Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 5 November 2018.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 5 November 2018 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

Councillors and officers were invited to declare any interests that they had in any of the items on the agenda for the meeting.

The following interests were declared:-

Personal Interest

Personal and Prejudicial Interests

No urgent decisions were reported.

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

The Chair announced that the Christmas lights has been switched on in Romiley on Saturday, 17 November and extended the thanks of the Area Committee to Council officers for their work in ensuring the event was a success.

The Chair then thanked the 1196 Bredbury, Romiley & Marple Squadron Royal Air Force Air Cadets and the Stockport Sea Cadets TS Hawkins for their work in removing the large poppies that had been erected on lighting columns throughout the Werneth area for remembrance day.

Finally, it was reported that a community artwork project had been unveiled at Romiley Railway Station on Saturday, 8 December. 

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 as follows:-

·         Relating to the impact on schools from their use as polling stations.

The Chair responded that Woodley Primary School had been used as a polling station for a considerable number of years and was the only building within the locality which was of a sufficient size to accommodate a double polling station.  It was further stated that there had been no objection from the governing board or management of the school in relation to its continued use as a polling station.

·         Relating to the handling of a petition that had been raised in respect of the former 380/381 bus service.

Councillor Smart stated that she would respond to the questioner in writing.

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.

Robin Boardman (Public Realm Inspector) attended the meeting to report on current issues and to answer questions from Councillors and members of the public in relation to environmental and highways issues within the area represented by the Werneth Area Committee.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         It was commented that there were two gullies missing their grid cover adjacent to Woodley Eyecare in Woodley Precinct.

·         It was stated that a request had previously been submitted for an investigation into the introduction of waiting restrictions at the junction of Clough Meadow and Pennine Road, Woodley to prevent parking at school drop off and collection times, however no response had yet been received.

RESOLVED – That Robin Boardman be thanked for his attendance.

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 received on behalf of the Friends of Romiley Station for a grant of £88 towards the cost of printing.

Alf Clark attended the meeting and submitted an application on behalf of the Friends of Romiley Station for the award of a grant from the Ward Flexibility Budget towards the cost of printing.

RESOLVED - That approval be given to the award of a grant of £88 to the Friends of Romiley Station towards the cost of printing.

There are currently 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: Vicki Bates on 474 3219 or email: vicki.bates@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (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 Returning Officer.

To seek Area Committee views on the proposed polling arrangements within the area in order to inform the Council meeting’s determination of polling districts, polling places and polling stations for forthcoming elections.  The proposed arrangements have taken into consideration the comments of the Area Committee expressed at its last meeting.

The Area Committee is recommended to comment on and note the report.

Officer contact: Caroline Bell on 0161 474 3173 or email: caroline.bell@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report of the Returning Officer (copies of which had been circulated) seeking the Area Committee’s views on the proposed polling arrangements within the area in order to inform the Council meeting’s determination of polling districts, polling places and polling stations for forthcoming elections.

It was noted that the proposed arrangements had taken into consideration the comments of the Area Committee expressed at its last meeting.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Chief Executive, Stockport Homes Ltd.

The report provides an update on the progress of the delivery of Stockport Homes’ Neighbourhood Action Plans.

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

Officer contact: Rebecca Cullen on 474 4372 or email: rebecca.cullen@stockporthomes.org

A representative of the Chief Executive, Stockport Homes Ltd submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an update on progress in the delivery of Stockport Homes Neighbourhood Action Plans.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         It was requested that details of the proposed housing surgeries to be held at the Arthur Greenwood Community Centre in the new year be circulated to members of the area committee.

·         It was stated that a local resident on the Oldham Drive Estate had been particularly complimentary about the quality of the works to convert her electric heating to gas heating and asked that this be passed on to the relevant officers.

·         It was requested that as part of the Winter Welfare Visits to older and more vulnerable people that information be disseminated in relation home security.

·         A discussion took place in relation to the work being undertaken by Stockport Homes to address the introduction of Universal Credit in Stockport and mitigate against the impact of this on tenants.

·         The introduction of the ‘Your Local Pantry’ scheme was welcomed.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

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

The report details a proposal to replace the old main gate at Braddon Road Allotments, Woodley.

The Area Committee is recommended to give approval to the replacement of the main gate at Braddon Road Allotments, Woodley at a cost of £1,250 to be funded from the Area Committee’s Delegated Budget (Bredbury & Woodley ward allocation).

Officer contact: Jacky Budd on 474-3332 or email: jacky.budd@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report of the Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration (copies of which had been circulated) detailing a proposal to replace the old main gate at Braddon Road Allotments, Woodley.

RESOLVED – That approval be given the replacement of the main gate at Braddon Road Allotments, Woodley at a cost of £1,250 to be funded from the Area Committee’s Delegated Budget (Bredbury & Woodley ward allocation).

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

The report details a proposal to improve the number of dropped kerb crossing facilities in the Higher Bents Lane area, following an approved feasibility report which was undertaken in response to concerns raised regarding suitable routes for mobility scooter users.

The Area Committee is recommended to give approval to the proposed scheme at a total cost of £19,985.08 to be funded jointly from the Area Committee’s Delegated Budget (£19,135.08 from the Bredbury Green & Romiley ward allocation) and the Highway Improvement Programme (£850).

Officer contact: Julie Pelham on 0161 474 4846 or email: julie.pelham@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report of the Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration (copies of which had been circulated) detailing a proposal to improve the number of dropped kerb crossing facilities in the Higher Bents Lane area, following an approved feasibility report which was undertaken in response to concerns raised regarding suitable routes for mobility scooter users.

RESOLVED - That approval be given to the proposed scheme to introduce a number of dropped kerb crossing facilities in the Higher Bents Lane area, as detailed in the plans appended to the report, at a total cost of £19,985.08 to be funded jointly from the Area Committee’s Delegated Budget (£19,135.08 from the Bredbury Green & Romiley ward allocation) and the Highway Improvement Programme (£850).

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.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         Discussions were taking place with legal services to resolve issues with regard to the implementation of parking restrictions on Kimberley Avenue, Romiley.

·         Progress was requested with regard to the introduction of ‘No Waiting At Any Time’ traffic regulations orders at the junction of Birchvale Drive and Peaslake Close, Romiley.

·         It was stated that at the last meeting of the Area Committee, proposals to consolidate existing traffic regulation orders on Green Lane, Romiley were deferred pending the completion of the residential development on that part of Green Lane affected by the proposed waiting restrictions.  It was stated that it was now anticipated that the houses would begin to be occupied shortly, and that revised proposals should now be brought before the area committee that did not contain any waiting restrictions to the front of these properties.

·         It had previously been requested that data obtained from the use of the Mobile Speed Indicator Device be submitted to a future meeting of the area committee, however this had not yet been forthcoming.  It was requested that this be brought to the next meeting of the area committee.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.