Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 2 February 2012.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 2 February 2012 were approved as a correct record.

No declarations of interest were made.

The Chair informed the Committee that he was deeply saddened to report that Neil Oxley’s father had recently passed away.  The Chair invited the Committee to join him in extending his deepest sympathies to Neil Oxley and his family.

Sergeant Everett and PC Butterley (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 comments were made/ issues raised:-

• There had been a reduction in the number of domestic burglaries, vehicle crime and anti-social behaviour since the equivalent period last year.
• The use of Operation Doc in helping to combat anti-social behaviour.
• Officers had patrolled the vicinity of Mill Lane, Harcourt Street and outside Vale View Primary School during weekday afternoons in relation to illegal car parking on the highway.
• Concern was expressed as drug users and sellers and paraphernalia had been discovered at Woodhall fields.
• Members wished to be advised who the liason officer was for Reddish Vale Country Park and for park staff to be made aware.
• It was reported that homeless people were living in the park and concern was expressed that this issue may escalate during the summer months.
• Members expressed concern about a member of the public who had entered the Visitor’s Centre under the influence of drugs. 
• Members of the public were reminded to ring telephone number 101 to contact the Police for non-emergency issues when the public did not require an immediate police response. 
• Members raised concern about the on-going problem of dog fouling in Brinnington and Reddish.  Members discussed the health risks, and how to combat these problems.  It was confirmed that PCSOs were now authorised to issue fixed penalties for dog fouling to dog owners and a Member asked how many fixed penalties in relation to dog fouling had been served in the last year.
• A request for members of the public to advise the Dog Warden Service

about irresponsible owners who allowed their dog to foul, what route they took and what time the fouling occurred.

• Members of the public were unaware that dog waste could be disposed in any public waste bin and that it did nothave to be disposed of within a designated dog waste bin.  A request was made that the issues raised were passed on to the Dog Warden Service and Environmental Services for information.
• Members recommended that the dog fouling posters advertised on Harcourt Street fields should be advertised borough wide.   
• Members commented on the Dog Warden’s uniform and the number of wardens employed by the Council.
• Concern was raised that horses had been sited on Mill Lane.
• Concerns were raised in respect of off road motor biking in the vicinity of Brinnington and Reddish Vale and whether the confiscated off road bikes would be crushed again as part of a public ‘crushing event’ to raise public awareness of illegal off road motor biking.
• Concern was expressed that motorists were racing on the highway in the early hours of the morning in Reddish and surrounding areas.

RESOLVED – (1) That Sergeant Everett and PC Butterley (Greater Manchester Police) be thanked for their attendance.

(2) That the Democratic Services Manager be requested to inform Environmental Services of the issues relating to dog fouling and to invite the Dog Warden to the next meeting of the Committee to discuss dog fouling in Brinnington and Reddish.

Members of the public are invited to put questions to the Chair of the Committee on any matters within the powers and duties of the 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 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 damage to the woodland overlooking the golf club off the Trans Pennine Trail which had been caused by mountain bike riders and whether the Council would be taking any action against the perpetrators.

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

In accordance with the Code of Practice no organisation has indicated that they wished to address the Ward 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.

No petitions were submitted.

To consider any 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.

Representatives of the Service Director (Place Management) will attend the meeting and make a presentation on the Pass the Baton Relay Olympic event at Reddish Vale Country Park.

RESOLVED – That the item be deferred for further information to the next meeting of the Joint Ward Committee meeting and that Greater Manchester Police be invited to comment on the item as well.

A representative of the Service Director (Place Management) will attend the meeting and provide an update on activities at Reddish Vale Country Park.

Officer contact: Alexandra Krause, 0161 477 5637, email

alexandra.krause@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Service Director (Communities) attended the meeting and provided an update on activities that had occurred at Reddish Vale Country Park since the last meeting which took place on 2 February 2012. 

The following comments were made / issues raised:-

• Funding had been secured from the ‘Public Rights of Way’ department to improve the accessibility of the Trans-Pennine Trail steps and for the creation of a ramp for cyclists and provision for horse riders.
• Access through Reddish Vale Farm had been granted to Park Rangers.
• Litter picking activities had taken place at Reddish Vale Country Park.
• Partnership working with Manchester Ecology Unit to excavate Woodhall Fields would take place during October 2012.   The event would be advertised regionally and in the Visitor’s Centre and at local schools.

Jackie Wood, Arts For Recovery (ARC), attended the meeting and made a presentation in respect to how ARC works in partnership with a range of organisations and how the Reddish Vale County Park partnership was created.  She explained ARC’s vision for personal development and community engagement and summarised the projects that had recently taken place at the park. 

She presented a piece of crochet made by the crochet group and explained the current project of redesigning the activity room in the Visitor Centre at Reddish Vale Country Park. 

The following comments were made / issues raised:-

·         Successful partnership working with Reddish Vale Country Park.

·         The wide range of activities that had been held at Reddish Vale Country Park such as ‘Art in the Park’, crochet activities and the mosaic project.

·         The demography of attendees who attended the park’s projects.

·         The success of the mosaic park logo project, which would be sited in several strategic locations in Reddish Vale Country Park.

·         How the new activity room would be self-facilitating and encourage members of the public to engage with the park.

·         The opening hours of the activity room and the type of projects held and the staffing arrangements.

·         The possibility of items made at the craft groups at Reddish Vale Country Park to be sold at the Visitor Centre.

·         The possibility of local businesses bidding or commissioning an item in return for either advertising the park or their business. 

·         The possibility for Reddish Vale County Park to apply to the Community First Panel for funding for projects in the park.

·         Developing the level of support from local businesses in the community.

·         The possibility of displaying art in studios on Leamington Road, Reddish.

·         Members congratulated Jackie Wood and Alex Krause on their hard work and their successful partnership for Reddish Vale County Park.

·         A public event would be organised to officially open the new Visitor Centre at the park.

RESOLVED – (1) That Alex Krause and Jackie Wood be thanked for their attendance.

(2) That the Democratic Services Manager be requested to investigate whether the crochet art work could be displayed in Fred Perry House, Stockport. 

A representative of the Service Director (Place Management) will attend the meeting and provide an update on the Frank Bramwell Legacy projects.

Officer contact: Neil Oxley, 0161 474 3681, email

Neil.oxley@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Service Director (Communities) attended the meeting and provided an update on the Frank Bramwell’s legacy project.  She reported that the ‘Wetland Project’ had been delivered and thanked the Environmental Team and staff and volunteers at Reddish Vale County Park for their hard work and commitment. 

The following comments were made / issues raised:-

·         Work on the Visitor Centre and Memorial Trail projects would commence before the end of the month and four large tourist signs (brown signs) were in the process of being located in strategic locations in Reddish Vale Country Park.

·         Preliminary works linked to Sunnyside Woods had been accomplished (tree thinning), further works would involve bringing top soil to the area and woodland wildflower planting.

·         Costings for the Visitor Centre were finalised and the project would commence on the 19 March 2012.

·         A request for Councillors to support and promote the Frank Bramwell projects was welcomed and that events would be included within the Reddish Vale Country Park’s newsletter.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That the Democratic Services Manager be requested to liaise with Service Director (Place Management) regarding the location of the tourist signs in Reddish Vale County Park.

RESOLVED – That the following items are to be included on the agenda for the next meeting:-

·         Pass the Baton relay Olympic event at Reddish Vale Country Park.

·         The lease for Reddish Vale Farm, Reddish Vale Road, Reddish.

·         Angling licence agreement for Reddish Vale Reservoirs.

·         Kennels – Replacement fencing.