Issue - meetings

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

The report provides details of the proposed Transportation Capital Programme for 2020/21 and indicative programmes for future years.

The Scrutiny Committee is requested to comment on the recommended capital programme and note that the final programme will be approved by the Cabinet Member for Economy and Regeneration.

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 details of the proposed Transportation Capital Programme for 2020/21 and indicative programmes for future years.

The Transportation Capital Programme was funded from a variety of sources including Local Transport Plan funding via the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, specific grants from Government including pot hole funding, and individual scheme bids, for example the Mayor’s Walking and Cycling Fund, Town Centre Access Plan, and A6 to Manchester Airport Relief Road. Schemes were also funded by developers via Section 106 and 278 processes. The Council was also using prudential borrowing to fund both the Highways Investment Programme and the Street Lighting LED Investment Programme.

The Cabinet Member for Economy and Regeneration (Councillor David Meller) attended the meeting to respond to Members’ questions.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         The £250,000 allocated for District Centres and Local Centres – North Reddish Local Centre would look to improve the Reddish Corridor, particularly examining access issues and, for example, the provision of dropped kerbs and further details would be submitted to the Heatons and Reddish Area Committee once it had been prepared. A report would also be brought back on proposals as to how the £30,000 allocated for other studies would be spent.

·         Members requested full details of the schemes to improve road safety near schools and progress on them. A number of schemes had been identified through Operation Eagle Eye which aimed to stop cars parking and driving unsafely near to schools.

·         Members highlighted the £12,093 being allocated from the Mayoral Walking and Cycling Challenge Fund for 2020/21and £14,021 for 2020/21 onwards. The sums allocated for the SEMMMS Relief Road were for transactions that needed to be completed, compulsory purchase claims and mitigation works that still needed to be paid for.

·         With regard to that part of the capital programme allocated for flood mitigation, there would be plenty of opportunity for Members to consider the Section 19 report at Scrutiny Committees and Area Committees once it had been published.

·         Clarification was provided on the inclusion of railway bridges and the replacement of trees adjacent to the highway in the capital programme.

·         Information was provided on the waterproofing assessment process for bridges. If damage had occurred on inspection, the bridges would be included in the capital programme in future years. For the full waterproofing scheme which had taken place on Wellington Road South in the town centre, Officers would not expect for more works to take place on the section of road in question for the next forty or fifty years.

·         Officers had been working with schools regarding the concept of a ‘walking bus’ facilitating a safe passageway for children to get to school.

·         The scheme for Merseyway precinct was substantially larger than that which was shown in the report as it was financed from a number of different funding streams.

RESOLVED – That the Cabinet Member for Economy and Regeneration be recommended to approve the Transportation Capital Programme.