The meeting received updates from Southeastern Railway, about improvements at Dartford Station, and about the planned replacement of bus shelters. Members raised a number of issues to be followed up by officers.

Fastrack update

The meeting received a verbal update on the Fastrack service from Shane Hymers, Kent County Council's Fastrack Development Manager. It was reported that Go-Ahead, the new operator of the Fastrack service, would be introducing electric buses from November 2025. There would also be a programme to replace and upgrade existing bus shelters, starting with the bus shelter on Princes Road.
Mr Hymers told the meeting that a planning application had been submitted for a tunnel at Bluewater Shopping Centre, funded by the National Bus Strategy Scheme. If approved, the tunnel would benefit the Fastrack service as well as walking and cycling routes in the area. Mr Hymers also reported that Automatic Number Place Recognition (ANPR) cameras would be installed at Fastrack sites, including William Munday Way, by the end of September 2024.

Lower Thames Crossing update

The Principal Transport Planner updated the meeting on the progress of the Lower Thames Crossing project. He reported that the Secretary of State for Transport had deferred making a decision on the project until October 2024 due to the General Election on 04 July 2024. He also told the meeting that Transport for London (TfL) were consulting on proposed charging levels for the Blackwall and Silvertown Tunnels, and that Dartford Borough Council would be responding to this consultation to ask TfL to ensure that their proposed charging levels do not encourage drivers to use the Dartford Tunnel instead.

Parking schemes update

The Principal Transport Planner updated the meeting on the progress of six parking schemes in the Borough. He reported that the results of a formal consultation on the proposals for sub zone 1, West Hill/Town Ward would be shared with local Members in September and October 2024, and that the scheme was expected to be implemented between November 2024 and December 2025. He told the meeting that proposals for sub zone 2, Newtown, would be reported to the Council's Cabinet in February 2025. A formal public consultation on the proposals for sub zone 3, Town Ward, was underway, and included a series of in-person events that would be taking place in September and October 2024. The meeting heard that there had been a limited response to the consultation on proposals for sub zone 4, Princes Ward, and that this may need to be revisited in future. Concept designs were awaited from consultants, and would be reported to Cabinet in December 2024. The Principal Transport Planner reported that the responses to the consultation on sub zone 5, Temple Hill Ward, were being analysed and would be discussed with local Ward Members in October 2024. He told the meeting that sub zone 6, Brent and Newtown Wards, was at the same stage as sub zone 5, and that discussions would need to take place with Kent County Council about arrangements for the installation of electric vehicle charging points in some streets.

Road works in the Borough of Dartford

The meeting noted the contents of the Kent County Council Highways Road Works Programme for 2024/25 and 2025/26. The programme included details of planned road, footway and cycleway renewal and preservation schemes, drainage repairs and improvements, street lighting column replacements, casualty reduction measures, externally funded schemes and developer-funded works. Andrew Walters, Highways Manager for Dartford and Gravesham at Kent County Council, told the meeting that the current planned night works were due to be completed within a week.

Kent County Council - Environment, Highways and Waste Committee

The Board noted the contents of the minutes of the Kent County Council Environment, Highways and Transport Committee meeting held on 19 September 2024. The Vice-Chairman of the Board reported that a report would be made to the Environment, Highways and Waste Committee later in the municipal year to consider the terms of reference for Joint Transportation Boards going forwards, with a particular focus on the implications of the potential for further devolution of transport policies.