Issue - meetings

To consider a joint report of the Cabinet Members for Adult Care & Health, Cabinet Member for Economy & Regeneration and for Sustainable Stockport

Between the 10 January and the 15 February 2019 the Council undertook a public consultation on the proposed Active Communities Strategy (ACS) and the Walking and Cycling Plan. The attached documents appendices 1, 4, and 4a present the response to the consultation from both the ACS and Walking & Cycling Plan.

Amendments have been made to the ACS and Walking and Cycling Plan to reflect these comments as identified in the consultation reports and the amended documents are attached in appendices 2, 5, and 6.

Equality Impact Assessments were carried out for both the ACS and Walking and Cycling Plan and are attached in appendices 3 and 7.

The Cabinet is invited to:-

•   note the key areas of feedback received during the consultation period on the draft Stockport's Active Communities Strategy, and Cycling and Walking Plan;

•   approve the adoption of the revised Stockport's Active Communities Strategy, and Cycling and Walking Plan;

•   delegate the approval of the revised GM Bee Network Map to the Corporate Director of Place Management and Regeneration in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Sustainable Stockport.

Officer contact: Dr Donna Sager, 0161-474-3928, donna.sager@stockport.gov.uk

A joint report of the Cabinet Members for Adult Care & Health, Cabinet Member for Economy & Regeneration and for Sustainable Stockport was submitted (copies of which had been circulated) informing the Cabinet of the outcome of a public consultation on the proposed Active Communities Strategy and the Walking and Cycling Plan, and inviting the Cabinet to approve the revised documents.

The Cabinet Member for Adult Care & Health highlighted the Whole System Approach being taken in the Strategies and the breadth of activities already underway or planned by the Council in conjunction with partners. She also emphasised the focus being given to addressing inactivity, particularly in Priority Areas.

The Cabinet Member for Sustainable Stockport emphasised the importance of decreasing the public reliance on cars that investment in public transport was needed as well as providing safe walking and cycling options.

The Cabinet Member for Economy & Regeneration stressed the need to ensure a speedy implementation of the strategy, in particular the many ‘low cost high impact’ actions, such as signage, that would encourage walking and cycling.

RESOLVED – That in relation to the Stockport Active Communities Strategy, and Cycling and Walking Plan:-

•      the key areas of feedback received during the consultation period on the draft Strategy and Plans be noted;

•      the revised Stockport's Active Communities Strategy, and Cycling and Walking Plan be adopted; and

•      approval of the revised GM Bee Network Map be delegated to the Corporate Director of Place Management and Regeneration in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Sustainable Stockport.

To consider a joint report of the Director of Public Health and Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration.

This report presents The Active Communities Strategy (ACS) which has recently been developed to promote physical activity in Stockport. There are a number of supporting plans to the ACS. This report also presents the recently revised Walking and Cycling Plan.

The intention is to consult widely on these two specific strategies/ plans before they are finalised and presented to Cabinet for endorsement.

The Scrutiny Committee is asked to consider and comment on the proposed approaches.

Officer contact: Dr Donna Sager on 0161 474 3928 or email: donna.sager@stockport.gov.uk or Caroline Simpson on 0161 218 1940 or email: caroline.simpson@stockport.gov.uk

Consideration was given to a joint report of the Director of Public Health and Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration (copies of which had been circulated) detailing the Active Communities Strategy which had recently been developed to promote physical activity in Stockport alongside the recently revised Walking and Cycling Plan.

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

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·           The idea of introducing 20mph zones in residential areas would be helpful to the Active Community Strategy, but were not always supported by the Police.

·           A Member felt that the significant promotion of cycling in this country had not significantly increased the proportion of the population who undertook cycling.

·           There was a presumption that facilities that were good for cyclists were also good for walkers and this was not necessarily the case. There was therefore the possibility of a conflict between pedestrians and cyclists, and also, in certain areas, between pedestrians, cyclists and equestrians.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

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

The report presents The Active Communities Strategy (ACS) which had recently been developed to promote physical activity in Stockport. There are a number of supporting plans to the ACS. This report also presents the recently revised Walking and Cycling Plan.

The Scrutiny Committee is invited to consider and comment on the report.

Officer Contact: Donna Sager on Tel: 0161 474 3928 or email: donna.sager@stockport.gov.uk

The Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration and the Director of Public Health submitted a joint report (copies of which had been circulated) providing for comment the consultation document on the active community strategy consultation which included the walking and cycling strategy.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         Councillors requested further information in respect to the cycling and walking investment strategy.

·         It was noted that whilst Stockport had some of the highest levels of physical activity in GreaterManchester, the focus of the strategy was on how to particularly focus on thoseresidents who are currently inactive, developing programmes and opportunities that would increase their participation in physical activity.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a joint report of the Director of Public Health and Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration.

This report paper presents The Active Communities Strategy (ACS) which has recently been developed to promote physical activity in Stockport. There are a number of supporting plans to the ACS. This report also presents the recently revised Walking and Cycling Plan.

The intention is to consult widely on these two specific strategies/ plans before they are finalised and presented to Cabinet for endorsement.

The Scrutiny Committee is asked to consider and comment on the proposed approaches.

Officer contact: Dr Donna Sager on 0161 474 3928 on donna.sager@stockport.gov.uk or Caroline Simpson on 0161 218 1940 or email: caroline.simpson@stockport.gov.uk

The Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration submitted a joint report of the Corporate Director and Borough Treasurer (copies of which had been circulated) detailing the Active Communities Strategy which had recently been developed to promote physical activity in Stockport alongside the recently revised Walking and Cycling Plan.

The Cabinet Member for Communities and Housing (Councillor Sheila Bailey) attended the meeting to present the report and respond to councillors’ questions.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         It was commented that there was insufficient emphasis on disadvantaged groups and that more needed to be done to improve the walking environment and remove the barriers to access to cycling for communities in the centre of Stockport.

·         Consideration needed to be given to making provision for the charging of e-bikes, particularly as the topography of the centre of Stockport made conventional cycling a less attractive proposition.

·         The maintenance of TfGM’s bike hubs at railway stations needed to be significantly improved.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Director of Public Health.

This report paper presents The Active Communities Strategy (ACS) which has recently been developed to promote physical activity in Stockport. There are a number of supporting plans to the ACS. This report also presents the recently revised Walking and Cycling Plan. 

The intention is to consult widely on these two specific strategies/ plans before they are finalised and presented to Cabinet for endorsement.

The Scrutiny Committee is asked to consider and comment on the proposed approaches.

Officer contact: Dr Donna Sager, 0161-474-3928, donna.sager@stockport.gov.uk

The Director for Public Health submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) inviting the Scrutiny Committee to consider and comment on the Active Communities Strategy, developed to promote physical activity in Stockport. Also included in the documentation was a revised Walking and Cycling Plan.

The Cabinet Member for Health (Councillor Tom McGee) attended the meeting to respond to questions from the Scrutiny Committee.

·           Councillors welcomed the engagement with Park Run and recognised the opportunities this provided for residents. In response it was stated discussion were taking place exploring how the opportunities could be expanded into deprived areas and for GP referrals.

·           The importance of having safe cycling routes, segregated as far as possible, was emphasised. Providing information to assist the public in planning a safe routes, possibly through an app solution, should be considered.

·           Clarification was sought on what coordination there was between Public Health and schools to encourage participation in initiatives such as ‘Park and Stride’. In response it was stated that such schemes were often coordinated by Traffic Services, but that experience suggested that the schemes were most effective when led by parents and schools to ensure best

·           Concern was expressed about the poor visibility of cycle parking/storage at transport hubs in the UK compared to those in other European towns, and it was suggested that such facilities should be given greater prominence in Stockport, particularly the new interchange. It was further commented that the wider infrastructure needed to support cycling, such as showering facilities, was often lacking and employers should be encouraged to make provision.

·           The public were often unclear about the funding for cycling schemes and assumed that such investment was from ‘Council Tax’, rather than grant funding etc., and so was less supportive because they assumed this detracted from spending on essential services.

·           The condition and security of footpaths was often discouraging to the public.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.