Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 10 July 2017.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 10 June 2017 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

Councillors and officers were invited to delcare any interest which they had in any of the items on the agenda for the meeting.

No declarations of interest were made.

To receive any announcements from the Chair about local community events or issues.

The Chair reported on the Chadkirk Chapel well dressing celebrations which had taken place on Saturday, 29 July 2017 and extended the thanks of the Area Committee to those volunteers that had contributed to the success of the event.

It was further reported that a number of residents had contacted the Council and local councillors in relation to noise disturbance from the ‘B Festival’ which had taken place at Woodbank Park on 29 July 2017.  It was stated that the Cabinet Member for Communities & Housing had confirmed that an investigation had taken place following the festival and that this would not occur again in the future.

Members of the public are invited to put questions to the Chair of the Area Committee on any matters within the powers and duties of the Area Committee, subject to the exclusions set out in the Code of Practice (Questions must be submitted prior to the commencement of the meeting on the cards provided. These are available the meeting.  You can also submit via the Council’s website at www.stockport.gov.uk/publicquestions.

Members of the public were invited to put questions to the Chair of the Area Committee on any matters within the powers and duties of the Area Committee, subject to the exclusions set out in the Code of Practice.

Two public questions were submitted.

The first question related to issues of noise and odour nuisance being experienced by residents of the Castle Hill Park development in Woodley.

Councillor Stuart Corris responded that officers from the Environmental Health service at the Council had investigated these concerns on a number of occasions and had been unable to identify the source of the noise and odour issues.  It was noted, however, that a number of the premises operating within the area fell under the regulatory remit of the Environment Agency rather than the Council and as such the Council had no power to pursue enforcement action against these operators.  It was further commented that the intermittent nature of the noise and odour had compounded the difficulties in identifying the source.

The second question related to concerns over worn markings and inadequate signage for the disabled parking bays on the small car park at Woodley Precinct.

RESOLVED – That, in accordance with the Code of Practice, the Democratic Services Manager be requested to respond to the questioner in writing within seven days.

The local Public Realm Inspector will attend the meeting to provide an update on matters raised at the last committee meetings. Councillors and Members of the public are invited to raise issues affecting local environmental quality.

The Chair reported that the Public Realm Officer was unable to attend this meeting of the Area Committee, however it was stated that a summary of activities with the Public Realm service area had been circulated to members of the area committee separately.

A member of the public expressed concern in relation to the longstanding issue of vehicles travelling down Hurstheads Lane, Romiley turning right into Green Lane to pass under the railway bridge contravening the no entry signage and placing themselves into conflict with vehicles travelling the other way along Green Lane. It was suggested that the introduction of cameras to police the existing restrictions should be considered.

In response, it was commented that the cost of cameras was prohibitive and that the only further intervention that would work effectively at this location would be for the police to monitor the situation.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To receive petitions from members of the public and community groups.

No petitions were submitted.

In accordance with the Code of Practice no organisation has indicated that they wished to address the Area Committee as part of the Open Forum arrangements.

A representative of the Democratic Services Manager reported that no organisations had indicated that they wished to address the Area Committee as part of the Open Forum arrangements.

To consider an application for Ward Flexibility Funding of £750.00 from the Heartbeat Chorus Society towards the cost of holding a ‘Learn to Sing’ event at Chadkirk Business Park.

Lynne O’Brien and Kate Box Peyton attended the meeting and submitted an application on behalf of Heartbeat Chorus Society for ward flexibility funding towards the cost of holding a ‘Learn to Sing’ event at Chadkirk Business Park.

RESOLVED - That approval be given to the award of a grant of £750 from the Ward Flexibility Budget to the Heartbeat Chorus Society as a contribution towards the cost of holding a ‘Learn to Sing’ event at Chadkirk Business Park.

There are no development applications to consider.

There were no development applications to consider.

To consider a report of the Deputy Chief Executive.

The report summarises recent appeal decisions; lists current planning appeals and dates for local enquiries; informal hearings for planning appeals, and enforcement action within the Werneth Area Committee area.

The Area Committee is recommended to note the report.

Officer contact: Paul Cassidy on 474 5388 or email: paul.cassidy@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Democratic Services Manager submitted a report of the Deputy Chief Executive (copies of which had been circulated) listing any outstanding or recently determined planning appeals and enforcements within the area represented by the Werneth Area Committee.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration.

The report alerts Councillors and the public to the consultation on the Local Plan Issues Paper which has recently commenced, provides information about consultation events and background to the Local Plan.

The Area Committee are invited to consider and comment on the report.

Officer Contact: Steve Johnsonon Tel: 474 3171 or email: steve.johnson@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing the process and timescale for the ongoing consultation on the Local Plan Issues Paper and detailing a proposal to undertake a consultation event for the Werneth area at Werneth School on Wednesday, 13 September between 6.00 pm and 8.30 pm.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         It was important that the use of acronyms and technical terminology was kept to a minimum to ensure that the public were able to easily engage with the Local Plan consultation process.

·         It was noted that there was an emphasis on the use of social media and other technological solutions to communicate with the public in relation to the ongoing consultation, however it was suggested that use of local newspapers to advertise the events may help extend the reach of the consultation to some of the traditionally harder to reach communities in Stockport.

·         It was commented that members had experienced some difficulty in accessing the Council’s website since it had been relaunched, and that the website had been reporting that it was no longer compatible with common web browsers.

·         The Stockport Local Plan Issues Paper provided an easily understandable summary of the main issues and should be as widely disseminated as possible.

·         It was suggested that any introductory presentation provided as part of the area based consultation events should be repeated throughout the event  to ensure that those members of the public who were unable to attend the full session would be able to participate fully and be in possession of all the relevant information.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration.

The report details a proposal to alleviate congestion caused by long-term parking on George Lane, in the vicinity of the sorting office.

The Area Committee is requested to recommend that the Cabinet Member for Communities & Housing gives  approval to the legal advertising of the traffic regulation orders below and subject to the receipt of no objections  within 21 days from the advertisement date the subsequent making of the orders, at a cost of £1,500 to be funded from the Strategic Budget:-

No Waiting at Any Time   

George Lane, Bredbury, west side, from a point 16 metre south of the projected southerly kerb line of Millstone Close to a point 10 metres north of the projected northerly kerb line of Millstone Close.

Limited Waiting, Mon-Sat, 8am-6pm, 30 minutes, No Return within 1 Hour

George Lane, Bredbury west side:

From a point 26 metres south of the projected southerly kerb line of Millstone Close, for a distance of 10 metres in an southerly direction. 

From a point 42 metres south of the projected southerly kerb line of Millstone Close, for a distance of 10 metres in an southerly direction. 

Officer contact: Eraina Smith  0161 474 4911 or email:  eraina.smith@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration (copies of which had been circulated) detailing a proposal to alleviate congestion caused by long-term parking on George Lane, in the vicinity of the Royal Mail sorting office.

It was stated that this matter had last been considered by the Area Committee at its meeting in December 2016 at which point the Committee agreed in principle to the introduction of the proposed traffic regulation orders, subject to the outcome of the public consultation on the future of the Royal Mail sorting office.  It was reported that since that time, Royal Mail had confirmed its intention to close the sorting office during 2018, however notwithstanding this decision, members of the public continued to support the introduction of additional mitigation measures within the locality.

RESOLVED - That the Cabinet Member for Communities & Housing be recommended to give approval to the legal advertising of the traffic regulation orders below and, subject to the receipt of no objections within 21 days from the advertisement date, the subsequent making of the orders, at a cost of £1,500 to be funded from the Strategic Budget:-

No Waiting at Any Time  

George Lane, Bredbury, west side, from a point 16 metre south of the projected southerly kerb line of Millstone Close to a point 10 metres north of the projected northerly kerb line of Millstone Close.

Limited Waiting, Mon-Sat, 8am-6pm, 30 minutes, No Return within 1 Hour

George Lane, Bredbury west side:

From a point 26 metres south of the projected southerly kerb line of Millstone Close, for a distance of 10 metres in a southerly direction.

From a point 42 metres south of the projected southerly kerb line of Millstone Close, for a distance of 10 metres in a southerly direction.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration.

The report details a proposal to introduce a cycleway and shared use route along Otterspool Road to provide a link to the Peak Forest Canal.

The Area Committee is asked to comment on this report and recommend that the Cabinet  Member for Communities & Housing gives approval to  the proposals within this report and the legal advertising of the traffic regulation orders contained in Appendix A and subject to no objections being received within 21 days from the advertisement date the order can be made.

Officer contact: Shafaq Hussain on 0161 218 1059 or email: shafaq.hussain@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration (copies of which had been circulated) detailing a proposal to introduce a cycleway and shared use route along Otterspool Road to provide a link to the Peak Forest Canal.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         In response to a question regarding the use of the Growth Fund 2 funding allocation for remediation works to the canal towpath, it was stated that the grant had not been made on that basis and could not now be reallocated for that purpose.  However, a bid had been made for funding as part of Growth Fund 3 to secure improvements to the towpath.

·         The decision to remove the original proposal to revoke the one-way Moving Traffic Regulation Order on Hurstshead Lane was welcomed.

·         Concern was expressed that proposals to remove or modify the existing barriers at the entrance to the pathway between Green Lane and Padden Brook would make it easier for motorcycles to access the pathway and that any replacement barriers would therefore need to be designed in such a way as to provide a similar level of deterrence.

RESOLVED – That the Cabinet Member for Communities & Housing be recommended to give approval to the schedule of measures detailed at paragraph 2.1 of the report subject to further discussions with the Bredbury Green & Romiley Highway Ward Spokespersons with regard to the design of that element of the proposed scheme between Green Lane and Padden Brook.

This item has been placed on the agenda at the request of Councillor Christine Corris.

The matter relates to what is being proposed with regard to traffic management and speed reduction measures in the light of the imminent opening of the extended Greave Primary School.

The Chair reported that this item had been placed on the agenda at the request of Councillor Christine Corris.

Councillor Corris reported that following the construction of the extension to Greave Primary School, it had been suggested that a package of traffic mitigation measures would need to be implemented to manage the additional traffic that would be generated.  It was stated that the newly extended school was due to open in September 2017, however, members had not yet been advised of the proposed mitigation measures or the date for the introduction.

In response, a representative of the Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration reported that the proposed mitigation measures included new 20mph advisory speed limits, vehicle activated warning signage, pedestrian refuges and uncontrolled crossing points. 

RESOLVED – That the Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration be requested to expedite the progression of the traffic mitigation measures associated with the opening of the newly extended Greave Primary School.

To consider a report of the Democratic Services Manager.

The report provides an update on progress since the last meeting on decisions taken by the Area Committee and details the current position on area flexibility funding. The report also includes the current position on the highway and traffic management delegated budget.

The Area Committee is recommended to note the report.

Officer contact: Damian Eaton on 0161 474 3207 or email: damian.eaton@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Democratic Services Manager submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) updating the Area Committee on progress on decisions taken by the Area Committee since the last meeting and the current position on the Area Flexibility and the Delegated budget.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.