Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 2 June 2011.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 2 June 2011 were approved as a correct record.

Councillors and Officers to declare any interests which they may have in any of the items on the agenda for this meeting.

The following interest was declared:-

Personal Interest

Councillor                                           Interest

Andrew Verdeille                              Agenda Item 4 ‘Reddish Vale Road’ as a School Governor at Reddish Vale School.

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

The Chair reported that Councillors had attended the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Friends of the Vale and Apple Day, which took place on Sunday, 2 October 2011 at Reddish Vale Country Park.

Councillor Tom Grundy reported that the Friends of Reddish South Station had organised an event to unveil the station’s new wall mural in collaboration with ARC (Arts For Recovery in the Community).  The event would take place on Saturday, 8 October 2011 at 1.00pm and Andrew Gwynne (MP) would unveil the wall mural.  Furthermore, the Mayor of Stockport, Councillor Les Jones would also be in attendance.

Councillor Andrew Verdeille reported that a networking event for Reddish Business Forum would take place on Wednesday 5 October 2011.  Representatives from the Chamber of Commerce and the Chief Executive Stockport Council had been invited to the event.  Councillor Verdeille invited the Friends of the Vale to attend the event.

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

Sergeant Steve Jones (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 Brinnington & Reddish Joint Ward Committee.  The following issues were raised / comments made:-

• Crime statistics over the last year revealed a reduction in the number of burglaries and robberies in Brinnington.
• Ongoing work with PCSOs to address vehicle crime, home insecurities and anti social behaviour (Operation Doc) in South Reddish. 
• Operation Sinbad to address ‘off road’ motorbikes and issues relating to bike crushing events.
• Operation Treacle would take place from the 21 October till 6 November 2011 to keep residents safe from Halloween and Bonfire night.  Operation Treacle would target anti social behaviour and the illegal trading of fireworks.
• Operation Airborne to address alcohol fuelled crime and incidents relating to license premises. 
• The changeover of policing staff in Brinnington and Reddish and a request for an additional officer to be allocated in Reddish Vale Country Park due to the onset of dark afternoons and early evenings.

RESOLVED – That Sergeant Steve Jones 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 at local libraries and Information and Advice Centres)

Members of the public were invited to put questions to the Chair on any matters in the powers or duties of the Joint Ward Committee, subject to the exclusions set out in the Code of Practice.

One question was submitted relating to the Frank Bramwell Trust Fund and whether the Council could consult with local groups on how the fund should be allocated.

The Chair explained that a meeting would take place on Tuesday, 15 November 2011 at 6.00pm in the Council Chamber, Stockport Town Hall to enable discussions with all interested local groups as to how the fund should be allocated.

RESOLVED - That the Democratic Services Manager be requested to provide a written response to the questioner within seven working days.

No organisation has indicated that they wish to address the Area Committee as part of the Open Forum arrangements.

No organisation had indicated that they wished to address the Joint Ward Committee as part of the Open Forum arrangements.

To receive petitions from members of the public and community groups

No petitions were submitted.

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

A representative of the Democratic Services Manager reported that there were no applications to consider.

A representative of the Service Director (Legal & Democratic Services) will attend the meeting to discuss the issues in respect to Reddish Vale Road.

A representative of the Service Director (Legal and Democratic Services) attended the meeting to discuss issues relating to the status of Reddish Vale Road. 

Paul Parkinson (Senior Solicitor) clarified which part of the road was adopted by the Council and explained how the current land owner of the unadopted road could not be traced and how the land owner was responsible for the condition of the land. 

Furthermore he explained that the Council, as an adjoining landowner was under an obligation to make a contribution to the maintenance of the road and had done so over the previous years.  The following issues / comments were discussed:-

• The poor condition of the road.
• During certain months of the year bad weather conditions made the road unusable. 
• Which part of the Reddish Vale Road was adopted and unadopted and which section was not owned by the Council.
• The possibility of the Council buying the unowned section of road.
• Councillors expressed concern for the safety of local residents and members of the public and suggested that part of the road should be sectioned off.
• Councillors commented that there should be an obligation on the Council to protect members of the public from dangerous unadopted roads.
• The costs for repairing the road.
• The possibility of applying for funding to repair the road through the Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund (ALSF). If Offerton Sand and Gravel were still extracting gravel then an application could be made to them for funding through the ALSF scheme, Members raised concerns in respect to drainage water in the vicinity of Reddish Vale School which ran down onto Reddish Vale Road.

RESOLVED – (1) That Paul Parkinson be thanked for his attendance.

(2) That the Service Director (Place Management) be requested to investigate into the Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund and report back at a future meeting.

To consider a report of the Operations Director of NPS Stockport Ltd

To update the Committee on the proposal to grant an appropriate agreement to the Stockport and District Angling Federation in relation to fishing rights at the reservoir located at Reddish Vale, Reddish, Stockport.

The Joint Ward Committee is recommended to note the report.

Officer contact: John Coles, 0161 495 6099, email: john.coles@nps.co.uk

The Operations Director of NPS Stockport submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) updating the Joint Ward Committee on the proposal to grant an agreement to theStockport and District Angling Federation relating to fishing rights at the reservoir locatedat Reddish Vale Country Park. 

The Operations Director of NPS explained that the agreement would be finalised within the next four weeks.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted and that John Coles be thanked for his attendance.

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

The report summarises the public events that took place at Reddish Vale Country Park and the number of visitors that visited the centre during the period from 21 May 2011 – 20 September 2011.

The Joint Ward Committee is recommended to note the report.

Officer contact: Alexandra Krause, 0161 477 5637, email alexandra.krause@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Service Director (Place Management) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) summarising the public events that took place at Reddish Vale Country Park and the number of visitors that visited the visitors’ centre during the period from 21 May – 20 September 2011. The following issues / comments were raised:-

• 74 free public events had taken place between 21 May - 20 September 2011.
• Support from the ‘Friends of the Vale’ group resulted in additional support for art sessions and additional funding obtained for the park.
• Comparison of statistics over previous years indicated that the number of volunteers at the park had increased.
• 1500 people attended Folk Day at Reddish Vale Country Park, which took place on Sunday 26 June 2011.
• 8353 people visited the Visitors’ Centre and 619 people had volunteered from May to September 2011.
• Ongoing partnership with First Schools to develop social skills with children who were at risk of being excluded from school. 
• Staff training had taken place to deliver additional training sessions for health walks around the park.
• Officers gave thanks to Councillors in respect for funding new notice boards in the park. 
• Ongoing partnership working with ARC (Arts For Recovery in the Community) to standardise Reddish Vale Country park branding.
• Praise was given to a photographer whose photo taken at the park was short listed as part of the British Wildlife Photography awards. It was published in the Sunday Times Magazine.
• Councillors suggested the Area Flexibility Grant Fund for supporting projects at Reddish Vale Country Park.
• CBeebies ‘Mr Bloom’s Nursery’ filming had taken place in Reddish Vale Country Park, the BBC had made a donation to the Community Garden.
• Councillors praised Alexandra Krause and the team for their hard work and outstanding contribution in the park.  Councillors raised concern in respect to the job security of the Senior Ranger’s post and expressed concern to if the post was made redundant in the future.
• Issues relating to wild horses in Brinnington and Heaton Norris. The Area Conditions Officer for Brinnington was looking at ways to resolve the issue.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That the Chair on the behalf of the Joint Ward Committee thank Alexandra Krause and the team for their continued hard work in Reddish Vale Country Park.

RESOLVED – That the Democratic Services Manager be requested to include the following item on the agenda for the next meeting:-

·      The legacy left by Frank Bramwell

To agree dates for future meetings of the Joint Ward Committee.

RESOLVED – That the next meeting of the Joint Ward Committee would take place on Tuesday, 15 November 2011 at 6.00pm in the Council Chamber, Stockport Town Hall.