Agenda and minutes

To approve the record of the meeting held on 29 January 2015.

The record of the meeting held on 29 January 2015 was agreed and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Bright, Griffiths, Irvine and Mackinlay.

The Chairman will announce any late items which do not appear on the main agenda but which he has agreed should be considered by reason of special circumstances to be specified in the report. 

There were none.

Disclosable pecuniary interests

There were none.

Other interests

Councillor Wildey advised the Committee that although the petition relating to the replacement of barriers to woods in Fowey Close was located in his Ward, following advice from the Legal Adviser he would not be speaking on this matter as the Council was now in Purdah.

Councillor Maple sought advice on this issue as he wished to speak on a petition which was located within his Ward.

The Legal Advisor clarified that the advice given to Councillor Wildey was that it may not be appropriate for him to offer to meet with residents to discuss the issue during the pre-election period.  

Discussion:

The Committee received a report setting out information on petitions received which were relevant to this Committee.

The Committee noted those petitions where the lead petitioner had been satisfied with the Director’s response.  A typing correction was noted in respect of the spelling of Holcombe Road within the report.

Referring to the petition relating to retention of the gate at the end of Sandling Way, St Mary’s Island, Chatham, the Chairman informed the Committee that following a meeting with the St Mary’s Island Residents Association on 25 February 2015, it had been agreed that the road would remain closed when the highway was adopted and that a low wall would be built where the gates were at present. The gates would then be mounted on the low wall so reducing maintenance liability in future years.

The Committee was advised that six petitioners had requested that their petitions be referred to this meeting for consideration on the following issues:

a)    Speed of vehicles travelling along Watling Street, Strood

b)    The proposed shared use bay installation for York Avenue, Gillingham

c)    Resurfacing of New Road, Chatham to help reduce excessive tyre on road noise

d)    Improving access to the River Medway at the Strand, Gillingham

e)    Adoption of Florence Street, Strood

f)     The replacement of barriers to woods in Fowey Close, Lordswood, Chatham.

Each of the lead petitioners for the six petitions were welcomed to the Committee and invited to address the Committee on their individual petitions.

Speed of vehicles travelling along Watling Street, Strood

The lead petitioner, Mr Batts thanked the Committee for allowing him to attend the meeting. He expressed his disappointment at the outcome of the survey of the speed of traffic travelling along Watling Street in Strood and stated that in his opinion the proposal to enhance the existing 40mph speed signage and the introduction of 40 roundel road markings on the carriageway did not go far enough to resolve the issue of speeding traffic on this road.

He outlined residents’ concerns and drew attention to the use of this road by pedestrians, including pupils of the nearby Strood Academy. He referred to the nearby Rede Court Road and questioned how traffic on this road could be limited to 30mph whilst a 40mph speed restriction was to be retained in Watling Street.

In response, the Assistant Engineer advised upon the appropriateness of the speed limit for Watling Street having regard to the width and alignment of the road. He stated that consideration could be given to the use of interactive signs in this road. The Assistant Director Front Line Services confirmed that both pedestrians and cyclists were separated from the carriageway on sections of Watling Street and that there were a number of signal controlled crossings along the road where school children could cross the road safely. He advised the Committee that this was a significant arterial route into Medway with a good safety record and therefore, rather than reduce the speed limit, increased level of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 926.

This report summarises the performance of the Council’s Key Measures of Success for October/December (Quarter 3) 2014/15 as set out in the refreshed Council Plan 2013/15.

Discussion:

The Committee received a copy of the Quarter 3 Performance Monitoring report.

The Committee noted the following:

·         PH11 and PH12  - Drug and alcohol abuse – Turning Point was operating successfully and Members were encouraged to visit.

·         The Growing Places Fund referred to at paragraph 5.9 was due to be repaid within 7 years.

·         Whilst complaints, referred to at paragraph 6.6 was a matter for the Business Support Overview and Scrutiny Committee, the increased level of complaints in Quarter 2 was considered to be as a result of inclement weather affecting one event.

·         Works to the café and dance studio referred to at paragraph 5.4 were almost complete

·         Bungalows referred to at paragraph 5.10 of the report were now complete and residents had moved in.

·         Queries on the Citizen Panel Tracker were a matter for the Business Support Overview and Scrutiny Committee but the Director for Regeneration, Community and Culture offered to provide a written response to Councillor Griffin.

·         The Assistant Director Front Line Services agreed to provide a response direct to Councillor Stamp in respect of the timescale for works to Livingstone Circus

Decision:

The Quarter 3 2014/15 performance against the Key Measures of Success used to monitor progress against the Council Plan 2013/15 was noted.

This report provides an update on the acquisition of land interests at Chatham Waterfront, which was the subject of a Cabinet report considered on 10 March 2015.

Discussion:

The Committee received a report providing an update on the acquisition of land interests at Chatham Waterfront and was advised that this was a matter that was considered by Cabinet on 10 March 2015.

Decision:

The Committee noted the report.

This report sets out a response to a request from Councillor Griffiths for information relating to the impact of the decision by Tesco to close its Chatham store.

Discussion:

In the absence of Councillor Griffiths, Councillor Maple addressed the Committee on the impact of the closure of Tesco Store in Chatham.

He referred to the number of staff employed at the Tesco store, many of whom had been there since the store first opened and noted the efforts to help those individuals that had lost their jobs. He expressed concern that those residents living within the vicinity of the store, a high percentage of whom did not own cars, had lost their local supermarket facility therefore, the closure of the store had had a major impact on the local community.

He referred to the site generally, including the adjacent store and the car park area.

The Assistant Director Regeneration and Housing advised the Committee that Officers had been proactive in meeting with both Tesco and a prospective purchaser of Tesco’s property interest in the site. He confirmed that the prospective purchaser intended to seek a new tenant for the former Tesco Store and to progress the redevelopment of the site. He agreed to keep Members updated as discussions progressed.

The Assistant Director Front Line Services confirmed that the car park would remain open and that he would be attending an operational meeting on this issue in the week commencing 13 April.

Decisions:

a)            The report be noted;

b)            Council Officers continue to liaise with Tesco and provide support where possible and appropriate to minimise the disruption to the town centre’s offer. This will include Property and Planning Teams and where necessary employment support through JCP in conjunction with Employ Medway; and

c)                  Should a new user not be found within 6 months a report be submitted to the Committee on future options for the whole site.

Discussion:

The Committee considered its work programme.

Decision:

The current work programme be noted and it be noted that as a result of decisions at this meeting, the following items will be added to the work programme:

1.    A report on the shared use bay in York Avenue after 6 months of operation of the scheme;

2.    A report on how adopted roads have been adopted in Medway in the recent past;

3.    A report to meeting on 18 June 2015 on the outcome of the meeting between the Assistant Director Front Line Services with the lead petitioner in Fowey Close regarding the possible provision of a replacement barrier to the woods to deter motorcycles.

4.    Should a new user not be found within 6 months for the Tesco store in Chatham, a report be submitted on future options for the whole site.