The Committee will discuss the presentation submitted by Transport for Greater Manchester entitled ‘Working Together to Tackle Congestion - Monitoring and managing traffic flow in Manchester’

This presentation had previously been submitted to the Committee’s meeting of 5 December 2018.

The Committee considered the presentation slide pack that had been submitted by Transport for Greater Manchester that described how traffic flow was managed and monitored through the city.

Some of the key points that arose from the Committee’s discussions were: -

·         Welcoming the continued development of the City, recognising that it demonstrated the success of the city, however noting that such development needed to be delivered in a managed and coordinated way so as to minimise disruption to residents;

·         Consideration needed to be given as to how planned works were communicated to residents, noting that complaints arose when this failed to be done adequately and if appropriate a Task and Finish Group would be established, at an appropriate time to review this activity;

·         Local residents needed to be involved at an early stage in discussions regarding planned works, noting that meetings with residents and developers had proven beneficial to minimise issues and prevented problems escalating;

·         Major schemes, such as Hyde Road needed to involve neighbouring authorities to deliver this scheme with minimum disruption;

·         Consideration needed to be given to suspending bus lanes to facilitate the flow of traffic;

·         Legal advice should be obtained regarding Stopping Up Orders and the time limits contractors and developers were permitted to close the highway and a review of all Stopping Up Orders issued should be undertaken to establish if there had been any breaches of such orders;

·         A minimum standard should be agreed for the provision of alternative footpaths during works, noting that alternative footpaths needed to be safe for all users and include the provision of lighting; and

·         The Leader of the Council should be invited to any future meeting when this subject was discussed to explain how developments had been modelled; the timetable for the delivery of the various schemes; what assessment of traffic displacement had been undertaken and how this was to be managed to minimise disruption. 

The Director of Operations (Highways) acknowledged the comments raised regarding the need to improve communications with residents regarding planned highway improvement work to minimise complaints from residents and local businesses. He advised that works are coordinated with TfGM and utilities companies to minimise disruption and programme meetings are regularly convened to manage larger schemes and events.

The Executive Member for Environment, Planning and Transport acknowledged that disruption did occur during development and roadworks, noting that developments would always be accompanied by utilities works and to highlight the scale of this challenge to manage the disruption she reported that 86 permits are issued per day to contractors. In addition, she commented that in addition to planned works utilities companies also responded to emergency works.  

Decision

The Committee;

1. Recommend that legal advice is obtained in relation to Stopping Up Orders issued under provisions within the Town and Country Planning Act and the time limits contractors and developers are permitted to close the highway. Following this advice, a review of all Stopping Up Orders issued should be undertaken to establish if there had been any breaches of such orders;

2. Request that The Leader of the Council is invited to any future meeting when this subject is discussed to explain how developments had been modelled, the timetable for the delivery of the various schemes, what assessment of traffic displacement had been undertaken and how this was to be managed to minimise disruption;

3. To consider establishing a Task and Finish Group, at an appropriate time to consider the communications strategy for when planned major developments are to be delivered.