To agree the Minutes of the meeting of the Board held on 13 September 2016, as a correct record

Resolved: That the minutes of the meeting held on 13 September 2016, be agreed and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

County Councillor Parry declared for minute 24 – Kippington Area Waiting Restrictions that he had a personal interest as he lived in one of the affected roads, however he had been advised by the KCC General Counsel that it was not a prejudicial interest and so he would still take part in its consideration.

*Correction made on the accuracy of the Minutes at the meeting on 8 March 2017

The local County Councillor advised that a meeting had been scheduled for 22 December 2016 at the Brasted Pavilion with the Parish Council to discuss various issues relating to signage, speed limits and speeding on the A25 at Brasted.

A newsletter entitled Missing Link was tabled on behalf of the representative of the Kent Association of Local Councils who was unable to attend, updating Members on the development of the Brighton Mailn Line 2 Project including that it had secured funding. Members noted the newsletter.

*Correction made on the accuracy of the Minutes at the meeting on 8 March 2017

With the Board’s agreement the Chairman took the additional petition (d) concerning Mount Harry road before petition (c), which was then followed by agenda items 6 and 9.

a)      Presentation of a petition by local residents of Scotts Way, Riverhead concerning dangerous parking

b)      Presentation of a petition by local residents concerning parking in Dunbrik A25 layby

c)       Presentation of a petition by local residents concerning parking in Gordon Road and Argyle Road, Sevenoaks

a)     Presentation of a petition by residents of Scotts Way, Riverhead concerning dangerous parking

Steve Lord, a resident of Scotts Way, Riverhead presented a petition signed by 40 people raising safety concerns about parking in the road and which he said had caused accidents. Vehicles had been parked on bends and across driveways, access for emergency vehicles was difficult and parking on pavement had forced buggies and wheelchairs onto the road

The Sevenoaks District Manager (KCC) advised that he would be happy to consider the petition and would report back to a future meeting of the Board.

b)     Presentation of a petition by local residents concerning parking in Dunbrik A25 layby

Mark Gravener, a local resident, presented a petition requesting restricted waiting times at the service road for Dunbrik. He raised concerns at how the layby was used, explaining that it had been involved with drug dealing and there had recently been a couple of accidents. The petition had received 97% support of local residents.

The local County Councillor explained that softer measures had been ineffective but that he had agreed to fund proposals drawn up by the Council. The Parking Engineer confirmed that the proposals would go to consultation and he expected that a report would be presented to the Board at its next meeting.

d)     Presentation of a petition by residents of Mount Harry Road, Sevenoaks relating to the extension of double yellow lines

Deborah King presented a petition requesting that the double yellow lines on Mount Harry Road, Sevenoaks be extended into the parking bay outside 1 and 2 Kirk Court, though this would reduce the parking by one bay. She explained that this was to assist her elderly mother. Her mother would be picked up daily but vehicles could not park close enough to the flat area of pavement as the vehicles in the bay blocked this. Her mother currently had to use the uneven part of pavement which made her unstable.

Resolved: That Officers carry out a consultation on the petition proposals to extend the double yellow lines on Mount Harry Road, Sevenoaks into the parking bay outside 1 and 2 Kirk Court.

c)     Presentation of a petition by local residents concerning parking in Gordon Road and Argyle Road, Sevenoaks

Harry Rogers, a resident of Gordon Road, Sevenoaks, presented a petition and supporting documents which had been circulated to residents of Gordon Road and Argyle Road proposing three options for additional parking restrictions in those roads and in South Park. They explained that 80% of residents in Gordon and Argyle Roads had responded and 80% of those said that the current scheme was poor or very poor at protecting residents’ and visitors’ parking. They raised concern that residents could often not park outside their house or even in the road when the nearby Blighs car park was full.

Members agreed that this matter be considered further under Minute 23.

The Parking Manager presented a report which updated Members on the parking situation in Sevenoaks Zone A Residents’ Parking Scheme. There was pressure on parking across Sevenoaks town in the roads around the town centre and station. A more restrictive scheme would be less efficient and not serve the needs of the town and wider community. The schemes were “fit for purpose” and future development of a multi-decked car park in Sevenoaks could relieve on street parking in the town.

The Parking Manager explained that independent and internal studies had shown there was capacity available in all the roads throughout the day. A questionnaire survey of Zone A residents in March and April 2016 showed a majority believed that the scheme was either good or very good at controlling residential and visitor parking. Officers tabled the results of a further independent survey carried out on 15 and 17 November 2016. He explained that actions had been taken to increase the frequency of enforcement visits, to prevent re-parking within the zone and limit the abusive passing of vouchers.

Members discussed the proposals in the petition which had been presented to the Board at Minute 22. Members noted that the proposals had not previously been consulted on and considered whether existing spare capacity would be affected by partial residents only parking.

The Parking Manager explained that the petition proposals had not been drafted when the survey of residents had taken place. He added that the spare capacity in Argyle and Gordon roads was fundamental to the economic vibrancy of the town centre in relieving pressure until a multi-storey car park could be built.

The Chairman, noting comments from Members and Officers, indicated that the proposals should not be considered in isolation, but as part of parking in Sevenoaks town as a whole.

Members considered that the petition proposals for one hour non-residential parking would be too short for people to use nearby town facilities.

Resolved:  That

a)   Officers be recommended to begin the process for consulting on further restrictive parking measures in Gordon and Argyle Road, Sevenoaks, as set out in Option A of the petition, except with visitor parking only to be limited to 2 hours; and

b)   Officers draft a report to consider parking provision in Sevenoaks town as a whole, in consultation with local Board Members who express interest, to be presented at the next ordinary meeting of the Board.

Members considered a report which explained that proposals for waiting restrictions in the Sevenoaks Kippington area had been advertised to address concerns of restricted access, obstruction and visibility arising from all day parking. A total of 174 responses had been received with 165 in support. If supported, works were due to begin in January 2017, weather permitting.

The local County Councillor advised that she and County Councillor Parry had also agreed to pay for the introduction of restrictions in Hopgarden Lane, with each of them to provide half of the cost. These proposals would be carried out after the main scheme had been implemented.

Responding to concerns from a member of the public, the Sevenoaks District Manager (KCC) confirmed that the impact of the proposals on the whole of The Rise would be reviewed 6 months after the main scheme and Hopgarden Lane proposals had been implemented

Resolved:  That the Traffic Regulation Order relating to waiting restrictions in Oak Lane, Grassy Lane, Wellmeade Drive, Burntwood Road, Ashgrove Road and Turners Gardens in Sevenoaks be made and implemented as advertised and shown in the plans in Appendix 1 to the report.

The Chairman introduced a report, which explained that at the meeting of the Board on 13 September 2016 ten schemes were suggested which could be explored to help improve local air quality. At that meeting the Board had asked that further information and costings on these be provided, with four to be considered first. The report provided further information concerning the purchase of portable air quality monitoring equipment to assist in raising local awareness, the provision of electric vehicle charging points, the review of automatic traffic signals at the junction of High Street and Dartford Road, Sevenoaks and continuing to promote and expand the Air Alert scheme working with schools and community group. Funding would be met from remaining monies secured by Section 106 obligations and Defra Air Quality Grant.

The Chairman moved that the Board request that Officers implement the proposals, rather than note them.

Members discussed the role of Air Quality Management Areas and whether more needed to be done to act on their findings.

Resolved:  That Officers be requested to implement the Local Air Quality improvement schemes for

i)   the purchase of portable air quality monitoring equipment to assist in raising local awareness;

ii)  the provision of electric vehicle charging points;

iii)the review of traffic signals at the junction of the High Street and Dartford Road, Sevenoaks, to “puffin” crossings so dispensing with the pedestrian phase if no pedestrians were present; and

iv)  continuing to promote and expand the Air Alert scheme working with schools and community groups.

The Parking Engineer presented a report that advised the Board on the locations of the latest applications for Disabled Persons’ Parking Bays (DPPBs) that had been evaluated by the District Council in accordance with KCC’s assessment criteria. The report set out those applications which did not meet the criteria and would proceed no further and the informal consultation responses and Officer comments on those which did pass the assessment criteria. Members were asked to consider the objections and whether to uphold or overrule them. In cases where the objections were overruled, or cases of no objection, an Interim DPPB would be introduced with a view to undertaking the TRO procedure at a later stage.

Resolved:  That

a)   it be noted the application for a parking bay for disabled persons’ vehicles in High Street, Penshurst outside Forge Close did not meet KCC’s assessment criteria and will proceed no further; and

b)   Officers proceed with interim bays with a view to undertaking the TRO procedure at a later stage for the following applications for parking bays for disabled persons’ vehicles which did meet KCC’s assessment criteria

i)   East Hill, South Darenth; and

ii)  New Road, Sundridge.

The Parking Engineer presented a report which explained that a 3-week consultation was undertaken which ended on 4 November 2016, following requests for new or amended minor on-street parking proposals for locations in Crockenhill, Edenbridge, Eynsford, Halstead and Westerham. The report set out the results of that consultation and the Board was asked to consider any objections received and Officer comments and to decide whether the proposals should be proceeded with.

Resolved:  That

a)   the results of the statutory consultation in respect of the parking proposals and the Officer comments and recommendations given in Appendices 1 to 5 to the report be noted;

b)   the parking proposal for Crockenhill (Green Court Road) shown in Appendix 1 and described in the table in paragraph 12 of the report be implemented as drawn;

c)   the objections received to the Farningham (High Street) parking proposals shown in Appendix 2 and described in the table in paragraph 16 of the report be upheld and the parking proposals be abandoned;

d)   the objections received to the Eynsford (High Street (A225)) parking proposals shown in Appendix 3 and described in the table in paragraph 19 of the report be set aside and the proposal be implemented as drawn;

e)   since no objections were received in respect of the Halstead (London Road & Old London Road) parking proposals shown in Appendix 4 and described in the table in paragraph 23 of the report, it be noted that these will be implemented as drawn;

f)    the objections received to the Westerham (Hosey Hill) parking proposals shown in Appendix 5 and described in the table in paragraph 27 of the report be set aside and the proposal be implemented as drawn; and

g)   the objectors be notified of the Board’s decision.

Including notes of the meeting of the Cycling Strategy Working Group held on 15 November 2016 and an update from KCC Transport Planner (Cycling)

The Chairman of the Sevenoaks Cycling Strategy Working Group introduced the action notes from the meeting of the Working Group held on 15 November 2015. He highlighted that the Transport Planner (Cycling) (KCC) advised that the cost of a feasibility study for the part of Cycling Strategy Route 6 between Otford and Bat & Ball was £14,800, while the study for the full route to the Vine at Sevenoaks was £22,000. Informal discussions had taken place between Otford Parish Council and Sevenoaks Town Council on whether they could fund the studies from CIL monies they had received. The Transport Planner (Cycling) (KCC) was calculating what the costs of the study proportionally would be for each local Council.

Members noted the action notes from the Working Group.

Members considered a report which gave an update on the identified schemes approved for construction in 2016/17.

Resolved: That the report be noted.

Members considered a report which outlined the arrangements made between the Council and Kent County Council to provide a local winter service in the event of an operational snow alert in the District.

Resolved:  That the report be noted.