Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 24 August 2011.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 24 August 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.

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

The Chair granted permission to the holding of the Marple Food and Drink Festival.

A representative of the Democratic Services Manager reported that the Corporate Director of Place, in consultation with the Chair, had agreed to the request from the organisers of the Marple Festival for the use of Marple District Centre for the Food and Drink Festival.

RESOLVED – That the urgent decision be noted.

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

The Chair announced that there would be an extraordinary meeting of the Marple Area Committee on Wednesday, 12 October 2011 at Cheadle and Marple Sixth Form College, Buxton Road, Marple at 6pm to discuss the future of the Hibbert Lane Campus.

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 questions from Councillors and members of the public in relation to Neighbourhood Policing Issues within the area represented by the Marple Area Committee.

The following issues were raised/ comments made:-

• Crime in general had decreased on the same period last year.
• There had been an increase in vehicle crime and the public were reminded not to leave valuables in their cars.
• Operation Treacle would begin to prevent nuisance associated with fireworks, working in partnership with the Fire Service and Trading Standards.
• PSCOs were working in schools as part of the ‘Junior Crime Fighters’ scheme.

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).

No public questions were submitted.

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.

Alan Whitfield (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 in the area represented by the Marple Area Committee.

The following issues were raised:-

• All the instances of ‘anti-Tesco’ graffiti had been removed from Marple District Centre.
• A new waste bin had been installed at the entrance to the canal tow path at Shepley Lane to encourage proper disposal of waste and dog refuse.

RESOLVED – (1) That Alan Whitfeld be thanked for his attendance.

(2) That the Service Director (Place Management) be requested to clarify the reasons for the removal of the left turning filter at the junction of Dooley Lane and Stockport Road and to report back to Ward Councillors.

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

a) East Drive, Marple - Permit Parking

(a)   East Drive, Marple – Permit Parking

A representative of the Democratic Services Manager reported on the receipt of a petition signed by five residents requesting permit parking on East Drive, Marple.

RESOLVED – That the petition be referred to the Service Director (Place Management) for investigation.

(b) M.E.S.S – Allotment Provision in Marple

Mr David Matthews of Marple, Mellor and Marple Bridge Energy Saving Strategy (M.E.S.S) attended the meeting and submitted a petition encouraging the Council to increase its allotment provision in the Marple area in light of the significant demand and the environmental benefits.

Councillors supported the principal of increasing allotment provision but discussed the difficulties facing the Council in identifying suitable sites in the Marple area.

RESOLVED – (1) That the petition be referred to the Executive Councillor (Leisure) and the Service Director (Communities) for further consideration.

(2) That the Service Director (Communities) be requested to submit a report to the next meeting on the following:-

• the current position with negotiations on the future of the Seven Stiles Allotment site;
• The possibilities of utilising the former nursery site in Brabyns Park as allotments, and
• The status of the former Peacefield School playing fields and the possibility of utilising this area for allotments.

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 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.

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 Committee:-

DC046866                 67, Hibbert Lane, Marple

                                    Erection of two storey detached house (outline)

The Committee is recommended to grant planning permission subject to the completion of a section 106 agreement in respect to open space provision.

(a)    To consider development applications where members of the public have attended the meeting in order to hear the Committee's deliberations.

(b)    To consider the remaining development applications.

Officer contact: Emma Curle on 0161 474 3542, e-mail emma.curle@stockport.gov.uk

A development application was 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).

In respect of plan no. 46866 for the erection of two storey detached house (outline) at 67 Hibbert Lane, Marple, it was

RESOLVED – That the Service Director (Place Development) be authorised to determine the application subject to the applicant paying a commuted sum in respect of recreation and amenity open space provision or entering into a Section106 Agreement to do so.

To consider a report of the Service Director (Legal and Democratic Services)

The report summarises recent appeal decisions, lists current planning appeals and dates fro local enquiries, informal hearings for planning appeals and enforcement action within the Heatons & Reddish Area Committee area.

The Area Committee is recommended to note the report.

Officer Contact: Joy Morton, 0161 474 3217, email: 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 within the area represented by the Marple Area Committee.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a joint report of the Service Directors, Place Management and Legal and Democratic Services.

The report requests the Area Committee to consider whether to dedicate a bridleway over land owned by the Council, and enter into a dedication agreement with a landowner willing to dedicate a bridleway over land owned by him between Marple Hall Drive and Vale Road, as shown marked A-B-C-D-E-F-G-H on plan attached on Appendix 1.

The Area Committee is recommended to:-

(i)         dedicate a bridleway over the route between points A – B, E-G-F, and G-H.

(ii)        enter into dedication agreement with the landowner, Mr Townend, for the dedication of a bridleway over the route between points B-C-E and a footpath over the route between points C-D.

Officer Contact: Ernest Nama Tel 0161 474 4595 or email: ernest.nama@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Service Director (Place Management) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing a proposal to dedicate a bridleway between Marple Hall Drive and Vale Road as part of the Connect2 Scheme to improve walking and cycling routes between Marple, Romiley, Offerton and Lower Bredbury.

RESOLVED – That the dedication of a bridleway between Marple Hall Drive and Vale Road be approved as follows:-

(i)                 the dedication of bridleway over the route between points A-B, E-G-F and G-H as detailed on the map accompanying the report.

(ii)               the Council entering into a dedication agreement with the landowner, Mr Townend, for the dedication of a bridleway over the route between points B-C-E and a footpath over the route between points C-D as detailed on the map accompanying the report.

To consider a report of the Service Director, Place Management.

The Area Committee is requested to consider an application for the use of Brabyns Park for a bonfire/fireworks display at Brabyns Park on 5 November 2011.

The Area Committee is recommended to give consideration to the applications.

Officer Contact: Tim Devine on Tel 0161 474 4419 or email tim.devine@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Democratic Services Manager submitted a report of the Service Director (Communities) (copies of which had been circulated) summarising an application received from Marple Guides and Scouts requesting permission to hold the annual bonfire/fireworks display in Brabyns Park on 5 November 2011.

RESOLVED – That the application to use Brabyns Park on 5 November 2011 for the annual bonfire/fireworks display be approved.

To consider a report of the Service Director (Learning & Achievement)

The Area Committee is requested to note the vacancy at High Lane Primary.

Officer Contact: Libby Evans on Tel 0161 474 3847 or email: libby.evans@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Democratic Services Manager submitted a report of the Service Director (Learning & Achievement) (copies of which had been circulated) detailing a governor vacancy at High Lane Primary School (Conservative Group nomination).

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Democratic Services Manager.

The report requests the Area Committee is requested to appoint Councillors to lay wreaths on behalf of the Council at the Remembrance Day Services at Compstall, High Lane, Marple and Mellor War Memorials on Sunday 13 November 2011.

The Area Committee is requested to appoint Councillors to lay wreaths on behalf of the Council at the Remembrance Day Services at Compstall, High Lane, Marple and Mellor War Memorials on Sunday 13 November 2011.

Officer Contact: Stephen Fox on Tel 0161 474 3206 or email: stephen.fox@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Democratic Services Manager submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) inviting the Area Committee to nominate councillors to lay wreath on behalf of the Council at Remembrance Sunday Services on 13 November 2011.

RESOLVED – That the following councillors be appointed to lay a wreaths on behalf of the Council at Remembrance Sunday Services on 13 November 2011:-

Compstall – Councillor Andrew Bispham

High Lane – Councillor Shan Alexander

Marple Memorial Park – Councillor Martin Candler

Mellor – Councillor Andrew Bispham

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: Stephen Fox, 0161 474 3206, stephen.fox@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 taken by the Area Committee, the current position on Area Flexibility Funding and the Highway Maintenance and Traffic Management delegated budget.

The Chair reported on the receipt of a letter from the Walklate Trust reporting on proposed changes to the operation of the Trust.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That the Area Committee agrees to give up its right to make a nomination of a Council representative to the Walklate Trust.