Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 16 January 2012.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 16 January 2012 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

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

It was announced that the annual ‘Proud of Stockport Awards’ had taken place on 7 February 2012 during which residents of the Werneth area had won awards in a number of categories including ‘Best Street’ for the residents of Quarry Road, Romiley; ‘Best Neighbour’ to Ann Broadhurst of The Ridgeway, Romiley; and ‘Young Citizen of the Year’ to Joseph Barratt of Woodley.

Members of the Area Committee extended their congratulations to the winners.

Councillors and members of the public are invited to raise ‘Neighbourhood Policing’ issues with the local Neighbourhood Policing Team.

Inspector Paul Bray (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:-

·        All crime within the Werneth area was showing a 7.1% reduction compared to the same point last year.

·        While vehicle crime continued to be an area of concern, a number of force resources had been secured to address this including the Air Support Unit, Automatic Number Plate Recognition vehicles and dedicated traffic PCSOs.

·        Operation Alloy which targeted crime connected with the scrap metal trade would continue with further coordinated days of action taking place within the next month.

RESOLVED – That Inspector Bray 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 on the Council’s website at www.stockport.gov.uk/areacommittees).

No public questions were submitted.

The local Area Conditions Officer and the Highways Officer 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 (Area Conditions Officer) 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:-

·        Work had now been completed to clear waste at the site of the former Cherry Tree Hotel, Romiley and the site had also been fenced off.

·        British Waterways had undertaken litter clearance works on the Peak Forest Canal to the rear of properties at Peak Bank, Romiley and the Council was now in contact with other landowners in the area to ensure that land adjacent to the canal was similarly cleared.  Councillor Humphries reported that she had received correspondence from a resident in relation to litter adjacent to the canal in Woodley on the steep embankment past Woodley Tunnel.

·        Maintenance work was programmed for the access to Romiley Railway Station from Chichester Road, Romiley which included the removal of graffiti and the cutting back of vegetation.

·        A resident had reported that the footpath from the main gate of Woodley Primary School was suffering from overgrowth and litter accumulations.

·        The access route to Woodley Precinct from the car park suffered from significant litter accumulations which needed to be addressed.

RESOLVED – That Alan Whitfield 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 they wished to address the Area Committee as part of the Open Forum arrangements.

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

There were no applications to consider.

There are no development applications to consider.

There were no development applications to consider.

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 Democratic Services Manager submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) of the Service Director (Legal and Democratic Services) 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 details a proposed policy for dealing with obstructions and three policies creating a unified policy and licencing approach for uses of the highway that the Council is willing to consider. The policies recognise the need to address and balance the needs of a number of stakeholders including pedestrians, people with disabilities, residents, businesses and local traders and seeks to make controls more efficient and the response to problems more effective.

The Area Committee is requested to comment on the report.

Officer Contact : Sue Stevenson on 474 4351 or email: sue.stevenson@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Service Director (Place Management) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing a proposed policy for dealing with obstructions and three policies creating a unified policy and licencing approach for uses of the highway that the Council was willing to consider. The policies recognised the need to address and balance the needs of a number of stakeholders including pedestrians, people with disabilities, residents, businesses and local traders and sought to make controls more efficient and the response to problems more effective.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         The licensing approach to ‘obstructions’ was a step in the right direction to regulating legitimate and appropriately sited signage and seating.

·         Concern was expressed in relation to the potential difficulty associated with the policing of unlicensed ‘A-Boards’ and this may be a particular problem in the light of the proposed £70 fee.

·         Members commented that the proposed charges for ‘café licences’ were quite high and may prove to be a disincentive to small businesses and a more flexible approach may be more appropriate.

RESOLVED – That the comments of the Area Committee be taken into consideration as part of the consultation on the draft Obstructions Policy for Highways.

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

The report details proposals for the disposal of the former Bredbury Centre, Highfield Park Road, Bredbury.

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

Officer contact: Ian Keyte on 495 6093 or email: ian.keyte@nps.co.uk

A representative of the Democratic Services Manager submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) of the Service Director (Place Development) detailing proposals for the disposal of the former Bredbury Centre, Highfield Park Road, Bredbury.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

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

The report details proposals for the use of commuted sums for play provision in the area represented by the Werneth Area Committee.

The Area Committee is recommended to approve the allocation of commuted sums as follows:-

·         The use of £1003.36 accruing from development no.1020 for 100 Lower Bents Lane, Bredbury towards the trike track at Bredbury recreation ground.

·         The use of £501.96 accruing from development no.1023 for 26 Goyt Valley Road, Bredbury, towards the at Goyt Valley Road play area, to replace a vandalised spring item.

·         The use of £2007.07 accruing from development no.950 for The Sportsmans’ Rest, Higher Bents Lane, Bredbury, towards the provision of toddler equipment at Overdale recreation ground.

·         The use of the following four commuted sums towards the provision of a new junior multiunit at Romiley recreation ground: to add to existing allocated funding

·         £669.24 accruing from development no.1006 for 43a Compstall Road, Romiley

·         £334.62 accruing from development no.1018 for 66 Compstall Road Romiley

·         £167.31 accruing from development no 1021 for 1 Compstall Road, Romiley

·         £334.62 accruing from development no. 1022 for 60 Compstall Road Romiley

·         The use of £334.62 accruing from development no. 1019 for 160-162 Hyde Road Woodley for a new link pathway into the site at Smithy Green play area.

Officer contact: Vanessa Brook on 474 4446 or email: vanessa.brook@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Democratic Services Manager submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) of the Service Director (Communities) detailing proposals for the use of new commuted sums for play provision in the Werneth area and locations of the play areas where these sums are to be spent.

RESOLVED – That approval be given to the following allocations of commuted sums for the Werneth area:-

·         The use of £1003.36 accruing from development no.1020 for 100 Lower Bents Lane, Bredbury towards the trike track at Bredbury recreation ground.

·         The use of £501.96 accruing from development no.1023 for 26 Goyt Valley Road, Bredbury, towards the at Goyt Valley Road play area, to replace a vandalised spring item.

·         The use of £2007.07 accruing from development no.950 for The Sportsmans’ Rest, Higher Bents Lane, Bredbury, towards the provision of toddler equipment at Overdale recreation ground.

·         The use of the following four commuted sums towards the provision of a new junior multiunit at Romiley recreation ground: to add to existing allocated funding

·         £669.24 accruing from development no.1006 for 43a Compstall Road, Romiley

·         £334.62 accruing from development no.1018 for 66 Compstall Road Romiley

·         £167.31 accruing from development no 1021 for 1 Compstall Road, Romiley

·         £334.62 accruing from development no. 1022 for 60 Compstall Road, Romiley

·         The use of £334.62 accruing from development no. 1019 for 160-162 Hyde Road Woodley for a new link pathway into the site at Smithy Green play area.

There are currently no vacancies to consider.

There were no vacancies to consider.

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.