To agree the Minutes of the meeting of the Board held on 12 June 2013, as a correct record

Resolved:  That the minutes of the Sevenoaks Joint Transportation Board held on 12 June 2013 be approved and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

No new declarations were made.

Action 1

The District Manager (Sevenoaks) KCC confirmed that work at the Sevenoaks High Street junction with Pembroke Road and Suffolk Way would start in the second week of January 2014.

Action 2

The District Manager (Sevenoaks) KCC reported that this action had been completed.

The Chairman allowed Mr Morrison from the Sevenoaks Cycle Forum to address the Committee.  He expressed his concerns that a meeting had not yet taken place between the Cycle Forum and Officers for a cycle route between Otford and Sevenoaks.  The District Manager (Sevenoaks) KCC informed the Board that he would speak to the responsible officer.  His understanding was that a design was being completed but there were problems with underground stats.

Action 1: That KCC provide an update at the March meeting.

A Member raised concerns over the control cameras at the Bat and Ball Junction and that he had not noticed a difference in traffic priorities.  The District Manager (Sevenoaks) KCC explained that there were limited options for the junction.  The cameras monitored and adjusted traffic priorities for slight delays. Once the traffic on one side had been given extra time to go through, traffic then built up at the other traffic lights.

Parish Councillor Mrs Metcalf from Chevening Parish Council presented a petition that requested double yellow lines on the west side of Bessels Green Road and Park Place to improve safety and stop illegal parking at the junctions.

Members queried why the petition had not been printed along with the agenda.  It was noted that it had been agreed in the past that no work would be carried out until a petition had been presented at the Board.  The Board then asked Officers to consider the petition and report back to the Board at the next meeting.  It was mooted that this procedure may no longer be appropriate.

County Councillor Parry had been aware that the petition would be submitted, and advised that he was happy to fund the proposal out of his Member Highway Fund.  It was noted that a formal consultation exercise would need to be carried out and detailed consideration placed before the Board before it could make a decision. 

Resolved:  That Officers commence the consultation process and report back to the next meeting.

Parish Councillor Mrs Metcalf from Chevening Parish Council also presented a petition that requested double yellow lines at the George and Dragon in the upper High Street for the prevention of inappropriate parking.  County Councillor Parry had also been aware of this petition, and advised that he was happy to fund the proposal out of his Member Highway Fund.  The same course of action was agreed.

Resolved:  That Officers bring back a report to the March meeting of the Board.

Parish Councillor Mrs Mercer from Riverhead Parish Council presented a petition for a Zebra Crossing near the Trinity School at London Road.  Over 1000 people had signed the petition.  The Trinity School had applied for a grant in order to be able to help contribute to the cost should the scheme be agreed.

Members discussed the location of the crossing and one County Member and one District Member commented that they could not make a decision without reference to a plan and requested that plans be presented with any future reports.  Safety issues, traffic flow and air quality would need to be investigated by officers.

Resolved:  That Officers investigate the proposal and report back to the next meeting.

The Development Planner (KCC) presented the report which proposed to redesignate approximately 140 metres of footway as a shared-use “Cycle Track” on the east side of Riverhill and London Road adjacent to the A21/A224 roundabout.  In response to Members questions he explained that the route would stop cyclists having to go around the roundabout.  Some cyclists already used the path.

Mr Morrison addressed the Board and explained that there were other routes which were more regularly used by cyclists and it was not one of the Cycle Forum’s priorities.  However, he was in favour of the proposal to help cyclists avoid roundabouts.

Members expressed concern that it would not be good value for money.  Although it was noted that it was intended that the funding would come from the Highways Agency, Members queried where the funding would come from if not secured.  Other concerns were that the path did not go all the way up Riverhill and cyclists would have to cross the road with fast traffic.

Resolved:  That the proposals not be endorsed.

The Board considered the Member Highway Fund Scheme.  Members questioned how up to date the information in the report was, as some schemes which were in place were missing and there some were historic schemes outstanding.

The District Manger (Sevenoaks) KCC explained that he understood Members frustration at the report and there had been a number of staff changes.

Action 1: The District Manager (Sevenoaks) KCC would investigate why the data provided did not have all the relevant schemes reported.

Resolved: That the report be noted.

The Board considered a report which updated Members on the identified schemes approved for construction in 2013/14. 

The District Manager (Sevenoaks) KCC explained that sections of road in Edenbridge had been resurfaced.  Swanley North Field was missed off the list for this year due to the lack of funding but it was still a priority.  A Member commented that the work in Bonney Way Road had been completed and he was pleased with it.

In response to a question the District Manager (Sevenoaks) KCC explained that the reports were written in advance and the ‘current status’ column was a prediction made for the status at the time of the meeting.  Although work may not necessarily be taking place at that moment in time it showed the importance of the work and that the schemes were proceeding well. 

A Member questioned whether it would take 6 weeks for programmed work to take place and whether there would be stop lines in advance of Pembroke Road in Sevenoaks High Street would be put in.  The District Manager (Sevenoaks) KCC explained that he would relay comments back to KCC Officers

Action 2: That the District Manager (Sevenoaks) KCC to chase for a progress report.

Resolved:  That the report be noted.

The District Manager (Sevenoaks) KCC presented the report which provided an update on the progress with the Find and Fix Programme to tackle pothole damage as a result from the Winter Weather.  He explained that £4.2 million had been spent county wide and in the Sevenoaks District 14% which was £600,000 had been spent repairing pot holes.

Resolved:  That the report be noted.

The District Manager (Sevenoaks) KCC updated the Board on Local Road Safety. He explained that at the end of each calendar year a report was produced from the crash data.  KCC’s casualty reduction strategy was at its consultation stage.  The data from 2013 was not ready but would be brought back to the Board in 2014.

The number of collisions that involved children in the years 2011/12 was 11 which was the lowest in the country, and the number of people killed or seriously injured had decreased.  Nationally there was an increase in accidents in 2012.  Possible causes included the adverse weather and the recession due to people struggling to maintain their car service.

Action 3: That the District Manager (Sevenoaks) KCC report back to a future meeting with a 3 year profile and basic statistics from the previous 10 years.