Agenda and minutes

Members are requested to advise the Democratic Services Officer of any  apologies for this meeting.

Councillor Crosby.

The minutes of the meeting held on 12 July 2023 are attached.

The minutes from the meeting held on 12 July 2023 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

Government guidance expected Members of Scrutiny Committees not to act in accordance with party whipping and that, if they did, they were to declare it.

Government guidance expected Members of Scrutiny Committees not to act in accordance with party whipping and that, if they did, they were to declare it.

Resolved: There were no declarations.

Executive's Forward Plan of Key and Non-Key Decisions:

Please find attached, a link to the Council’s Forward Plan, which details the forthcoming Key and Non-Key decisions that are due to be taken by the Cabinet, a Member of the Cabinet (Portfolio Holder) or a Designated Officer relating to the service areas of this Committee, at this time: Forward Plan of Key/Non-Key Decisions

The Committee considered the Council’s Forward Plan of forthcoming key and non-key decisions to be taken by the Cabinet, an Individual Portfolio Holder or delegated officers, in relation to the Resources Directorate.

Resolved: The Committee notes the forthcoming decisions, with no items being requested to be placed on a future agenda of the Committee.

Report of Director – Environment is attached.

The Committee considered a report of the Director – Environment, Paul Barton, presented by the Director which detailed the proposed trade display and freestanding advertising boards Policy which would require businesses to apply for a licence to display an A-Board on the adopted highway. Cost of a licence would initially be £100 and then reduce to £55 for annual renewal.

Some of the key areas included in the Committee’s discussion were:

·           liaising with current business owners;

·           enforcement action requirements; and

·           safety for residents and town visitors.

The Director – Environment informed the Committee that a number of businesses had used advertising boards on the adopted highway and that complaints about these had significantly increased over the last few years from visually impaired people, those with mobility difficulties and wheelchair/pushchair users. A targeted programme of education had been identified to safely accommodate advertising boards combined with appropriate enforcement action to those business owners who had displayed an A-Board without a licence.

The Director advised Members that planned enforcement action had been identified and would include an initial verbal request to remove the A-Board followed by a 14 day warning letter and possibly prosecution.

Resolved: The Committee:-

(1)      thanks the officer for his report;

(2)      supports the introduction of the trade displays and freestanding advertising boards policy; and

(3)      supports the introduction of a licencing fee based on the prescriptive specification of advertising board signage.

Report of Director – Place is attached.

The Committee considered a report and presentation of the Director – Place, Aidan Thatcher, presented by the Team Leader – Transport Policy, Steven Riley, which provided an update on progress with the preparation of the Travel Plan Supplementary Planning Document (SPD). The new SPD had a revised approach to residential development with developers handing over responsibility for implementation to the Council.

Some of the key areas included in the Committee’s discussion were:

·           neighbouring Councils’ use of the scheme;

·           promotion to local developers; and

·           impact on future large developments.

The Team Leader – Transport Policy informed the Committee that although the Greater Manchester Travel Plans toolkit had been developed in 2018, it hadn’t been widely promoted. The toolkit had limitations and had only ever applied to work travel plans and not residential developments.

Specialised consultants had been appointed to look at travel planning and confirmed that housing developers were happy to pay increased charges agreed during the determination of the planning application, which allowed the Council to provide activation activity around the development such as schools and community facilities.

The Assistant Director – Planning and Regeneration, David Proctor advised Members that the new SPD allowed the Council to monitor and evaluate development sites using real time technology to assess access points and improve future proposals.

Resolved: The Committee:-

(1)      thanks the officer for his report and presentation;

(2)      endorses the revised approach to travel planning; and

(3)      endorses the proposed Travel Planning Supplementary Planning Document.