Agenda and minutes

 No apologies for absence were submitted.

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 10 October 2011

The minutes (copies of which have been circulated) of the meeting held on 10 October 2011 were approved as a correct record.

There were no matters arising.

A representative of the Corporate Director for Place reported on the progress made on the Connect2 project. The footpath is now 80% complete and work had started for the bridge. The route would be opened in July 2012. User groups were being asked to suggest names for the route and relevant local figures whose silhouettes will be used as part of the design of a bench commemorating the opening of the route.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         The route is completely new and not a continuation of any existing routes.

·         After suggestions have been received from local groups they will be advertised on the Council website for the general public to vote on their favourite.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

A representative of the Corporate Director for Place reported on progress made in respect to the alleygating programme since the last meeting. As resources for this scheme had been reduced, the scheme was now targeting smaller areas with the priority being the Edgeley and Reddish areas. In the last financial year there had been over 100 requests for alleys to be gated, the vast majority of which had been denied because it would involve blocking shortcut paths or because residents wanted the scheme as a solution to a one off problem. The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         When residents are informed that their request for an alley gate has been denied the rational provided relates to policy and not budgetary functions.

·         Managing the expectations of residents was important.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

A representative of the Corporate Director for Place reported on the progress of the South East Manchester Multi Modal Strategy (SEMMMS) A6 to Manchester Airport Relief Road scheme. There would be a public consultation on the proposals for the scheme during summer and vulnerable users groups would be invited to an event on 28^th March 2012 to discuss the plans. Shared use and cycle paths will be created to connect into the network and will be retrofitted to A555.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         The golf course, which is in part of the road only has temporary planning permission.

·         Suggestions for additions or diversions were welcome. It was requested that any routes that are going to be claimed by users be claimed before the public consultation so that these can be included in the plans.

·         The bridges, shared user and cycle paths will be part of the overall budget for the road.

·         The target opening date for the road was 2017.

·         Planning permission would be sought after the conclusion of public consultation.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

A representative of the Corporate Director for Place reported that the Definitive Map of Stockport is updated as necessary when new Rights of Way Orders were made. These changes were communicated as widely as possible, however residents have requested that they be written to individually when new Orders were made. This would be both costly and time consuming for the Council.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         Each user groups nominates an order receiver whose responsibility it is to keep the group informed of any changes.

·         Stockport Council may be moving back to a system where groups are notified of changes before the order is produced.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

A representative of the Corporate Director for Place reported that the Public Rights of Way team were discussing collaboration with the Probation service to use the Community Payback scheme to help them in their work.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         The Community Payback scheme has been used successfully in the past and is used by Stockport Council for clearing flytipping.

·         There is limited scope for training offenders but they do have a workshop so simple furniture could be made.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

The Chair reported that the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) is promoting a web based community called Huddle. The regional Local Access Forum had recommended that the Forum chooses 2-3 representatives to use this site. Any members that are interested should contact the Chair with their email address.

The next meeting of the Local Access Forum would be held at Chadkirk Chapel so that members can observe the completed Connect2 project. The date and time to be agreed with the Chair.