Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 22 November and 10 December 2012.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meetings held on 22 November and 10 December 2012 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

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 interest was declared:-

Personal Interest

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

There were no announcements made.

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

PC Steve Bashan (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 Bramhall and Cheadle Hulme South Area Committee.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         It was noted that the level of criminal activity in the Bramhall and Cheadle Hulme South area had largely either reduced (theft from vehicles; burglaries other than dwellings) or remained static (theft of vehicles and domestic burglary).

·         It was understood that there had been an arrest following a recent rise in graffiti with particular reference to the use of a tag with the initials ‘OKT’. 

·         There had been a recent rise in anti-social behaviour which had prompted the Bramhall Precinct to amend its opening hours such that it would now close at 6pm Monday to Saturday.

·         The local Neighbourhood Policing Team had tamper resistant security screws available for vehicle registration plates.

·         A number of vehicles had been observed left running unattended early in the morning to clear frost and to demist the windscreen which had the potential to result in the theft of the vehicle.  Additional patrols were being conducted to deter criminality and to provide advice to residents in relation to this risk.

RESOLVED – That PC Bashan 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 the meeting and at local libraries and information centres.  You can also submit via the Council’s website at www.stockport.gov.uk/publicquestions.

No public questions were submitted.

The 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 report on current issues and to answer questions from Councillors and members of the public in relation to environmental and highways issues within the area represented by the Bramhall and Cheadle Hulme South Area Committee.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         The main arterial routes in the Bramhall and Cheadle Hulme South area had received a walked inspection during December with any identified defects having been noted and programmed for repair.

·         Evidence had been recovered from an incident of flytipping on Tenement Lane, Bramhall which was currently being investigated.

·         Warning letters had been issued to a number of businesses on the Stanley Green Trading Estate in relation to flyposting at various locations.

·         Further work would be undertaken in the February half term relation to the depression in the carriageway on Hulme Hall Road, Cheadle Hulme which was located at the site of a culvert.  Additional works would be undertaken to examine the condition of the drains that ran alongside the railway line at that location.

·         There had been flooding on Woodford Road which was the result of a number of blocked gullies.  As a result one of the gullies had since been jetted, however a further two gullies awaited work to have them reset in order to gain access.

·         It was requested that attention be given to the condition of the road surfacing on Yew Tree Park Road, Cheadle Hulme between Kirkstead Road and Ack Lane West.

RESOLVED – That Carolyn Turner be thanked for her attendance.

To considwer a report of the Service Director (Place Management).

The report details proposals for the installation of a bench at the bus stop on Chester Road in Woodford outside the garden centre.

The Area Committee is recommended to give approval to the the following:-

Chester Road, Woodford

Provide and Install a Grafton style bench on hard standing to the rear of the bus stop outside the Woodford Park Garden Centre and adjacent to PLC25.

Officer contact: Carolyn Turner on 218 1782 or email: carolyn.turner@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Service Director (Public Realm) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing proposals for the installation of a bench at the bus stop on Chester Road in Woodford outside the Woodford Park Garden Centre.

It was commented that notwithstanding any approval given to this scheme, the Service Director (Public Realm) be requested to consult with the Woodford Park Garden Centre with a view to securing funding towards the cost of the provision of the bench.

RESOLVED – That approval be given to the provision and installation of a Grafton style bench on Chester Road, Woodford on hard standing to the rear of the bus stop outside the Woodford Park Garden Centre and adjacent to PLC25 at a cost of £1,111 to be funded from the Area Committee’s Highway Maintenance and Traffic Management Delegated Budget (Bramhall South ward allocation).

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

St James Catholic High School – Schools Buses

To consider a petition submitted on behalf of the pupils of St James High School requesting improvements to the 815 bus service.

A representative of the Democratic Services Manager reported on the receipt of a petition from the pupils of St James RC High School requesting improvements to the 815 bus service.  It was reported that since the receipt of the petition, Transport for Greater Manchester had agreed to provide an additional afternoon only journey on the 815 service from St James RC High School to Heaviley to provide additional capacity.

RESOLVED – (1) That the action be noted.

(2) That the representative of the Democratic Services Manager be requested to write to the petitioner to thank them for their efforts in raising support for improvements to the 815 bus service and to congratulate them on the outcome of their petition.

(a)       A6 to Manchester Airport Relief Road

As part of the on-going consultation on the A6 to Manchester Airport Relief Roads representatives of the project team will be attending open forums at the Area Committees directly affected by the scheme. This will be an opportunity for questions and comments on the scheme to be addressed by the project representatives. General questions and comments will be welcome as well as junction specific questions and comments in line with the consultation leaflet that has been issued for information. The project team will give a short presentation which will introduce the road scheme to the Area Committee.

(b)       Greater Manchester Energy Switch Campaign

Members are requested to note a new Energy Switch Scheme which allows residents across Greater Manchester to come together and boost their buying power by auctioning their combined energy requirements to see which provider will give them the best deal.

Residents register their interest in the scheme and an auction is held. Energy suppliers will compete to offer the best deals. After the auction, everyone who signed up will get an individual offer from the chosen provider, and they can decide whether to switch or not without any obligation.

A similar scheme in South Lakeland saw some residents cutting their energy bills by up to £200 a year.

Further information on the scheme is available at www.stockport.gov.uk/energyswitch

(a)       A6 to Manchester Airport Relief Road

Jim McMahon (Service Director (Major Projects)), Stockport Council, attended the meeting to update the Area Committee on developments with the A6 to Manchester Airport Relief Road Scheme and to highlight the on-going public consultation.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         The redevelopment of the former BAe Woodford site was largely predicated on the completion of the relief road.

·         It was intended that there would be a cycle route on one side off the road carrying traffic in both directions.

·         Concern was expressed in relation to the effect of the proposals on the A34 in terms of increased traffic flow.  In response, it was stated that the A34 had been identified as being the most appropriate route for north/ south traffic however there were a number of measures that would need to be implemented in order to ensure optimal flows.

·         Members of the public continued to express concern in relation to the proposed junction at Woodford Road, Bramhall with a number suggesting that there had been a commitment at some point in the past to the wholesale removal of any interface between the relief road and Woodford Road once the final scheme had been completed, although investigations by officers had been inconclusive.  However, it was noted that the deletion of a junction at this location would introduce significant additional pressures on the junctions at other locations.

·         Traffic modelling had demonstrated that Woodford Road should see an overall reduction in traffic levels following the completion of the relief road.

·         Queensgate Primary School had raised a number concerns in relation to the proximity of the proposed relief road route to the school building.  It was commented that meetings were scheduled to be held with the head teacher to discuss these.

RESOLVED – That Jim McMahon be thanked for this attendance.

(b)       Greater Manchester Energy Switch Campaign

A representative of the Democratic Services Manager submitted a briefing note (copies of which had been circulated) which detailed a new Energy Switch Scheme which allowed residents across Greater Manchester to come together and boost their buying power by auctioning their combined energy requirements to see which provider would give them the best deal.

The Area Committee noted that residents would be able to register their interest in the scheme and an auction would then be held with energy suppliers being able to compete to offer the best deals.  After the auction process had been completed, everyone who signed up would get an individual offer from the chosen provider and they could then decide whether to switch or not without any obligation.

RESOVLED – That the briefing note be noted.

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 applications will be considered by the Area Committee:-

Development applications were 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 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 charges).

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

Construction of 2 no. 3 bedroom semi detached houses.

The Area Committee is recommended to grant planning permission.

Officer contact: Mark Jordon on 474 3557 or email: mark.jordan@stockport.gov.uk

In respect of plan no. 50711 for the construction of 2 no. 3 bedroom semi-detached houses on land adjacent to 16 Hurley Drive, Cheadle Hulme,

a member of the public spoke against the application.

It was then

RESOLVED – That planning permission be granted.

Construction of a two-storey detached house.

The Area Committee is recommended to refuse planning permission.

Officer contact: Dominic Harvey on 474 3544 or email: dominic.harvey@stockport.gov.uk

In respect of plan no. 51415 for the construction of a two-storey detached house at 5-13 Linney Road, Bramhall,

a member of the public spoke against the application; and

the applicant spoke in support of the application.

It was then

RESOLVED – (One abstention) That planning permission be granted.

To consider a report of the Service Director (Legal and 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 Werneth 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 within the area represented by the Bramhall & Cheadle Hulme South Area Committee.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Chief Executive of Stockport Homes.

The report provides an update on the progress towards the delivery of the Stockport Homes Limited Neighbourhood Actions Plans which are used to bring together in a holistic plan for a neighbourhood a range of housing issues and wider sustainability issues that impact on the quality of life for residents.  These include such issues as the quality of the local environment, anti-social behaviour, community safety and worklessness.

The Area Committee is recommended to comment upon and note the report.

Officer contact: Maria Lindars on 474 2965 or email: maria.lindars@stockporthomes.org

Representatives of the Chief Executive of Stockport Homes submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an update on the progress towards the delivery of the Stockport Homes Limited ‘Neighbourhood Actions Plans’ which were used to bring together in a holistic plan for a neighbourhood a range of housing issues and wider sustainability issues that impacted on the quality of life for residents.  These included such issues as the quality of the local environment, anti-social behaviour, community safety and worklessness.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         The lack of supply of readily available smaller properties to enable tenants to downsize in anticipation of the forthcoming changes to housing benefit was discussed.

·         There was the potential for tenants to sublet rooms in their homes with the agreement of Stockport Homes as a means of supplementing the reduction in housing benefit, although it was acknowledged that this would not be appropriate or desirable in most circumstances.

·         All those tenants who would be affected by the changes had been visited and offered support and advice.  Further work was being done to identify and support those tenants whose circumstances had changed since the initial visits had been made.

·         A discussion took place in relation to the removal of age restrictions on a number properties and with specific regard to whether there had been any issues that had resulted from the juxtaposition of different age groups.  In response it was stated that it was still early in the process and that robust mechanisms had been put in place to identify and resolve any such issues; however, there had been no significant problems yet reported.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

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

The report details the outcome of an investigation into the junction of Grasmere Crescent & St Michael’s Avenue, Bramhall following concerns expressed by residents in relation to a lack of visibility to the right when trying to exit St Michael’s Avenue, as the existing layout requires vehicles to give way on St Michaels Avenue at the junction with Grasmere Crescent.

The Area Committee is recommended to give approval to the reversal of the give way system and associated electrical connection works required.

Officer contact: Andrew Varey on 474 4809 or email: andrew.varey@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Democratic Services Manager submitted a report of the Service Director (Place Management) (copies of which had been circulated) detailing the outcome of an investigation into the junction of Grasmere Crescent and St Michael’s Avenue, Bramhall following concerns expressed by residents in relation to a lack of visibility to the right when trying to exit St Michael’s Avenue, as the existing layout required vehicles to give way on St Michaels Avenue at the junction with Grasmere Crescent.

RESOLVED – That, subject to public consultation, approval be given to the reversal of the existing give way system on St Michaels Avenue and Grasmere Crescent, Bramhall including signs, electrical ducting connection and removal and replacement of junction/ give way road markings at a cost of £6,300 to be funded from the Area Committee’s Highway Maintenance and Traffic Management Delegated Budget (Bramhall North ward allocation). 

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

The report details the findings of a consultation exercise with residents of Thorn Grove, Cheadle Hulme in relation to a request from a member of the public with regard to converting the advisory School Keep Clear Markings into an enforceable Traffic Regulation Order to enable the councils Civil Enforcement Officers to penalise offending vehicles.

The report was deferred from the last meeting to allow for further consideration of the extent of the restrictions. Following discussions with the Ward Spokesperson, an amended proposal has been submitted for consideration.

The Area Committee is recommended to give approval to the following:-

Proposed No Stopping Monday – Friday 8am – 9.30am and 2.30-3.30pm on School Entrance Markings

Thorn Grove, Cheadle Hulme, west side from a point 76 metres south of the southerly kerb line of Woodstock Avenue for a distance of 78 metres in a southerly direction.

Officer contact: Andrew Varey on 474 4809 or email: andrew.varey@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Democratic Services Manager submitted a report of the Service Director (Place Management) (copies of which had been circulated) detailing the findings of a consultation exercise with residents of Thorn Grove, Cheadle Hulme in relation to a request from a member of the public with regard to converting the advisory ‘School Keep Clear Markings’ into an enforceable Traffic Regulation Order to enable the Council’s Civil Enforcement Officers to penalise offending vehicles.

The Chair reported that this item had been deferred from the last meeting of the Area Committee to allow for further consideration of the extent of the restrictions.  Following discussions with the Ward Spokesperson, an amended proposal had been submitted for consideration.

RESOLVED – That approval be given to the following scheme at a cost of £850 to be funded from the Area Committee’s Highway Maintenance and Traffic Management Delegated Budget (Cheadle Hulme South ward allocation):-

Proposed No Stopping Monday – Friday 8.00am - 9.30am and 2.30pm -3.30pm on School Entrance Markings

Thorn Grove, Cheadle Hulme – west side from a point 76 metres south of the southerly kerb line of Woodstock Avenue for a distance of 78 metres in a southerly direction.

To consider a report of the Service Director (Education).

The Area Committee is requested to reappoint governors to governing bodies as indicated below:-

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

A representative of the Democratic Services Manager submitted a report of the Service Director (Education) (copies of which had been circulated) requesting the Area Committee to consider the reappointment of governors at Neville Road Infant, Queensgate Primary and Ladybrook Primary Schools.

RESOLVED -  That the Executive Councillor (Lifelong Learning & Achievement) be recommended to approve the following reappointments of Authority Governors to the following schools:-

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: Damian Eaton, 0161 474 damian.eaton@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 on decisions taken by the Area Committee since the last meeting and the current position on Area Flexibility and the Highway Maintenance and Traffic Management delegated budgets.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.