Barbara Cooper, Corporate Director for Growth, Environment and Transport and Mark Scrivener, Corporate Risk Manager were in attendance for this item.

1) Mr Scrivener introduced the report and raised the following points:

·       Mr Scrivener’s team had been asked to produce the report as the ‘debrief’ for the major incident which happened in December 2020 as they were not involved with the response. 

·       The report was written from the KCC perspective, although it was noted that KCC were a key part of the multi-agency response. A similar process would have been undertaken by the Local Resilience Forum.

·       The views of key individuals involved with the response and those affected by the incidents had been sought as well as the views of Members.

·       Detailed planning had been undertaken in the run up to the end of the EU transition period, which had helped the response but there were unique challenges presented by the incident.

·       There were learning points for KCC but also involving partners.

2) Mrs Cooper raised the following points:

·       Detailed work had been undertaken with Dover District Council (DDC) and Highways England on how to keep the roads clear moving forward and agreement around signage, tree removal, improving sightlines, adding maintenance bays on roundabouts in Dover and looking at the A258 Castle Hill when there was congestion in future. In the longer term, ANPR cameras on box junctions and an A2 ‘tap at the Lydden traffic signals were being looked at with DDC and Highways England.

·       There had been a reduction in numbers of HGVs crossing the English Channel in comparison to previous years but numbers were increasing.  The French authorities had changed their requirements in regard to Covid-19 testing for HGV drivers which had reduced the amount of testing having to be carried out in Kent. Therefore, HGVs crossing the Channel would no longer be directed to the centre at Manston but the site was able to be ‘stepped up’ if required. There was to be an overnight closure on 20 March to change signage and configuration.

·       The planned introduction of import controls had been delayed by 6 months by central government in order for businesses and traders to be prepared.

·       The HMRC had moved into the Sevington Inland Border Facility and there were proposals for White Cliffs Inland Border Facility going through the planning process.

·       Traffic management was being looked at with the Department for Transport moving forward as Manston would only be available until the end of June 2021. The later stages of Operation Stack had been compromised by the Sevington Inland Border Facility and therefore, close work was being undertaken on future traffic management for congestion relating to the Straits of Dover.  It was hoped that sites could be found outside of the county to reduce congestion and this was to be a key project in the following months.

3) Mr Payne said since 1 January 2021, the suite of tactical options such as Manston and the Quick Moveable Barrier on the M20 had been available as planned. Continued work between KCC, DDC and the MP would ensure the risk of future incidents was minimised. Thanks were given to all those working before and after Christmas and special thanks were given to Mrs Cooper.

4) Mr Hill said the response had been fast and flexible and showed the strength of the partnerships which had been formed with the Kent Resilience Forum. Driver welfare was highlighted as an area for learning from the incident and moving forward, planning was to be done around welfare issues.

5) Mrs Chandler said that local authorities had worked to clear roadside litter following the incident but highlighted that it had been an ongoing issue and could be included as another aspect of ‘Keep Dover Clear’, working with DDC.

6) Mrs Prendergast said that effective communications or emergency planning was key and thanked KCC Communications for their work over Christmas.

7) The Leader said the report was a clear summary of what happened and drew together both the extraordinary scale of the challenge, the way in which the partners responded very quickly and acknowledged the areas where there were

severe pressures. It was welcomed that there was a focus on keeping Dover clear. There had been detailed planning for the EU transition but KCC had not been prepared for total shutdown of both the cross-channel ports and a whole new set of requirements. Thanks were given to Mrs Cooper and all staff involved in the run up to Christmas.

Since their introduction on 1 January, there had been high levels of compliance with the Kent Access Permit. An evolving strategy was needed to deal with the changing situation and new challenges arising.  The situation had been made more manageable by the approach announced by government to delay the start of the new import controls.

8) Members thanked and paid tribute to Mrs Cooper on the occasion of her retirement from KCC.