Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 14 January 2013.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 14 January 2013 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

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

The following interests were declared:-

Personal Interest

Disclosable Pecuniary Interests

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

There were no announcements made.

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.

Alan Whitfield (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:-

·         Prosecutions were being pursued in respect of two instances of fly-tipping that had been reported on Wekin Road, Bredbury and Poleacre Lane, Woodley.

·         Evidence had been retrieved from a further instance of fly-tipping on Cowlishaw Road, Romiley and a person had been invited for interview.

·         A cleansing schedule had been put in place to address concerns in relation to litter on the car park adjacent to Woodley Precinct.

·         Resurfacing works were scheduled to take place on the roundabout on Crookilley Way, Bredbury for a period of one week commencing 27 February 2013.

·         Resurfacing works on Henbury Drive and Davenport Drive, Woodley had been scheduled.

·         Remediation of the ‘lip’ on the exit from the car park on Oakwood Road, Romiley was requested.  In response, it was reported that the issue had been referred to United Utilities as the works remained outstanding following a water leak at that location.

·         A further request was made to increase the visibility of the street nameplate on Barrack Hill Close, Romiley by moving it to a higher location. 

·         It was reported that the recently remarked double yellow lines on Oakwood Road, Romiley had not been fully completed.

·         It was stated that the grassed area on Gravel Bank Road, Woodley was currently unkempt and had damaged fencing.

·         The alleyway between South View and Hyde Road, Woodley had become overgrown and suffered from dog fouling.

RESOLVED – That Alan Whitfield be thanked for his attendance.

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 and at local libraries and information centres.  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.

Two public questions were submitted.

The first question related to the lifting of age restrictions on the Oldham Drive Estate.  In response, it was stated that an age restriction review was taking place across the whole of Stockport Homes’ housing stock.  With regard to the Oldham Drive Estate, age restrictions had gradually reduced in line with demand.  However, due to the layout of the estate, and taking on board customers concerns, Stockport Homes had retained 98 properties on the Estate for residents aged over 60 and had ensured these were located in close proximity to each other.

The second question related to concerns that the lifting of age restrictions would exacerbate existing parking problems on the Oldham Drive Estate.  In response, it was stated that Stockport Homes was aware of the issue with parking on the Estate and had looked at different options to try and tackle this issue including consideration being given to the replacement of existing greenspace with parking.  It was noted, however, that such a proposal had been refused planning permission elsewhere in the Borough.  However, Stockport Homes continued to monitor the situation in the light of the removal of age restrictions on the Estate.

RESOLVED – That the Democratic Services Manager be requested to write to Stockport Homes expressing the concerns of the Area Committee in relation to the removal of age restrictions on the Oldham Drive Estate and requesting that Stockport Homes give early consideration to measures to alleviate the ongoing parking problems experienced there.

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

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

Councillor Corris reported that she had been approached by local residents who had expressed concern over the potential for young children leaving the Christopher Robyns Pre-School on Mill Lane, Woodley to run directly into the road due to lack of a physical barrier at the end of the footpath leading from the Pre-School.

RESOLVED – That the Service Director (Place Management) be requested to investigate the feasibility of introducing a pedestrian guardrail on the footway on Mill Lane, Woodley at the end of the footpath leading from the Christopher Robyns Pre-School.

To consider a report of the Service Director (Place Management).

The report details proposals for highway maintenance schemes as follows:-

The Area Committee is recommended to give approval to the proposed maintenance schemes.

Officer contact: Chris Pollitt on 474 2419 or email: chris.pollitt@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Service Director (Place Management) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing proposals for alteration works on the entrances and exits of the parking area on Leyfield Avenue, Romiley; the renewal of the existing bitmac footways on Barrack Hill Close, Bredbury; and the planing out and resurfacing of the carriageway on Forbes Street, Bredbury.

RESOLVED – (1) That approval be given to the alteration of the entrance and exit levels to allow better access and reduce damage to the footway and verges on Leyfield Avenue, Romiley at a cost of £2,300 to be funded from the Area Committee’s Highway Maintenance and Traffic Management Delegated Budget (Bredbury Green and Romiley ward allocation).

(2) That approval be given to the renewal of the existing bitmac footways on Barrack Hill Close, Bredbury at a cost of £10,000 to be funded from the Area Committee’s Highway Maintenance and Traffic Management Delegated Budget (Bredbury Green and Romiley ward allocation).

(3) That approval be given to the planing out and resurfacing of the carriageway on Forbes Street, Bredbury at a cost of £11,500 to be funded from the Area Committee’s Highway Maintenance and Traffic Management Delegated Budget (Bredbury and Woodley ward allocation).

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

No petitions were submitted.

Community Safety and Neighbourhood Policing Annual Report.

Representatives from the Community Safety Unit (Stockport Council) and Greater Manchester Police will attend the meeting to provide an update on their activities within the area represented by the Werneth Area Committee.

Community Safety and Neighbourhood Policing Annual Report

Inspector Stephen Palmer (Greater Manchester Police), Karen Pimlott (Community Safety Operations Manager, Stockport Council) and Jonathan Headlam (Community Safety Officer, Stockport Council) attended the meeting to make a presentation in respect of the work of the Safer Stockport Partnership to reduce crime in 2012/13 and to answer questions from Councillors and members of the public in relation to Neighbourhood Policing issues within the Werneth area.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         Clarification was requested in relation to the reported levels of domestic abuse.

·         A discussion took place in relation to ongoing work to address problems associated with licensed premises.

·         It was requested that the contact details for the new officers working within the Werneth area be circulated to members of the Area Committee.

·         The fear of crime associated with the development of new children’s homes was discussed.

·         It was stated that the focus for the road policing unit was to attend serious accidents and tackle serious crime, and fewer resources were being directed towards general speeding enforcement.

RESOLVED – That Inspector Palmer, Karen Pimlott and Jonathan Headlam be thanked for their attendance and presentation.

To consider any applications for Area Flexibility Funding or to receive feedback from organisations who have received funding.

There were no applications to consider.

To consider a report of the Service Director (Place Development).

The following development applications will be considered by the Area Committee:-

A development application was submitted.

(NOTE: Full details of the decisions including conditions and reasons for granting or refusing planning permission and imposing conditions are given in the schedule of plans. The Corporate Director of Place is authorised to determine conditions and reasons and they are not therefore referred to in committee minutes unless the committee makes a specific decision on a condition or reason. In order to reduce printing costs and preserve natural resources, the schedule of plans is not reproduced within these minutes. A copy of the schedule of plans is available on the council’s website at www.stockport.gov.uk/planningdecisions. Copies of the schedule of plans, or any part thereof, may be obtained from the Place Directorate upon payment of the Council’s reasonable charges).

Four new 2 storey 3 bedroom semi-detached houses.

The Area Committee is recommended to grant planning permission subject to conditions and the payment of a commuted sum in relation to the provision of recreation and amenity open space.

Officer contact: Jane Chase on 474 3550 or email: jane.chase@stockport.gov.uk

In respect of plan no. 51254 for four new two storey, three bedroom semi-detached houses on the site of 25/27 Manor Road, Woodley, it was

RESOLVED – That planning permission be granted.

To consider a report of the Service Director (Legal and Democratic Services).

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: Joy Morton, 0161 474 3217, joy.morton@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Service Director (Place Development) submitted a report of the Service Director (Legal and Democratic Services) (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 Service Director (Place Management).

The report provides an update on the Highway Maintenance and Traffic Management Delegated Budgets for the Bredbury and Woodley and Bredbury Green and Romiley wards as at the end of January 2013.

The Area Committee is recommended to note the report.

Officer contact: Simon Sherry on 474 2420 or email simon.sherry@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Democratic Services Manager submitted a report of the Service Director (Place Management) (copies of which had been circulated) providing an update on the Highway Maintenance and Traffic Management Delegated Budgets for the Bredbury and Woodley and Bredbury Green and Romiley wards as at the end of January 2013.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Service Director (Education).

The Area Committee is requested to provide political nominations for the Authority vacancy at St Christopher’s Catholic Primary School and to consider the reappoint of governors at Greave and Arden Primary Schools and Harrytown Catholic High School.

Officer contact: Libby Evans on 474 3847 or email: libby.evans@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Democratic Services Manager submitted a report of the Service Director (Education) (copies of which had been circulated) requesting the Area Committee to provide political nominations for the Authority vacancy at St Christopher’s Catholic Primary School and to consider the reappointment of governors at Greave and Arden Primary Schools and Harrytown Catholic High School.

RESOLVED – (1) That the Executive Councillor (Lifelong Learning and Achievement) be recommended to approve the reappointment of governors as follows:-

(2) That the vacancy at St Christopher’s Catholic Primary School be noted.

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, 0161 474 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 Area Flexibility and the Highway Maintenance and Traffic Management delegated budgets.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.