The Chair allowed Members to raise various issues which would be submitted to KCC for actioning:

            Speeding on Rochester Road (Cllr Leslie Hills)

Cllr Hills raised concerns regarding speeding on Rochester Road, which had been raised at a previous Gravesham JTB meeting. Cllr Hills asked that the board be updated with the progress that had been made to limit the speeding. As ward Councillor for Chalk, Cllr Hills expressed that he had personally witnessed the speeding vehicles along Rochester Road.

County Councillor Conrad Broadly informed the Dartford & Gravesham District Manager (KCC) similar concerns had been raised in regard to Singlewell Road.

The Dartford & Gravesham District Manager (KCC) advised that they were looking at putting a 20mph speed limit on Shorne Road, and extend this out to Rochester Road. County Cllr Conrad Broadley noted that Rochester Road was not a road that warranted a 20mph speed restriction, but agreed that drivers would not be able come off Shorne Road at 20mph and enter Rochester Road at 50mph. As such they would need to look at reducing the speed limit. The Dartford & Gravesham District Manager (KCC) informed Members that scheme plans had been put together and he would contact the relevant team on the progress and report back to the board.

            Potholes (Cllr Tony Rana)  

Cllr Tony Rana made reference to the zebra crossing requested on White Hill Road, which had been covered under Matters Arising. The Dartford & Gravesham District Manager (KCC) confirmed that he would speak to the Improvements Team and provide the board with an update.

Cllr Nirmal Khabra raised concerns with the number of potholes within the Borough, especially in Kings Farm. Residents were finding it hard to avoid them and it was posing a risk to the cars on the road.

The Dartford & Gravesham District Manager (KCC) explained that they had been overwhelmed with the number of potholes and estimated that they were working to fill 500-600 potholes across the Borough. They had a pothole contactor who was filling them in, as well as the Dartford & Gravesham District Manager (KCC) and his team. However, the recent weather conditions had impacted their ability to fill in potholes.

Cllr Rana raised that a resident on White Hill Road had expressed deep concern regarding a damaged speedbump that was causing her distress as she had a young child, and this was causing a lot of noise disruption throughout the night. Cllr Rana asked whether this could be repaired alongside the works being done to fill potholes along White Hill Road on Monday 10 March 2023. The Dartford & Gravesham District Manager (KCC) advised that his manager had spoken to him about this issue and confirmed that the speedbump was being replaced.

If Members were aware of any large potholes, they were encouraged to report this to the Dartford & Gravesham District Manager (KCC).

            Issues Crossing Valley Drive (County Cllr Conrad Broadley on behalf of        Cllr Sarah Gow)

Cllr Sarah Gow had asked County Cllr Conrad Broadley to raise concerns residents were having crossing Valley Drive. Parents had raised that there was only an island on Marling Way and not a pedestrian crossing that they could use to walk their children to Singlewell Primary School.

County Cllr Conrad Broadley agreed to forward the email to the Dartford & Gravesham District Manager (KCC) to provide a response to Cllr Gow and to get it logged.

Kent County Council Salt Bins (County Cllr Conrad Broadley on behalf         of Cllr Diane Morton)

Cllr Diane Morton had asked County Cllr Conrad Broadley to query whether the KCC Salt Bin Map was up to date, and asked how Members can request salt bins in certain areas. It was also raised whose responsibility it was to ensure the salt bins were filled.

The Dartford & Gravesham District Manager (KCC) informed Members of the board that the Salt Bin Map was up to date and had been completed in October 2022. Kent County Council (KCC) were not currently placing any new salt bins as an exercise was being carried out to identify which bins were not being used. KCC relied on residents to notify them when salt bins were empty, and new bins could be requested through Members. It costs around £400 for a new salt bin and thereafter, it becomes part of KCCs stock to maintain. Salt bins that have been stolen or vandalised would be replaced.

County Cllr Alan Ridgers asked for the Dartford & Gravesham District Manager (KCC) to look into an email he had sent him regarding a requested salt bin for Chaucer Road as he had not had a request for funds or a response to the email.

Members of the board held a brief discussion on repairs and road maintenance and the following points were raised:

·         Members could report defects in pavements via the KCC website and this would be forwarded to the relevant team.

·         County Cllr Jordan Meade asked that a response be provided to his email regarding improvements to a roundabout in Northfleet.

·         Members raised concerns about the location of the meeting as it was being held virtually, but the website stated the location of the Council Chamber.