Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Christine Turner and Edgar Ernstbrunner.

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 19 March 2012.

The minutes (copies of which have been circulated) of the meeting held on 19 March 2012 were approved as a correct record.

A representative of the Service Director (Place Development) reported that the bridge is in place at the Connect2 project. It is hoped that the scheme would be opened on Sunday 29 July 2012.

A representative of the Service Director (Place Managment) reported that due to budget restrictions the timetable for new alleygating schemes had been extended from 12 to 24 months. There were 5 proposed schemes in Edgeley and 3 in Reddish. Further schemes could be financed by other initiatives or through private sector partners.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         Crime statistics do not suggest that the gating of alleys had displaced criminal behaviour.

·         The gates had been designed in conjunction with Greater Manchester Police to deter criminals.

·         Except for the scheme on King Street all alley gating schemes were accessible 24 hours a day.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

The Forum are invited to discuss and share their views on a proposed package of changes to the processes for recording, diverting and extinguishing public rights of way.

A copy of the consultation paper, supporting documents and a response pro-forma can be viewed and downloaded at: www.defra.gov.uk/consult/2012/05/14/improve-rights-of-way

A representative of the Service Director (Place Development) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) requesting members to consider and provide feedback on the Defra consultation ‘Improvements to the Policy and Legal Framework for Public Rights of Way’ which closes on 6 August 2012.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         The process of protecting a Right of Way could take a significant amount of time.

·         Members of the public assume that if they regularly walk somewhere then this makes it a right of way.

·         The most useful evidence for a Right of Way is modern usage however historical use may be important as the path may have been blocked.

·         Availability of resources could limit the ability of Officers to be proactive.

·         It was suggested that it would be helpful to list on the Stockport Council website any pending applications and their progress.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That members be given until 18 July 2012 to share their views with Officers for inclusion in a response to the consultation.

(3) That the Service Director (Place Development) be requested to draft a response to the consultation reflecting the Forum’s views and to be agreed with the Chair prior to its submission.

(4) That the draft consultation response be circulated with the minutes of the meeting.