The Growth, Environment & Transport Cabinet Committee is scheduled to convene on Tuesday, 5th May 2026, to discuss a range of topics impacting the county. Key areas for consideration include updates on winter services, the future of the Tilbury-Gravesend ferry, and proposed price increases for the Kent Travel Saver bus pass scheme. The committee will also review significant infrastructure projects, including the A226 Galley Hill Road reinstatement and the development of a new Kent Design Guide.

Winter Service Update

The committee is set to receive an update on the council's Winter Service operations. The report covers the period up to the end of March 2026, detailing the demands placed on the service by normal winter hazards as well as exceptional weather events such as high winds and rain. It outlines the council's winter service budget of £4.3 million, which does not include provisions for emergencies or exceptional weather. The report details the salting routes, the resources available, including 60 salting vehicles and over 100 farmers equipped with snow ploughs, and the monitoring of winter service activities. It also highlights improvements planned with the new Kent Highway Term Maintenance Contractor, Ringway, including a new gritting fleet with telematics and reporting facilities.

Tilbury-Gravesend Ferry Service Final Report

A final report on the Gravesend to Tilbury ferry service is scheduled for discussion. This report will outline that despite extensive efforts by Kent County Council (KCC), no alternative funders have come forward following Thurrock Council's withdrawal of funding. KCC has been supporting the service since April 2024 to avoid an unmanaged cessation, but as it is a non-statutory service, KCC cannot fund it alone. Work to identify a potential commercial solution is now being led by the Port of London Authority, which KCC will continue to support.

Kent Travel Saver Price Increase

Consideration will be given to a proposal to increase the annual price of the Kent Travel Saver bus pass scheme by £35 for all fee-paying customers. This increase is intended to ensure the scheme remains sustainable within the council's medium-term financial planning, addressing inflationary cost increases and supporting value for money. The scheme currently supports approximately 23,000 clients. The report details the breakdown of passholders by cohort and their current costs, noting that the number of pupils accessing the scheme has increased by 16% in the last three years, particularly in the low-income and free cost pass categories. The proposed increase is estimated to generate an additional £575,000 in scheme income for 2026/27.

A226 Galley Hill Road Reinstatement

The committee will review the A226 Galley Hill Road scheme, which has been closed since a significant collapse on 10th April 2023. The report seeks approval to progress the scheme up to and including the detailed design stage, while simultaneously pursuing external funding opportunities and cost recovery from liable parties. The collapse has caused significant damage to highway and utility infrastructure, impacting local communities, businesses, and the Fastrack bus network. The total estimated cost for the reinstatement scheme is around £50 million. The report details expenditure to date of £1.186 million and outlines the funding required for preliminary and detailed design stages, totalling £2.109 million. KCC is exploring external funding, including the Department for Transport's Structures Fund.

Kent Design Guide

A report on the Kent Design Guide is scheduled for discussion. The existing guide dates from 2005, and the refreshed guide will be a digital, interactive resource designed to be easier to update and developed jointly with district and borough partners. The guide will set out shared design principles and expectations for new homes and neighbourhoods in Kent, aligning with recent changes to the National Planning Policy Framework. It will provide a single, shared online resource for KCC officers, planning authorities, designers, architects, landowners, developers, and housebuilders, offering clear, consistent, and accessible design and placemaking guidance.

Position Statement on Solar Generation

The committee is to be presented with a position statement on solar generation, with papers to follow.

Prioritisation of Definitive Map Modification Applications

A proposed amendment to the council's existing prioritisation policy for Definitive Map Modification Order (DMMO) applications will be considered. This amendment aims to address a growing backlog of applications, particularly those based on user evidence, by allocating one user-based application for each documentary evidence-based application. This approach is proposed because user evidence can deteriorate over time as memories fade, whereas documentary evidence does not. The proposal is considered cost-neutral and aims to ensure a fairer and more timely process for user-based applications.

Adoption of Gypsy and Traveller Site Pitch Allocation Policy Amendments

The committee will consider the adoption of the Gypsy and Traveller Site Pitch Allocation Policy 2026, which updates and replaces the current policy from 2023. The revised policy aims to improve clarity, fairness, and consistency in how pitches are allocated across the seven Gypsy and Traveller sites owned and managed by KCC. The policy has undergone public consultation and has been subject to an Equality Impact Assessment and Data Protection Impact Assessment. No additional financial costs are anticipated.

Kent and Medway Economic Framework - Ambition 5

A report will provide an overview of the progress in implementing Ambition 5 of the Kent and Medway Economic Framework, which focuses on creating diverse, distinctive, and vibrant places. The report will outline recent key actions and planned future activities to support the sustainable growth of Kent & Medway's economy through to 2030. This is the final update in the current series on the framework's five ambitions.

Kent Joint Municipal Waste Management Strategy

The committee is to consider the Kent Joint Municipal Waste Management Strategy 2026-2031. The existing strategy is out of date and requires replacement. The report highlights that KCC, as the waste disposal authority, bears significant costs for residual waste disposal, and reducing residual waste and increasing recycling could deliver substantial savings. The strategy outlines four key aims, including reducing waste, increasing recycling, engaging residents to support behavioural changes, and managing littering and fly-tipping in a coordinated way.

Kent & Medway Business Fund 2026 - Revised Loan Offer

A report will detail revisions to the Kent & Medway Business Fund (KMBF) loan offer. The fund provides repayable loans to businesses to support growth, productivity, and job creation. The proposed changes follow an annual review and include an increased upper limit for KMBF Standard loans, allowing start-ups to apply under certain conditions, and extending repayment periods. Match funding requirements for the Small Business Boost are also being standardised.

Work Programme

The committee's work programme will be reviewed. This includes a provisional schedule of items for future meetings in July and September 2026, as well as future options for consideration. Items include updates on the Environment Agency, Southern Water, the Grow in Kent initiative, and the Lower Thames Crossing project. Key decisions are also flagged, such as the Street Lighting Term Services Contract Extension and the adoption of the Kent and Medway Local Growth Plan.