Agenda item

This Council notes:

 

·         The countless miles of alleyway corridors that adjoin homes that make up Stockport’s inner town areas running behind rows of terraced houses, physically and socially connecting neighbours for over a century.

·         The Borough’s declaration of a Climate Emergency in March 2019.

·         A resolution agreed by Council in Jan 2023 around ‘Developing the Stockport approach to improving local biodiversity’ without any reference to urban areas.

·         Due to reductions in the Borough’s revenue budgets year on year since the start of the last decade, a reduction in the frequency of maintenance and cleansing of adopted alleyways as part of the Highways Department’s inspection programme.

·         Due to the recent public health emergency, the collapse of the agreement between SMBC and the Probation Service of the Community Payback work programme that enabled Council Officers to direct Community Payback work crews to gut alleyways.

·         Efforts by residents to clean and green their alleyways made difficult by the culture and leadership of the Council’s Highways Department.

·         Social isolation affects both individuals and the wider community. Health issues arising from isolation and loneliness lead to an increased use of health and social care services as well as a higher number of emergency admissions and GP consultations adding significant pressures to available public health resources.

·         The success of an intergenerational alleyway greening project in Edgeley in 2022. This was made possible from £6,000 grant from Groundwork GM  which has brought a natural ‘wildlife corridor’ into an urban space, provided a safe space for children to play, allowed a communal space for neighbours to meet and relax, markedly reduced fly-tipping and allowed intergenerational learning of new DIY, gardening and growing skills and improved mental health and wellbeing. 

 

This council recognises that/the:

 

·         The Council must be more ambitious and change the way it perceives its alleyways not as a problem to be dealt with through maintenance and inspection.

·         Potential for Stockport’s alleyways to become an urban green lung by creating spaces that can and have been enjoyed by people and contribute to mental wellbeing.

·         Many of Stockport’s residents in inner town areas do not have the benefit of accessing nature through visiting the Greenbelt.

 

This Council resolves that:

 

·         The Council produces a public facing guide that residents can utilise if they wish to pursue an alleyway cleaning and greening project, easily accessible from the Council website.

·         It does everything in its power through partnership working to ensure the Probation Service remains based in Stockport to ensure the Community Payback programme can return as a full-time programme to carry out tasks such as deep cleaning alleyways.

·         It recognises that alleyways play an important role in dealing with climate change and improving wellbeing in high density areas.

·         It will seek to source funding opportunities at national, GM and local level to support a programme of urban greening.

·         The Communities & Housing Scrutiny Committee be recommended to establish a scrutiny review panel to explore how the Council can explore unlocking Stockport’s communal corridors ensuring all Members are able to contribute.

 

Moved by:                  Councillor Matt Wynne

 

Seconded by:            Councillor Andy Sorton

MOVED AND SECONDED - This Council notes:

 

·         The countless miles of alleyway corridors that adjoin homes that make up Stockport’s inner town areas running behind rows of terraced houses, physically and socially connecting neighbours for over a century.

·         The Borough’s declaration of a Climate Emergency in March 2019.

·         A resolution agreed by Council in Jan 2023 around ‘Developing the Stockport approach to improving local biodiversity’ without any reference to urban areas.

·         Due to reductions in the Borough’s revenue budgets year on year since the start of the last decade, a reduction in the frequency of maintenance and cleansing of adopted alleyways as part of the Highways Department’s inspection programme.

·         Due to the recent public health emergency, the collapse of the agreement between SMBC and the Probation Service of the Community Payback work programme that enabled Council Officers to direct Community Payback work crews to gut alleyways.

·         Efforts by residents to clean and green their alleyways made difficult by the culture and leadership of the Council’s Highways Department.

·         Social isolation affects both individuals and the wider community. Health issues arising from isolation and loneliness lead to an increased use of health and social care services as well as a higher number of emergency admissions and GP consultations adding significant pressures to available public health resources.

·         The success of an intergenerational alleyway greening project in Edgeley in 2022. This was made possible from £6,000 grant from Groundwork GM  which has brought a natural ‘wildlife corridor’ into an urban space, provided a safe space for children to play, allowed a communal space for neighbours to meet and relax, markedly reduced fly-tipping and allowed intergenerational learning of new DIY, gardening and growing skills and improved mental health and wellbeing. 

 

This council recognises that/the:

 

·         The Council must be more ambitious and change the way it perceives its alleyways not as a problem to be dealt with through maintenance and inspection.

·         Potential for Stockport’s alleyways to become an urban green lung by creating spaces that can and have been enjoyed by people and contribute to mental wellbeing.

·         Many of Stockport’s residents in inner town areas do not have the benefit of accessing nature through visiting the Greenbelt.

 

This Council resolves that:

 

·         The Council produces a public facing guide that residents can utilise if they wish to pursue an alleyway cleaning and greening project, easily accessible from the Council website.

·         It does everything in its power through partnership working to ensure the Probation Service remains based in Stockport to ensure the Community Payback programme can return as a full-time programme to carry out tasks such as deep cleaning alleyways.

·         It recognises that alleyways play an important role in dealing with climate change and improving wellbeing in high density areas.

·         It will seek to source funding opportunities at national, GM and local level to support a programme of urban greening.

·         The Communities & Housing Scrutiny Committee be recommended to establish a scrutiny review panel to explore how the Council can explore unlocking Stockport’s communal corridors ensuring all Members are able to contribute.

 

AMENDMENT MOVED AND SECONDED - This Council notes:

 

·         The countless miles of alleyway corridors that adjoin homes that make up Stockport’s inner town areas running behind rows of terraced houses, physically and socially connecting neighbours for over a century.

·         As of 2018, Stockport’s Public Right of Way (PROW) network totalled 268km.

·         The PROW network has an important role to play in realising the Greater Manchester Transport Strategy 2040 which states “by 2040 local neighbourhoods will be more pleasant and safe to walk and cycle around, with most short trips being made on foot or by bike”.

·         The Borough’s declaration of a Climate Emergency in March 2019.

·         A resolution agreed by Council in Jan 2023 around ‘Developing the Stockport approach to improving local biodiversity’ without any reference to urban areas.

·         Due to reductions in the Borough’s revenue budgets year on year since the start of the last decade, a reduction in the frequency of maintenance and cleansing of adopted alleyways and PROWs as part of the Highways Department’s inspection programme.

·         Due to the recent public health emergency, the collapse of the agreement between SMBC and the Probation Service of the Community Payback work programme that enabled Council Officers to direct Community Payback work crews to gut alleyways and PROWs.

·         The Council has a greater role to play in encouraging and actively assisting residents who wish to clean and green their alleyways and PROWs.

·         Social isolation affects both individuals and the wider community. Health issues arising from isolation and loneliness lead to an increased use of health and social care services as well as a higher number of emergency admissions and GP consultations adding significant pressures to available public health resources.

·         The success of an intergenerational alleyway greening project in Edgeley in 2022. This was made possible from £6,000 grant from Groundwork GM which has brought a natural ‘wildlife corridor’ into an urban space, provided a safe space for children to play, allowed a communal space for neighbours to meet and relax, markedly reduced fly-tipping and allowed intergenerational learning of new DIY, gardening and growing skills and improved mental health and wellbeing.

 

This council recognises that/the:

 

·         The Council must be more ambitious and change the way it perceives its alleyways and PROWs not as a problem to be dealt with through maintenance and inspection.

·         Potential for Stockport’s alleyways and PROWs to become an urban green lung by creating spaces that can and have been enjoyed by people and contribute to mental wellbeing.

·         Many of Stockport’s residents in inner town areas do not have the benefit of accessing nature through visiting the Greenbelt.

 

This Council resolves that:

 

·         The Council produces a public facing guide that residents can utilise if they wish to pursue an alleyway or PROW cleaning and greening project, easily accessible from the Council website.

·         It does everything in its power through partnership working to ensure the Probation Service remains based in Stockport to ensure the Community Payback programme can return as a full-time programme to carry out tasks such as deep cleaning alleyways and PROWs.

·         It recognises that alleyways and PROWs play an important role in dealing with climate change and improving wellbeing in across the borough.

·         It will seek to source funding opportunities at national, GM and local level to support a borough-wide programme of urban greening.

·         The Communities & Housing Scrutiny Committee be recommended to establish a scrutiny review panel to explore how the Council can explore unlocking Stockport’s communal corridors ensuring all Members are able to contribute.

 

AMENDMENT CARRIED

 

FURTHER AMENDMENT MOVED AND SECONDED - This Council notes:

 

·         The countless miles of alleyway corridors that adjoin homes that make up Stockport’s inner town areas running behind rows of terraced houses, physically and socially connecting neighbours for over a century.

·         As of 2018, Stockport’s Public Right of Way (PROW) network totalled 268km.

·         The PROW network has an important role to play in realising the Greater Manchester Transport Strategy 2040 which states “by 2040 local neighbourhoods will be more pleasant and safe to walk and cycle around, with most short trips being made on foot or by bike”.

·         The Borough’s declaration of a Climate Emergency in March 2019.

·         A resolution agreed by Council in Jan 2023 around ‘Developing the Stockport approach to improving local biodiversity’.

·         Due to reductions in the Borough’s revenue budgets year on year since the start of the last decade, a reduction in the frequency of maintenance, monitoring and cleansing of adopted alleyways and PROWs as part of the Highways Department’s inspection programme.

·         Following a pause caused by the recent public health emergency, the resumption of the agreement between SMBC and the Probation Service of the Community Payback work programme that enabled Council Officers to direct Community Payback work crews to gut alleyways and PROWs.

·         The Council has a greater role to play in encouraging and actively assisting residents who wish to clean and green their alleyways and PROWs.

·         Social isolation affects both individuals and the wider community. Health issues arising from isolation and loneliness lead to an increased use of health and social care services as well as a higher number of emergency admissions and GP consultations adding significant pressures to available public health resources.

·         The success of an intergenerational alleyway greening project in Edgeley in 2022. This was made possible from £6,000 grant from Groundwork GM which has brought a natural ‘wildlife corridor’ into an urban space, provided a safe space for children to play, allowed a communal space for neighbours to meet and relax, markedly reduced fly-tipping and allowed intergenerational learning of new DIY, gardening and growing skills and improved mental health and wellbeing.

·         The additional £10k per ward introduced in the Council’s recent budget, which could be used by local members for projects such as alleyway greening.

 

This council recognises that/the:

 

·         The Council must be more ambitious and imaginative in its vision for alleyways and PROWs.

·         Potential for Stockport’s alleyways and PROWs to become an urban green lung by creating spaces that can and have been enjoyed by people and contribute to mental wellbeing.

·         Many of Stockport’s residents in inner town areas do not have the benefit of accessing nature through living close to the Greenbelt.

 

This Council resolves that:

 

·         Officers should review barriers which may prevent residents’ efforts to clean and green their alleyways. The Council should then produces a public facing guide that residents can utilise if they wish to pursue an alleyway or PROW cleaning and greening project, easily accessible from the Council website.

·         It does everything in its power through partnership working to ensure the Probation Service remains based in Stockport to ensure the resumed Community Payback programme will continue as a full-time programme to carry out tasks such as deep cleaning alleyways and PROWs.

·         It recognises that alleyways and PROWs play an important role in dealing with climate change and improving wellbeing in across the borough.

·         As such alleyways and PROWs should be considered by the cross party working group looking at what the council can do to improve biodiversity in the new municipal year

·         It will seek to source funding opportunities at national, GM and local level to support a borough-wide programme of urban greening and encourage local Members to consider using their Ward funds for such purposes.

·         The Communities & Housing Scrutiny Committee be recommended to consider establishing a scrutiny review panel to explore how the Council can explore unlocking Stockport’s communal corridors ensuring all Members are able to contribute.

 

AMENDMENT CARRIED

 

The motion as amended was then put as the substantive motion and it was

 

RESOLVED - This Council notes:

 

·         The countless miles of alleyway corridors that adjoin homes that make up Stockport’s inner town areas running behind rows of terraced houses, physically and socially connecting neighbours for over a century.

·         As of 2018, Stockport’s Public Right of Way (PROW) network totalled 268km.

·         The PROW network has an important role to play in realising the Greater Manchester Transport Strategy 2040 which states “by 2040 local neighbourhoods will be more pleasant and safe to walk and cycle around, with most short trips being made on foot or by bike”.

·         The Borough’s declaration of a Climate Emergency in March 2019.

·         A resolution agreed by Council in Jan 2023 around ‘Developing the Stockport approach to improving local biodiversity’.

·         Due to reductions in the Borough’s revenue budgets year on year since the start of the last decade, a reduction in the frequency of maintenance, monitoring and cleansing of adopted alleyways and PROWs as part of the Highways Department’s inspection programme.

·         Following a pause caused by the recent public health emergency, the resumption of the agreement between SMBC and the Probation Service of the Community Payback work programme that enabled Council Officers to direct Community Payback work crews to gut alleyways and PROWs.

·         The Council has a greater role to play in encouraging and actively assisting residents who wish to clean and green their alleyways and PROWs.

·         Social isolation affects both individuals and the wider community. Health issues arising from isolation and loneliness lead to an increased use of health and social care services as well as a higher number of emergency admissions and GP consultations adding significant pressures to available public health resources.

·         The success of an intergenerational alleyway greening project in Edgeley in 2022. This was made possible from £6,000 grant from Groundwork GM which has brought a natural ‘wildlife corridor’ into an urban space, provided a safe space for children to play, allowed a communal space for neighbours to meet and relax, markedly reduced fly-tipping and allowed intergenerational learning of new DIY, gardening and growing skills and improved mental health and wellbeing.

·         The additional £10k per ward introduced in the Council’s recent budget, which could be used by local members for projects such as alleyway greening.

 

This council recognises that/the:

 

·         The Council must be more ambitious and imaginative in its vision for alleyways and PROWs.

·         Potential for Stockport’s alleyways and PROWs to become an urban green lung by creating spaces that can and have been enjoyed by people and contribute to mental wellbeing.

·         Many of Stockport’s residents in inner town areas do not have the benefit of accessing nature through living close to the Greenbelt.

 

This Council resolves that:

 

·         Officers should review barriers which may prevent residents’ efforts to clean and green their alleyways. The Council should then produces a public facing guide that residents can utilise if they wish to pursue an alleyway or PROW cleaning and greening project, easily accessible from the Council website.

·         It does everything in its power through partnership working to ensure the Probation Service remains based in Stockport to ensure the resumed Community Payback programme will continue as a full-time programme to carry out tasks such as deep cleaning alleyways and PROWs.

·         It recognises that alleyways and PROWs play an important role in dealing with climate change and improving wellbeing in across the borough.

·         As such alleyways and PROWs should be considered by the cross party working group looking at what the council can do to improve biodiversity in the new municipal year

·         It will seek to source funding opportunities at national, GM and local level to support a borough-wide programme of urban greening and encourage local Members to consider using their Ward funds for such purposes.

·         The Communities & Housing Scrutiny Committee be recommended to consider establishing a scrutiny review panel to explore how the Council can explore unlocking Stockport’s communal corridors ensuring all Members are able to contribute.