Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 13 November 2024.

The Minutes of the meeting held on 13 November 2024 were approved as a correct record.

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 interest was declared:-

Personal

To consider a report of the Director of Place Management.

The report summarises the Scrutiny Review to date.

A representative of the Director of Place Management submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) summarising the Scrutiny Review to date.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         There had been no general increase in utility cycling; the results mirrored those seen elsewhere in the country.

·         The Scrutiny Review final report, including its recommendations would be considered at the meeting of Communities and Transport Scrutiny Committee on 3 March 2025.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report from the Stockport Community Cycling Club responding to the calls for evidence and questions posed by the Scrutiny Review Committee.

The Scrutiny Panel is recommended to comment upon the report.

Members of the Stockport Community Cycling Club (SCCC) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) responding to the call for evidence.

Members of the SCCC attended the meeting to answer members’ questions.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         Cyclists joined the SCCC through word of mouth, or by finding their website. The club was equally balanced in terms of male and female cyclists and had a wide age range.

·         The club described itself as a leisure cycling club; some members embarked on group tours.

·         Club members commented that the surface of the Dark Lane cycle route had been washed away in the recent flooding.

·         The impact of flooding, including on carriageways and public rights of way, had been severe across the borough and recovery was likely to take a long time.

·         The council was looking to use more resilient and carbon neutral materials to repair carriageways and public rights of way in the future. It was dealing with vehicles of increasing weight along with more frequent severe weather events which led to a faster rate of degradation of the borough’s cycleways.

·         In terms of the Stockport’s cycling infrastructure, club members commented that the routes were not obvious and the infrastructure should be more self-explanatory. It was not apparent that some paths were shared.

·         Some examples of dangerous infrastructure included narrow painted cycle lanes which were positioned adjacent to pedestrian refuges.

·         The 20 mph zones on quiet roads were welcomed, although speed limit inconsistencies were noted, with many residential roads still having a 30 mph speed limit.

·         Cyclists were encouraged to report specific areas where cycling was hindered.

·         It was reported that the Bee Network would introduce signage for cycleways using Bee Network branding.

·         The benefits of cycling in both reducing traffic and the promotion of public health and wellbeing were noted.

·         Older residents were able to continue cycling using e-bikes.

·         Club members stated their willingness to work with the council to promote cycling and emphasised the need to engage with a range of demographics across the borough.

·         Members thanked the SCCC representatives for their attendance and contribution to the discussion.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report from Walk Ride GM & Walk Ride Stockport responding to the call for evidence and questions posed by the Scrutiny Review Committee.

The Scrutiny Panel is recommended to comment upon the report.

Members of Walk Ride GM and Walk Ride Stockport (WR Groups) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) responding to the call for evidence.

Members of the WR Groups attended the meeting to answer members’ questions.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         WR Group members were utilitarian cyclists, using their bikes for commuting, shopping and short journeys.

·         An ambition of the WR Groups was to ensure that Stockport thrived, was healthier and had cleaner air. Whilst there had been some improvement, group members felt that there was still a lot yet to be done. Group members felt that Stockport was lagging behind other GM authorities and it wanted to help make Stockport a better place to cycle.

·         WR Group members felt there were many barriers on the Stockport cycling route and questioned whether it amounted to a network. Group members commented on the importance of a network plan and in involving cyclist in the development of that plan. The group advocated for a drawn network plan for Stockport, similar to that which existed for Manchester City.

·         WR Group members opined that Stockport’s consultation on cycling had appeared to be a ‘box-ticking exercise’ and there had been little apparent link between consultation and action.

·         Group members had seen good quality consultations from Manchester which had included maps, pinned locations and had asked what people would like to see before any decisions had been made. The Manchester consultation had also used an app. Group members also referred to the consultation on the Chapel Street East scheme in Salford.

·         Group members also referred to the approach taken by Trafford Council where there had previously been a poor relationship between the council and cycling lobby groups. Trafford Council had changed its approach and employed a more strategic, data-driven approach with clear targets and helpful communication.

·         It was important to be aware of inequalities; less well-off areas often had poorer air quality and stood to gain more from active travel measures. It was further noted that, statistically, areas where more children were seriously injured or killed on roads were those with the lowest levels of car ownership.

·         Active Travel England was a useful source of guidance in handling messaging on active travel routes.

·         Improvements to the data on cycling in Stockport was suggested.

·         There was a need for data on women cycling in Stockport in order to understand why women were less likely to cycle. It was noted that women were more likely to cycle where the infrastructure was good; and less likely to allow their children to cycle where the infrastructure was poor. It was important to set targets and encourage women to cycle.

·         The barriers for families and children to use active travel to commute to school cited as being a fear of drivers and dangerous driving in particular.

·         The council was optimistic about the Vision Zero strategy – a statement of intent around road safety with an ambition to reduce the numbers of those killed or seriously injured on Greater Manchester roads to zero.

·         There had been improvements to local School Street schemes within the borough. It would be useful to make the entire journey to school safe for children. The Greater Manchester Mayor had committed to deliver 100 school street schemes, backed by a £120,000 funding pot.

·         It would be useful for Stockport Council officers to attend meetings of the Stockport Walk Ride Forum.

·         Group members commented that they would like to see improvements in Stockport on crossings and junctions. The introduction of cyclops crossings was welcomed. The expansion of the 20 mph zones around quieter roads was also welcomed.

·         It was suggested that the council could consider active travel routes along high traffic routes, for example a route from Stepping Hill Hospital to the Town Hall would help to transport residents to the hospital.

·         The ambition to shift short journeys to walking and cycling was not being  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.