Agenda and minutes

To receive any declarations of interest made by Members in relation to any matter on the agenda.  Members are reminded to specify the agenda item number to which it refers and the nature of the interest being declared.

There were no declarations of interest.

To consider and approve the minutes as a correct record

Resolved that the minutes of the meetings held on 12 January 2017 and 18 January 2017 are correct records and that they be signed by the Chairman.

To receive verbal updates from the relevant Cabinet Members for the Environment & Transport Cabinet Committee portfolio

(1)  Barbara Cooper (Corporate Director of Growth, Environment and Transport) gave a verbal update on behalf of the Cabinet Member for Community Services.  She reported on two issues: the first was to confirm that the Open Golf Championship was to be held at Royal St George’s in 2020.  This had been pursued by members and officers since 2013 and could bring significant benefits to the County, with previous Championships reporting benefits of around £70m. 

(2)  The second item of her update was a progress report on the volunteer support warden scheme which had been taken up by 26 local councils and which represented an exciting cooperative development.

(3)  Mr Balfour (Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport) reported that the Clean Campaign had started with many roads benefitting.  He thanked the volunteers who had undertaken the litter picking to make the improvement possible.

(4)  Mr Balfour went on to report that the Kent Waste Disposal Strategy had recently been published.  Significant progress had already been made in reducing the amount of waste going to landfill in the County.  The long term target of zero waste was within sight as the County was one of the best performing in the country with the average up until November being just 2.6% and with the December 2016 figure being the lowest ever at 0.26%.

(5)  His third item of report was a brief update on major capital projects: the Maidstone Bridge scheme would be opened formally on 23 March 2017; the final works were underway on the M20 junction 4 project; the Rathmore Road scheme in Gravesend including community street art would be unveiled on 17 March 2017; and six further projects had been successful in receiving Local Growth Fund money, as detailed elsewhere in the Committee’s agenda.

(6)  Mr Balfour advised that he was arranging for a members’ briefing on the important issue of improving air quality, which KCC was working on with other partners.

(7)  Finally, Mr Balfour advised that three parish councils had taken up the initiative to manage contracts for local landscaping services.  He fully understood the concerns of parish councils, but was hoping that other parish councils would follow as they realised the benefit of doing so in helping to maintain a better local environment.

(8)  Resolved that the verbal updates be noted.

To receive a report that shows progress made against targets set for Key Performance Indicators

Richard Fitzgerald (Business Intelligence Manager, Performance) was in attendance for this item.

(1)  Officers introduced the report which showed progress made against targets set for Key Performance Indicators. The latest Dashboard was for December 2016.

(2)  In response to questions from members, officers advised the following:

·         The call back target was contained within the contract with the service provider, so whilst it was being achieved could not be changed until the contract was re-let;

·         Highways related enquiries, especially when travel related issues were included, were amongst the highest categories within KCC;

·         Waste to energy: whilst there were no plans to increase the tonnage of this as the emphasis was on re-use and recycling, the percentage of waste recycled in this way could increase as the amount to landfill is reduced;

·         The programme to replace street lamps with LEDs was ahead of schedule with 70,000 lamps already replaced: the fastest programme of its type in the UK:

·         There were technical difficulties in relation to the cutting down of obsolete lamp posts (including electrical supply): a report would be provided to members.

(3)  Resolved that the report be noted.

To receive a report from the Cabinet Member, Environment and Transport and the Corporate Director, Growth, Environment and Transport which asks the Committee to consider and make recommendations on the revised Local Transport Plan 4 before it is considered by Cabinet and County Council

Katie Stewart (Director of Environment, Planning and Enforcement) and Katie Pettitt (Principal Transport Planner) were in attendance for this item.

(1)       Officers introduced the report which asked the Committee to consider and make recommendations on the revised Local Transport Plan 4 before it was to be considered by Cabinet and County Council.

(2)       In response to questions, the Cabinet Member and officers provided the following:

·           A lorry park at Detling aerodrome had previously been ruled out by Government of practicability grounds

·           The summary names given to projects in this report would be expanded and clarified as the projects were developed

·           There had been a move away from planning road safety measures purely on deaths and serious injuries data towards a more balanced risk assessment

·           There was a group meeting under the direction of the Rt Hon Greg Clark, MP, to examine options for the further development of the A228

·           The danger of using mobile phones in cars was covered in the general safety provisions and should not be specified separately.

(3)          Mr Caller moved and Mr Baldock seconded the following amendment to the recommendations: “that every reference to option C in relation to the New Lower Thames Crossing should be amended to the previously consulted option A14”.

For (2) Mr M Baldock and Mr C Caller; Against (10) Mr C Pearman, Mr A Bowles, Mr I Chittenden, Mr P Homewood, Mr B MacDowall, Mr J Ozog, Mr C Simkins, Mrs C Waters, Mr M Whybrow and Mr A Wickham; Abstentions (0)

The amendment was lost

(4)          Resolved that

·   the Local Transport Plan 4 be endorsed and submitted to the Cabinet and County Council.

·   approval be endorsed for the County Council to authorise the Corporate Director of Growth, Environment and Transport to make any further minor modifications which may be needed such as formatting changes and typographical errors in order to publish the Local Transport Plan 4: Delivering Growth without Gridlock.

For (10) Mr C Pearman, Mr A Bowles, Mr I Chittenden, Mr P Homewood, Mr B MacDowall, Mr J Ozog, Mr C Simkins, Mrs C Waters, Mr M Whybrow and Mr A Wickham; Against (2) Mr M Baldock and Mr C Caller; Abstentions (0)

To receive a report from the Cabinet Member, Environment and Transport and the Corporate Director, Growth, Environment and Transport which asks the Committee to consider and endorse or make recommendations on the proposed decision to take the schemes listed below through the next stages of development and delivery including authority to progress statutory approvals and consultation where appropriate, and to enter into funding and construction contracts

a) Dartford Town Centre improvements scheme, in drg. No. 4300378/000;

b) A2500 Lower Road improvement scheme, in drg No. 43000416/000/06;

c) A2/A28 Coast bound off-slip, Wincheap scheme, in drg. No. 5269/GA01

Roger Wilkin (Director of Highways, Transportation and Waste), Lee Burchill (Local Growth Fund Programme Manager) and Tim Read (Head of Transportation) were in attendance for this item.

(1)  Officers introduced this report which asked the Committee to consider and endorse or make recommendations to the Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport to give approval to take the schemes listed below through the next stages of development and delivery including authority to progress statutory approvals and consultation where appropriate, and to enter into funding and construction contracts:

a) Dartford Town Centre improvements scheme, in drg. No. 4300378/000;

b) A2500 Lower Road improvement scheme, in drg No. 43000416/000/06;

c) A2/A28 Coast bound off-slip, Wincheap scheme, in drg. No. 5269/GA01

(2)  In response to questions the Cabinet Member and officers advised the following:

·         The Dartford scheme had been the subject of complex drafting and consultation process and was therefore broadly supported

·         Noting support from local members for the Sheppey Lower Road scheme;

·         Agreeing that the description of the “A2/A28 Coast bound off-slip, Wincheap scheme” could be clearer;

·         All projects would be the subject of detailed business cases before implementation.

(3)  Resolved that the Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport be recommended to give approval to take the schemes listed below through the next stages of development and delivery including authority to progress statutory approvals and consultation where appropriate, and to enter into funding and construction contracts:

a) Dartford Town Centre improvements scheme, in drg. No. 4300378/000;

b) A2500 Lower Road improvement scheme, in drg No. 43000416/000/06;

c) A2/A28 Coast bound off-slip, Wincheap scheme, in drg. No. 5269/GA01

and specifically to:

i) give approval to the progress the design of the schemes for development control and land charge disclosures;

ii) give approval to progress all statutory approvals or consents required for the schemes;

iii) give approval to carry out consultation on the schemes;

iv) give approval to enter into Local Growth Fund funding agreement subject to the approval of the Corporate Director of Finance & Procurement, and

v) give approval to enter into construction contracts as necessary for the delivery of the schemes subject to the approval of the Procurement Board to the recommended procurement strategy.

To receive a report from the Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport and the Corporate Director for Growth, Environment and Transport which asks the Committee to consider and endorse, or make recommendations on the proposed decision to adopt the Kent Minerals and Waste Safeguarding Supplementary Planning Document March 2017 (SPD).  In addition, the Cabinet Committee is asked to endorse a delegation to the Corporate Director of Environment, Planning and Enforcement to make any further minor modifications which may be needed (such as formatting changes and typographical errors), in order to publish the Minerals and Waste Safeguarding Supplementary Planning Document

Sharon Thompson (Head of Planning Applications) was in attendance for this item.

(1)  Officers introduced the report which asked the Committee to consider and endorse, or make recommendations to the Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport on the proposed decision to adopt the Kent Minerals and Waste Safeguarding Supplementary Planning Document March 2017 (SPD).

(2)  In response to questions from Committee members officers advised the following:

·         confirming that the SPD set out how the safeguarding policies in the adopted Mineral and Waste Local Plan would be implemented and that it covered all economic minerals including brick earth;

·         clarifying that “mineral haul roads” were those road located on quarries.

(3)  Resolved that the Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport be recommended to adopt the Kent Minerals and Waste Safeguarding Supplementary Planning Document March 2017 (SPD).  In addition, the Cabinet Committee endorsed delegation to the Director of Environment, Planning and Enforcement, for the authorisation to make any further minor modifications which may be needed (such as formatting changes and typographical errors), in order to publish the Minerals and Waste Safeguarding Supplementary Planning Document.

To receive a report from the Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport and the Corporate Director for Growth, Environment and Transport which asks the Committee to consider and endorse, or make recommendations on the proposed decision to approve the Active Travel Strategy and Action Plan. In addition, to endorse the delegation to the Corporate Director, Growth Environment and Transport for the authorisation to make any further minor modifications which may be needed such as formatting changes and typographical errors in order to publish the  Active Travel Strategy and Action Plan

Roger Wilkin (Director of Highways, Transportation and Waste) and Charlotte Owen (Safer Mobility Team Leader) were in attendance for this item.

(1)  Officers introduced this report which asked the Committee to consider and endorse, or make recommendations to the Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport on the proposed decision to approve the Active Travel Strategy and Action Plan.

(2)  In response to questions from Committee members, the Cabinet Member and officers advised the following:

·         The strategy would be cost neutral

·         The main driver behind the strategy was to help make the people of Kent healthier through cycling and walking which also serve to reduce pollution and congestion

·         The successful integration of measures would take some years to be fully implemented.

       (3)       Resolved that:

          (a)     the Committee endorse the proposed decision of the Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport to approve the Active Travel Strategy and Action Plan; and

          (b) the Corporate Director, Growth Environment and Transport be given the authorisation to make any further minor modifications which may be needed such as formatting changes and typographical errors in order to publish the  Active Travel Strategy and Action Plan be endorsed.

                    (Mr MacDowall voted against).

To receive a report from the Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport and the Corporate Director for Growth, Environment and Transport which asks the Committee to consider and endorse, or make recommendations on the proposed decision to re-procure and delegate to the Director of Highways, Transportation and Waste authority to award contract/s for the urban grass, shrubs & hedges service.

Andrew Loosemore (Head of Highways Asset Management) and Richard Diplock (Soft Landscape Manager) were in attendance for this item.

(1)  Officers introduced the report which dealt with the soft landscape urban grass shrubs and hedges contract (Maidstone, Dartford, Canterbury and Thanet) which would end on 31 December 2017. The contract value was estimated at £325-350k per year.  A Key Decision was required to award the contract/s for this discretionary service as the value of the contract, including optional extensions exceeded £1m.  

(2)  In response to questions the Cabinet Member and officers advised that:

·         It was intended that this reprocurement would result in local contractors being appointed.

·         Small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) should be well placed to bid for these local contracts

·         It was hoped that more parish and town councils would come on board with the project over time, although it was noted that in urban areas there were often no local councils in place.

(3)  Resolved that the Committee endorse the proposed decision of the Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport to re-procure and delegate to the Director of Highways, Transportation and Waste authority to award contract/s for the urban grass, shrubs & hedges service.

To receive a report from the Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport and the Director of Highways, Transportation and Waste which asks the Committee to consider and endorse, or make recommendations on the proposals to amend fees and charges for 2017/18

Andrew Loosemore (Head of Highways Asset Management) was in attendance for this item.

(1)  Officers introduced the report whichdetailed the proposed changes to fees and charges for the 2017/18 financial year for highways services where a charge would be made for the provision of services.

(2)  In response to questions the Cabinet Member and officers reported that:

·         There was nothing in regulations to prevent the removal of inappropriate signs on lamp posts.  A pragmatic approach was taken to items promoting community events.  Tackling flyposting, of course, was a district council responsibility.

·         Brown tourism signs were based on visitor numbers – officers undertook to provide detailed information on this to all members of the Committee.

·         Charges could not be punitive and had to relate to the cost of service, so it was not possible to charge utilities excessive amounts for emergency road closures.

(3)  Resolved that the Committee endorse the Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport’s proposals to amend fees and charges for 2017/18 as contained in the report.

To receive a report from the Cabinet Member, Environment and Transport and the Corporate Director, Growth Environment and Transport which asks the Committee to consider and endorse or make recommendations to the Cabinet Member for Economic Development on the proposed decision to:

a) approve the full and final contribution from the Strategic Transport Infrastructure Programme (STIP) towards the A2 Bean and Ebbsfleet (A2BE) junction improvements; and

 b) To support the approach that KCC will not forward fund or guarantee the proposed contribution

Andy Moreton (Project Manager) was in attendance for this item.

(1)  Officers introduced this report which dealt with issues relating to Kent County Council being the accountable body for the Strategic Transport Infrastructure Programme (STIP).  KCC was therefore required to provide a reasonable contribution to the Bean and Ebbsfleet Junction Improvements and this report presented the matters considered in order for such a contribution to be offered to Highways England.  Officers advised that since the report was written the Ebbsfleet Development Corporation had agreed the to underwrite the Eastern Quarry s106 monies which are to be used as a full and final contribution from the STIP fund.

(2)  In response to a question officers advised that the project start date was 2020.

(3)  Resolved that the Committee endorse the proposed decision of the Cabinet Member for Economic Development to:

a)    approve the full and final contribution from the Strategic Transport Infrastructure Programme (STIP) towards the A2 Bean and Ebbsfleet (A2BE) junction improvements; and

       b) support the approach that KCC will not forward fund or guarantee the proposed contribution.

To receive a report from the Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport and the Corporate Director for Growth, Environment and Transport which asks the Committee to consider and endorse, or make recommendations on the proposed decision of the Corporate Director Growth, Environment and Transport and the Corporate Director Finance and Procurement, to negotiate and execute legal and/or partnership agreements for the delivery of the Dartford Town Centre scheme

Andy Moreton (Project Manager) was in attendance for this item.

(1)  Officers introduced the report which indicated that it was intended to seek approval for Kent County Council to enter in to a Legal Agreement to enable Dartford Borough Council to undertake a programme of transport improvements and public realm work within the Dartford, funded by the Kent Thameside Strategic Transport Infrastructure Programme (STIP) for which KCC was the Accountable Body.

(2)  In response to questions the Cabinet Member and officers advised that:

·         Detailed drawings of the project would be shared with Committee members outside of the meeting

·         Further consultations would be held with local businesses in due course.

(3)  Resolved that the Committee endorse the proposed decision of thethe Corporate Director Growth, Environment and Transport and the Corporate Director Finance and Procurement, to negotiate and execute legal and/or partnership agreements for the delivery of the Dartford Town Centre scheme.

To receive a report from the Cabinet Member, Environment and Transport the Cabinet Member, Community Services and the Corporate Director, Growth, Environment and Transport which asks the Committee to consider and comment on the final draft Growth, Environment and Transport Directorate Business Plan (2017-18) and note that the final Directorate Business Plan will be published online in April 2017

Karla Phillips (Strategic Business Adviser for Growth, Environment and Transport) was in attendance for this item.

(1)  Officers presented the report which outlined the draft Growth, Environment and Transport Directorate Business Plan (2017-18) for consideration and comment, prior to publication online in April 2017.

(2)  In response to a question the Cabinet Member advised that the business plan was required for professional continuity regardless of the outcome on elections to be held in May 2017.  Officers undertook to remove acronyms.

(3)  Resolved that the Committee endorse the final draft Growth, Environment and Transport Directorate Business Plan (2017-18) and note that the final Directorate Business Plan would be published online in April 2017.

To receive a report from the Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport and the Corporate Director for Growth, Environment and Transport which asks the Committee to consider and comment on the directorate risk register and relevant corporate risks outlined in appendices 1 and 2

(1)  Officers presented this report which outlined the strategic risks relating to the Environment and Transport Cabinet Committee and, in addition, two risks featuring on the Corporate Risk Register for which the Corporate Director was the designated ‘Risk Owner’ on behalf of the Corporate Management Team.  The paper also explained the management process for review of key risks. 

(2)  Officers advised that the plan would need to be amended regarding references to EU funding.

(3)  Resolved that the Cabinet Committeeendorse the directorate risk register and relevant corporate risks.

To receive a report from the Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport and the Corporate Director for Growth, Environment and Transport which asks the Committee to note the KCC response to the consultation on night flight restrictions at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted

Katie Pettitt (Principal Transport Planner) and Joseph Ratcliffe (Transport Strategy Manager) were in attendance for this item.

(1)  Officers introduced this report which dealt with the Department for Transport (DfT) consultation on the next regime of night flight restrictions at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted which closed on 28 February 2017. All local Members in the affected districts of Tonbridge and Malling, Tunbridge Wells and Sevenoaks had been asked for their views to feed into Kent County Council’s (KCC) response, which was based on the Policy on Gatwick Airport, adopted by Cabinet in December 2014. KCC’s response focused on Gatwick Airport only.  The DfT’s proposals had set a new environmental objective to “encourage the use of quieter aircraft to limit or reduce the number of people significantly affected by aircraft noise at night, while maintaining the existing benefits of night flights”.  For Gatwick, the DfT proposed to retain the existing movement limit (the number of flights that can arrive/depart between 2330 and 0600 in a winter or summer season) and reduce the noise quota limit (the amount of noise energy that can be produced over the same period).  KCC’s response argued for a reduction in the number of night flights allowed at Gatwick in accordance with our Policy on Gatwick Airport.  The current number of permitted night flights was unacceptable and the DfT should reduce the night movement limit at Gatwick to at least a level that was comparable with Heathrow.

(2)  Resolved that the KCC response to the consultation on night flight restrictions at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted be noted and endorsed.

To receive a report from the Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport and the Director Highways, Transportation and Waste which asks the Committee to note this report, and to make comments to the Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport concerning future Find and Fix (Pothole Blitz) campaigns and to delegate authority to the Director of Highways Transportation and Waste to procure and award contracts and allocate funding as it becomes available to deliver a programme of works for 2017/18 and for future years’ DfT funding.

Andrew Loosemore (Head of Highways and Asset Management) was in attendance for this item.

(1)  Mr Balfour (Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport) introduced this report which dealt with the allocation to KCC of £2.196 million for 2017/18 from the DfT Pothole Grant which together with an additional £300K of KCC funding would enable the delivery of a £2.5 million Pothole Blitz through the summer months of 2017. A network of local suppliers had been procured in 2016/17 and the pothole blitz successfully delivered. It was intended to deliver a similar programme for 2017/18.  The Cabinet Member confirmed that the programme would be delivered on a needs basis across the entire county.

(2)  Resolved that Cabinet Committee note the report concerning future Find and Fix (Pothole Blitz) campaigns and endorse the delegation of authority to the Director of Highways Transportation and Waste to procure and award contracts and allocate funding as it becomes available to deliver a programme of works for 2017/18 and for future years’ DfT funding.

To receive a report by the Head of Democratic Services which asks the Committee to consider and agree its Work Programme for 2017

Louise Whitaker (Democratic Services Manager (Executive)) was in attendance for this item.

(1)  Officers introduced this report which gave details of the proposed work programme for the Environment and Transport Cabinet Committee.

(2)  Members of the Committee requested reports to future meetings on the following:

·         On line reporting tool which was currently unwieldy

·         Red flag risk items.

(3)  Resolved that the Committee agree its work programme for 2017 subject to the addition of the items listed above.