Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Director of Place Management.

The report provides details on the Greater Manchester Road Activity Permit Scheme (GMRAPS) which commenced on 29 April 2013 to provide a way to better manage and reduce the disruption caused by roadworks across Greater Manchester. 

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to note and comment upon the report.

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 provides details on the Greater Manchester Road Activity Permit Scheme (GMRAPS) which commenced on the 29 April 2013 to provide a way to better manage and reduce the disruption caused by roadworks across Greater Manchester.

The Cabinet Member for Parks, Highways & Transport Services (Councillor Grace Baynham) attended the meeting to respond to councillors’ questions.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         The report stated that the Permit Scheme enabled local authorities to issue Fixed Penalty Notices or fines where appropriate when utility contractors did not adhere to the agreed permit conditions/dates and times. Members asked whether the council was permitted to issue a Fixed Penalty Notice or fine where a utility company had created ‘street scarring’ (where roads were not repaired with like for like materials).

·         Members asked whether the council checked that like-for-like repairs were being made, how many Fixed Penalty Notices or fines for street-scarring were issued per year. Members also asked whether the funds from Fixed Penalty Notices or fines were sufficient to allow the council to remedy street-scaring and whether there was a route for residents to report street-scaring.

·         In response it was reported that the council took a robust approach to utility companies to ensure that they adhered to agreements such as timescales and traffic management. Members were encouraged to report street-scarring to officers. It was further reported that the limits for Fixed Penalty Notices and fines were set by central government and that they were low. The council tested repairs made by utility companies and it held surplus stock to enable like for like repairs.

·         Members requested that this report be circulated to all Members of the council.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.