To agree the Minutes of the meeting of the Board held on 13 December 2022, as a correct record

Resolved: That the Minutes of the meeting of the Joint Transportation Board held on 13 December 2022 be approved and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

For reasons of transparency County Cllr. McArthur declared that she was the SDC portfolio Holder for Items 5 – Applications for Disabled Persons (Blue Badge) Parking Bays (Minute 25) & item 6 Off-Street Car Parks Electric Vehicle Charging Points Update (Minute 26) and so would abstain from debate.

For reasons of transparency County Cllr. Perry Cole declared that he was the SDC local Member for an application under Item 5 – Applications for Disabled Persons (Blue Badge) Parking Bays (Minute 25).

Members noted the completed action.

The Chairman introduced the report which set out a revised scheme for a 20mph zone in Sevenoaks Town and pedestrian crossing on the A225. At its meeting on 13 December 2022, the Board resolved to set up a working group to refine a 20mph scheme in Sevenoaks Town. The Working Group, chaired by the Chairman of the Board, had met on two occasions and with Officer Support had produced a refined scheme. The Chairman took the opportunity to thank Members and Officers for their input.

The revised scheme sought to remove the one-way system on Dartford Road but maintain the proposed pedestrian crossing on the A225 and further refined a 20mph zone around various Schools in Sevenoaks Town. Members were asked to recommend that the scheme either a) proceed to construction, b) proceed to further consultation, or c) abandon the scheme.

Members asked questions of clarification on road traffic accident and fatalities data. The Active Travel Manager (KCC) advised that over the previous 10 years there had been vehicle related fatalities in the Sevenoaks Town zone and data showed that the implementation of 20mph zones had yielded a 6-12% reduction in the severity of incidents.

Members discussed the report, with a focus on the implementation of the Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP) that had recently been completed.  It identified various cycling and walking improvements needed at the local level, with a view to developing local cycling and walking networks over the longer term. Members discussed the benefits of integrating the Sevenoaks LCWIP with the 20mph scheme as various roads included in the scheme were being considered as part of the LCWIP.

Members also discussed that the revised scheme was more in-line with the views of residents and the Town Council. Members expressed support for the revised scheme to proceed to further informal consultation with residents.

It was moved by the Chairman and duly seconded that the scheme proceed to an informal consultation, with due consideration to the emerging LCWIP, for the revised 20mph speed limit area in Sevenoaks Town and pedestrian crossing on the A225. The motion was put to the vote and it was

Resolved: That it be recommended to KCC that the scheme proceed to an informal consultation with due consideration to the emerging LCWIP for the revised 20mph speed limit area in Sevenoaks Town and pedestrian crossing on the A225.

Members considered a report which presented representations that had been received during the informal consultation to proposed disabled persons (blue badge) parking bays (DPPBs) within the District. The Board was asked to consider the applications and representations received and decide whether to support the Officers’ recommendations to set aside the representations to the proposed DPPBs in Daltons Road, Crockenhill, Church Road, Seal and Swanley Lane, Swanley, and agree to the introduction of interim parking bays at the locations.

          Resolved: that

a)    the applications for DPPBs in Meadway Halstead and Connifer Way, Swanley that met Kent County Council’s personal assessment criteria, but had been declined for the reasons stated be noted;

b)   as no representations were received to the proposed DPPB in Cramptons Road, Sevenoaks an interim parking bay be marked; and

c)    the objections received for Daltons Road, Crockenhill, Church Road, Seal and Swanley Lane, Swanley be overturned and interim parking bays be marked.  

The Head of Direct Services (SDC) presented the report which provided an update on the Council’s off-street Electric Vehicle (EV) car parking provision. The Council had installed 18 charging points within SDC owned car parks with an additional 6 commissioned. The Council would continue to install accessible charging points across other car parks under its control and at the Council depot and offices. The Council had also commissioned, as part of the Net Zero Action Plan an EV Charging Infrastructure Study, which was due to report in spring 2023.

          Resolved: That the report be noted.

Members considered a report that updated the Board on Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Infrastructure across Kent. KCC had commissioned an EV infrastructure programme to install EV points across the County. The report showed that current charger numbers in Sevenoaks were behind the requirements for the District. Charger numbers would need to grow to 2025 and keep growing significantly up to 2030 and beyond. However, ensuring an affordable, reliable network was also important. Not all chargers would be delivered by Local Authorities, KCC would work closely with District Officers to explore appropriate solutions to reach these targets.

The Government had also launched the Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) Fund for Highway Authorities to apply for in the region. This was primarily focused on providing resident charging to those without off street parking. The funding was provided to deliver against a Regional EV strategy, in collaboration with District/Borough Authorities. KCC officers were in the process of liaising with all District/Borough partners to determine how best to deliver against the targets.

Members discussed the report. A Member asked a question on the comparative cost of off-street EV charging with the trialling of a scheme for supplying EV charging points for resident’s homes via cabling. Members would be provided an update following the meeting.

Action: For KCC Highways to update Members on the comparative costs of off-street EV charging compared with resident EV charging for those without off street parking.

          Resolved: That the report be noted.

Members considered a report which set out an update regarding parking restrictions on the A25 Worships Hill, Riverhead. A traffic regulation order consultation on the proposals began on 27 January 2023 and ran until noon on Monday 20 February 2023. Initial analysis of the consultation presented two objections to the proposals which would be responded to by KCC Officers. Should there still be objections at the end of this process, these would be tabled and presented to the County Member and KCC Director of Highways & Transportation, with a recommendation to proceed with the proposal.

          Resolved: That the report be noted.

Members considered a report which updated Members on the Active Travel scheme. Kent County Council had been working alongside the Department for Transport and subsequently Active Travel England (ATE), who had been created as an Executive Body to oversee walking and cycling activity. ATE were responsible for apportioning funding to and overseeing the delivery of active travel investment. KCC had successfully secured £565,000 of revenue funding from Active Travel England. At the request of ATE the funding was now refocussed to support the County’s capability & ambition building activities as set out by ATE such as: Development of Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plans (LCWIPs), network design, scheme planning and design, public engagement/ consultation, data & evidence collection, bespoke training for officers and members.

Members discussed the report and the Chairman requested an update on the Sevenoaks LCWIP be brought to a future meeting.

          Resolved: That the report be noted.

Members considered a report that provided an update on the schemes that were scheduled for delivery in 2022/23.

Members asked questions of clarification and discussed the report with consideration to experimental traffic calming measures on Wickenden Road. It was requested for an update to be brought for the next meeting. The Active Travel Manager (KCC) advised Members that average speed cameras in Brasted which were part of an average speed trial, were no longer in operation.

The Planning & Advice Principal Engineer (KCC) confirmed that the works scheduled for A225 Shoreham Road were being undertaken as a joint works scheme alongside the speed reduction measures on the A25 agreed at the meeting of the Joint Transportation Board on 13 December 2022. Officers were currently identifying a budget for the joint scheme.

          Resolved: That the report be noted.

The KCC Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport presented the report which clarified the Highways Teams involvement in planning applications.

Members were advised that KCC were consulted on numerous planning applications and used evidence-based considerations in line with the National Planning Policy framework to produce responses to Local Planning Authorities. Members were advised that KCC Highways had a small advisory role to play in the planning process and were only consulted on the quality and safety of developments.

Members discussed the report and asked questions of the KCC Cabinet Member focused on the consultation process for planning applications. A Member suggested that District and Parish Councils could provide KCC with local knowledge which would improve their understanding of particular planning applications. Some Members expressed that the limited responses to some planning applications could be improved to reassure residents that their questions had been answered.

          Resolved: That the report be noted.

The Work Plan was noted with the following additions:

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8 June 2023

·         Sevenoaks Town 20mph zone and Pedestrian Crossing on A225 – Consultation results

·         Update on Sevenoaks Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP)