Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Executive Councillor (Communities & Housing)

This report outlines the suggested resilient network for the Borough and asks for comment on and approval of the proposed network. Following the severe weather in 2013/14 the Secretary of State for Transport commissioned an independent review in to the effects of severe weather on the transport network. The Response to the 2014 Review identified a need for local authorities to identify and develop a resilient network for their highway network which would be prioritised for repair and maintenance in extreme weather.

This resilient network is to ensure that during extreme weather conditions the access to key services and the necessary support to the economy is maintained. Extreme weather is considered to be: Heatwaves, High Winds, Heavy Rain and Flooding, Extreme Cold, Snow and Ice. The network identified will also be of relevance for other incidents where the prioritisation of route clearance/repair is needed.

The Executive is requested to:

•        Approve the proposed resilient network.

•        Allow amendments to the resilient network in relation to relevant infrastructure, bus route changes and the closure/opening of school and other relevant buildings to be approved by the Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration in consultation with the relevant executive members.

Officer contact: Pete Price / Sue Stevenson, 0161 474 4901 / 0161-474-4351, pete.price@stockport.gov.uk / sue.stevenson@stockport.gov.uk

The Executive Councillor (Communities & Housing) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) inviting the Executive to consider the Council’s development of a Resilient Network in accordance with the requirements of the Government’s 2014 Transport Resilience Review. The report and was the first step toward the development of an Action Plan to ensure the Council’s highway network was resilient in the face of extreme weather.

The Executive Councillor highlighted the timeliness of this report in light of the recent flooding in Stockport, and thanked officers for their response to these events.

RESOLVED – That approval be given to the proposed resilient network, and that amendments to the resilient network in relation to relevant infrastructure, bus route changes and the closure/opening of school and other relevant buildings be delegated to the Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration in consultation with the relevant executive councillors.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration

The report outlines the suggested resilient network for the Borough and asks for comment on the proposed network.

The Scrutiny Committee is requested to consider and comment on the proposed resilient network and related actions to reduce the effects of extreme weather.

Officer Contacts: Pete Price/Sue Stevenson on 0161 474 4901 or email: pete.price@stockport.gov.uk/sue.stevenson@stockport.gov.uk

The Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) outlining a suggested resilient network for the Borough.

Following the severe weather in 2013/14, the Secretary of State for Transport had commissioned an independent review into the effects of severe weather on the transport network. The subsequent report identified that episodes of severe weather would become more frequent and transport authorities should plan how to manage the impact of them and identify and develop a resilient network for their highway network which would be prioritised for repair and maintenance in extreme weather.

The Executive Councillor (Communities and Housing) (Councillor Sheila Bailey) attended the meeting to respond to Members’ questions.

RESOLVED – That the Executive Meeting be advised that this Scrutiny Committee supports the proposals in the report and recommends their approval.