Agenda item

To agree any topics for future meetings, of which prior notice must be sent to the Chairman and Democratic Services Officer no later than 4pm on the working day before the meeting. There can not be any substantive debate, discussion or any decision on any topics raised, except to agree whether the topic may come forward in future.

Comments were made in respect of the following items:

Reporting of Performance Indicators

·         Following a request from the Chief Executive, the reporting of some key performance indicators may be possible, however, consideration was ongoing and would be reported to a future meeting.

·         Thousands of fault reports were received and acted upon in Tunbridge Wells each year, any such reporting must be effective and appropriate.

·         Numbers of people killed or seriously injured on Kent roads was the worst in the UK and there should be a regular item to monitor both numbers and actions taken to mitigate incidents.

·         If statistics were to be provided, a standard method of comparison would need to be established.

·         The number of people killed or seriously injured was a national data point required by the government.

·         A limited number of key points would be helpful to determine the actual state of affairs rather than having to rely on anecdotal evidence.

·         Any statistics would need to be considered in context.

·         Crash statistics were key in determining the necessity of crash remedial works which reduced the amount of money for other improvement works. Any such spend needed to demonstrate a reduction in crashes.

Members agreed that the item come forward to a future meeting.

Criteria for 20 mph Zones

·         A recent response from KCC for a 20mph zone in the Banner Farm area had set out the criteria for future consideration of such schemes and were noted here for members information.

·         Community led schemes which were not safety schemes required external funding.

·         The Schemes Planning and Delivery Team are only able to initiate 20mph schemes if either a crash remedial scheme or if led by a public health agenda with evidence to suggest that the local area is highly ranked in terms of priority based on public health indicators.

Members noted.

On-Street Parking Enforcement Reserve

·         The JTB had no budget.

·         The reserve consisted of the surplus from penalty charge notices after costs had been deducted. TWBC held the money on KCC’s behalf.

·         The Borough Council could put a business case to KCC to access the reserve. Applications would be made through officers.

·         Only small surpluses were made so the reserve needed to accumulate funds over long periods. The reserve was currently £317k.

·         The Council could not ‘profit’ from penalty charge notices therefore any surplus must be spent on road transport projects.

·         JTB could recommend priority projects, within the criteria, for consideration of an application for funding from the reserve.

·         There had not been any recent applications to the reserve but a number of projects were expected from the forthcoming review of the Parking Strategy.

·         Use of the reserve should be positively publicised to avoid accusations of profiteering from penalty charge notices.

Members agreed that the item come forward to a future meeting.

High Brooms Rail Bridge

·         A heavy goods vehicle had again become stuck under the High Brooms Rail Bridge leading to considerable disruption.

·         Given the unlikelihood of physical alterations to the bridge, creative solutions would be needed.

·         This was a key consideration in the development of the new Local Plan.

Members noted.