Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Cabinet Member for Highways, Parks & Leisure Services.

The report provides an update on the School Streets trial which ran in Stockport from 13th June 2022 to 31st July 2022.

The Cabinet is recommended to:-

(1) Note the finding of the report and the potential alternatives which could be considered.

(2) Note the significant barriers to being able to do School Streets long term and acknowledge the lack of resource, financial and human, for all options.

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

The Cabinet Member for Highways, Parks & Leisure Services (Councillor Grace Baynham) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an update on the School Streets trial which ran in Stockport from 13 June 2022 to 31 July 2022.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         The learning identified in the report was welcomed and which would inform future steps to encourage young people to take a more active route to school.

·         It was noted that the funding for the trial had been provided by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority for a limited period and that the council had not withdrawn support.

·         It was commented that schools were able to continue to operate school street schemes with their own volunteers.

RESOLVED - (1) That the findings of the report and the potential alternatives which could be considered be noted.

(2) That the significant barriers to being able to do School Streets in long term and the lack of resource, financial and human, for all options be acknowledged and noted.

To consider a report of the Director of Place Management.

The report provides an update on the School Streets trial which ran in Stockport from 13th June 2022 to 31st July 2022.

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to note the finding of the report and the potential alternatives which could be considered. They are also asked to note the significant barriers to being able to do School Streets long term and acknowledge the lack of resource, financial and human, for all options.

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

The Director of Place Management submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an update on the School Streets trial which ran in Stockport from 13th June 2022 to 31st July 2022.

The report identified a number of barriers to the long-term sustainability of school street schemes, with specific regard to staffing and financial resources to support them; as well as outlining some potential alternatives that could be considered.

The Cabinet Member for Highways, Parks and Leisure Services (Councillor Grace Baynham) attended the meeting to respond to questions from the Scrutiny Committee.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         Concern was expressed in relation to the potential for the displacement of the issues that had been experienced outside schools to other locations outside of the scheme boundaries.

·         It was suggested that there was a gap between what had been presented to schools and local communities in advance of taking up trial schemes and the reality of what was sustainable in the long-term.

·         The aim of changing behaviour and promoting the benefits of walking was welcomed.

·         In many circumstances, individual schools would be able to continue with school streets schemes as the experimental traffic regulation orders remained in place.  However, this would be subject to them being able to identify a sustainable pool of volunteers to support it.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.