Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 19 November 2012.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 19 November 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 interests were declared:-

Personal Interests

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

The Chair wished all Councillors, officers and members of the public present a Happy New Year.

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

Acting Sergeant Jim Wilson and PCSO John Cracknell 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 and burglary remained the focus of crime prevention activities in the Werneth area, notwithstanding that there had been reductions in both these areas since April 2012.

·         Personal robbery had seen a modest increase from 11 crimes to 12.

·         There had been a recent spike in vehicle crime in Bredbury which it was considered was likely to be the result of one prolific offender.

·         Tackling complacency amongst the public was a challenge in reducing criminal activity.

·         The number of special constables was on the increase and they were proving to be a valuable local resource.

·         The police were actively using social media such as twitter and facebook to engage with residents and to disseminate information.

·         Greater Manchester Police was undergoing significant restructuring, however it was anticipated that the personnel in the Werneth area would remain largely unchanged.

RESOLVED – That Acting Sergeant Jim Wilson and PCSO John Cracknell be thanked for their 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.

No public questions were submitted.

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 or highway matters.

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:-

·         There were two ongoing investigations in relation to flytipping on Welkin Road, Bredbury and Poleacre Lane, Woodley.

·         The resurfacing of Oakwood Road, Romiley had recently been completed.

·         Safety inspections of the highway were now taking place on the Arden Park Estate and a large part of Bredbury Green.

·         Due to the recent cold weather, staff from Solutions SK would be gritting the winter maintenance routes and further information was available on the Council’s website.

·         There was a request for costings for the resurfacing of Barrack Hill Close, Romiley.

RESOLVED – That Alan Whitfield be thanked for his attendance.

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

No petitions were submitted.

Greater Manchester Energy Switch Campaign

Members are requested to note a new Energy Switch Scheme which allows residents across Greater Manchester to come together and boost their buying power by auctioning their combined energy requirements to see which provider will give them the best deal.

Residents register their interest in the scheme and an auction is held. Energy suppliers will compete to offer the best deals. After the auction, everyone who signed up will get an individual offer from the chosen provider, and they can decide whether to switch or not without any obligation.

A similar scheme in South Lakeland saw some residents cutting their energy bills by up to £200 a year.

Further information on the scheme is available at www.stockport.gov.uk/energyswitch

Greater Manchester Energy Switch Campaign

A representative of the Democratic Services Manager submitted a briefing note (copies of which had been circulated) which detailed a new Energy Switch Scheme which allowed residents across Greater Manchester to come together and boost their buying power by auctioning their combined energy requirements to see which provider would give them the best deal.

The Area Committee noted that residents would be able to register their interest in the scheme and an auction would then be held with energy suppliers being able to compete to offer the best deals.  After the auction process had been completed, everyone who signed up would get an individual offer from the chosen provider and they could then decide whether to switch or not without any obligation.

Members asked for clarification on a number of points in relation to the operation of the scheme; namely:-

·         What was the position for people who were already signed up to fixed term contracts with their existing energy supplier?

·         Would there be further opportunities for people to register in the future if they are unable to sign up during the current registration window? 

·         Why was the registration window so short?

RESOVLED – (1) That the briefing note be noted.

(2) That the Democratic Services Manager be requested to seek clarification on the issues raised by the Area Committee.

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 application 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).

Erection of a 132kv GIS substation on land south of the existing 132kv AIS substation.

The Area Committee is recommended to grant planning permission.

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

In respect of plan no. 50733 for the erection of a 132kv GIS substation on land south of the existing 132kv AIS substation at Bredbury Substation, Stockport Road West, Lower Bredbury, it was

RESOLVED – That the Planning and Highways Regulation Committee be recommended to undertake a site visit to assess the impact of the proposed development on the setting of the neighbouring Pear Mill as a Grade 2* listed building.

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

The report details proposals to plan out and resurface the junctions on Brimelow Street and Annable Road.

The Area Committee is recommended to approve the planning of out the existing surface course, disposal, application of regulating material, tack coat and laying of a new 40mm thick layer of surface course of approx. 400m² on the junction of Brimelow Street and Annable Road, Bredbury.

Officer contact: Alan Whitfield on 474 3255 or email: alan.whitfield@stockport.gov.uk

(NOTE:  The Chair was of the opinion that this item, although not included on the agenda, should be considered as a matter of urgency in accordance with Section 100 B(4)(b) of the Local Government Act 1972 to enable the Area Committee to address the recent deterioration of the road surfacing on Brimelow Street and Annable Road, Bredbury and for which in the interests of highway safety it was not considered prudent to defer until the next meeting of the Area Committee).

A representative of the Service Director (Place Management) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing proposals to plane out and resurface the junctions of Brimelow Street and Annable Road, Bredbury.

RESOLVED – That approval be given to the planeing out of the existing surface course, disposal, application of regulating material, tack coating and laying of a new 40mm thick layer of surface course of approximately 400m² on the junction of Brimelow Street and Annable Road, Bredbury at a cost of £10,000 to be funded from the Area Committee’s Highway Maintenance and Traffic Management delegated budget (Bredbury and Woodley ward allocation).

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 Chief Executive of Stockport Homes.

The report provides an update on the progress towards the delivery of the Stockport Homes Limited Neighbourhood Actions Plans which are used to bring together in a holistic plan for a neighbourhood a range of housing issues and wider sustainability issues that impact on the quality of life for residents.  These include such issues as the quality of the local environment, anti-social behaviour, community safety and worklessness.

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

Officer contact: Rebecca Cullen on 474 2944 or email: rebecca.cullen@stockporthomes.org

Representatives of the Chief Executive of Stockport Homes submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an update on the progress towards the delivery of the Stockport Homes Limited ‘Neighbourhood Actions Plans’ which were used to bring together in a holistic plan for a neighbourhood a range of housing issues and wider sustainability issues that impacted on the quality of life for residents.  These included such issues as the quality of the local environment, anti-social behaviour, community safety and worklessness.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         Stockport Homes faced significant challenges resulting from changes to the payment of benefits and reductions in Housing Benefit for those tenants who were ‘under-occupying’ properties.

·         A great deal of work had been undertaken to offer advice, support and assistance to tenants who would be affected by the changes.

·         Further information was requested relating to the number of tenants that had been successfully engaged with; the number of referrals that had subsequently been made and the number of tenants that had been rehoused.

·         The work undertaken by Stockport Homes to reassure tenants who would be affected by the removal of age restrictions on properties was commended.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

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.

RESOVLED – That the report be noted.