Visitors and members of the public who are unfamiliar with the building and procedures are advised that:

(a)      The fire alarm is a continuous loud ringing. In the event that a fire drill is planned during the meeting, the Chair will advise of this.

(b)      Exit routes from the chamber are located on each side of the room, one directly to a fire escape, the other to the stairs opposite the lifts.

(c)      In the event of the alarm sounding, leave the building via the nearest safe exit and gather at the assembly point on the far side of the car park. Do not leave the assembly point or re-enter the building until advised to do so. Do not use the lifts.

(d)      Anyone unable to use the stairs should make themselves known during this agenda item.

The Chair outlined the emergency evacuation procedure.

To approve the Minutes of the Meeting held on 6 October 2025 (Minute Nos. 371 – 382) as a correct record.

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 6 October 2025 (Minute Nos. 371 – 382) were taken as read, approved and signed by the Chair as a correct record.

Councillors should not act or take decisions in order to gain financial or other material benefits for themselves, their families or friends.

The Chair will ask Members if they have any disclosable pecuniary interests (DPIs) or disclosable non-pecuniary interests (DNPIs) to declare in respect of items on the agenda. Members with a DPI in an item must leave the room for that item and may not participate in the debate or vote. 

Aside from disclosable interests, where a fair-minded and informed observer would think there was a real possibility that a Member might be biased or predetermined on an item, the Member should declare this and leave the room while that item is considered.

Members who are in any doubt about interests, bias or predetermination should contact the monitoring officer for advice prior to the meeting.

No interests were declared.

Members of the public have the opportunity to speak at this meeting.  Anyone wishing to present a petition or speak on this item is required to register with the Democratic Services Section by noon on Friday 5 December 2025.  Questions that have not been submitted by this deadline will not be accepted.  Only two people will be allowed to speak on each item and each person is limited to asking two questions.  Each speaker will have a maximum of three minutes to speak.

Petitions, questions and statements will only be accepted if they are in relation to an item being considered at this meeting.

There were no registered speakers.

The Seafront & Engineering Manager introduced the report as set out in the agenda papers.

A Member considered the proposal to be a sensible way forward.

Councillor Peter MacDonald proposed the recommendation, and this was seconded by Town Councillor Julian Saunders.

Recommended:

(1)      That the disabled persons’ parking bay in Orchard View, Teynham be formalised as proposed in the Traffic Regulation Order.

The Senior Programme Manager – Active Travel introduced the report as set out in the agenda papers.

The Chair invited Members to make comments, and these included:

·         Suggested more Active Travel work be carried out on the eastern side of the Isle of Sheppey, as there were parts that were dangerous due to the lack of footpaths;

·         noted and thanked the Active Travel team for the pedestrian improvements in Faversham cross town walking route;

·         welcomed the funding for a possible north/south walking route in Faversham;

·         considered Kent County Council (KCC) should do more work in encouraging developers to ‘build in’ more cycling and walking opportunities within their housing schemes;

·         the roads on the eastern side of the Isle of Sheppey were dangerous for cyclists;

·         Parish and Town Councils could work with the Highway Improvement Plan (HIP) to highlight what was needed in their areas;

·         this was a key plan for health and the green economy; and

·         clarification sought as to whether the Kent Coastal Path extended to the Isle of Sheppey as there might be funding opportunities.

In response, the Senior Programme Manager confirmed that the HIP process was the way for Parish and Town Councils to request highway projects.  He noted the comments on the eastern side of the Isle of Sheppey, and said he would look into whether the Kent Coastal Path extended to the Isle of Sheppey.

Resolved:

(1)      That the report be noted.

The Senior Assistant Project Manager gave a verbal update and highlights included:

Grovehurst Road junction

·         Officers continued to work closely with Jacksons, the main contractor to ensure there was a clear and robust programme to completion;

·         remaining works were final surfacing which included road markings, detector loops and high friction surfacing on the approach to the traffic signals;

·         traffic signals, crash barriers and landscaping were also being installed;

·         it was hoped that all the surfacing would be completed before Christmas, but this was dependent on weather conditions;

·         completion of the main works would be by the end of January 2026;

·         further BT works for new cables and removal of old ones would be completed in the new year;

·         officers were waiting for a programme of works from BT and it was hoped that any disruption from their works would be minimal;

·         landscaping works would be ongoing throughout February and March 2026 and this should cause minimal disruption;

·         once the completed junction was finished, it would provide some increased capacity on the road network; and

·         the scheme supported the delivery of the Swale Local Plan and the requirements of Homes England funding to support the delivery of new housing.

Key Street

·         The scheme was being delivered in small stages to reduce the amount of traffic management;

·         works were progressing well;

·         the new southbound entry slip road opened on 5 December 2025;

·         works were currently being carried out overnight on Keycol Hill for the new pedestrian crossing and this would be completed by the end of 9 December 2025;

·         there would be a series of overnight closures to minimise disruption in the New Year for surfacing works;

·         details of the closures would be communicated to stakeholders; and

·         it was hoped that completion of all the works would be by the end of February 2026, subject to weather conditions.

The Senior Assistant Project Manager added that the contractor provided regular traffic management updates and newsletters for both schemes.  She invited people to contact her so that they could be included on the mailing list.

The Chair invited Members to make comments, and these included:

·         The Grovehurst Road junction improvements had been going on for far too long;

·         the works impacted traffic within Sittingbourne, seriously delaying road users and impacting businesses;

·         the contractor should take responsibility and there should be penalties for not completing the works on time;

·         considered the layout of the Grovehurst Road improvements to be very confusing;

·         the lighting was poor and this needed to be good, especially as the road layout/directions had changed;

·         there was a lack of signage;

·         residents had suffered with the extreme noise from the plates at Key Street; and

·         had understood that the Key Street works should not have commenced until the Grovehurst Road works had been completed.

In response, the Senior Assistant Project Manager said that the works had not been planned to have been carried out concurrently.  The start of the works at Key Street were delayed due to the works at M2 Junction  ...  view the full minutes text for item 551.

Resolved:

(1)      That the report be noted.

To consider the Progress Update which outlines progress made following recommendations and agreed action at previous meetings.

Resolved:

(1)      That the report be noted.

The next meeting of the Swale Joint Transportation Board meeting is 9 March 2026.

The next meeting of the Swale Joint Transportation Board would be on Monday 9 March 2026 at 5.30 pm.

The meeting was adjourned from 5.36 pm until 5.39 pm.