Agenda item

To comment and endorse or make recommendations to the Cabinet Member for Planning, Highways, Transport and Waste on the proposed decision to adopt a revised JTB Agreement.

Simon Jones (Director of highways, Transportation and Waste) was in attendance for this item.

1.    Mr M Whiting (Cabinet Member for Planning, Highways, Transport and Waste) introduced the report which set out the proposed changes to the current Joint Transportation Board (JTB) Agreement between Kent County Council and the Districts/Boroughs. Mr Whiting informed the Committee that there had been a variation of agreements dating from 2005 to 2017 and said that the revised agreement sought to bring uniformity across the county. The proposed revised agreement had been circulated to the Chairman of the JTB’s and their feedback had been incorporated into the document. Mr Whiting said that further correspondence was anticipated from District Leaders and representatives of the Kent Association of Local Councils; and welcomed the views of the Committee.

(a)  The unanimous views of the Committee were that there should not be a blanket policy for the Joint Transportation Boards and that individual JTB’s should be reviewed periodically on a case by case basis, in consultation with the District, Borough and KALC representatives to ensure that the JTB’s functioned effectively and in accordance with good practice guidelines.

(b)  Mr Rayner moved, and Mr Holden seconded that an amendment be made to the recommendation to adopt a revised JTB Agreement, which is to be varied to enable those JTB’s that currently have Kent Association of Local Council representation, and Parish and town representation who choose to maintain existing numbers and maintain voting rights that they currently enjoy. The Environment and Transport Cabinet Committee recommends that individual JTB’s may continue to localise and vary their JTB makeup to suit their local requirements.

2.    Upon receiving the proposed amendment, the Chairman reiterated the Committees consensus that the Cabinet Member for Planning, Highways, Transport and Waste should take into consideration the following points prior to decision, that:

(a)  Kent County Council should not tell Districts what they should do,

(b)  Kent County Council should agree reasonable terms for the JTB’s,

(c)   There should be strict understanding that the JTB’s function in an advisory capacity,

(d)  The JTB’s should be inclusive, not exclusive; and

(e)  That JTB’s should decide their own format

3.    Mr Whiting acknowledged the key concerns raised by the Committee, primarily in regard to Parish representation, retainment of voting rights and approval of the Chairman and Vice-chairman of the JTB’s by the Leader of Kent County Council. Mr Whiting proceeded to inform the Committee of additional concerns that had been received regarding the representation of other community groups where Parish’s did not exist and said that this had been addressed with the Town and Parish Councils that were not signatory to the agreements between Kent County Council and the Districts.  Mr Whiting assured Members that the concerns raised would be reviewed and thanked Members for their comments.

4.    The Chairman then put the amended recommendation to the vote and agreement was unanimous.

5.    RESOLVED that the proposed decision (19/00020) to be taken by the Cabinet Member for Planning, Highways, Transport and Waste to adopt a revised JTB Agreement, which is to be varied to enable:

(a)   those JTB’s that currently have Kent Association of Local Council, Parish and Town representation to continue to operate within the existing framework and choose to maintain existing numbers and voting rights as currently enjoyed; and

(b)  JTB’s to continue to localise and vary their makeup to suit their local requirements,

be endorsed.