Agenda and minutes

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 25 July 2011 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 interest was declared:-

Personal Interest

The Chair reported that work was underway to make environmental improvements to Bredbury Green Civic Hall by the Community Payback Scheme run by the Probation Service which had included clearing the grounds and painting the building.

Inspector Brendan O’Brien (Greater Manchester Police) attended the meeting to answer questions from Councillors and members of the public in relation to Neighbourhood Policing issues within the Werneth area.

The following issues were raised/ comments made:-

·         Vehicle crime in the Werneth area was increasing and significant resources were now being allocated to work on preventative measures with local residents.  This had included the allocation of an additional sergeant and two police constables to tackle vehicle crime in the area.

·         Work was ongoing to tackle drug related criminal behaviour in the area which had included the execution of a number of search warrants.

·         Overall levels of crime had remained static compared to the first quarter of 2010/11.

·         A resident expressed concern in relation to a number of traffic issues on Barlow Fold, Woodley.  Potential measures to assist in the alleviation of these problems were suggested which included additional police enforcement of existing restrictions.

RESOLVED – That Inspector O’Brien be thanked for his attendance.

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.

One public question was submitted in relation to the obstruction of a pathway at Bankfield House Care Home, Woodley.

The question was answered at the meeting.

(a) Richard Daniels (Team Leader, Area Conditions) attended the meeting to report on current issues and to answer questions from Councillors and members of the public in relation to environmental issues within the area represented by the Werneth Area Committee.

The following issues were raised/ comments made:-

·         Enforcement action was being taken in respect of those residents around Meadow Walk, Bredbury who had failed to present waste correctly following distribution of information and warning letters.

·         Residents on Oldham Drive, Woodley commented that their recycling bags had gone missing and that they had difficulty in obtaining replacements.

RESOLVED – That Richard Daniels be thanked for his attendance.

(b) Daniel Meadowcroft (Highways Officer) attended the meeting to report on current issues and to answer questions from Councillors and members of the public in relation to highways issues within the area represented by Werneth Area Committee.

The following issues were raised/ comments made:-

·         All of the strategic and link routes in the borough had now been inspected with the majority of the defects identified having been repaired.

·         An order had been placed for the repair of Lyme Grove, Romiley.

·         An inspection of Charnwood Road, Woodley had been undertaken following concerns expressed by residents at the last meeting of the Area Committee, and no actionable defects had been identified.

·         Gully clearance work had been undertaken on Greave and Sandy Lane, Romiley although there remained a number of gullies which still required additional clearance work.

·         It was requested that checks be made on the gullies on Compstall Road at its junctions with Beechwood Avenue, Lyme Grove and Birch Avenue, Romiley which had proved susceptible to flooding during inclement weather.

·         A request was made for the implementation of the previous decision of the Area Committee to place speed cushions on Kingsway and Osborne Street, Bredbury to be expedited in the light of a recent road traffic accident in the area.

·         Concern was expressed in relation to the continued lack of a dedicated Highways Officer for the Werneth area.

RESOLVED – (1) That Daniel Meadowcroft be thanked for his attendance.

(2) That the Service Director (Place Management) be requested to expedite the implementation of the decision of the Area Committee to introduce Give Way priorities on Kingsway and Osborne Street, Bredbury.

No petitions were submitted.

No organisations had indicated that they wished to address the Area Committee as part of the Open Forum arrangements.

Woodley Community Christmas Market

Ms Lynne Allman representing Woodley Community Christmas Market attended the meeting and answered Councillors’ questions in relation to an application for Area Flexibility Funding toward the cost of a ‘Community Christmas Market’ at Woodley Precinct.

RESOLVED – That the Democratic Services Manager be requested to make a grant of £500 towards the cost of a ‘Community Christmas Market’ at Woodley Precinct.

There were no development applications to consider.

A representative of the Democratic Services Manager 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.

A representative of the Democratic Services Manager submitted a joint report of the Service Directors (Legal and Democratic Services) and (Place Management) detailing an objection that had been made to the proposed Prohibition of Waiting Order on Lingard Lane, Bredbury.

RESOLVED – That the Order be made as advertised.

There were no vacancies to consider.

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.