Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Cabinet Member Parks, Highways and Transport Services.

The report presents the consultation findings and seeks approval from the Cabinet to continue completing the remaining steps required to request the moving traffic orders enforcement powers including delegating decision-making power for the final submission of the approval to the Secretary of State.

The Cabinet is recommended to:-

(1) Approve Officers completing the remaining steps required to request the enforcement powers.

(2) Delegate the final application to the Secretary of State for the transfer of powers to enforce moving traffic orders to the Chief Executive in consultation with the Cabinet Member Parks, Highways and Transport Services.

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

The Cabinet Member for Parks, Highways & Transport Services (Councillor Grace Baynham) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing the consultation findings relating to the Council’s bid for receiving enforcement powers for Moving Traffic Offences.

RESOLVED – (1) That it be agreed that officers be authorised to complete the remaining steps required to request the enforcement powers.

(2) That the submission of the final application to the Secretary of State for the transfer of powers to enforce moving traffic orders be delegated to the Chief Executive in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Parks, Highways and Transport Services.

To consider a report of the Director of Place Management

The purpose of the report is to outline the proposal for Stockport Council to take on powers to manage moving traffic contraventions and apply to the Secretary of State (SoS) for a Designation Order to obtain moving traffic enforcement (MTE) powers. It is further proposed that, once it has the powers, the Council will start to roll out enforcement at relevant sites.

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to:

a)    Comment on and note the consultation findings; and

b)    support the proposed request for enforcement powers as outlined in the report above.

Officer contact: Sue Stevenson at sue.stevenson@stockport.gov.uk

The Director of Place Management submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) outlining the proposal for Stockport Council to take on powers to manage moving traffic contraventions and apply to the Secretary of State (SoS) for a Designation Order to obtain moving traffic enforcement (MTE) powers. It was further proposed that, once it had the powers, the Council would start to roll out enforcement at relevant sites.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         In response to a query relating to a six month grace period prior to enforcement action taking place, it was stated that the grace period was a Government recommended timescale for a first offence only.

·         Members noted the recent notification regarding the bus lane penalty charge notices and queried if there was a grace period in place.

·         In response it was stated that the grace period was 12 weeks for a first offence.

·         Members queried whether the cameras could be used for other purposes such as checking for uninsured drivers or other vehicular related crimes.

·         In response, it was stated that strict data protection rules were in place for the images captured. A Government licence was required for every camera and there were strict requirements in place for the purpose of each.

·         It was reported that once the Council had powers of enforcement, decisions could be made as to the best locations for cameras where the majority of issues occur.

·         It was requested that the strategy for the placement of cameras across the borough be considered as part of the Scrutiny Committee’s work programme.

·         In terms of obtaining the powers of enforcement, it was reported that the process was in the early stages and the authority was required to submit an expression of interest before October, after which it was expected that a decision would be made around Spring of 2024.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.