Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Executive Councillor (Economic Development & Regeneration)

The report sets out a proposal to introduce the concept of play streets in Stockport, which are created on a street by local people who wish to close their road once a week to through traffic to allow children to play. The report sets out feedback received to a consultation on the proposals and the proposed guidance is detailed in the appendices to the report.

The Executive is recommended to

·         consider the comments received approve the proposed policy for Play Streets and related guidance.

·         delegate the approval of the review of the Play Street Policy to the Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration in consultation with the Executive Councillor (Economic Development & Regeneration)

Officer contact: Sue Stevenson, 0161 474 4351, sue.stevenson@stockport.gov.uk

The Executive Councillor (Economic Development & Regeneration) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) inviting the Executive Meeting to approve proposals for the introduction of Play Streets in Stockport that would be created by local people who wished to close their road once a week to through traffic to allow children the opportunity to play in safety.

Executive Councillors welcomed the proposals.

RESOLVED – (1) That the feedback in relation to the consultation on the introduction of Play Streets be noted and the Policy and Guidance as detailed in the report be approved.

(2) That the Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration in consultation with Executive Councillor (Economic Development & Regeneration) be authorised to undertake a review the Play Street Policy following 12 months of its operation.

To consider a report of the Service Director (Place Management)

The report requests the Scrutiny Committee to comment on the proposed introduction of play streets in Stockport.

The Scrutiny Committee is requested to comment on the report.

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

A representative of the Service Director (Place Management) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing proposals for the introduction of play streets in Stockport following a number of expressions of interest in the potential for closing roads for the purposes of children being able to play out near their homes. The report would be considered by the Executive at its meeting on 11 June 2013.

An update on the current situation with regard to public liability insurance and risk assessment was circulated at the meeting.

The Executive Councillor (Economic Development and Regeneration) (Councillor Iain Roberts) attended the meeting to respond to Members’ questions.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

•      A Member requested more information with regard to insurance required by residents and case studies from other parts of the country.

·         A Member felt that the play streets scheme should also be operative during school term time.

•      Whether the organisers of a particular scheme could prevent non-residents using the road.

·         How the costs of a particular scheme would be borne.

·         How many residents needed to be in favour of a scheme for it to take place on a particular street.

RESOLVED – That should the Executive Meeting approve the proposals, then the Executive Councillor (Economic Development and Regeneration) be recommended to review the policy in a year’s time and review the schemes on a regular basis.

To consider a report of the Service Director (Place Management)

The report requests the Area Committee to comment on the proposed introduction of play streets in Stockport.

The Area Committee is requested to comment on the report.

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

A representative of the Service Director (Place Management) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing proposals for the introduction of play streets in Stockport following a number of expressions of interest in the potential for closing roads for the purposes of children being able to play out near their homes.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         The potentially significant costs that would be incurred by the Area Committee through the introduction of a Play Street scheme was discussed.

·         The cost of securing public liability insurance for any scheme, which needed to be borne by residents, may dissuade a number of potential applicants.

·         The suitability of application sites needed to be robustly assessed with an objective set of criteria for what type of site may be considered suitable.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Service Director (Place Management)

The report requests the area Committee to comment on the proposed introduction of play streets in Stockport.

The Area Committee is requested to comment on the report.

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

A representative of the Service Director (Place Management) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing proposals for the introduction of play streets in Stockport following a number of expressions of interest in the potential for closing roads for the purposes of children being able to play out near their homes.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

•           Clarification was requested with regard to which groups in Stockport were interested in pursuing this type of road closure.

•           Why the cost of coning and signage for the play streets should come from Area Committee budgets and the problem of committing a potentially limitlessness amount of expenditure.

•           The need for residents to obtain public liability insurance to cover themselves in the event of an incident would deter them from participating in the initiative.

•           A Member felt that the initiative was too bureaucratic.

•           The initiative created an alternative to children playing in alleyways which caused problems on occasions.

•           Although it could cause divisions in neighbourhoods, the initiative would provide a good example of local democracy in action and assist community cohesion.

•           A level of conflict between vehicles and children would remain.

•           There were only certain streets in the borough where the initiative would work.

•           People who were supervising children on participating streets would need Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) checks.

•           It was safer for children to be encouraged to use local parks.

RESOLVED - That the Executive Councillor (Economic Development and Regeneration) be recommended to give consideration to the comments of the Area Committee.

To consider a report of the Service Director (Place Management)

The report summarises the background to the possible development of ‘play streets’. There has been an upsurge in interest across England in the potential for closing roads for the purposes of children being able to play out near their homes. Several local authorities, most prominently Bristol, have started to facilitate closures of roads for a limited period of time on a regular basis for the use of children to play. There are now groups in Stockport which are also interested in pursuing this type of closure. The report seeks feedback from the Area Committee on the proposed introduction of play streets in Stockport as described in the guidance detailed in the report.

The Area Committee is invited to comment on the proposals:

•           to allow streets to be closed on a regular basis for children to play;

•           that the Area Committees make the final decision on whether a closure can go ahead;

•           that the cost of play streets is covered through the budget of the Area Committee.

Officer contact: Sue Stevenson, 0161 474 4351 sue.stevenson@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Service Director (Place Management) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing proposals for the introduction of play streets in Stockport following a number of expressions of interest in the potential for closing roads for the purposes of children being able to play out near their homes.

Clarification was sought on whether the closures would prevent access to properties by residents and what the requirements would be for organisers to have public liability insurance.

RESOLVED – That the Executive Councillor (Economic Development & Regeneration) be informed that the Stepping Hill Area Committee supports the proposals contained in the report in relation to the introduction of play streets with the exception of the proposal for the costs of the road closure being met from Area Committee delegated budgets.

To consider a report of the Service Director (Place Management)

The report requests the Area Committee to comment on the proposed introduction of play streets in Stockport.

The Area Committee is requested to comment on the report.

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

A representative of the Service Director (Place Management) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing proposals for the introduction of play streets in Stockport following a number of expressions of interest in the potential for closing roads for the purposes of children being able to play out near their homes.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

•           Why the road closures would be limited to term time only when local councillors tended to receive more complaints from residents about children playing on the roads during the school holidays.

•           The need for residents to obtain public liability insurance to cover themselves in the event of an incident would deter them from participating in the initiative.

RESOLVED - That the Executive Councillor (Economic Development and Regeneration) be advised that this Area Committee supports the initiative in principle and recommends him to give consideration to its comments.

To consider a report of the Service Director (Place Management)

The report requests the Area Committee to comment on the proposed introduction of play streets in Stockport.

The Area Committee is requested to comment on the report.

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

A representative of the Service Director (Place Management) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing proposals for the introduction of play streets in Stockport following a number of expressions of interest in the potential for closing roads for the purposes of children being able to play out near their homes.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Service Director (Place Management)

The report requests the Area Committee to comment on the proposed introduction of play streets in Stockport.

The Area Committee is requested to comment on the report.

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

A representative of the Service Director (Place Management) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing proposals for the introduction of play streets in Stockport following a number of expressions of interest in the potential for closing roads for the purposes of children being able to play out near their homes.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         It was noted that there would be a requirement for public liability insurance to be taken out by the residents involved, the cost of which may be prohibitive for many schemes.

·         It was commented that in principle the concept was sound, however there needed to be continued commitment and buy in from residents to ensure that schemes would continue operate effectively.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.