Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 20 November 2017.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 20 November 2017 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.

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.

No public questions were submitted.

No petitions were submitted.

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

Reddish Villa JFC

Representatives of Reddish Villa JFC have been invited to attend the meeting to report on how grants previously made to their organisation have been spent.

Reddish Villa Junior Football Club

Representatives of the football club attended the meeting and provided an update in respect of how the ward funding allocated to the group had been spent.  The main aim of the group was to include all children and that no child should miss out on football for financial reasons. Some of the money previously allocated had been spent on developing the girls’ football team.  The club are currently based at Houldsworth Working Men’s Club with training facilities at St Joseph’s Roman Catholic Primary School, however these facilities are unavailable at weekends and during school holidays.  The club are looking for some further funding to buy more kits and footballs and also to develop the astro turf facilities at Reddish Vale High School which they may be able to make use of.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         Members asked whether most of the children at the club came from Reddish.  In response, Members were advised that the children were predominantly from North and South Reddish but that there were also members from Gorton and Levenshulme.

·         Members of the Committee advised the football club that they should complete a formal bid to the Heatons and Reddish Area Committee to try and secure further funding.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted and the representatives of the Reddish Villa Junior Football Club be thanked for their attendance and presentation.

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

Representatives of the Friends of Reddish Vale attended the meeting and provided an update on how the Frank Bramwell Legacy Funding had been spent.  There had been significant improvements to the visitor centre and the whole area had been brightened up.  The Frank Bramwell memorial trail had now been completed with further landscape engineering which had improved the infrastructure.  Signs, noticeboards and finger posts had all been improved and the picnic area developed.  The wetlands project which had also been partly funded by the Environment Agency, still needs some further work.  Pallisade fencing down Mill Lane had improved security around the nature reserve and was more aesthetically pleasing.  New power tools had been purchased and work was progressing on the area around Hollow End.

The following comments were made/issues raised:

·         Members questioned what the situation was in relation to toilets and were advised by a representative of the Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration that a report on this subject would come before the Committee in the near future.

·         There was £6000 left, how was it envisaged that this money would be spent?  In response, Members were advised that a Heritage Trail was being considered together with more information signs relating to the sluice gate.

·         When the funds run out, it was suggested that the group would need to be more creative with external applications.

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

Representatives of the Stockport Anglers Federation have been invited to attend the meeting to discuss issues relating to fishing at Reddish Vale Country Park.

 A representative of the Stockport Anglers Federation attended the meeting to discuss issues relating to fishing at Reddish Vale Country Park. Stockport Anglers Federation have been trying to deal with a number of problems at Reddish Vale Country Park.  Bailiffs attend whenever possible but they have not been made to feel very welcome by the staff.  A great many people who fish at Reddish Vale are not members of the Federation and so the bailiffs have no jurisdiction over them.  Two cases had recently been reported to the police, one of which was for fishing without permission which is covered by the theft act.  The police felt that this was a trivial matter and therefore not worth pursuing.

There have been some serious issues relating to the quality of the water which the Federation have been able to resolve.  There have been few problems relating to anti-social behaviour, but major issues with night fishing which is not allowed.

The following comments were made/issues raised:

·         Most of the complaints received by the Council were in relation to night fishing,

·         If it were not for the work of the Stockport Angling Federation, many of the fish would die as there is nobody else who has the specialist equipment and knowledge necessary.

·         Members asked why there had been a drop off in the number of people willing to get involved.  In response, Members were advised that the rent had gone up so people were leaving, people did not want to deal with subsidiary companies when they had been used to dealing with the Council and due to the situation with parking fees, anglers were being penalised financially for fishing all day.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted and the representative of the Stockport Anglers Federation be thanked for their attendance and presentation and for the work that they continue to do.

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.

A representative of the Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration attended the meeting and provided an update on issues relating to Reddish Vale Country Park.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         A ‘big task’ day had been held on Friday 26 January 2018 and there was a very positive response from the public.  There had been a great deal of tidying up completed and pathways had been cleared.  In addition, new signs had been put up.

·         An Easter Event was being held on 1 April 2018 between 12 and 4pm.

·         A ‘Keep Britain Tidy’ Event was being held on 1,2 and 3 March 2018.

·         The toilets were a work in progress, there had been a couple of problems putting the new ones in.

·         The struggle to recruit volunteers was ongoing.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

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

Councillors were invited to suggest items for inclusion on future agendas.

RESOLVED – No future agenda items were suggested.