Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 5 March 2019.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 5 March 2019 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

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

The following interests were declared:-

Personal & Prejudicial Interests

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

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.  You can also submit via the Council’s website at www.stockport.gov.uk/publicquestions.

There were no public questions 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.

Carolyn Turner, Public Realm Inspector, attended the meeting to answer questions from councillors and members of the public in relation to highway and environmental quality issues within the areas represented by the Stepping Hill Area Committee.

·         Regular highway safety inspections had been completed.

·         Trial digs were planned for Marple Road and Wrights Bank North to address issues with drainage.

·         Heavy rainfall on 16 and 17 March had resulted in a number of complaints about drainage and blocked gullies, most of which had now been addressed.

·         Investigations and works were ongoing on the A6 near Asda following further reports of drainage problems.

·         Work had been undertaken on Bean Leach Road following flooding from Poise Brook and further work was planned to repair gully connections.

·         High pressure jetting had been done on Hazelwood Road in the vicinity of the shops and Bosden Fold Road. No visible defects were detected.

·         The Community Playback Team had cleared hedges on Chester Road near the railway bridge in preparation for work to repair or replace benches.

·         It was proposed to purchase five dog fouling signs per ward at locations to be determined.

·         The Council was in dialogue with developers to address damage to grass verges on Buxton Road. Grass verges had also been reseeded on Blackstone Road following redevelopment there.

·         Aldwyn Crescent Community Group had collected 14 bags of litter from the footpaths to Chester Road.

·         Litter Force was a new partnership between Walking Wounded and Keep Britain Tidy that would be undertaking litter picking on 25 April 2019.

·         Fly tipping on Wrights Bank North had been reported and removed and a resident warned about further occurrences.

·         A community warning letter and community warning notice were issued in relation to fly-tipping on land at the junction of Vernon Road and Peter Street.

·         An abandoned vehicle was scheduled to be removed from Bonis Crescent.

The following additional issues were raised:-

·         Thanks were expressed to officers for their prompt response to recent flooding on Bean Leach Road.

·         It was commented that some businesses actively collected their branded litter in their vicinity and a request was made for businesses in Great Moor to be reminded of their obligations.

·         There was a tree trunk in Bean Leach Road that may have contributed to flooding.

Councillors expressed their gratitude to Carolyn Turner and colleagues for their support and prompt action over the past year.

RESOLVED – That Carolyn Turner be thanked for her attendance and presentation.

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

There were no petitions 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 Deputy Chief Executive reported that no organisation had indicated that 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.

To consider an application for support for the installation of a commemorative plaque.

Chris Barber, representing Stockport Lads Club, attended the meeting to answer questions from the Area Committee in relation to an application for funding toward the cost of installing a commemorative plaque for Harry Wright MBE, a longstanding member of the club.

RESOLVED – That a grant of £1500 be made to the Stockport Lads Club from the Area Flexibility Fund toward the cost of a commemorative plaque.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration.

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

Development applications were submitted.

Proposed development comprising demolition of existing infrastructure, erection of a Residential Development of total 87 units (59 no. 2-storey dwellinghouses, and 28 no. apartments in part 2 and 3-storey blocks).

The Area Committee is invited to recommend approval of the application to the Planning & Highways Regulation Committee.

In respect of plan no. 70776 for the demolition of existing infrastructure and erection of a residential development of total 87 units (59 no. 2-storey dwelling houses, and 28 no. apartments in part 2 and 3-storey blocks) at land at Melford Road, Hazel Grove

the applicant’s agent spoke in support of the application.

It was then

RESOLVED – (1) That the Planning & Highways Regulation Committee be informed that this Area Committee was supportive of the application in general, but that it recommended that a site visit be undertaken in view of concerns about the potential safety implications for children accessing off-site play provision rather than an on-site play area.

(2) That the Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration be requested to reconsider the allocation of commuted sums accrued from this development to allocate funds to Devonshire Road Park rather than Torkington Park, given the lack of provision in the former facility and its relative ease of access from the development site.

Demolition of Existing Building and Erection of Three Dwellings (alteration to approved application reference DC/069657).

The Area Committee is invited to recommend approval of the application to the Planning & Highways Regulation Committee.

In respect of plan no. 072250 for the demolition of existing building and erection of three dwellings (alteration to approve application reference DC/069657) it was

RESOLVED – That the Planning & Highways Regulation Committee be recommended to grant planning permission subject to clarification on whether the granting of permission would prevent the implementation of the previously agreed scheme.

To consider a report of the Deputy Chief Executive.

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: Karen Hillen, 0161 474 3640, jonathan.vali@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) summarising recent appeal decisions, current planning appeals and enforcement action within the Stepping Hill Area Committee area.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration.

The report seeks approval for a part-revocation of No Waiting at Any Time on Lisburne Close in Offerton to increase on-road parking capacity.

The Area Committee approves the following Traffic Order:

Revoke No Waiting at Any Time:

Lisburne Close

South Westerly side from a point 4 metres South East of the projected boundary line between No’s 1 and 3 for a distance of 6 metres in a North Easterly direction.

Officer contact: Max Townsend, 0161 474 4861, max.townsend@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report of the Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration (copies of which had been circulated) inviting the Area Committee to consider a proposal to revoke a section of waiting restrictions on Lisburne Close, Offerton to provide additional on-street parking capacity for residents.

RESOLVED – That the legal advertising of the following Traffic Regulation Order be approved at a cost of £200 to be funded from the Area Committee’s Delegated Budget (Offerton Ward allocation) and, subject to no objections being received within 21 days from the advertisement date, the Order being made:

Revoke No Waiting at Any Time:

Lisburne Close

South westerly side from a point 4 metres south east of the projected boundary line between no’s 1 and 3 for a distance of 6 metres in a north easterly direction.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration.

The report seeks approval for the cost for the construction of a lowered-kerb for pedestrian access on Wellington Street in Hazel Grove.

The Area Committee is asked to decide whether to approve the £1,000 for the construction of a lowered-kerb (wide enough for a wheelchair or pushchair) would be £1,000 funded form the delegated Ward budget 2019-2020.

Officer contact: Max Townsend, 0161 474 4861, max.townsend@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report of the Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration (copies of which had been circulated) seeking approval from the Area Committee for the construction of a lowered-kerb for pedestrian access on Wellington Street, Hazel Grove.

RESOLVED – That approval be given to the use of £1,000 from the Area Committee’s Delegated Budget (Hazel Grove Ward allocation) for the construction of a lowered-kerb (of sufficient width for a wheelchair or pushchair) on Wellington Street, Hazel Grove.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration.

JK Events is seeking to hold an Inflatable Fun Weekend at Torkington Park on 15 – 16 June 2019 with inflatable slides, castle, assault course and body zorbing in a fenced off area. 

The Area Committee is recommended to approve the application subject to all appropriate paperwork and licences being obtained and submitted to the Council at least one week prior to the event taking place and the paying of appropriate fees and charges.

Officer contact: Jacky Budd, 0161 474 3332, jacky.budd@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report of the Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration (copies of which had been circulated) inviting the Area Committee to consider an application from JK Events for the use of Torkington Park on 15 and 16 July 2019.

RESOLVED – That the application from JK Events for the use of Torkington Park on 15 and 16 July 2019 for an inflatable fun weekend be approved, subject to the receipt by the Council of all appropriate paperwork, licences and fees at least one week prior to the event taking place, and with the Council officers being satisfied that all appropriate safety measures are in place.

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 Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) updating the Area Committee on progress with decisions taken at previous meetings and the current position on the Area Committee’s delegated budget.

Councillors expressed disappointment that resources were being ‘clawed back’ from the delegated budget. Reference was made to a recent email to all councillors provide assurance that schemes that had been initiated prior to the end of the financial year but not sufficiently progressed for there to have been an area committee resolution would be honoured from those ‘clawed back’ resources.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That the Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration be requested to provide a report to the next meeting on the use of the Speed Indictor Signs purchased by the Area Committee, including where the signs have been deployed, the results of those deployments, and the planned future locations.

(3) That the Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration be requested to provide details of those highways and traffic schemes currently being progressed that would be funded from the ‘clawed back’ Delegated Budget.

(4) That the Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration be requested to provide clarification on proposals in relation to traffic calming and the ‘pinch point’ on Bean Leach Road.