Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Director for Place Management.

The report details the findings of a consultation exercise undertaken to ascertain resident's appetite for the introduction of a residents permit parking scheme on Maple Road, Bramhall.

The Area Committee is recommended to acknowledge and ratify Network Management’s recommendation that no further action be taken in this area as the representations received at consultation do not meet the minimum criteria to progress a scheme as per Stockport’s Residential Parking Scheme Policy.

Officer Contact: Nicola Ryan on 0161 474 4409 or email: nicola.ryan@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Assistant Director – Legal & Democratic Governance submitted a report of the Director of Place Management (copies of which had been circulated) which detailed the findings of a consultation exercise undertaken to ascertain resident's appetite for the introduction of a residents permit parking scheme on Maple Road, Bramhall.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         It was noted that the report stated that the consultation results made it clear that there would be no reason to pursue a residents permit parking scheme on Maple Road, Bramhall, however the earlier public question had queried this conclusion.

·         It was commented that the of the people who had responded to the consultation, 94% were in favour of the introduction of a residents permit parking scheme, however 50% of households that were consulted had not responded which meant that the overall responses received at 50%, did not meet the required 51% criteria to enable the progression of a permit scheme.

·         It was commented that it was understood why the threshold had caused confusion amongst residents given the requirement was 51% of all those entitled to vote and included residents who chose to abstain.

·         It was commented that residents may have felt that, as there was a strong case of support, they weren’t required to vote.

·         It was noted that the threshold had been set to ascertain the level of support for the introduction of a residents permit parking scheme.

·         In response, a statement was read out on behalf of the responsible officer advising that the consultation was carried out with all residents in order to determine how much support there was for a resident parking scheme to be introduced.  However, only 50% of residents responded to the consultation which is 1% less than the required criteria (point 4.18 of the Residential Parking Policy refers) and therefore, in line with the approved Residential Parking Policy, Network Management recommendation was that no further action be taken as the required support was not received. In addition, Members were advised that even if 51% of residents had responded to the consultation, it was highly unlikely that they would meet the required criteria as explained in detail within the desk-top study presented to Area Committee at the meeting on 20 April 2023.

·         It was understood that requesting a rerun of the consultation was against the principles of the residents parking scheme and that the only person who could overrule this would be the Cabinet Member.

·         It was felt that it was the view of residents that the consultation be rerun.

·         It was queried whether the scheme would meet the criteria to qualify for a residents parking permit scheme even if the consultation be rerun and threshold met.

·         Concerns were raised in relation to the implication of granting a rerun of a public consultation for future residents applying for a parking permit scheme.

·         It was requested that a copy of the criteria for residents parking permit scheme be shared with Members.

RESOLVED – (3 for, 2 against, 2 abstentions) That the Cabinet Member for Parks, Highways & Transport Services be recommended to consider a rerun of the consultation for the introduction of a residents permit parking scheme on Maple Road, Bramhall.