Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 18 June 2018.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 18 June 2018 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.

No declarations of interest were made.

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

No urgent decisions were reported.

No announcements were made.

Members of the public are invited to put questions to the Chair of the Ward Committee on any matters within the powers and duties of the Ward 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 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.

One question was submitted relating to the issue of rabbit hunting with dogs on Tiviot Dale.

RESOLVED – That this issue be discussed under Agenda Item 5.

No petitions were submitted.

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

No applications for ward flexibility funding were submitted.

To consider a report from the Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration.

The report advises Members on the current and historic reports of hunting rabbits by shooting and coursing on recreation ground known as Tiviot Dale.

Members are requested to consider:

1.    That the situation be monitored and any reports forwarded to the police.

2.    Signage advising people that hunting with dogs/shooting is prohibited and should be investigated, with associated costs and efficacy considered.

3.    That the site be walked weekly for one month to look for any signs of illegal hunting activity.

Officer contact; John Rowland Email: john.rowland@stockport.gov.uk Telephone: 0161 474 2226

A representative of the Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) which advised Members on the current and historic reports of hunting rabbits by shooting and coursing on recreation ground known as Tiviot Dale.

The following comments were made/issues raised:

·         Members were advised that a representative from Greater Manchester Police had visited the area and found no evidence of illegal activity.  The Officer had spoken to members of the public but nobody had witnessed anything.  There was one recorded incident of an air rifle being used.

·         The Police need the Council to make a formal complaint or take action themselves. 

·         Representatives of the Police and the RSPCA had been invited to attend this meeting but neither were present.

·         The shooting of rabbits is legal if it is done on private land (rabbits and rats are exempt from the 2004 Hunting Act), however it needs the permission of the owner of the land and this is not the case here.

·         Members agreed that there should be signage in the area, advising people that they would be prosecuted if they were caught shooting rabbits.

·         The possibility of CCTV was also discussed, but it was not clear whether this would provide any admissible evidence.

·         Members thought it would be helpful to set up a ‘task & finish’ sub group to investigate this issue further.

·         A representative of the Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration to be requested to draw up a plan for signage and investigate possible penalties for perpetrators.

RESOLVED (i) That the situation be monitored and any reports forwarded to the police.

(ii)  Signage advising people that hunting with dogs/shooting is prohibited and should be investigated, with associated costs and efficacy considered.

(iii) That the site be walked weekly for one month to look for any signs of illegal hunting activity.

(iv) That a ‘task and finish’ group be set up as soon as possible to look at the issue of rabbit coursing and that the RSPCA and GMP be invited to attend.

A representative of the Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration will attend the meeting and provide an update on issues affecting the management of Reddish Vale Country Park.

Representatives of the Friends of Reddish Vale attended the meeting and provided an update on matters relating to Reddish Vale Country Park.

The following comments were made/issues raised:

·         The help of volunteers was crucial to the success of the Park, and more are needed at the present time.  The Friends of Reddish Vale were intending to initiate a recruitment drive.

·         There had been a few teething problems with the Screamania event for Halloween but it was hoped that these would be resolved very shortly.  The Friends of Reddish Vale were asked to report back to the next meeting of the Brinnington & Reddish Joint Ward Committee about how the event had gone and to report whether there were any further events planned for the future.

·         The Friends of Reddish Vale reported that they were considering running a number of events, for example Stockport flower show.

RESOLVED – (i) That the report be noted and the representatives of Reddish Vale be thanked for their attendance and presentation.

(ii) That the Friends of Reddish Vale report back to the next meeting of the Committee with regard to the Screamania event and any other planned activities.

To consider any applications for funding from the Frank Bramwell Legacy Fund or to receive feedback from organisations who have received funding.

No applications for funding from the Frank Bramwell Legacy Fund were submitted.

Councillors and members of the public are invited to suggest items for inclusion on future agendas.

RESOLVED – (i) A representative of the Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration is to report on the possibility of signage in Tiviot Dale and also on potential penalties for rabbit coursing.

(ii) The next meeting of the Brinnington and Reddish Joint Ward Committee will take place on 11 February 2018 and the Friends of Reddish Vale Country park will report back on Screamania and any subsequent events that may be taking place.