The Communities & Transport Scrutiny Committee reviewed the draft One Stockport Safety Partnership Plan for 2025-2028, considered a report on the safety of women and girls on public transport, and discussed the implications of the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS) reprioritisation strategy for Stockport. The committee also reviewed proposed changes to the council's policy on advisory residential disabled bays.

One Stockport Safety Partnership Plan 2025-28

The committee considered the draft One Stockport Safety Partnership (OSSP) Plan for 2025-2028, which outlines the partnership's priorities and planned actions to address crime, disorder, and community safety concerns across the borough. The plan is structured around three key themes: Keeping people safe and supporting victims; Reducing harm and reoffending; and Strengthening communities and tackling inequalities. Sub-themes within these include domestic abuse, online safety, substance misuse, adult and youth offending, crime recorded by GMP, serious and organised crime, antisocial behaviour, community cohesion, and fire-related incidents. The committee was asked to note and comment on the draft plan before it proceeds to Cabinet for final approval.

Review of the Safety of Women and Girls on Public Transport

The committee reviewed a report from the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) Overview and Scrutiny Committee concerning the safety of women and girls on public transport. The report highlighted that while women and girls make up a significant proportion of public transport users, they often feel less safe than men, particularly after 6 pm. The review examined various factors contributing to this, including individual behaviour, social environments, organisational policies, the physical environment of transport infrastructure, and cultural norms. The report made numerous recommendations, including clearly defining inappropriate behaviour, securing long-term funding for safety initiatives, ensuring political and organisational leadership, developing gender-informed design guides, prioritising reliability of services, and creating spaces for men and boys to learn positive behaviours. Specific actions proposed include amplifying the #isthisok campaign, increasing the visibility of GMP's TravelSafe LiveChat service, enhancing the Bee Network app with safety features, and ensuring all taxi drivers are registered and vetted within Greater Manchester.

City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS) Reprioritisation Strategy

The committee received a report detailing the implications of the CRSTS reprioritisation strategy for Stockport. Stockport has been allocated £5.5 million for the Town Centre West Access Package and £4.24 million for Stockport Railway Station Access and Platform works. The Town Centre West Access Strategy aims to secure sustainable access to the core Mayoral Development Corporation regeneration area through pedestrian and cycle links. The Stockport Rail Station proposal will fund improved pedestrian connections on the west of the station and the Thompson Street ramp connection, as well as remodelling platform arrangements to enhance the commuter offer. An additional £2.848 million has been allocated to Stockport for highways maintenance in 2025/26. The report noted that 15% of these funding amounts would be drawn down early to facilitate scheme development.

Advisory Residential Disabled Bays - 2025 Policy Statement

The committee considered proposed changes to the council's policy on advisory residential disabled bays. The report outlined an increase in Blue Badge holders in Stockport and proposed a dual-funding approach to ensure eligible residents have access to bays, either through ward budgets or by self-funding. The cost for installation, maintenance, and removal of a bay will be £261.00. The policy also clarifies criteria, removing the restriction on bays in controlled parking zones but adding a restriction in areas subject to waiting restrictions or pay and display bays. The committee was asked to note and comment on the proposal, and recommend the changes for approval by the Cabinet Member.

Scrutiny Work Programme

The committee reviewed its work programme, noting planned agenda items for future meetings, including reports on the Gambling Policy Statement of Licensing Principles, the One Stockport Safety Partnership, the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement, and Advisory Residential Disabled Bays. Member-requested reports on the Greek Street bridge replacement project and residents' parking schemes were also noted. The committee was invited to suggest any further agenda items for future meetings.