Visitors and members of the public who are unfamiliar with the building and procedures are advised that:

(a)      The fire alarm is a continuous loud ringing. In the event that a fire drill is planned during the meeting, the Chair will advise of this.

(b)      Exit routes from the chamber are located on each side of the room, one directly to a fire escape, the other to the stairs opposite the lifts.

(c)      In the event of the alarm sounding, leave the building via the nearest safe exit and gather at the assembly point on the far side of the car park. Do not leave the assembly point or re-enter the building until advised to do so. Do not use the lifts.

(d)      Anyone unable to use the stairs should make themselves known during this agenda item.

The Chair outlined the emergency evacuation procedure.

Councillors should not act or take decisions in order to gain financial or other material benefits for themselves, their families or friends.

The Chair will ask Members if they have any disclosable pecuniary interests (DPIs) or disclosable non-pecuniary interests (DNPIs) to declare in respect of items on the agenda. Members with a DPI in an item must leave the room for that item and may not participate in the debate or vote. 

Aside from disclosable interests, where a fair-minded and informed observer would think there was a real possibility that a Member might be biased or predetermined on an item, the Member should declare this and leave the room while that item is considered.

Members who are in any doubt about interests, bias or predetermination should contact the monitoring officer for advice prior to the meeting.

Councillor Peter MacDonald declared a Non-Pecuniary Interest in respect of item 10 Highways Work Programme. 

To approve the Minutes of the meeting held on 5 December (Minute Nos. 475 – 485) as a correct record.

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 5 December 2022 (Minute Nos. 475 – 485) were taken as read, approved and signed by the Chair as a correct record.

Members of the public have the opportunity to speak at this meeting.  Anyone wishing to present a petition or speak on this item is required to register with the Democratic Services Section by noon on Friday 24 February 2023.  Questions that have not been submitted by this deadline will not be accepted.  Only two people will be allowed to speak on each item and each person is limited to asking two questions.  Each speaker will have a maximum of three minutes to speak.

Petitions, questions and statements will only be accepted if they are in relation to an item being considered at this meeting.

There were no registered speakers.

The Engineer introduced the report which provided an update on the proposed parking bays in Forbes Road, Faversham following a request by the Ward Member.

The Chair invited Members to make comments, which included:

·      Thanked officers for the work on the consultation;

·      the highway code hierarchy had recently changed, and pedestrians now had higher priority;

·      the proposal was to reduce traffic speeds on Forbes Road;

·      the road was dangerous to school children who needed to cross the road;

·      Faversham freight traffic did not use Forbes Road;

·      it was important to make the road safer for cyclists and pedestrians;

·      recognised the concerns that people had with disabled access and thought that disabled bays should be included in the scheme; and

·      thought it would be a missed opportunity to slow traffic down in Faversham if the scheme was not progressed.

Councillor Eddie Thomas proposed that the Board noted the results of the consultation, but not agree to abandon the proposal but support provision of on-street parking bays as a means of traffic calming and to make the 20mph speed limit in the area more enforceable. Further he proposed that Swale Borough Council (SBC) engaged with Faversham Town Council and Ward Members to seek any solutions to outstanding issues. This was seconded by Councillor David Simmons.

Recommended:

(1)   That the proposed on-street parking bays and associated double yellow lines in Forbes Road, Faversham be progressed and officers engage with Faversham Town Council and Ward Members to seek any solutions to outstanding issues.

The National Highways Project Manager for M2 Junction 5 Improvement works gave a verbal update on the progress of the works.

The Chair thanked the officer for the update and raised a concern that the A2 and rural lanes that accessed onto the A2 between Rainham and Faversham were in a poor state due to the volume of traffic going through them to avoid the road works on the M2, Junction 5. He asked if it was National Highways (NH) intention to help assist communities with the repairs to rural roads especially aiding local communities in the repair of pot-holes with any surplus materials they had from the project.

The NH Project Manager explained that it was not their responsibility to repair roads that were outside their jurisdiction. He added that the project was planned to include the amount of materials they needed so it was unlikely that any materials would be leftover. He said that although this was something that they would not be able to help with they were supporting Kent County Council (KCC) in any way that they could and discussions were on-going on how they could decrease the amount of traffic that was travelling through the rural lanes, rather than the designated diversion routes.

The Chair invited Members to make comments which included:

·      The rat running was excessive, and some rural roads were becoming unusable;

·      there was a lot of rubbish around the site and suggested there be regular litter picks to remove the rubbish from the site;

·      why were the works taking such a long time, could the contractors not work 24/7 to complete the project quicker?;

·      thanked the contractor for improving the signage for the new road layout;

·      wanted NH to keep the Local Authorities informed of works so that other temporary works on the road could be planned to avoid further delays for road users;

·      was there anything NH could do to enforce the 30 mph speed limit along Chestnut Street, Borden?; and

·      repairs needed to be carried out on the pot-holes along the rural lanes sooner rather than later as the roads were becoming extremely dangerous for all road users.

In response, the NH Project Manager said that planned litter picks were scheduled as party of the project, but could only take place when the roads were closed for safety reasons. They would see if more could be done to keep on top of the rubbish on the site and the surrounding area. With regard to the time the project was taking he said that NH had to work in the most efficient and cost effective way as they were spending tax payers money, which meant that a 24/7 contract was not feasible. He added that NH were working with Kent Police on the speeding in Chestnut Street and enforcement was a matter for Kent Police. He assured Members that NH would support Kent Police however they could and that they had installed a temporary speed monitor to check the speed of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 723.

The Assistant Project Manager (KCC) gave an update on the proposed roundabouts at Key Street and Grovehurst Road, Sittingbourne. 

The Chair invited Members to make comments on the Key Street roundabout, which included:

·      Concerned that the diagram provided was outdated as it did not show the same layout as that shown in the beginning stages of the project;

·      there was no longer a priority route for Sittingbourne traffic;

·      the cycle lane was confusing;

·      paragraph 3.4 of the report indicated that an existing footpath would be removed but the Parish Councils were not aware of this;

·      paragraph 5.2 stated that the Parish Councils would be consulted but they had not been; and

·      questioned why at paragraph 6.2 the Wises Lane, Sittingbourne Section 106 development money was not included?.

In response, the Assistant Project Manager (KCC) said, the plans and diagrams shown to the Board were the outline design of the scheme and that the detailed design plans would be shared in the future. She told Members that KCC were waiting for recent Planning development conditions to be discharged before detailed design works commenced. She confirmed that the detailed design would be shared with the Parish and Town Councils and a communications plan was being developed to make sure all stakeholders were informed of the progress of the scheme.

A Member questioned whether the works at Grovehurst Road would start in May or July 2023 as the report included two different dates. Members also questioned the programme as it seemed very tight. In response, the Assistant Project Manager (KCC) explained that the construction start date was May 2023, however, there would be no works requiring traffic management until July 2023. She acknowledged that the programme was tight but assured the Board that it had been agreed within the tender package and the dates set-out in the report were those they would be working towards, in order to meet the funding deadline agreed with Homes England.

Resolved:

(1)   That the report be noted.

The Chair invited comments from Members, which included:

·      Tt was good to have the process on how decisions were made about developer funded highway improvements;

·      concerned with the time lag on planning applications coming forward and the time it took for the highways proposals to be put in place;

·      thought that KCC could do more to offer help towards Parishes;

·      hoped that KCC Highways and Transportation and the Planning Authority could work together to prevent delays on the highways proposals on developments;

·      something needed to be done to ensure that developers were carrying out what was required of them; and

·      KCC Highways and Transportation and the Planning Authorities needed to work with developers to ensure that proper drawn to scale plans were submitted with planning applications so that Members were able to fully understand what was being proposed.

The Swale District Manager said that he would feedback Members’ comments to the Transport & Development Planning Manager – East Kent.

The Chair invited comments from Members.

Councillor Monique Bonney commented on the resurfacing works on the A2 London Road, Teynham and hoped that the works would be appropriately planned around the M2 Junction 5 Works.

Parish Councillor Jeff Tutt said that the works proposed on Canterbury Road (Boughton Hill) were actually in Dunkirk Parish rather than Boughton-Under-Blean and asked that this was updated.

Parish Councillor Peter MacDonald commented on SW/003108 Chequers Road, Minster, and said that the developer had installed the footway successfully. However, at the neighbouring development SW/003337, the developer had not continued the footpath.

Parish Councillor Peter MacDonald commented on SW/003423 The Slips, Scocles Road, Minster, and said that the developer had taken some of the hedge away which was not permitted and had placed a curb too far into the road which was causing traffic issues in Scocles Road.

Councillor Steve Davey commented on the drop-off facility at SW003117 North Street, Milton Regis and said that residents had concerns over the way the drop-off was being used as there was no parking restrictions and people were now parking on the grassed area. He asked if it was possible for KCC Highways and Transportation to give the residents an update on what they could do.

KCC Mike Dendor commented on the flood water management works at Snips Hill, Sittingbourne. The Swale District Manager agreed to look into the issue and update the Member.

KCC Mike Dendor commented on the new proposed roundabout junction at the Bobbing Apple, Bobbing and asked what the current situation was and if construction was still due to take place in summer 2023? The Swale District Manager agreed to look into the issue and update the Member.

Councillor Monique Bonney commented on the new Eurolink Way, Sittingbourne crossing by the Redrow developments and scrap metal yard. She asked if the issue of lorries parking on the road and causing serious issues for pedestrians and other road users had been addressed in the agreement. Several other Members expressed concerns with the safety of road users and the Chair agreed that KCC Highways and Transportation would need to bring a report back to the Board on this matter.

Resolved:

(1)   That the Highways Work Programme be noted.

(2)   That a report on SW/003084 Eurolink Way, Sittingbourne be brought to the next meeting of the Swale JTB

To consider the Progress Update which outlines progress made following recommendations and agreed action at previous meetings.

Resolved:

(1)   That the report be noted.

Resolved:

(1)   That the letter be noted.

The Senior Programme Manager (Active Travel) introduced the report which provided an update on KCC’s Active travel agenda.

Resolved:

(1)   That the report be noted.  

Resolved:

(1)   That the report be noted.

The date of the next meeting will be confirmed at Annual Council.

The next meeting of the Swale JTB would be at 5.30 pm on Monday 26 June 2023 (subject to confirmation).