Agenda item

To consider a report of the Service Director (Place Management)

This report advises the Scrutiny Committee of the findings of the consultation on the Draft Obstruction Policy for Highways; Draft Highways Café Policy; Draft Control of Skips, Containers, Scaffolding and Hoardings on the Highway Policy; and the Draft Advertising Boards and Trade Goods Obstructions Policy.

The Scrutiny Committee is requested to comment on the report and the amended draft policies.

Officer contacts: Andrew Suggett, Sue Stevenson and Graeme Vout el: 0161 474 4351, email: andrew.suggett@stockport.gov.uk, sue.stevenson@stockport.gov.uk or graeme.vout@stockport.gov.uk.

A representative of the Service Director (Place Management) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) advising the Scrutiny Committee of the findings of the consultation on the Draft Obstruction Policy for Highways, Draft Highways Café Policy, Draft Control of Skips, Containers, Scaffolding and Hoardings on the Highway Policy, and the Draft Advertising Boards and Trade Goods Obstructions Policy.

All policies had been designed to balance the (potentially conflicting) interests of a number of stakeholders, including pedestrians, people with disabilities, residents, businesses and local traders.

‘A’ board permits would be issued for free and would last up to five years providing that the ‘A’ board met the stipulated requirements and the nature of the ‘A’ board did not change in size, shape, position etc. Any ‘A’ boards placed on the highway without a permit would be treated as an obstruction. It was proposed that this approach was implemented in stages along the A6 first and then into the town and district centres and all other areas over a twelve month period with a review of progress and process after the first six months.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

•           The proposed policy was over prescriptive when, for example, the Council was trying to encourage the establishment of cafes in the town centre.

•           The trial for the ‘A’ boards permits on the A6 was supported

•           There were problems caused by advertising boards for people in wheelchairs or pushing someone in a wheelchair on the pavements and the policy helped to combat these problems.

•           Concern was expressed about the level of licence fees that café owners would have to pay.

•           A Member felt that appeals against decisions under the Highways Café Policy should be considered by the Area Committees and not the Licensing, Environment & Safety Committee.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted and the Scrutiny Committee’s comments reported to the Executive Meeting on 20 August 2012.