Agenda item

This report sets out progress made within the areas covered by the Portfolio Holder for Front Line Services which fall within the remit of this Committee.

Discussion:

 

Members received an overview of progress on the areas within the terms of reference of this Committee and covered by the Portfolio Holder for Front Line Services as set out below:

 

·         Highways

·         Parking

·         Public Transport

·         Street Cleaning and Waste Collection/Recycling/Waste Disposal

·         Street Lighting

·         Traffic Management

·         Transport Strategy

·         Travel Safety.

 

The Portfolio Holder for Front Line Services, Councillor Filmer responded to Members’ questions and comments as follows:

 

·         Pothole funding

A Member questioned whether the level of funding in the Highways Budget for repairing potholes at £406,000 was considered sufficient. In response, the Portfolio Holder advised that there was always a requirement for an increased level of funding to repair potholes, especially taking into account the effect of the weather through the winter of 2017/18. He confirmed that Highways had secured a Band 3 Award through The Highway Incentive Fund which had secured £430,000 funding for the current financial year to be invested in carriageway works. This was the highest Band Level available through this funding programme.

 

The Portfolio Holder suggested that if a Member had any concerns relating to potholes in their Ward, they should send details through to officers asking for an assessment.

 

·         Medway Tunnel

A Member requested an update on funding for the Medway Tunnel.

 

The Portfolio Holder advised that funding was available to undertake maintenance to the Tunnel. However, he was continually trying to obtain increased funding from the Government for Tunnel maintenance and a meeting with the Transport Minister had recently taken place to discuss this issue.

 

·         Use of RinGO cashless parking

A Member sought information on the use of RinGO, a cashless parking solution which levied a 12p charge on each payment. In response, the Portfolio Holder advised that parking systems were being investigated as part of the Council’s Transformation Programme. He confirmed that whilst some individuals were willing to use the RinGO cashless parking scheme, some preferred to continue to pay cash for parking. Therefore, it was not intended to go completely digital at this stage.

 

·         Flytipping 

A Member asked the Portfolio Holder what action was being taken to proactively reduce fly-tipping.

 

In response, the Portfolio Holder confirmed that fly-tipping was a national problem and that a proportion of fly-tipped rubbish in Medway came from outside of the area. He advised that following the re-opening of the household waste site at Pepper Hill, Gravesend it was hoped that this may reduce the level of fly-tipping in Medway.

 

The Portfolio Holder advised that during the closure of the Pepper Hill site additional pressure had been placed on staff at Medway’s sites and he commended the staff for the way in which they had coped with the increased usage of the sites.

 

The Portfolio Holder also confirmed that income received from bulky waste collections helped the Council to continue to provide a weekly collection of household waste, recycling and garden waste. He felt that Medway offered the best refuse collection service in the country and was the envy of many other local authorities.

 

·         The cost of train and bus fares

A Member referred to the increasing cost of train and bus fares and asked the Portfolio Holder whether representations had been made to service providers.

 

In response, the Portfolio Holder confirmed that officers had regular meetings with Arriva and the Council continued to subsidise the provision of late night bus services.

 

He referred to the results of the recent National Highways and Transport Survey and confirmed that bus and train fares was an issue highlighted as a concern by many survey respondents.

 

·         Provision of combined bus and train tickets

A Member expressed concern that the bus station in Chatham does not sell bus tickets and that it was still not possible to obtain a combined bus and train ticket in Medway. In response, the Portfolio Holder confirmed that he would ask officers to check how this was progressing.

 

·         Parking Hotline

It was suggested that the parking hotline should be one of the elements available on the 333333 telephone number as opposed to a mobile number. The Portfolio Holder agreed to ask officers to investigate this.

 

·         Strood Market

A Member expressed concern as to the sustainability of Strood Market. In response, the Portfolio Holder advised that as part of the Strood Town Centre works, officers were currently investigating the possible provision of a stage for events rather than solely the addition of extra market stalls.

 

·         Provision of waste collection contract by Medway Norse

In response to a query as to the operation of the Waste Collection Contract once it transferred from Veolia to Medway Norse, the Portfolio Holder confirmed that there were high levels of satisfaction with the current Waste Collection Service in Medway and as Veolia staff would transfer and work under the new Medway Norse contract, transition from one contact to the other should be smooth. In addition, the same staff would be overseeing the contract.

 

He was aware that there had been issues with the Grass Cutting Contract operated by Medway Norse in recent months but these issues were being experienced by all local authorities in the light of the recent hot, dry weather.

 

·         Starling crossings

A Member suggested that consideration be given to the introduction of starling crossings in Medway at a future date. Such crossings provided lighting on the road increasing awareness for pedestrians using mobile phones, cyclists and drivers.

 

·         Resurfacing of carriageways

A Member sought information as to the criteria and eligibility for the schedule of planned resurfacing of carriageways.

 

In response, the Portfolio Holder advised that a schedule of carriageway repairs was published in January/February each year. However, on occasions, it was not possible to keep to the schedule e.g. in inclement weather.

 

The Member requested that a briefing note be supplied to all Members of the Council setting out the criteria and process for determining the schedule of carriageway resurfacing and identifying the process by which a Member could highlight problems in their Ward. The Head of Highways and Parking Services offered to meet with the Member concerned to discuss this further.  

 

·         Repairs to Green Street Footbridge

A Member commented that the Green Street Bridge was a main pedestrian route from Balmoral Car Park to Gillingham Town Centre and was in need of repair. Despite being advised that the repairs would carried out, this work had not yet been undertaken. He sought information as to why this work could not be undertaken when the railway line was closed for engineering works. The Portfolio Holder stated that this may be an issue with Network Rail but agreed to ask officers to investigate this.

 

·         Parking in Gillingham North and South Wards and parking schemes

A Member thanked the Committee for setting up the Working Group to investigate the issue of parking in Gillingham North and South Wards but advised that there had been slippage in the timescale for this Working Group to report back to Committee. He referred to parking schemes identified but yet to be progressed and sought information as to progress. In response, the Portfolio Holder stated that there had been some delays with parking schemes due to staff holidays but that it was hoped that this would be on track soon.

 

The Portfolio Holder also confirmed that issues with the residents’ parking permits had now been overcome with the provision of Extended Carers Permits. It was suggested that the Extended Carers Permits be publicised in Medway Matters.

 

·         European Parking Collection (EPC) Contract

In response to a question as to the length of the EPC Contract, the Portfolio Holder agreed to respond to the Member direct. However, he confirmed that income received in the current financial year, exceeded that collected in the last financial year.

 

·         Repainting of road markings after re-surfacing

A Member commented that when roads are resurfaced, there is a delay between the completion of the work and re-painting of road markings. In response, the Portfolio Holder confirmed that funding was available for painting of road markings in the current financial year.

 

·         Strand Car Park – Charges

A Member asked whether attendance at the Strand Leisure Park had been reduced through the Summer as a result of the introduction of the parking charges. The Portfolio Holder confirmed that income from the car park had achieved target level and that the Strand Leisure Park had been very busy through the Summer. 

 

·         E-Petition on parking in Walderslade Village

A Member referred to a current e-petition objecting to the increased level of parking enforcement in Walderslade Village. He explained that there was currently one hour free parking and the petition was requesting that this be increased to two hours to enable individuals to visit the hairdressers or funeral directors without incurring a parking ticket. He requested that the Portfolio Holder give this consideration.

 

Decision:

 

The Committee:

 

a)            thanked Councillor Filmer for attending the meeting and answering Member’s questions.

 

b)            noted that the Portfolio Holder in consultation with officers will:

·       pursue the possible sale of bus tickets at the bus station.

·      Investigate the possibility of the parking hotline being incorporated as an option on the 333333 telephone number.

·      Along with Kent County Council, continue to investigate possible options available as an alternative to the Oyster Card Scheme.

·      Investigate the possibility of increasing the period of free parking at Walderslade village from one hour to two hours.

·      Respond direct to the Member concerned to advise upon the length of the European Parking Collection (EPC) Contract.

 

c)            requested that the Assistant Director Front Line Services undertake further discussions with Network Rail on the possibility of repair works being undertaken to Green Street Bridge in Gillingham.

d)            requested that an article be placed in Medway Matters advertising the introduction of the Extended Carers Parking Permits.

e)            agreed that a Briefing Note be circulated to all Members of the Council setting out the criteria and process for determining the schedule of resurfacing of carriageways and it be noted that the Head of Highways and Parking Services has offered to undertaken a site visit with the Member concerned to discuss carriageway repairs.

f)             requested that the gully clearance programme incorporate a risk-based approach to support the prioritisation within the programme.