Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 24 May 2012.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 24 May 2012 were approved as a correct record.

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

The Chair announced that the Grafton Street Play Area Fun Day would take place on Saturday, 4 August 2012 from 12 noon till 4.00pm.

The Chair reported that a representative of the Neighbourhood Policing Team had been unable to attend the meeting.

Members of the public are invited to put questions to the Chair of the Joint Ward Committee on any matters within the powers and duties of the Joint 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 and at local libraries and information centres.  You can also submit via the Council’s website at www.stockport.gov.uk/publicquestions.

No questions were submitted.

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

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

There were no Joint Ward Flexibility Funding applications to consider.

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

The report summarises the lease for Reddish Vale Farm, Reddish Vale Road.

The Joint Ward Committee is recommended to note the report.

Officer Contact: Jane Bardsley on 477 5637 or jane.bardsley@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Service Director (Place Management) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) summarising the lease for Reddish Vale Farm, Reddish Vale Road.

The following comments were made / issues raised:-

• Concern was expressed in respect to the number of horses kept at the farm and the health and safety issues of young people riding horses on main roads rather than using the bridleway.     
• Clarification was sought and provided in respect to the difference between a horse and a pony.
• The Council originally went into agreement with the tenants of Reddish Vale Farm on 14 November 1997 for 50 years.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

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

The report provides an update on the Frank Bramwell Legacy.  

The Joint Ward Committee is recommended to note the report.

Officer Contact: Jane Bardsley on 477 5637 or jane.bardsley@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Service Director (Place Management) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an update on the Frank Bramwell Legacy.  

The following comments were made / issues raised:-

·         Whether the Wetland Project had encouraged any new wildlife to the Reddish Vale Country Park.

·         How the unspent Frank Bramwell legacy money of £31,380.52 would be spent.

·         Councillors praised participants involved with the Frank Bramwell Legacy projects and thanked everyone for their hard work and contribution to the park. 

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That the Service Director (Place Management) be requested to submit a report on the progress of the Frank Bramwell Legacy Project to the next meeting of the Brinnington and Reddish Joint Ward Committee.

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

The report provides an update on the Angling Licence Agreement for Reddish Vale Reservoirs.

The Joint Ward Committee is recommended to note the report.

Officer Contact: Jane Bardsley on 477 5637 or jane.bardsley@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Service Director (Place Management) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an update on the Angling Licence Agreement for Reddish Vale Reservoirs.

The following comments were made / issues raised:-

• A Councillor expressed concern in respect to the progress of the agreement between Stockport Council and the Stockport and District Angling Federation and stressed the importance and health and safety reasons of finalising the agreement.
• The partnership between Stockport Council and NPS Stockport Ltd.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That the Democratic Services Manager be requested to invite the Managing Director of NPS Stockport and Stockport and District Angling Federation to the next Joint Ward meeting to update Members on the progress of the Angling Licence Agreement for Reddish Vale Reservoirs.

This item has been placed on the agenda at the request of the Chair.

A representative of the Democratic Services Manager reported that this item was placed on the agenda at the request of the Chair.

A representative of the Democratic Services Manager circulated Guidance on Dog Control Orders published by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and a document summarising the Dog Warden Service and Dog Fouling statistics in the Heatons and Reddish Area.

Councillor Walter Brett reported that a number of off-lead dog attacks had recently occurred at Reddish Vale Country Park.

The following comments were made / issues raised:-

• Individual accounts of dog attacks were discussed and the emotional and psychological effects of a dog attack.
• Residents expressed concern of the danger of loose dogs on Reddish Vale Country Park to members of the public, especially those out walking with dogs or young children.
• How to deal with dangerous dogs and irresponsible owners of individual dogs.
• Consider introducing a bylaw at Reddish Vale Country Park to keep dogs on a lead.
• A Member expressed concern that parents were being deterred from taking their children to Reddish Vale Country Park as a result of off-lead dogs.
• The importance of dog leads and a suggestion to sell dog lead extensions to members of the public at the Visitors’ Centre in the park.
• It was suggested that the Dog Warden Service visit local secondary schools as well as primary schools to talk to pupils about responsible dog ownership.
• Whether the Council submitted a response to Defra on the ‘Tackling irresponsible dog ownership’ consultation.
• The powers and role of a Police Community Support Officer.
• The importance of how small measures can reduce the problem of irresponsible dog ownership.
• A request for dog attacks statistics for the Brinnington and Reddish Wards in particular Reddish Vale Country Park.
• A Member requested that the Dog Warden Officers be deployed at Reddish Vale Country Park for a number of days.

RESOLVED – That the Service Director (Place Management) be requested to:-

(i) investigate into a Dog Control Order for Reddish Vale Country Park and report back to the Chair of the Joint Ward Committee and the Executive Councillor (Supporting Communities).

(ii) provide a report to the next meeting of the Joint Ward Committee on dog attacks statistics for the Brinnington and Reddish Wards in particular Reddish Vale Country Park and confirm whether the Council submitted a response to Defra on the ‘Tackling irresponsible dog ownership’ consultation.

This item has been placed on the agenda at the request of the Chair.

A representative of the Democratic Services Manager reported that this item was placed on the agenda at the request of the Chair.

Councillor Brett reported that a resident had expressed concern in respect to

the earthworks and vegetation clearance that had occurred on the River Tame banks, Reddish Vale Country Park.

A representative of the Service Director (Place Management) confirmed that she was aware of the situation and that the land owners had applied for planning permission to install a drainage system.

The following comments were made / issues raised:-

·         Concern was expressed in respect to unauthorised bmx and extreme biking tracks in Reddish Vale Country Park, in particular facing Sunnyside Woods / Woodhouse Farm.

·         Previous planning applications that had been submitted to develop Reddish Vale Country Park.

·         Reddish Vale Country Park was for members of the public to visit and enjoy the countryside environment.

RESOLVED – That the Service Directors (Place Management) and (Place Development) be requested to investigate the two bmx tracks in Reddish Vale Country Park and report back to the Chair before the next meeting of the Joint Ward Committee.

(NOTE: The Chair was of the opinion that this item, although not included on the agenda for the meeting, should be considered as a matter of urgency in accordance with Section 100B(4)(b) of the Local Government Act 1972 in order to prevent any unnecessary inconvenience to the applicant)

A member of the public expressed concern in respect to the poor condition of the Reddish Vale Road, in particular pot holes, drainage and spring surface water.

Councillor Walter Brett reported that an Area Committee had committed an amount of their ‘Highway Maintenance and Traffic Management Delegated Budget’ to resurfacing an area of unadopted highway.  He stated that the Reddish Councillors would investigate whether Reddish Vale Road could be brought up to an adopted level via Reddish North and South Highway Maintenance and Traffic Management Delegated Budget’.

A representative of the Service Director (Place Management) confirmed that Public Realm was currently reviewing the condition of highways and footpaths in parks and that work would be carried out on priority basis.

RESOLVED – That the Service Director (Place Management) be requested to submit a report on the findings of this review, in particular to Reddish Vale Country Park to a future meeting of the Joint Ward Committee.

(NOTE: The Chair was of the opinion that this item, although not included on the agenda for the meeting, should be considered as a matter of urgency in accordance with Section 100B(4)(b) of the Local Government Act 1972 in order to prevent any unnecessary inconvenience to the applicant)

A member of the public enquired regarding the replacement fencing for the kennels in Reddish Vale Country Park and expressed concern in regard to the noise (dog barking) from the kennels.

A representative of the Service Director (Place Management) confirmed that a kennel licence had been agreed with the tenant and that she was waiting to receive the licence from the Service Director (Legal and Democratic Services) before the Council could investigate potential issues.  

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

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

October 2012 Meeting

·         Angling Licence Agreement For Reddish Vale Reservoirs.

·         BMX / Extreme bike tracks in Reddish Vale Country Park.

·         Frank Bramwell Legacy.

·         Invite tenants of Reddish Vale Farm / local businesses.

·         Sustainable Reddish - Communities Living Sustainably - Big Lottery Programme and invite young people from Reddish Vale Technology College who are involved in the project.