Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Cabinet Member for Economy & Regeneration

Following the consultation on the Draft Rights of Way Improvement Plan (ROWIP) the draft document has been reviewed and amended. This report provides an update of the results of the consultation and identifies the ways in which the final draft of the ROWIP has been amended address the concerns identified.

The main changes to the ROWIP have been:

•      amendments to the way the plan deals with the issue of the protection of the natural environment and the historic environment while still looking to improve the rights of way in the borough to enable them to be more useful to modern day needs. This includes a new section of the document at 5.3.

•      amendments to the way the plan deals with the needs of equestrian groups. This includes a new section of the document at 5.5.

•      amendments in the way the document deals with accessibility for all users so that the needs of the disabled and the needs of ethnic minority and minority user groups are addressed. The proposed degree of changes to routes has been clarified.

•      amendments to clarify how the document deals with conflict between users.

The Cabinet is requested to approve the adoption of the Rights Of Way Improvement Plan.

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

The Cabinet Member for Economy & Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) inviting the Cabinet to approve the Rights of Way Improvement Plan following the completion of a public consultation. The assessment carried out in preparation of the Plan considered the extent to which local rights of way met the present and likely future needs of the public; the opportunities provided for exercise and outdoor recreation and the enjoyment of the district; the accessibility for blind and partially sighted people and others with mobility problems.

The Cabinet Member emphasised the significant work that had gone into preparing the plan and the complexity of the issues involved, but commended the readability of the Plan document. She further commented that while the number of responses to the consultation may have appeared modest the majority had been on behalf of organisations or groups so represented the considered responses of a larger number of people.

Cabinet members welcomed the Plan, in particular the health benefits possible from rights of way by providing opportunities for walking and the fact it addressed a number of the concerns that were often raised with councillors by residents. The challenges of restricting access to rights of way by motorised vehicles while maintaining access for other users were emphasised.

RESOLVED – That the Rights of Way Improvement Plan be approved and adopted.

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

The report provides an update of the results of the consultation on the draft Rights of Way Improvement Plan and identifies the ways in which the final draft of the Plan has been amended to address the concerns identified.

The Scrutiny Committee is requested to comment on the final draft of the Rights of Way Improvement Plan and support its submission to Cabinet for approval.

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

A representative of the Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an update of the results of the consultation on the draft Rights of Way Improvement Plan and identifying the ways in which the final draft of the Plan had been amended to address the concerns identified. The plan was a statutory document and had been produced following two rounds of consultation with members of the public.

The Cabinet Member for Economy and Regeneration (Councillor Kate Butler) attended the meeting to respond to Members’ questions.

The report would be submitted to the Cabinet at its meeting to be held on 13 March 2018.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         Members commended the report and the improvements to the Council’s website in identifying public rights of way and the compilation of information which could be used by mapping companies.

·         Support was given to the amendments to the plan which dealt with accessibility for all users so that the needs of people with disabilities and the needs of ethnic minority and minority user groups were addressed; the way the plan dealt with the needs of equestrian groups and how the plan dealt with conflict between users.

·         Concern was expressed that only 56 people had responded to the consultation, although it was pointed out that there had been more respondents in the first round of the consultation.

·         The development of a Public Rights of Way Group was as an initiative the Council would be exploring.

·         Officers have examined various types of barriers as a means of deterring anti-social behaviour, particularly from the users of off road bikes riding too fast. The barriers had to be of a sufficient height to allow the users of mobility scooters to get through the barriers.

RESOLVED – That the Cabinet be advised that the Scrutiny Committee supports the final draft of the Rights of Way Improvement Plan.