Agenda and minutes

Members of the public are 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.  (Questions must be submitted prior to the commencement of the meeting on the card provided.  These are available at the meeting. You can also submit via the Council’s website at www.stockport.gov.uk/publicquestions)

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.

No public questions were submitted.

The Chair welcomed all those members of the public present to the meeting. She explained that the purpose of the meeting was to consider what issues should be discussed at future meetings of the Area Committee and how better the public could be involved at those meetings. Before breaking off into smaller groups to address those questions, the Chair explained that she had invited officers to make presentations which she hoped would help those discussions.

Steve Fox, Democratic Services will explain the Area Committee functions, powers and duties.

A representative of the Democratic Services Manager made a presentation in respect to the powers and duties of the Area Committee and how they fit into the Council decision making structure.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

Paul Lawrence, Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration will make a presentation in respect to current local and borough issues.

The Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration made a presentation in respect to the main issues affecting the borough and Marple including transportation, housing, population growth and the city region.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

Representatives of the Neighbourhood Policing Team and the Community Safety Unit will attend the meeting and make a presentation in respect to issues affecting the Marple Area Committee area.

Representatives of Greater Manchester Police and the Community Safety Unit, Stockport Council made a presentation in respect to crime and ani-social behaviour issued affecting the Marple area.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

Group discussion and feedback to address the following questions:-

1.    Each group are asked to identify the five most important issues that they would wish to see discussed at future meetings of the Area Committee during the Open Forum arrangements?

2.    What can be done to encourage members of the public to attend meetings of the Area Committee/ Are there currently any perceived barriers discouraging people from attending?

The meeting then broke into smaller groups to address the key questions outlined by the Chair earlier in the meeting. The following were highlighted at key issues:-

·         The implementation of Locality Plan for Marple

·         To consider new ways of working for meetings of the Area Committee

·         A programme for presentations at Open Forums – to address important issues such as schools and school places, traffic congestion and parking in the district and local centres, Health, the future for Parks and Green spaces and Anti-social behaviour

RESOLVED – That the Democratic Services Manager be requested to give consideration to the issues raised and submit a report to a future meeting with options for the Committees consideration.