Minutes:
1. Miss Carey and Mr Brazier reminded the committee that their quarterly portfolio briefings, on Environment and Waste and Highways and Transport respectively, had been circulated to members ahead of the meeting and provided an overview of recent key developments.
2. Mr Brazier provided a verbal update. Concerning the severe weather in December and January which had deteriorated the highway network, he noted that almost four times as many potholes had been reported in winter 2022/23, when compared to winter 2021/22, and assured the committee that all available resources had been deployed to repairing damage. He informed the committee that he had attended an event in Westminster along with member of parliament and members of East Sussex County Council who were keen to take forward plans to construct a high-speed rail route from Manston to Bournemouth, along the south coast, using in part the Marsh link to Brighton, it was noted that the plans were in their infancy and that no sense of how it would be funded had been established. Concerning the Buses in Kent member working group, he told members that the group was now established, with Mr Chard as its chairman. Regarding Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) funding, he confirmed that the Department for Transport had begun payment of £19m funding to KCC for delivery of agreed initiatives in 2023/24, members were reminded that the remaining £16m of KCC’s full allocation of £35m was still to be secured and was in part subject to the delivery of the 2023/24 initiatives. Regarding the formal governance for acceptance of the funding, he explained that the proposed decision to accept the £19m funding had not come to the cabinet committee meeting as there was not time to accord with the constitution and an urgent key decision was required to accept the funding by the Department for Transport’s deadline. He committed to keep members informed on the issue and had an all-member briefing scheduled for 17 March. Addressing community bus services, he confirmed that £425,000 had been made available for initiatives, with 25 bids received of which 19 were eligible and 13 were selected for awards. The committee were told that KCC had made it very clear to the Mayor of London that the authority did not support his intention to extend the Ultra Low Emissions Zone (ULEZ) to the border with Kent and joined other home counties in refusing to enter an agreement to permit signage in Kent unless the Mayor agreed to a scrappage scheme for residents with non-compliant vehicles. He added that the Leader had subsequently received a response from the Mayor, which largely denied the requirements which KCC had set out. He concluded his update by noting that the local cycling and walking infrastructure group continued to meet and would soon be examining the final sift of schemes, to be submitted to the Active Travel England for approval and funding.
3. Mr Jones gave a verbal update. He provided a comprehensive overview of recent operational developments. Winter service was addressed, with it noted that 525 precautionary salt routes had been completed in February, 99% of which were delivered on time and that salt bins and jumble bags had been replenished, with 11,000 tonnes of KCC’s 23,000 tonne salt stock having been used over the winter. Further information was provided on the measures in place to repair the high volume of surface defects on KCC’s highways, it was also explained that access to resources and the cost of materials was putting pressure on the service, with an application made to KCC’s emergency conditions reserve made as a result, to allow for additional resources. He noted that work was also underway with the County Councils Network (CCN) to lobby government for additional funding. Concerning correspondence with members of the public, he explained that there had been a number of delays, with some of the expected times to reply not been meeting the expected standards and apologised for the recent performance. Members were given assurances that additional resources had been allocated to improve performance. Regarding major projects, he confirmed that construction of the Bath Street contraflow bus scheme in Gravesend was due to start construction on 13 March, with Jackson Civil Engineering appointed as the contractor. He confirmed that KCC had submitted representations relating to the proposed Lower Thames Crossing, noting the Council’s support and need for the local highway network to be updated should the scheme be approved. It was explained that the Planning Inspectorate was expected to start the examination stage later in the year, which would last for approximately six months before making a recommendation to the Secretary of State for Transport. He concluded by informing the committee that recent Household Waste Recycling Centre customer feedback had been overwhelming positive, with: 96% of respondents either satisfied or extremely satisfied with their visit; 95% of respondents finding it extremely easy or easy to use the booking system; and 99% of people getting a booking either on the exact day they wanted or an acceptable alternative date.
RESOLVED to note the updates.