Maidstone Borough Council

 

Planning, Transport and Development Overview & Scrutiny Committee

 

Tuesday 18 November 2014

 

Draft Report of the review of Transport in Maidstone - alternatives to using a car

(Walking and Cycling and Bus Services)

 

Report of: Tessa Mallett, Overview & Scrutiny Officer

 

1.          Introduction

 

1.1        Since June 2014 the Planning, Transport and Development Overview and Scrutiny Committee have been carrying out a review of Transport in Maidstone – alternatives to using a car.

 

1.2        At the Planning, Transport and Development Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting of 30 September 2014 the committee agreed to receive the draft report for stage one, Walking and Cycling and stage two, Bus Services at the meeting of 18 November 2014.

 

1.3        Stage three of this review – Rail Services, will take place at the same meeting.

 

1.4        The full draft report for all three stages of the review of Transport in Maidstone – alternatives to using a car, will be presented to the committee at their meeting of 17 February 2014.

 

2.          Recommendations

 

2.1    The committee are recommended to:

 

2.1.1 Review the draft report attached as Appendix A[1];

 

2.1.2 Agree and make recommendations for changes and additions to the contents of the report;

 

2.1.3 Consider any further recommendations they would like included in the final report;

 

2.1.4 Consider whether the review should consult with car users to establish what, if anything, would persuade them to use alternative modes of transport to get into Maidstone town centre rather than using their car, or make a recommendation from this review for this to be carried out as a separate piece of work;

 

2.1.5 Consider if further work needs to be carried out regarding the committees’ duties under The Equality Act (2010).

 

2.1.6 Agree that the recommendation made at the meeting of 30 September 2014 regarding:

 

 “a section of the final report on the review, Transport in Maidstone – alternatives to using a car, be included setting out the powers and opportunities for parishes to assist in the provision of services and capital equipment such as bus shelters and real time information this section to also included information on grant funding opportunities”.

 

be carried out as a separate piece of work to ensure it is a useful resource for parish councils to refer to in the future.

 

2.1.7 Consider the request from the Cabinet Member for Planning, Transport and Development for the working group to carry out a review of the Park and Ride service in Maidstone as part of this review and include the findings in the final report into Transport in Maidstone – alternatives to using a car.

 

3       Reasons for the recommendations

 

3.1     The attached draft report for the review of Transport in Maidstone – alternative to using a car covers the first two parts of the review; Walking and Cycling and Bus Services.  The recommendations in this report are the initial recommendations the committee made at the meetings of 22 July 2014, 16 September 2014 and 30 September 2014.

 

3.2     After reading the draft report presenting all the evidence gathered to date the committee may consider there are further recommendations it would like to make.

 

3.3     The review has concentrated on interviewing witnesses interested in, or working in the area of walking and cycling and bus service provision.  The main aim of the review is to investigate ways of reducing congestion in Maidstone town centre by reducing the number of cars coming into the town.  One group of witnesses the committee has not interviewed to date are car users.  The committee could consider gathering evidence from this group to establish what, if anything, would encourage car users to change their mode of transport when travelling into the town centre.  Or the committee could decide to make a recommendation from this review for this to be carried out as a separate piece of work.

 

3.4    The Council has a General Equality Duty under The Equality Act (2010).  Those subject to the equality duty must, in the exercise of their functions, have due regard to the need to:

 

·         Eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimization and other conduct prohibited by the act.

·         Advance equality of opportunity between people who share a protected characteristic and those who do not.

·         Foster good relations between people who share a protected characteristic and those who do not.

 

The committee may decide further consideration of this duty is needed.

 

3.5     At the committee meeting of 30 September 2014 the committee recommended:

 

“a section of the final report on the review, Transport in Maidstone – alternatives to using a car, be included setting out the powers and opportunities for parishes to assist in the provision of services and capital equipment such as bus shelters and real time information this section to also included information on grant funding opportunities”.

 

This represents a significant piece of work to ensure it is a useful resource for parish councils. The committee’s work programme is very busy, and as such, it is recommended this piece of work is carried out separately to this review. 

 

3.6     Following a report from the Director of Environment and Shared Services to the Cabinet Member for Planning, Transport and Development, dated 6 November 2014, the committee have been asked to undertake a review of the Park and Ride service as part of the review into Transport in Maidstone – alternatives to using a car.  Now the draft report for this review to date is available, it may be considered there is a gap in the terms of reference by not including a review of the Park and Ride services.  As the review on Bus Services is complete a review of the Park and Ride service could be carried out as a separate section of the whole review.

 

3.7     Due to the committees full work programme, it is recommended a review of the Park and Ride service be undertaken by the working group for the review of Transport in Maidstone outside of the formal programme of meetings.  The working group to report back to the committee at the meeting of 17 February 2015, where the work programme states the draft report for the full review will be presented.

 

3.8     The scoping document for the review of Transport in Maidstone – alternatives to using a car does state:

 

“Review of scope and objectives:

 

After consideration of the evidence gathered under each area, the working group will recommend either to:

·         Support what is already being worked on;

·         Continue with further evidence gathering with revised objectives;

·         Other – depending on what comes to light from evidence gathering.”

 

4.      Impact on Corporate Objectives

 

4.1     The Strategic Plan sets the Council’s key objectives for the medium   term and has a range of objectives which support the delivery of         the Council’s priorities. 

 

4.2     The Committee will consider reports that deliver against the     following priorities:

 

·         ‘For Maidstone to have a growing economy’ and ‘For Maidstone to be a decent place to live”. 

 

5.      Financial Implications

 

5.1     There are no financial implications.

 

6.      Relevant Documents

 

6.1     Appendix A – Draft Report – A Review of Transport in Maidstone – alternative to using the car (Walking and Cycling and Bus Services).

         

7.      Background Documents

 

6.1     None

 

 

 


[1] Please note to reduce the amount of paper used Appendix D (MBC Draft Cycling Strategy 2012) of the draft report is not included at this point as committee received this document at their meeting on 22 July 2014. It will be included with the final report.