Resolved:       That the minutes of the meeting of the Environment Select Committee held on 25 October 2011 be approved and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

No declarations of interest were made.

(a)       2012/13 Budget and Review of Service Plans (Response from Cabinet - 8 December 2011)

(a)   2012/13 Budget and Review of Service Plans (Response from Cabinet – 8 December 2011)

The response from Cabinet was noted.

None

There were no actions from the previous meeting.

The Committee discussed the Work Plan.  Members noted the reasons set out at Minute 38 below, for the Development Management DPD not being presented until the March 2012 meeting.  In light of this and the Sevenoaks Residential Character Assessment report being presented in March, it was felt prudent to move Excessive Street Furniture, Railways and Trains (Southern and South-Eastern operators), Edenbridge CAMP and the Local Listing Update to June 2012.  The Committee discussed and agreed to request an update report on arrangements for the Olympics and Paralympics to be presented to the June 2012 meeting.

Verbal reports from Kent County Council and local Bus Operators.

The Chairman welcomed to the meeting Daniel Washington, Public Transport Planner from Kent County Council (KCC), and the following representatives from Bus Operators in the district: Robert Patterson from Arriva; Brian Wharf and Austin Blackburn from Go Coach; and Norman Kemp from Nu Venture.

The Public Transport Planner (KCC) reported that as a result of a comprehensive spending review, Kent Highway Services had been restructured, with a 20% reduction in staffing and budget.  As a direct result of a reduction in funding from central government, the use of concessionary fares had been put back from        9.00a.m. to 9.30a.m.  The budget for local supported bus services had also been reduced, which resulted in the 409 being withdrawn from the district, but much of this service was duplicated by the 477.  There had also been a reduction in the ‘Bus Service Operation Grant’, which meant that bus operators would receive 20% less rebate on fuel tax from April 2012.  So there were three key issues:  the reduction in the concessionary fare funding; reduction in the budget for the supported bus services; and the reduction in the bus service operation grant.  At the moment the ‘Freedom Pass’ was unaffected.  KCC had undertaken ongoing replacement and upgrading of bus stops across the network, especially around Edenbridge and Swanley, which would be completed by the end of the financial year. 

A number of Members were concerned by the use of concessionary fares being moved to 9.30a.m. and commented on the difficulty this caused for users to make  hospital appointments for example.  They also expressed concern at the potential knock on cost implications for the NHS as a result of missed appointments.

In response to questions, the Public Transport Planner (KCC) responded that real time information digital displays were dictated by funding, and in practice tended to be introduced as a result of developer contributions.  Subject to funding it would be looked into for appropriate main locations such as train stations.  He also explained that the refurbishment of bus stops had consisted of cleaning them up,  and replacement of graphics, tiles and timetables which was more cost effective than buying new ones.  An increase in patronage had already been noted in a number of areas as a result of the refurbishments and new timetables.

Mr Robert Patterson – Business Development Manager for Arriva gave a short presentation to the Committee.  He reported that Arriva operated in the district  from their Tunbridge Wells Depot and were owned by the Deutsche Bahn Group.  There were forty five buses at the depot, one hundred drivers, twelve engineers, six managers and supervisors and that they serviced 3.8 million passengers in the Tunbridge Wells and Sevenoaks area a year.  Arriva (previously Maidstone & District) was currently celebrating it 100^th Anniversary of operation. 

Extra journeys had been added to off peak 452 journeys. They had reinstated the 402 route via the Weald in September 2011 thanks to contributions from KCC and County Councillor Chard’s Members Highway Fund.  In response  ...  view the full minutes text for item 35.

The report set out a proposed response to a draft Gatwick Airport master plan, which looked forward to 2020.  The plan proposed that passenger throughput at the airport would increase to 40 million passengers per annum by 2020.  The draft response to the consultation noted that the airport played a key role in the South East economy but raised concerns about access to the airport and the noise impacts of any increase in the number of flights.  The draft response also suggested that the need for increased capacity for international travel in the South East should be assessed by Government and that any proposals for a second runway at Gatwick prior to this would be unwelcome.  The Senior Planning Officer advised that the consultation deadline had expired but that an extension had been granted in order to be able to bring this forward to the Committee for consideration. 

The Chairman congratulated Edenbridge Town Council on their excellent response.  In response to a question the Senior Planning Officer advised that whilst the master plan noted that under the terms of the Airport’s legal agreement, £1 million annually should be spent on public transport initiatives, he was not aware of how this money was currently spent.  The response suggested that some of the money should be used to support and promote a reintroduced train service between Tonbridge and Gatwick.  The Master Plan also noted that a coach service between the airport and Kent would be introduced.  The Senior Planning Officer was unaware of the details of this route but would speak to the Public Transport Planner at KCC to see if he had any further information. 

            ACTION 2:     Officers to investigate the details of the coach service between Gatwick and Kent  proposed in the draft Gatwick Airport Master Plan.

            Resolved:       That the response as set out in the report, be agreed by the       Portfolio Holder and sent to the Gatwick Airport operator as the Council’s   comments on the draft master plan.

The report explained the need to amend the timetable for publishing the Allocations and Development Management Development Plan Document (DPD) to take full account of the final version of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and enable further consideration to be given to key development sites.  This would be a delay of five months and move approval of the plan for publication to July rather than February 2012.  The report also covered other changes to the Local Development Framework (LDF) timetable, including the production of a Charging Schedule for the Community Infrastructure Levy and planning for gypsies and travellers. 

In response to a query, the Planning Service Manager explained that if the NPPF was not published in April there was some degree of flexibility, but if the position was still uncertain by May the further consideration would need to be given as to how to respond.

Resolved:       That Cabinet be recommended to agree the revised Local Development Scheme as set out in Appendix A to the report.