Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Transport Strategy Manager.

The first part of the report provides an update on consultation to date and initial

conversations with the School. The second part of the report looks at potential future

steps, including decisions to be taken by the Area Committee.

The Area Committee is recommended to:-

(1)  Confirm the funding request in the total sum of £12,285 (minus the £1,000 already received) to come from the Delegated Ward Budget to allow all activities to be taken forward.

(2)  Agree the revised timescales as shown in Paragraph 6 above.

(3)  Agree the preferred approach for signoff –

a) request an Urgent Decision or

b) make the decision at Area Committee.

Officer contact: Emily Brough on 0161 474 4592 or email: Emily.brough@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Transport Strategy Manager submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an update on the consultation to date and initial conversations with the School and potential future steps, including decisions to be taken by the Area Committee.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         It was noted that the public response to the scheme was divided, however the responses explained a number of reasons why it was necessary to have some level of enforcement around schools.

·         Members expressed support for the scheme and commented that anti-social driving was an ongoing issue.

·         It was noted that no one solution would be satisfactory to the whole community and the need for a scheme that took the view of all stakeholders into account was expressed.

·         It was commented that one scheme encompassing both school campuses would be preferable and requested that this option be considered.

·         It was commented that the £5,000 estimated for local authority staff administration and project support time should be taken from central wages budget as opposed to the Area Committee’s Delegated Budget as a large proportion of the cost of the overall scheme.    

·         It was commented that whilst concern had been expressed around the impact of the scheme on residents and commuters access to homes and public transport, school safety was paramount.

RESOLVED – (1) That approval be given to the allocation of £12,285 from the Area Committee's Delegated Budget (Heatons North ward allocation) towards the cost of the proposed School Street Scheme for St Thomas’s Primary School. 

(2)  That the 'key dates' outlined in paragraph 7 of the report that illustrates the elongated timescales for the implementation of the scheme should a decision on the implementation of experimental traffic regulation orders be required to wait until the next meeting of the Area Committee be noted.

(3)  That the Cabinet Member for Highways, Parks & Leisure Services be recommended to exercise the Area Committees delegation to act as highways authority with regard to this specific scheme to facilitate the approval of any such experimental Traffic Regulation Orders.