Agenda item

A report to update and consult the Police Overview and Scrutiny Committee on a number of sub-strategies that are being developed to support the GM2030 Transport Strategy.

A report and presentation were submitted to the Committee to update and consult on a number of sub-strategies that are being developed to support the GM2040 Transport Strategy.  The Committee was advised that the Streets for All Strategy: A Summary, as attached to the report at appendix 3 should not now be considered at the meeting due to the updated timetable and would be presented to the meeting of the Committee in September 2021.

The Committee was further advised that the Updated GM2040 Strategy documents had been approved by Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) in 2021 which had included a refreshed version of the long-term, statutory Local Transport Plan (LTP) – the GM Transport Strategy 2040; a final version of Our Five-Year Transport Delivery Plan (2021-2026) and ten new Local Implementation Plans (one for each GM Council).

It was reported that to support the overarching LTP documents, a suite of GM2040 sub-strategies were being developed which set out more detailed policies, principles and guidance on how GM intends to deliver the 2040 ambitions.  The sub-strategies, which were at varying stages of development included:

·         Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Strategy;

·         Streets for All Strategy;

·         Local Bus Strategy;

·         Rapid Transit Strategy; and

·         Freight and Logistics Strategy

Details of the sub strategies as detailed above were outlined within the report and appendices considered the following  

Appendix 1 – Note on the GM Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Strategy

Appendix 2 – Draft GM Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Strategy

Appendix 3 – GM Streets for All Strategy: A Summary (now to be considered at a future meeting of the Committee).

The Committee was advised that additional reports would be presented to the Committee when available, that timelines were being constantly updated, and that an additional meeting of the Committee may be required to accommodate the timeline/decision making process.

A discussion took place around the Strategies in which the following points were made:

·         A query was made regarding proposed Community Charging Hubs, issues of security and areas of terraced housing being raised.  The Committee was advised that options addressing these and other issues would need to be more fully explored.  A commitment that funding would be made available via the CAP for taxi and private hire vehicles for potential taxi charging hubs.  It was recognised that the issue of charging without off street parking was one of the main issues, along with the shortage of land in some areas on which to provide such services.  It was also recognised that it would be an offence to place a charging cable on a pedestrian area/pavement.

·         The Committee was advised of examples of informal resident sharing schemes that residents had organised themselves.  Clarification was sought on the current number of charging points in Oldham.  The Committee was advised that there were approximately 15 double headed charging points, mostly in Oldham Town Centre but with coverage elsewhere in the Borough also..

·         The role of Housing Associations and other landlords was raised, as it had been suggested that changes would be required to the meter and fuse box to install a vehicle charging facility and that while residents were not permitted to contract the required work privately, it was suggested that a  Housing Association would not carry out the required work. It was recognised that it would be important to work with Housing Associations and Landlords to ensure the required work was carried out to make properties charging facility compliant and a consideration of this issue should be undertaken.  It was also suggested that issues such as this could be incorporated into the Local Plan and becoming part of the planning process at the stage of application.

RESOLVED – that

1.    that Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) approved updated GM2020 Transport Strategy documents in January 2021, including a refreshed version of the long-term, statutory local transport plan – the GM Transport Strategy 2040, a final version of Our Five-Year Transport Delivery Plan (2021-2026), and ten new Local Implementation Plans (one for each GM Council, be noted;

2.    the updates on the development of GM Local Bus, Rapid Transit and Freight and Logistics strategies be noted; and

3.    Officers investigate the issue of Housing Association and other tenanted properties becoming charge facility compliant and report back to this Committee.