Issue - meetings

To consider a joint report of the Executive Councillors (Supporting Places) and (Safe & Resilient Communities)

The Government published the Education and Inspection Act in February 2006. The Act places a number of duties on local authorities including duties to:

·         Promote choice of schools

·         Promote high standards

·         The fulfilment of every child’s educational potential.

Part of the duty is the publication by the Local Authority of a Sustainable Modes of Travel to School Strategy. The latest government guidance regarding the Act published in July 2014 has been used in the development of a reviewed strategy for Stockport Council. The full Draft of the Strategy can be found in Appendix 1.

The purpose of the report is to obtain comments on and approval for the reviewed strategy.

The Executive is recommended to adopt the Strategy.

Officer contact: Sue Stevenson, 0161 474 4351, sue.stevenson@stockport.gov.uk

A joint report of the Executive Councillors (Supporting Places) and (Safe & Resilient Communities) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) inviting the Executive to consider a revised Sustainable Modes of School Travel Strategy for 2015-2020, in light of Government Guidance issued in July 2014.

Executive councillors commented on the challenges that schools and residents faced from increasing reliance on cars to pick-up and drop-off children at school, and encouraged schools and governors to develop travel plans that would help make children healthier and safer.

RESOLVED – That the School Travel Strategy 2015-2020 be approved.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration

The report sets out a draft Sustainable Modes of Travel to School Strategy which the Council is required to publish under the Education and Inspection Act 2006.

The Scrutiny Committee is requested to comment on the draft strategy.

Officer Contact: Sue Stevenson on 0161 474 4351 or sue.stevenson@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) setting out a draft Sustainable Modes of Travel to School Strategy which the Council was required to publish under the Education and Inspection Act 2006.

The report would be considered by the Executive at its meeting to be held on 17 November 2015.

The Executive Councillor (Supporting Places) (Councillor Martin Candler) attended the meeting to respond to Members’ questions.

 The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         Members of the Scrutiny Committee supported the strategy, but requested that a further report be submitted in six months’ time on its implementation.

·         Members commended Cale Green Primary School on the award which it had recently won for children who walk or cycle to school.

·         The Council was taking a stronger approach with drivers who risked children’s safety by parking, stopping or waiting on the yellow zigzags outside schools during the busy school run. The Council already issued penalty charge notices to drivers who disregarded the regulations and now a penalty charge notice would be served by post if a car was driven away whilst the Civil Enforcement Officer was in the process of issuing a ticket.

·         Concern was expressed that if the Council charged for advice on School Travel Plans then it would reduce the number of schools who implemented them.

·         Concern was expressed that there was no target for the implementation of School Travel Plans.

RESOLVED – (1) That the Executive be advised that this Scrutiny Committee supports the Sustainable Modes of School Travel Strategy.

(2) That a further report be submitted to a future meeting of the Scrutiny Committee in six months’ time on the implementation of the Sustainable Modes of School Travel Strategy , the work undertaken at schools on road safety and cycle training, and the work undertaken at Cale Green Primary School on encouraging children to walk or cycle to school.

(2) That a report on a full evaluation of the Sustainable Modes of School Travel Strategy be submitted to a meeting of the Scrutiny Committee in twelve months’ time.