Council and democracy

Councillor B Little, Cabinet Member for Transport, introduced the report and stated he was pleased to be presenting his second report as Portfolio Holder.

Councillor B Little updated Members on the following achievements:

•           The Council’s Highways Team received an award for the ‘Most Improved Authority’ in the Highway Maintenance theme.

•           Customer satisfaction showed an improvement of around 8%.

•           The Council’s £6 million investment project in LED retrofit of street lighting, completed in July 2017, was shortlisted for an award at the Highways Awards 2017 in the Highways Maintenance Efficiency category.

•           The Council submitted a joint bid for £3.3m to support walking and the cycling infrastructure across the borough.

•           The Stanford-le-Hope Transport Interchange.

•           The major A13 widening works will begin in May 2018.

•           The Lower Thames Task Force Group had been set up working with Highways England to ensure the best for Thurrock residents.

•           To address the Highways England contraflow for when the Dartford Crossing was closed.

•           High wind tests were being undertaken by using wind tunnels to establish whether the Dartford Crossing could remain open in higher wind conditions.

•           That the Thurrock Road User Group had been set up to give residents the opportunity to have their say.

•           The Local Permit Scheme had been set up to control and schedule works.

•           The Local Plan had been delivered.

Councillor B Little thanked all Officers, Residents and Forums for their hard work and contributions.

At 9.15pm, the Mayor moved a motion to suspend Council Procedure Rule 11.1 to allow the meeting to continue beyond the 2.5 hour time limit until 10.00pm. Members indicated their agreement to the proposal.

Councillor Snell questioned what could be done with road users stopping in yellow box junctions, particularly at the Dartford Crossing junction. Councillor B Little stated that the Council were working with Highways England on a joint approach to addressing this issue. That no cameras were installed in this area with only the Police being authorised to enforce fines. That this area will also now be picked up with the Police Fire and Crime Commissioner following his presentation tonight.

Councillor Gerrish stated that the wording of Councillor B Little report were exactly the same words used in his portfolio holder report two years ago. Councillor Gerrish asked Councillor B Little what had made his two years as portfolio holder unique. Councillor B Little stated that he now chaired the Congestion Task Force Group, the Network Management Team had been set up and the Permitting Scheme to monitor and control all road works in the borough was now up and running successfully.

Councillor Pothecary asked for an update on the 2-way traffic proposal for Grays Town Centre. Councillor B Little stated that over the next few months this will move into the final phase. Councillor B Little stated that the Council had to ensure that the new traffic proposal would be undertaken to make the matter better not worse.

Councillor Okunade asked the Portfolio Holder what specific measures would be put in place now and in the future for addressing the air pollution caused by heavy good vehicles in the Tilbury area. Councillor B Little stated that actions had already been put in place and piloted by the Council in 2017/18, such as areas around schools. That the Lower Thames Task Force Group were also undertaking further analyse around areas such as schools and where residents are elderly.

Councillor Smith welcomed the details of the report and questioned whether the Portfolio Holder had looked at introducing any alternative motorised transport into the borough. Councillor B Little stated that ideas such as a tram from Grays to Bluewater and river transport from London had been put forward but unsure if these would be taken forward at this time.

Councillor Jones had concerns with lorries parking on the Manorway and questioned could the Council work in partnership with the Police to prevent these lorries parking on the verges. Councillor B Little stated that as DP World was expanding, they were in the process of making the lorry park larger and would be working with DP World to identify when this would be open.