Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Communities & Transport Scrutiny Committee.

The report details the review carried out by the Communities & Transport Scrutiny Review Panel into the Stockport Cycling Strategic Review and the proposed recommendations.

That the Director of Place Management be requested to prepare a response to the Stockport Cycling Strategic Review scrutiny review and the recommendations contained therein for consideration by the Cabinet at a future meeting.

Officer contact: Jamie Birtles on 07356 120 423 or Sue Stevenson on 0161 474 4351 or email jamie.birtles@stockport.gov.uk or sue.stevenson@stockport.gov.uk

Councillor John Byrne attended the meeting to present the final report of the Scrutiny Review into the Stockport Cycling Strategic Review (copies of which had been circulated) and to answer questions from the Cabinet.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         Thanks were extended to those community groups that engaged with and contributed to the review.

·         Members were encouraged to watch the webcast of the question and answer session with the community groups.

·         It was acknowledged that the report and its appendices were lengthy, however the Panel was keen to ensure that the documentary evidence that it considered would be readily accessible to members and the public in the future.

·         In the light of the subject matter for the review and the increased vulnerability of specific user groups, concern was expressed in relation to the fact that the Panel did not have any female representation on it.  It was recommended that Group Leaders work together to ensure that scrutiny committees had a more equitable gender balance in the future.

·         It was commented that planning and transport planning were inherently gendered because the vast majority of interconnected journeys tend to be made by women and these types of journeys needed to be taken into account rather than assuming that everyone had a straightforward A-B journey.

·         The inheritance of a largely Victorian highway infrastructure with restricted widths significantly restricted the introduction of some of the potential interventions that may otherwise be considered desirable.

·         There has been a recent year-on-year decline in cycling which meant the Council and its partners needed to go further to encourage take-up.

RESOLVED - (1) That the Director of Place Management be requested to prepare a response to the Stockport Cycling Strategic Review scrutiny review and the recommendations contained therein for consideration by the Cabinet at a future meeting

(2) That the gratitude of the Cabinet be recorded for the excellent work undertaken by the Scrutiny Review Panel ‘Stockport Cycling Strategic Review’ and others involved in the Review.

To consider a report of the Communities and Transport Review Panel.

The report details the review carried out by the Communities and Transport Scrutiny Review Panel into Stockport Cycling Strategic Review.

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to note the report and endorse the recommendations.

Officer contact: Jamie Birtles on 07356 120 423 or Sue Stevenson on 0161 474 4351 or email jamie.birtles@stockport.gov.uk or sue.stevenson@stockport.gov.uk

The Communities and Transport Review Panel submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing the review carried out by the Communities and Transport Scrutiny Review Panel into Stockport Cycling Strategic Review.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         It was reported that the council promoted walking and cycling in Stockport with active travel schemes, but that it would consider how active travel might be improved.

·         It was also reported that the Greater Manchester Combined Authority had undertaken a review into active travel in terms of safety and accessibility for women and it was hoped that their recommendations could sit alongside those made by the Scrutiny Review Panel.

·         As a borough, residents, in particular women, were cycling less. More direct cycling routes were likely to have a positive impact on the numbers who cycle.

·         The importance of consulting non-cyclists and other road users on active travel schemes was noted.

·         It was further noted that the Scrutiny Review had originally intended to review walking and cycling but had narrowed the scope of the review to cycling. The Scrutiny Review was interested in reviewing all forms of active travel within the borough.

·         Members commented that the council should move towards segregated cycle routes and floating bus stops.

·         In light of the success of cyclops junctions in the borough, members suggested that the local authority should seek funding to introduce further cyclops junctions.

·         Cycling should be considered as a core skill and efforts made to encourage cycling from a young age. The Bikeability scheme was available in all schools.

·         It was noted that in some London boroughs, school streets involve multiple streets which enabled children to cycle all the way into school.

·         Members thanked officers for their contribution to the review, particularly citing the compilation of data and bringing representatives from TfGM along with those from cycling interest groups to meetings of the Scrutiny Review.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted and the recommendations be endorsed.