Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 26 July 2011.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 26 July 2011 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

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

No declarations of interest were made.

To report any urgent action taken under the Constitution since the last meeting of the Area Committee.

No urgent decisions were reported.

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

(a)   The Chair reported on receipt of a notification from Royal Mail of their intention to cease postal delivery services from the Hazel Grove facility from 5 September 2011 for properties with postcodes SK7 4 to SK7 6. Customers with these postcodes would be able to use services at the Green Lane depot in Stockport.

Councillor Corris expressed disappointment with the decision of Royal Mail in light of the representations made by the Council. He expressed concern about the impact the change to service would have on businesses in the area.

(b)   The Chair reported that nominations for the Proud of Stockport Awards 2012 had now opened. Nominations could be made in writing or by visiting the Council’s website at www.stockport.gov.uk/proudofstockport

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

Inspector Brendan O’Brien (Greater Manchester Police) attended the meeting to answer question from Councillors and members of the public in relation to Neighbourhood Policing issues within the area represented by the Stepping Hill Area Committee.

The following issues were raised/ comments made:-

• Residents were reminded to keep car doors locked and windows closed and not to display valuables to prevent unnecessary thefts from vehicles. There had been a spike in such incidences.
• There had been a reduction across all other key crime indicators on the same period last year, in particular a 20% reduction in anti-social behaviour.
• Recent arrest and likely charging of an individual in connection with the theft of grids. Over 8 tonnes of grids had been recovered and returned to the Council.
• Thanks to Police for keeping local councillors briefed on recent operations at Stepping Hill Hospital.

RESOLVED – That Inspector O’Brien 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 at the meeting and on the Council’s website at www.stockport.gov.uk/areacommittees).

Members of the public were invited to put questions to the Chair on any matters within the powers and duties of the Area Committee (subject to the exclusions set out in the Code of Practice).

One question was submitted enquiring as to the reason for the proposed signalised pedestrian crossing at the junction of Bramhall Moor Lane and Dorchester Road not having been agreed as part of the package of traffic management measures and the impact this would have on the resources allocated to the scheme.

RESOLVED – That the question be referred to the Executive Councillor (Transportation) for an answer.

The local Area Conditions Officer and the Highways Officer will attend the meeting to provide an update on matters raised at previous committee meetings. Councillors and members of the public are invited to raise issues affecting local environment quality.

Bob Hasting (Highways Officer) attended the meeting to report on current issues and to answer question from Councillors and members of the public in relation to highway issues within the area represented by the Stepping Hill Area Committee.

The following issues were made/ issues raised:

• Completion of resurfacing works on Avondale Avenue, Hazel Grove and Biddulph Avenue, Offerton.
• The poor condition of Hatherlow Lane, Hazel Grove and the need to expedite repairs.

RESOLVED – (1) That Bob Hastings be thanked for his attendance.

(2) That the Service Director (Place Management) be requested to provide the Hazel Grove Traffic and Highways Ward Spokesperson with details of the schedule for the completion of works at Hatherlow Lane, Hazel Grove.

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

The Area Committee is recommended to approve the resurfacing of the passageway linking Lyme Road and Chester Road, Hazel Grove, at a cost of £3,900 to be funded from the Area Committee’s Highway Maintenance and Traffic Management delegated budget.

Officer contact: Chris Pollitt, 0161 474 5689, chris.pollitt@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Service Director (Place Management) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) inviting the Area Committee to agree a scheme to resurface the passageway linking Lyme Road to Chester Road, Hazel Grove.

RESOLVED – (1) That consideration of the report be deferred to allow for a representative of the Service Director (Place Management) to meet with Ward Councillors on site to discuss the proposed works.

(2) That the Service Director (Place Management) be reminded of the need to consult with the Ward Spokesperson for Traffic and Highways matters on proposals before any report is submitted to the Area Committee for consideration.

Adam Cunningham (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 issues within the area represented by the Stepping Hill Area Committee.

The following issues were raised / comments made:-

·         United Utilities would shortly be taking on more responsibility for drainage issues and officers from the Council would be assisting with this transition.

·         Three Section 46 notices had been served to residents for  advancing their refuse.

·         Problems with refuse advancement and fly-tipping near the shops on Arundel Avenue. Advice offered to residents to try to resolve this problem.

·         Ongoing efforts to improve facilities for recycling and waste for residents to the rear of the shops on the Fiveways.

·         Advice offered to residents in relation to bins in the layby on Jackson’s Lane and ongoing monitoring of the condition of the layby.

·         An accumulation of litter on Marple Road near Fogg Brook.

·         Ongoing problems with blocked gulleys.

RESOLVED – That Adam Cunningham 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 organisation 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.

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

Development applications were submitted.

(NOTE: Full details of the decisions including conditions and reasons for grating or refusing planning permission and imposing conditions are given in the schedule of plan. 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 copying charges).

A representative of the Democratic Services Manager outlined the procedure approved by the Council for public speaking on planning applications.

Proposed Children’s Nursery

The Area Committee is recommended to grant planning permission.

In respect of plan no. 46237 for a proposed nursery at the former Acton Court Hotel, 187 Buxton Road, Great Moor

members of the public spoke against the application on behalf of local residents, and

the applicant spoke in support of the application.

It was then

RESOLVED – That the Planning & Highways Regulation Committee be recommended to refuse planning permission on the grounds that:-

• the proposal would have a detrimental impact on highway safety, in particular the potential conflict between vehicles exiting the application site and those exiting the existing Grammar School, and that the impact would be contrary to the Council’s agreed policies in respect of improving traffic flows on strategic routes;
• the traffic assessment based on diminished traffic movements from the Grammar School site due to ongoing construction work, and
• inappropriate comparisons between the site usage of the Hotel and proposed nursery given the different profile of site uses.

Proposed residential development of 6 No. dwellings (outline)

The Area Committee is recommended to grant planning permission.

In respect of plan no. 46262 for the proposed development of six no. dwellings (outline permission) at the former Acton Court Hotel, 187 Buxton Road, Great Moor,

members of the public spoke against the application on behalf of local residents.

It was then

RESOLVED – That the Planning & Highways Regulation Committee be recommended to undertake a site visit in view of the Area Committee’s concerns in respect of the impact of the proposed dwellings on properties on Mile End Lane given the difference in height between the development site and Mile End Lane, and that the applicants be requested to mark out the site including the height of the proposed dwellings.

To consider a report of the Service Director (Legal & 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 Stepping Hill 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 & Democratic Services) (copies of which had been circulated) listing any outstanding or recently determined planning appeals and enforcements with the area represented by the Stepping Hill Area Committee.

A representative of the Service Director (Place Development) confirmed that enforcement action was ongoing in respect of 10 Devonshire Park Road (Minute 8 Resolution 2 of 26 July 2011 refers).

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That, should it be necessary to submit a report on enforcement issues at 10 Devonshire Park Road to a future meeting of the Area Committee, the Service Director (Place Development) only do so once land ownership issues had been clarified.

To consider referrals from Ward Committees:-

(i)         The Ward Committee at its meeting on 9 August 2011 resolved:-

“That Stepping Hill Area Committee be requested to consider to the requests of residents for the gating of the passageway at Bowden Street and Cooperative Street and the passageway to the rear of 67-91 Commercial Road.”

Officer contact: Jonathan Vali, 0161 474 3201, jonathan.vali@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Democratic Services Manager reported that at its meeting on 8 August 2011 the Hazel Grove Ward Committee had resolved:-

“That Stepping Hill Area Committee be requested to consider the requests of residents for the gating of the passageway at Bowden Street and Cooperative Street and the passageway to the rear of 67-91 Commercial Road”.

A representative of the Democratic Services Manager reported that the passageways in question were un-adopted and in private ownership and as such the Council could not gate them.

RESOLVED – That the Service Director (Place Management) be requested to confirm whether the passageway to the rear of 67-91 Commercial Road was a public right of way and to report back to the Area Committee.

To consider a report of the Service Director (Schools and Schools Management)

The Area Committee is recommended to note the LA Governor vacancies at Great Moor Junior School (Labour Group nomination) and Stockport School (Labour Group nomination)

Officer contact: Libby Evans, 0161 474 3847, libby.evans@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Democratic Services Manager submitted a report of the Service Director (Schools and School Management) detailing Local Authority Governor vacancies at Great Moor Junior School (Labour Group nomination) and Stockport School (Labour Group nomination).

RESOLVED – That the report 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: Jonathan Vali, 0161 474 3201, jonathan.vali@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 since the last meeting on decisions by the Area Committee, the current position on Area Flexibility Funding and the Highway Maintenance and Traffic Management delegated budgets.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2)   That the Service Director (Place Management) be requested to investigate whether 12-14 Davenport Road, Hazel Grove can be included within the permit parking scheme introduced as part of the comprehensive scheme in the Hazel Grove Station area as residents at these properties had been eligible for the previous permit scheme in this area.

(3)   That the Service Director (Place Management) be requested to submit a report to the next meeting setting out progress with the various outstanding requests from the Area Committee connected to Chester Road, Hazel Grove.