Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 20 January 2025.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 20 January 2025 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

Councillors and officers to declare any interests which they have in any of the items on the agenda for the meeting.

Councillors and officers were invited to declare any interests which they had in any of the items on the agenda for the meeting.

The following interests were declared:-

Personal Interests

To consider call-in items (if any).

There were no call-in items to consider.

To consider a report of the Deputy Chief Executive.

The report provides an update on the key achievements of partnership working across partner organisations against OSSP Themes and Priorities during 2024/25 and to date.

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to:

(1)   Consider the OSSP 2024/25 Annual Update presentation.

(2)   Note the priorities within each of the three themes in OSSP’s Plan 2025-28.

(3)   Provide any comments or reflections on the issues covered in the presentation.

Officer contact: Karishma Chandaria on karishma.chandaria@stockport.gov.uk

Mark Glynn (Director of Place Management); Chief Superintendent Lewis Hughes (Greater Manchester Police); and Aba Graham (Executive Director of Stockport Race Equality Partnership) attended the meeting and submitted a report of the Deputy Chief Executive (copies of which had been circulated) providing an update on the key achievements of partnership working across partner organisations against OSSP Themes and Priorities during 2024/25 and to date.

The Cabinet Member for Communities, Culture & Sport (Councillor Helen Foster-Grime) attended the meeting to respond to councillors’ questions.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

Policing matters – Chief Superintendent Lewis Hughes (Stockport District Commander)

·         In the light of last summer’s riots and events across the world, investment had been made in cohesion, which included the Community Networks Key Members event on 12 November 2024 and the creation of the Stockport Communities Together Forum, the first meeting of which was due to take place in April 2025.

·         A multi-faith Peace Lunch took place on 28 November 2024.

·         The Hate Crime Awareness week event at Stockport County’s ground was well received.

·         Chief Superintendent Hughes was a member of the Greater Manchester Race Equality Panel and the Greater Manchester Ethnic Communities Network; mapping had been carried out over the ten districts in terms of equality and race and Stockport ranked highly in terms of the service provided by its communities.

·         The new District Operating Model was in place with a huge investment in neighbourhood policing.

·         All beats would be staffed with a Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) and efforts would be made to recruit the right people to engage and build relationships within the community.

·         Visible policing made a huge difference within local communities both in terms of local people and businesses. Seeing visible leadership and communication from the police and a move towards the neighbourhood policing model was likely to yield greater levels of safety, confidence and trust.

·         Members commented that there was still some way to go to improve communication between the police and community, although it was moving in the right direction.

·         A Neighbourhood Performance Framework would be introduced to look at results, outcomes, arrests and solved crimes.

·         There was a commitment for a neighbourhood policing officer to attend all Area Committees in the coming 12 months.

·         The statistics around confidence and residents feeling safe within the borough reflected the performance of GMP in Stockport. Chief Superintendent Hughes undertook to check the data for information about different genders feeling safe.

·         Members commented on evidence which suggested women and girls, in particular, felt safer in public spaces which were well cared for and stressed the importance of public space design taking account of guidance on making public spaces safe and welcoming.

·         Chief Superintendent Hughes undertook to check the email routes for members of the public to report crimes to the Stockport policing teams.

·         Stockport was meeting national targets for attendance at incidents and emergencies. 92.5 per cent of Grade One emergencies were attended within 15 minutes and 82 per cent of Grade Two emergencies were attended within one hour, with the national target being 65 per cent.

·         Stockport exceeded the targets set locally within GMP.

·         Four years ago GMP was the 43^rd worst force in the country and it now ranked at 14^th.

·         Stockport was the top performing district within Greater Manchester for domestic abuse, child protection, robbery, theft and vehicle crime.

·         Cumulatively Stockport was the top performing district across GMP.

·         The Police had a role in education and had supported schools recently on knife crime.

·         In terms of education within schools on hate and radicalisation, the police had invested in the Listening Alliance and was working to strengthen its relationships with young people, schools and colleges in addition to its current work on prevent and celebrating ethnic diversity. 

·         In terms of working with young people and changing hearts and minds on hate and radicalisation, the police gave a supporting rather than  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

To consider a report of the Director of Place Management.

The report provides details of the proposed Transportation capital programme for 2025/26 and where possible an indicative programme for future years.

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to:

(1)  Comment on the proposed programme.

(2)  Recommend that the programme be approved by the Cabinet Member for Parks, Highways and Transport Services in line with the council budget.

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 Director of Place Management submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing details of the proposed Transportation capital programme for 2025/26 and where possible an indicative programme for future years.

The Cabinet Member for Parks, Highways and Transport Services (Councillor Grace Baynham) attended the meeting to respond to councillors’ questions.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         The differences between the Highway Planned Maintenance Fund and the Local Highways Maintenance Fund were set out: the former was a programme of works set out by highways inspectors who reported on highways requiring repair and were added to a list of works; the latter was a central government supplement provided to local highways authorities for resurfacing, patching and to supplement a reactive programme.

·         An additional 25 per cent of funding was available from the Local Highways Maintenance Fund and the council’s use of that fund might be readjusted in order to capture the government’s priorities and gain that additional funding. 

·         The council’s overall aim was to maintain its highways network whilst using funding from different pots to ensure it met its funding requirements.

·         It was reported that the cycle route on the part of the Transpennine Trail running between Brinksway and Cheadle had been damaged in the recent floods, with some parts of the pathway going into the river. The council was in the process of cataloguing all the damage caused across the borough resulting from the New Years Day flooding event and looking at what needed to be done to put it right.

·         It was noted that there was a £40,000 fund for remedial works and signing on existing cycle routes, however this was unlikely to be sufficient to repair structural damage to cycle routes.  

·         Where extensive repairs were required on sections of the Transpennine route, the council would be looking for a specific funding pot; the work was unlikely to form part of its capital programme.

·         In terms of regeneration work at Stockport Train Station, members enquired as to the proposals to facilitate pedestrian access through the station and whether this would use the existing underutilised underpass or by way of a footbridge.  In response, it was stated that it was planned to take advantage of the topography and create an elevated two-tier approach. Extensive consultation was planned in relation to any proposed changes at the station.

·         Members sought an update in relation to the development of a connecting ramp between Railway Road and the Thompson Street car park. In response it was stated that the £4 million which had been allocated to the Town Centre West would help to accelerate planned projects within Edgeley.

·         In relation to the Greek Street bridge replacement, it was reported that the council had undertaken work to maximise the value from that project.

·         Last year’s flood strategy had included a proposed scheme at Woodbank Park; it was reported that the council’s bid for a 50 per cent contribution from United Utilities towards that scheme had been unsuccessful.

·         Officers undertook to report on the proposal for resurfacing the Dark Lane, Bredbury cycleway.

·         The council had a list of access controls across the borough, some were privately owned and information was still being sought in relation to others. Area Committees would be asked to make final decisions in relation to council owned access controls.

·         The Transport Capital Programme reflected a more structured approach to delivering 20 mph zones going forward.

·         Funding was available for School Streets through TfGM for the management of residents, volunteers and school representatives. Funding was also available through the capital programme for poles, lines and signs associated with School Streets.

·         The capital programme’s designation of £28,000 towards highway trees was noted and officers undertook to report on whether newly installed trees were monitored.

·         It was reported that when drains were surveyed, they were checked for roots entering the drainage system. The council was not resourced to undertake checks on  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

To consider a report of the Director of Place Management.

The report informs members on the Council’s approach to access controls and provide members with an update on the Council’s progress since the adoption of the Access Controls Policy.

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to note and comment upon the report.

Officer contact: Jamie Birtles on 07356 120 423 or email Jamie.birtles@stockport.gov.uk

The Director of Place Management submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) informing members on the Council’s approach to access controls and providing members with an update on the Council’s progress since the adoption of the Access Controls Policy.

The Cabinet Member for Parks, Highways and Transport Services (Councillor Grace Baynham) attended the meeting to respond to councillors’ questions.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         The report referred to 36 access controls, but there were approximately 180 known access controls across the borough, with more being added to the list as reported by the council’s Public Rights of Way officer and volunteers from interest groups. It was estimated that it would take between five and ten years for the council to remove all of the access controls.

·         Where access controls were found to be damaged, the relevant Area Committee would be asked to determine whether it should be repaired or removed.

·         In cases where access controls were removed between a quiet and a busy route, the council would consider alternative solutions to maintain the safety of route users. 

·         There had been an issue in finding contractors who were willing to undertake the work of removing access controls, but a contractor had been found and the work was now progressing.

·         Members requested a briefing on the council’s work in removing access controls.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

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.

To consider a report of the Democratic Services Manager.

The report sets out planned agenda items for the Scrutiny Committee’s next meeting and Forward Plan items that fall within the remit of the Scrutiny Committee.

The Scrutiny Committee is invited to consider the information in the report and put forward any agenda items for future meetings of the Committee.

Officer contact: Jacqueline Kramer on 0161 474 2978 or email: jacqueline.kramer@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Assistant Director for Governance submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) setting out planned agenda items for the Scrutiny Committee’s next meeting and Forward Plan items that fall within the remit of the Scrutiny Committee.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.