Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 29 September 2015.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 29 September 2015 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

The following interests were declared:-

Personal Interest

Personal & Prejudicial Interest

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

No announcements were made.

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.

Members of the public were invited to submit 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.

Three public questions were submitted.

(1) The first question asked what measures would be put in place to keep the roads in the vicinity of Warren Wood Primary School clear following the expansion of the primary school and how this would be enforced.

In response, the Chair stated that planning officers had assessed the application and were satisfied that the additional parking spaces being provided for staff parking were sufficient for the increase in staff numbers. It was acknowledged current problems with parking were caused by pick-up and drop off of pupils and that monies had been secured as a condition of the planning permission  for a new pedestrian crossing and traffic calming measures on Shearwater Road, as well as a review of the Traffic Regulation Orders near to the school, and that once implemented these would be enforced by Council Parking Enforcement Officers. The introduction of these measures through the necessary legal process could take between 9-12 months to complete. Various other initiatives to encourage walking and cycling to school would also be introduced as these had proven successful at other schools in the Borough.

Two questions were submitted by questioners who were not present at the meeting. The Chair confirmed that, in accordance with the Code of Practice, the questioners would be provided with written responses.

RESOLVED – That the Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration be requested to expedite the provision of a temporary car park at Warren Wood Primary School as required by the granting of the discharge of conditions application for the expansion of the primary school.

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.

Kay Williams, 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 area represented by the Stepping Hill Area Committee.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         there had been issues of water ponding outside Moorfield Primary School and the Council was awaiting an update from contractors following an investigation of the sub drain outside the school;

·         a light on Hazel Grove library car park was broken and needed replacing;

·         leaves were accumulating on the pavement on Torkington Road and were blocking the drains;

·         cars had begun to park in front of the entrance to Davenport Park Road on Bramhall Lane as the double yellow lines had faded and needed repainting;

·         the Council no longer took action against cars for sale on the highway and instead placed notices on the cars to highlight the risks;

·         the road sign on Taunton Close had become damaged and needed replacing;

·         there was an abandoned car on Lake Street that had been clamped but needed removing.

RESOLVED – (1) That Kay Williams be thanked for her attendance.

(2) That the Public Realm Officer be requested to provide to Councillors details of the Council’s leaf clearance programme.

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

To consider an application from the Friends of Torkington Park seeking funding toward the cost of reusable safety lighting to use ion the park for events in the autumn and winter months.

Mr George King of Friends of Torkington Park attended the meeting to answer questions from councillors in relation to an application for area funding (copies of which had been circulated) toward the cost of reusable safety lighting to use in the park for events in the autumn and winter months.

RESOLVED – That the Democratic Services Manager be requested to make a grant of £900 to Friends of Torkington Park toward the cost of reusable safety lighting to use in the park for events in the autumn and winter months.

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

To consider the receipt of a petition signed by 157 people calling for the Council tp provide a permanent crossing to be put in place at Moorfield Primary School, Lyndhurst Avenue, to “address the issue of road safety at Moofield Primary School, as they are unable to recruit a Crossing Guard, further to a previous petition, we are now petitioning for a zebra or similar crossing.”

Mrs Jane Robinson submitted a petition calling on the Council to address issues of road safety at Moorfield Primary School and to provide a permanent pedestrian crossing on Lyndhurst Avenue.

RESOLVED – That the petition be referred to the Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration for consideration.

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 that they wished to address the Area Committee as part of the Open Forum arrangements.

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

The following development applications 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 for Place Management and Regeneration 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).

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

Erection of prefabricated units to form football pavilion, including infrastructure and drainage works.

The Area Committee is recommended to grant planning permission and deter and delegate the final decision subject to the receipt of drainage information and/ or Energy Statement.

Officer contact: Chris Smyton, 0161 474 3657, chris.smyton@stockport.gov.uk

In respect of plan no. 59398 for the erection of prefabricated units to form a football pavilion, including infrastructure and drainage works,

the applicant spoke in support of the application.

It was then

RESOLVED – That the Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration be authorised to determine the application subject to the receipt of the required drainage information and/or Energy Statement.

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: Joy Morton, 0161 474 3219, joy.morton@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Democratic Services Manager submitted a report of the Deputy Chief Executive (copies of which had been circulated) listing any outstanding or recently determined planning appeals and enforcements within the area represented by the Stepping Hill Area Committee.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a joint report of the Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration and the Deputy Chief Executive.

The report sets out an objection received to the proposed introduction of permit parking on one side of Lake Street, Great Moor. The report also includes the response of the officers to the issues raised in the objection.

The Area Committee is recommended to make the Order as advertised.

Max Townsend on telephone number 0161 474 4861 or by email on max.townsend@stockport.gov.uk

The Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration and the Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) setting out an objection received to the proposed introduction of permit parking on one side of Lake Street, Great Moor and the response of the officers to the issues raised in the objection.

RESOLVED – (1) That notwithstanding the objection received, the introduction of the order be implemented as advertised.

(2) That the Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration be requested to investigate the possibility of parking bays at the end of Lake Street to be used by shoppers during shop opening times.

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 with implementing decisions taken by the Area Committee since the last meeting and the current position of the Area Flexibility budget.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.