Discussion:
Members received an overview of progress on
the areas of work within the terms of reference of this Committee
and covered by the Portfolio Holder for Frontline Services as set
out below:
•
Highways and Street Lighting
•
Parking
•
Public Transport
•
Traffic Management
•
Transport Strategy
•
Travel Safety
•
Waste collection/Recycling/Waste Disposal and Street Cleaning
The Portfolio Holder for Front Line Services,
Councillor Filmer responded to Members questions and comments as
follows:
- Active Travel and
representation on Transport for South East – In response to a question concerning the Council’s
commitment to active travel, the Portfolio Holder confirmed that
the Council had an Active Travel Plan, had introduced a number of
cycle routes in Medway and was investigating options for increasing
travel on buses along with a range of other
initiatives.
It
was confirmed that the Council was represented on Transport for
South East by the Leader of the Council along with the Assistant
Director Front Line Services.
- Medway
Tunnel – In response to a question,
the Portfolio Holder confirmed that the Council had maintained
Medway Tunnel for several years and every opportunity was pursued
to seek funding support from the Government towards these costs. He
advised that capital funding had been obtained for works at the
Tunnel and added that the Tunnel was an essential part of the road
network in Medway and it was therefore essential that it be kept
open and maintained.
The
Portfolio Holder assured the Committee that in addition to
obtaining the capital funding for the Tunnel, he regularly lobbied
MPs for additional funds and would continue to do so.
- Reconnect bus
services operated by KCC for young people – In response to a question as whether Medway could
operate a similar bus service for young people along the lines of
KCC’s Reconnect, the Portfolio Holder advised that whilst
budget provision was not available to offer this service, Medway
offered a Youth Bus Pass. The Portfolio Holder also confirmed that
the Council had been successful in obtaining government funding to
encourage travel by bus but he accepted that there was a need for
some bus services to operate on a more regular basis to and from
rural parts of Medway such as Allhallows and the Isle of Grain.
- Volkers Highways
Contract - Inclusivity of employees – The Committee acknowledged Volker Highways’
community engagement initiatives and, in particular, the offer of a
long term work experience placement to a young person with special
educational needs between March to June 2021. Further information
was requested as to whether Volker Highways had any specific
programmes aimed at encouraging individuals from disadvantaged
groups of the community and in particular females to help them
enter the industry. In response, the Portfolio Holder advised that
he was unable to supply this information but would investigate and
provide an answer outside of the meeting.
- Notification of
road closures – In response to
concerns that there were occasions when road closures were
undertaken without proper notification or consultation with
residents, the Portfolio Holder confirmed that unfortunately, the
Council had very little control over road closures undertaken by
statutory bodies for emergency works but advised that he had
recently discussed with the Assistant Director Front Line Services
methods by which notifications of road closures to Ward Councillors
and the public could be improved.
- Highway
maintenance works - In response to a
concern that sections of roads were often coned off without
evidence of highway maintenance works being undertaken, the
Portfolio Holder suggested that this often related to works being
undertaken by statutory bodies. He advised that he was aware that
this had been an issue on the Ratcliffe Highway following a water
leak where a section of the road had remained coned off whilst
checks were made that the leak had been repaired.
- Highway Resilience
Management – In response to a
question, the Portfolio Holder referred to the marginal overspend
on the winter maintenance budget and confirmed that the Council had
always made available sufficient funding to salt the roads when
needed.
- Quality of road
surfaces – In response to a
question, the Portfolio Holder advised that the budget set aside to
repair and maintain the road network was allocated based on a road
condition survey.
- Stencils on
pavements and road surfaces – The
Portfolio Holder advised that the 2m Covid–19 social
distancing stencilling on pavements and road surfaces would remain
in place until such time that there was confidence that they would
no longer be needed and then they would be removed.
- No Mow
May – The Portfolio Holder advised
the Committee that whilst he supported the concept of the ‘No
Mow May’ initiative, further consideration was needed on this
scheme. For instance, there were some areas where it was
inappropriate to leave uncut growth on verges or roundabouts on
highway safety grounds. In addition, in 2021, there had been
prolonged periods of either rain or sun and therefore the scheme
needed to be flexible to account for the variable rate of growth
from season to season.
- Street
lighting – The Committee
congratulated the Portfolio Holder on progress made in upgrading
provision of street lighting columns across Medway but questioned
whether the new lanterns were in line with the 5G network and
Electric Vehicle (EV) charging. In response, the Portfolio Holder
advised that 30% had now been installed and any areas of concern
should be referred to him and he would investigate.
- EV
charging – The Portfolio Holder
confirmed that Medway was working in conjunction with KCC for the
provision of EV charging points and to date, 34 points had been
installed in Medway. In addition, a number of private companies
such as supermarkets had installed EV charging points in their car
parks. Discussions were also taking place with developers to ensure
that EV charging points were installed in new housing
developments.
It
was noted that whilst Medway had not been successful in being
selected for a pilot scheme for provision of electric buses, this
formed part of the Council’s wider climate change
programme.
It
was also pointed out that new technologies around provision of
electric charging points was emerging and this was constantly being
reviewed concerning best practice.
- National Highways
and Public Transport Survey – In
response to a concern that the latest survey indicated a decrease
in public satisfaction levels, the Portfolio Holder advised that
from recent statistics that he had seen, satisfaction levels in
Medway were close to the national average and therefore he
requested sight of the survey referred to.
- Street
Cleansing In response concerns that
street cleansing could be improved in some areas, the Portfolio
Holder advised that over the past year, some staff had been
re-directed to work in other areas to provide cover due to Covid-19
staff shortages but he suggested that if Members could notify him
of the specific roads/areas that were affected, he would ask
officers to investigate.
Concern was expressed that in some areas, Medway Norse street
collection bags were left at the roadside and this encouraged
others to add further bags to the pile containing household
waste.
- Recycling – The Portfolio Holder
was congratulated on the Council’s recycling collections but
was asked whether more could be done to help and encourage those
residents living in small flats to recycle. It was acknowledged
that they would likely have limited storage facilities and the
option of provision of community bins was suggested.
In
response, the Portfolio Holder acknowledged that some residents did
not have space for recycling containers other than use of clear
plastic sacks and therefore these would be retained.
It
was suggested that communication could be improved as to which
items were recyclable.
- Household
waste – In response to a question
as to the final destination of Medway’s household waste, the
Portfolio Holder advised that over the past year recycling and
waste collection statistics had been distorted due to the high
volume of waste generated as a result of individuals being at home
due to the Covid-19 pandemic. He advised that a report would soon
be available detailing the final destination of Medway’s
waste and this would be circulated when received.
In
response to another question concerning waste, the Portfolio
Holder
advised that he worked closely with the Waste team in looking at
alternative methods of increasing recycling for a wide range of
different materials and advised that the market for such materials
was constantly changing and was therefore always under
review.
- Household Waste
Recycling Centres – The Committee
asked whether the current pre-booking system, introduced due to the
Covid-19 pandemic would continue at household waste and recycling
centres. The Portfolio Holder advised that this system was working
well with 70% of available slots taken up. At the current time, a
resident was able to pre-book 4 visits within a 4-week period but
this was due to be reviewed. He further advised that the
pre-booking system had allowed the Council to control the number of
visits to sites each day and enabled the Council to re-charge for
use of the sites by residents of KCC.
Consideration was also being given to the possible introduction
of more recycling bins at the Household Waste and Recycling
Centres.
·
Overflowing waste bins – It was suggested that in some areas, waste bins were
overflowing and therefore consideration should be given to either
provision of larger bins or more regular collections. In response,
the Portfolio Holder advised that due to the Covid -19 pandemic
over the past year, more people have been at home and using local
green spaces for recreation and this had resulted in an increased
use of waste bins. He agreed to ask officers to investigate the
possible need to increase the capacity of some waste bins and the
frequency of waste collections in areas where there were identified
problems.
Decision:
The Committee thanked the
Portfolio Holder for attending the meeting and answering questions
and:
a)
noted that the Portfolio Holder will obtain
information requested from Volker Highways as to whether it has any
specific programmes aimed at encouraging individuals from
disadvantaged groups of the community and in particular females to
help them enter the industry.
b)
noted that the Portfolio has offered to further
investigate the street lighting concerns identified by a Member at
the meeting.
c)
noted that the Portfolio Holder will refer to the
Street Works team the issue of prompt removal of cones when road
works have been completed.
d)
noted that the Portfolio Holder will convey the
Committee’s appreciation to staff within the Waste team who
have continued to work tirelessly throughout the Covid-19 pandemic
to collect increased volumes of waste and re-cycling.
e)
noted that the Portfolio Holder will discuss with
the Waste team the concerns expressed that in some areas, Medway
Norse street collection bags were left at the roadside and this
encouraged others to add further bags to the pile containing
household waste.
f)
noted that a report detailing the final destination
of Medway’s waste would be circulated when
received.
g)
noted that the Portfolio Holder has offered to
investigate improved communication as to recyclable
materials.
h)
noted that further information would be supplied
following the review of the frequency of the pre-booking system at
Household Waste and Recycling Centres.
i)
noted that the Portfolio Holder has offered to
investigate areas where street cleansing could be improved if areas
were notified to him.