Agenda and minutes

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 Interest

To consider a report of the Assistant Director for Legal & Democratic Governance.

The report sets out the Scrutiny Review Panel Procedure Rules and suggests that the Panel should adopt them for the purpose of conducting the review.

The Panel is requested to formally adopt the Scrutiny Review Panel Rules for the purpose of conducting the review.

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

A representative of the Assistant Director for Legal & Democratic Governance submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) setting out the Scrutiny Review Panel Procedure Rules and suggesting that the Panel should adopt them for the purpose of conducting the review.

RESOLVED – That the Scrutiny Review Panel Rules be formally adopted for the purpose of conducting the review.

To consider a report of the Director of Place Management.

The report provides an outline to develop the proposed scope for reviewing the topic of Stockport Walking and Cycling Strategic Review.

The Panel is invited to agree the scope of the review and outline any areas which it wishes to scrutinise further.

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

A representative of the Director of Place Management submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an outline to develop the proposed scope for reviewing the topic of Stockport Walking and Cycling Strategic Review.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         Members made the following suggestions of topics for inclusion within the scrutiny review:

o   How Greater Manchester strategies such as Vision Zero and Streets for All are implemented within the borough and how Stockport adopted guidance through the implementations of those schemes.

o   A review of the ways in which visually impaired residents and others with impairments are consulted on the implementation of walk/ ride schemes.

o   Consideration of how those schemes might help Stockport achieve its aim of becoming carbon neutral by 2038.

o   How the success of walk/ride schemes can be measured, including how safe walkers and cyclists feel using newly created routes.

o   The safety of female walkers and runners along with the lack of reporting of criminal behaviour such as harassment and stalking.

o   A review of the efficacy of the cycling improvement schemes within the borough.

o   How the council can support VCFSE (Voluntary, Community, Faith and Social Enterprise) organisations with walking and riding initiatives.

·         The A6 scheme was suggested as a case study. This was a large scheme which would enable members to review decisions made, compromises taken, design, approach, limitations, the scheme lifecycle and how it was delivered on site. It would also provide an opportunity to evaluate how Greater Manchester policy was implemented within Stockport.

·         Members also suggested that smaller schemes which are only within one or two wards should be used as case studies.

·         It was agreed that the financing of schemes would form an important part of the review.

·         It was further agreed that it would be useful to invite speakers from TfGM (Transport for Greater Manchester), Walk Ride GM and academics from Manchester University and Manchester Metropolitan University to future meetings of this scrutiny review.

·         Members concluded that a review of both walking and cycling would constitute too broad a scope for a single review and concluded that the focus this year’s review should be solely on cycling. Members expressed a wish to focus on walking at next year’s scrutiny review.

·         Members suggested that the review would benefit from hearing from cyclists and their experience of using the borough’s cycling routes.

·         A review of cycling should also incorporate consideration of the safety of cyclists within the borough.

·         The review of cycling should also focus on the part Stockport Council can play in encouraging active travel.

RESOLVED – (1) That this year’s Scrutiny Review will focus solely on cycling and be named ‘Stockport Cycling Strategic Review’.

(2) That both major and minor cycling scheme case studies be reviewed as part of this scrutiny review.

To agree dates for future meetings of the Scrutiny Review – Stockport Walking and Cycling Strategic Review.

The Panel considered dates for future meetings of the Scrutiny Review – Stockport Cycling Strategic Review.

RESOLVED – That the following dates be agreed for future meetings of the Scrutiny Review – Stockport Cycling Strategic Review:-

25 September 2024

13 November 2024

5 February 2025