To receive and, if so determined, to agree as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 16 January 2024.

Councillor Carter raised that he had not had a response from officers on two questions asked at the Scrutiny meeting dated 16^th January 2024. Firstly, regarding a knotweed issue within his ward, and the second around plans surrounding William Wroe golf course.

            RESOLVED:

1)    That the minutes of the meeting held 16 January 2024, be agreed as an accurate record and signed by the Chair.

2)    That Councillor Carter receive responses to the two questions raised.

Members to give notice of any interest and the nature of that interest relating to any item on the agenda in accordance with the adopted Code of Conduct.

No declarations were made.

A maximum of 15 minutes will be allocated to public questions submitted in writing to Democratic Services (democratic.services@trafford.gov.uk) by 4 p.m. on the working day prior to the meeting. Questions must be relevant to items appearing on the agenda and will be submitted in the order in which they were received.

No questions were received.

To receive an update from the Leader of the Council on the Corporate Plan progress across the Municipal year.

Councillor Ross, Leader of the Council, spoke through the presentation that was circulated with the agenda, which provided an update on the activity to date relating to the Corporate Plan, key highlights relating to the three strategic priorities in the last year, and the next steps in progressing the Corporate Plan. The Committee were informed that the number of Corporate Priorities started with seven, however, this had gone down to three, with the Leader informing the Committee of the highlights and achievements done by the Council across the Municipal Year to address them.

The first priority – Reducing Health Inequalities – included the following: launch of Trafford’s Tobacco Alliance; accessible cycling activity via Wheels for All; a physical activity referral scheme in Partington; a new cycle hub at Stretford Leisure Centre; place based physical activity plans, starting with the inaugural Broomwood Moving Network; beat the streets, which promoted physical activity between families; and the establishment of a falls prevention service.

The second priority was ‘Supporting People out of Poverty’ and the Leader shared the work done over the past year. Trafford Council was now paying the Real Living Wage and signed up to the Greater Manchester (GM) Good Employment Charter, Trafford’s Council tax support scheme was now the best in GM, and the Trafford Assist scheme was administering support more than £3.2Million. The Committee were informed that the Poverty Action Group continued to meet quarterly, with the Trafford Poverty Strategy refreshed in autumn 2023, incorporating the poverty truth commissions findings. The Leader added that one of the recommendations of the Poverty Truth Commission had led to the creation of the One Stop Shop. This was being trialled at Stretford Public Hall and provided residents access to different Council service in one location.

The final priority – Addressing the Climate Crisis – included highlights such as the establishment of a strategic partnership supporting the decarbonisation of Trafford Park Business under the Bee Net Zero Brand, grant funding to progress the development of the civic quarter low carbon heat network, the replacement of existing gas boilers with air source heat pumps and solar panels at the refurbished Altrincham Leisure Centre, and the introduction of Be.EV Electric Vehicle Charging infrastructure in the Borough. The Leader also mentioned the programme of urban tree planting, agreed with City of Trees, and the Walking, Wheeling and Cycling Strategy which had been launched.

The Leader shared other key activity achieved across the year, which included but was not limited to the following projects; the Right to Streets Project, work to tackle violence against women and girls with the Policy Lab, Trafford LIVE, the launch of a new supported housing strategy, a £160 million residential scheme bringing 639 new private and affordable homes, and the launch of the new Cultural Strategy.

The Leader finished by reminding the Committee that the current Corporate Plan came to an end that year and highlighted the changes which had taken place in this time. A timeline for the implementation of the next  ...  view the full minutes text for item 29.

To receive a report on the project from the Executive Member for Economy and Regeneration and the Executive Member for Climate Change.

The Chair highlighted that questions and queries had been received from the Friends of Carrington Moss group. The responses to these questions had been shared with the Committee prior to the meeting and had also been sent to the group directly.

The Director of Growth and Regulatory Services introduced the report and spoke through a presentation to illustrate the background for why the Council needed to make improvements to infrastructure. The Committee were informed and reminded that the Carrington and Partington area had been through rapid industrial expansion over the last 100 years. Despite previously being well connected areas, especially by rail, over the last 40 to 60 years, the infrastructure had eroded, and the area was left with a legacy road network with the area now isolated. The Director provided an overview of the geography of the area which caused this isolation. As such, the Director informed Committee Members that this placed significant pressure on the A6144.

The Director continued by highlighting the decision by the Council to make the area one of focus, most recently through the Places for Everyone scheme, which aimed to bring significant investment to the area, with 5000 homes by the 2040s.

As such, the Director added that this level of new development, in an area with poor accessibility compounded the need for infrastructure development. The relief road and its location had been identified in September 2021. The route totalled 3.5KM and included work to the adjacent roads. The Director then shared the funding behind the project.

The Carrington Spur which currently existed in the area, had deliberately excluded pedestrians and cyclist and had been designed in a time when car was king. The Director informed Members that the new road was being designed to encourage further support to the Council’s active travel schemes. The Director finished by sharing a draft picture of what the road would look like.

Councillor Axford understood the rationale behind the road, however, remained concerned about the implications of increased car usage on the road. Councillor Axford enquired as to why there was no bus lane on the road. Councillor Axford asked how confident the Director was of receiving the funding from the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) which was included in the report. Councillor Axford also asked how the public engagement in January had gone.

Regarding the bus lane, the Director of Growth and Regulatory Services responded that there was increasing thinking that buses should be incorporated with the main carriageway, with liaison ongoing with Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) to look at the approach which should have been taken with buses. The Director did add that discussions with TfGM did involve whether buses required their own arrangements at the junctions along the road.

The Director of Growth and Regulatory Services apologised, saying the report should have been updated regarding the public engagement. This had been due to take place in the Spring, however, due to logistical and technical reason this had been delayed, with an intention to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 30.

For Committee Members to raise any items they would like to be considered in the next Municipal Year.

Councillor Acton provided an overview of what work had been completed across the year, and referenced the Reducing Car Dependency task and finish group report which would come in the next Municipal Year. Councillor Acton also informed Members of the Committee that responses to the Scrutiny reports looking at Access to Council Services and Events and Old Trafford would come to the Committee in 2024/25. Councillor Acton also reminded Members of the Budget reports which come every year, firstly in November, outlining the draft proposals, and the Scrutiny response that goes to the meeting in January, with Budget Scrutiny set to take place in late November again.

Councillor Walsh recognised the Events at Old Trafford Task and Finish group report, adding that the report did not scrutinise the parking service on matchdays at Old Trafford, and felt this was something that the Committee could bring to a meeting in the future. Councillor Walsh added that there was an opportunity for Council officers to play a greater role in matchday parking at Old Trafford.

Councillor Axford asked whether the topic of Travellers in the Borough be brought back in the new year, with persistent issues remaining.

Councillor Axford added further that there would be opportunity later in the year to look at the Bee Network as it comes to Trafford through Tranche three by the end of 2024. Councillor Axford raised the opportunity to get colleagues from the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) to attend and discuss.

Councillor Axford also raised concerns on affordable housing in the Borough, as well as looking at remaining issues with housing providers such as L&Q.

Councillor Carter questioned whether Carrington Relief Road needed to come to the Committee again, if there is not going to be a fundamental change in that time. The Chair responded that it had been agreed to monitor the project once agreed by the Executive, however, added that it was up to the Committee to decide when they felt it was relevant to bring the item. Councillor Axford felt that the financial risk of the project should be considered. Councillor Carter did not disagree with either of these points but felt that unless there was set to be a significant decision point over the 12 months, the Committee would be considering the same points.

Councillor Carter added further whether a work needed to be considered on the duration and duplication of roadworks, citing the case of Kings Road and the timeline behind this. Councillor Carter asked whether there was appetite of the Committee to review and assess the Council’s ability to govern Trafford’s roadworks, due to the Community impact of roadworks overrunning. Councillor Axford agreed that this would be interesting to look at.

Councillor Carter raised a further point regarding Council investment in IT systems and resources, adding that he could not find any measure of performance within the Council of how these systems performs versus what was in the capital expenditure request to justify it being invested in. Councillor  ...  view the full minutes text for item 31.