Issue - meetings

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

The report provides information about the proposed Greater Manchester Strategy 2040 and the related Delivery Plan which are currently being consulted on. The consultation period of twelve weeks closes on 26 September 2016.

Officers from Transport for Greater Manchester will attend the meeting to provide a presentation on the proposed strategy.

The Scrutiny Committee is requested to comment on the strategy and its related Delivery Plan, and support the response from the Council.

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

The Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing information about the proposed Greater Manchester Transportation Strategy 2040 and the related Delivery Plan which were currently being consulted upon. The consultation period of twelve weeks closed on 26 September 2016.

Nicola Kane and Rod Fawcett from Transport for Greater Manchester attended the meeting to make a presentation on the proposed strategy.

The Executive Councillor (Economy and Regeneration) (Councillor Kate Butler) attended the meeting to respond to Members’ questions.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         Support was given to the holistic, joined up approach of the strategy and model of integrated public transport.

·         The importance of improving radial links outside the town centre was highlighted, for example the A34 corridor study, which was part of the ‘refresh’ of the SEMMMS strategy, was very important to those areas of the borough which had roads that accessed the A34.

·         Attention was drawn to the significant development at Handforth Dean within Cheshire East and the significant implications this would have on the A34 corridor.

·         The problems of traffic congestion on the M60 and A6 at peak periods were also of great significance, including the effect on air quality which need to be addressed to a greater extent in the strategy.

·         The movement of heavy goods vehicles along residential roads in Stockport was another significant issue.

·         Work was being carried out on the concept of taxis being electrically powered in the future.

·         The strategy needed to plan for a future where people gave up their cars more easily and used cycling as their primary mode of transport.

·         The details of the benefits to Stockport emanating from the strategy were contained in the five year delivery plan.

·         Officers working on the Greater Manchester 2040 Transportation Strategy were working closely with Officers working on the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework.

·         It was in the districts of Greater Manchester where the connectivity between communities needed to be improved and this is where the investment in public transport was required, not the regional centre of Manchester.

·         It was important that cycleways were off road wherever possible, but it was acknowledged that a lack of space in the conurbation was a problem.

·         Support was given to the investment in Port Salford and to developing the use of the canal network.

RESOLVED – (1) That Nicola Kane and Rod Fawcett be thanked for their attendance and presentation.

(2) That the response from the Council to the consultation be supported, but the political groups be also encouraged to respond separately to the consultation.