To agree the Minutes of the meeting of the Board held on 6 March 2019 as a correct record.

Councillor Crabtree requested an amendment to Minute 25 paragraph 4 to include “Councillor Crabtree, the local County Member put forward a motion that was seconded and approved that ‘slow’ markings should be implemented at the entrance to Hartslands Road from the junction to number 1 Hartslands Road. She believed that the currently proposal for Hartslands Road was not sufficient and double yellow lines should be extended from the five-way junction on both sides of the Road to number 9 Hartslands Road.

Councillor Crabtree requested an amendment to the resolution for Minute 25 to include “b) …the proposal be abandoned and a new proposal formulated as per Cllr Mrs. Crabtree’s proposal.”

These proposed amendments were agreed by the Chairman and Board.

Resolved:  That the minutes of the meeting of the Sevenoaks District Joint Transportation Board held on 6 March 2019 be agreed and signed by the Chairman as a correct record subject to the following amendments

a)     Minute 25 paragraph 4, line 1 after ‘Member’ the deletion of the word “suggested” and the insertion of the words “put forward a motion, that was seconded and approved” before the word ‘that’;

b)     Minute 25 paragraph 4, line 2 after the word ‘junction’ the insertion of the words “to No 1 Hartslands Road.”;

c)     Minute 25 paragraph 4, line 4 after ‘on’ the deletion of the words “the east side” and the insertion of the words “both sides of the road from the 5 way junction” before the word ‘up’; and

d)     the resolution for Minute 25, recommendation b, line 3 after the word ‘abandoned’ the insertion of the words “and a new proposal formulated as per Cllr Mrs Crabtree’s proposal;’

No additional declarations of interest were made.

In respect of Minute 26 a Member questioned if Sevenoaks District Council received notifications of lane closures from Kent Council County, and what sanctions were imposed on utility companies that did not have permits for work and performed badly. The Sevenoaks District Manager agreed to provide this information to the Member outside of the meeting.

Hannah Kay, the General Manager of the National Trust at Knole in attendance to give a short presentation and answer questions about air quality in Sevenoaks.

The Chairman welcomed Hannah Kay, the General Manager for the National Trust at Knole. She thanked the Board for her invitation and informed them that she would be providing updates on the National Trust at Knole’s efforts to manage traffic flow at Knole and in surrounding Sevenoaks. The Board was advised that the National Trust were pursuing short term, medium term and long term approaches to traffic management.

Short term measures focused on operation procedures which had been aimed at National Trust visitors and general park users. The General Manager advised that the National Trust car park was enclosed by a firm boundary and efforts had been undertaken to get cars parked quickly. The Board was advised that Marshalls prevented any more cars from entering the car park when only 20 spaces were remaining. The National Trust had adjusted their advertising of Knole, only advertising prebooked events and updating the website to notify visitors of car park closure to which a Member commented that some visitors may not have access to the internet. The General Manager reported that they had been successful in changing visitor patterns and more guests had been visiting on weekdays. Staffing patterns had also been adjusted to ensure maximum staffing at weekends.

Medium term efforts included collaboration and partnership work primarily with the Council and other local car parks in response to Knole carpark frequently reaching capacity. Visitors who were being turned away from Knole car park were now redirected to the Sevenoaks Town car park. Prices for non-National Trust member parking had also been increased to incentivise parking at other locations in the town. Signage to Knole park and house was to be installed in Sevenoaks Town car park and opportunities to include the Knole car park on the electronic car parking signs around the town were being explored. It was reported that a shuttle bus had been operating during half term and there were plans for those arriving by train to be eligible for discounted entry to the house. The General Manager highlighted the role of community use of Knole Park and the National Trust’s relationship with the Sackville Estate. She was hoping to work with the estate to schedule future events at days and times that would result in a less significant impact on congestion in Sevenoaks. 

Long term plans were targeted on carrying out a transport assessment and creating a travel plan considering road infrastructure around Knole and other possible entrances. Members were advised that the National Trust was restrained by Knole’s status as a listed site and the location of the golf course. The General Manager stressed that her team was hoping to work with the Council and other stakeholders and to seek help and advice from these partners.

Members questioned if the removal of the gate at the top of the main entrance could alleviate congestion on the High Street to which they were advised there were other parts of the road to Knole that required cars to be single  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

The Parking Engineer presented a report considering the representations received during the informal consultation on proposed disabled persons (blue badge) parking bays within the District.

Members were advised that the informal consultation for the Hartley Road – Westerham application had revealed that Westerham Town Council had been granted planning permission for 19 bays on the site identified for a disabled persons parking bay. In agreement with the applicant for the parking bay, it was suggested that a suitable alternative location be found and the proposed bay be reviewed following the completion of the Town Council bays.

Resolved:  That

a)     the applications for disabled persons (blue badge) parking bays that did not meet Kent County Council’s assessment criteria in Park View Road - Edenbridge, Top Dartford Road – Hextable and Madan Road, Westerham as set out in Appendix 1, and would proceed no further, be noted; and

b)     the representations received during the informal consultation for the disabled persons (blue badge) parking bays which met Kent County Council’s assessment criteria at Church Road – Crockenhill, Caxton Close – Hartley, High Street – Penshurst, Betenson Avenue – Sevenoaks and Nicolson Way - Sevenoaks and Officers comments be noted;

c)     the applications be approved and interim disabled persons (blue badge) parking bays be marked at Church Road – Crockenhill, Caxton Close – Hartley, High Street – Penshurst, Betenson Avenue – Sevenoaks and Nicolson Way - Sevenoaks as set out in Appendix 2 to the report; and

d)     the representations received during the informal consultation for the disabled persons (blue badge) parking bays which met Kent County Council’s assessment criteria at Hartley Road - Westerham be noted; and

                            i.       a suitable alternative location be identified for an interim disabled persons parking bay, outside the limits of Westerham Town Council’s proposed parking scheme, in liaison with the applicant and in consultation with their neighbours;

                           ii.      the parking bay be marked in this alternative location on a temporary basis, pending the completion of the parking scheme, should it proceed; and

                         iii.       the temporary arrangement be reviewed upon completion of the parking scheme, should it proceed, with a view to identifying a more permanent, suitable location for an interim disabled persons parking bay, near the applicants home.

Members’ considered a report which gave an update on the identified schemes approved for construction in 2019/20. It was noted that the developer funded highway works on Four Elms Road at the junction with Station Road would not be allowed to conflict with the resurfacing works on Station Road from Mont St. Aignan Way to Wellingtonia Way. County Councillor Lake praised the micro surfacing work carried out in Sevenoaks Rural South. 

The Sevenoaks District Manager agreed to include additional details on replacement signposts under future street lighting works updates.

Action 1: For Kent County Council to consult the relevant Parish and Town Councils on existing and future Highway Works. Details of the proposed crossing on the A25 Bradbourne Vale Road be shared with Sevenoaks Town Council and the scheme for A20 junction with Scratchers Lane, Farningham be shared with the Parish Council and Brands Hatch, as these works were likely to affect their business.                           

County Councillor Horwood advised that not all listed drainage works had been carried out in Swanley. The Parking Engineer expected that parking proposals for Swanley Lane would be progressed at the end of the year. It was advised that the Sevenoaks Town parking review was expected to begin 6 months after the opening of the Sevenoaks Town car park that the Board would be updated on the plan for the consultation at the September meeting. The Parking Manager advised that Members of the Board may wish to form a working group to consider the approach of the consultation.

It was drawn to the attention of the Sevenoaks District Manager that there was an error in the signage installed at the Riverside Eynsford site, which he agreed to address.

A Member raised a question relating to fly tipping and it was recognised that fly tipping may not fall within the remit of the Joint Transportation Board but further information would be provided to the Member outside of the meeting.

Members raised concerns around the length of the process for implementing schemes considered by the Joint Transportation Board and wondered if possible asked what measures could be taken to speed up this process including expanding resources. They were advised that statute determined the length of the process in some cases. The role of the Joint Transportation Board was questioned and Members requested a list of the responsibilities of each authority. The Board’s advisory nature was noted and its role in receiving public petitions.

Following completion of the new town car park a proposal fr the holistic parking review will be presented to the Joint Transportation Board to formulate this a working group was proposed to include County Councillr Mrs Crabtree, District Councillor Collins and Parish represetnative Mr Parry.

Action 2: For Officers to provide a brief note to the next meeting of the Joint Transportation Board on the responsibilities of each authority and who funds the agreed schemes.

A Member suggested that a future item for consideration could be Strategic Planning Schemes within Sevenoaks District and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.