Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Monitoring Officer

The Labour Group has suggested that proposals be developed to ensure (i) the work of Area Committees better reflects the changing and increasing role of Councillors and, in particular, moves towards place-based working and (ii) that all Area Committees have similar powers, including responsibility for town centre planning returning to the Central Stockport Area Committee.

The Liberal Democrat Group has asked for a review of the Area Committee boundaries, in particular (but not limited to) revisiting the split of Cheadle Hulme across two Area Committees.

In addition, the Monitoring Officer has reviewed the existing Area Committee Functions and Schedule 1 to the report sets out some suggested amendments to the duties and responsibilities which better reflect the current position.

The Working Party is invited to recommend:-

·         that the amendments identified by the Monitoring Officer to the existing Area Committee Functions as set out in Schedule 1 to the report be supported.

·         whether a further report on possible changes to the current Area Committee arrangements including greater delegation of powers and delegated budgets is required.

·         that no change to Area Committee boundaries should be made at this time.

·         that the Council Meeting be recommended to abolish the Town Centre Committee.

Officer Contact: Craig Ainsworth on 0161 474 3204 or email: craig.ainsworth@stockport.gov.uk

The Monitoring Officer submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) regarding proposals which had been submitted by the Labour and Liberal Democrats Groups as to how the structure of Area Committees in Stockport could be changed, In addition, the Monitoring Officer had reviewed the existing Area Committee Functions and Schedule 1 to the report set out some suggested amendments to the duties and responsibilities of Area Committees which better reflected the current position.

The following comments were made/issued:-

·         There was some concern expressed about the proposal to abolish the Town Centre Committee, pending greater clarification of the planning powers and duties of Area Committees, the Town Centre Committee and the Planning and Highways Regulation Committee.

·         Members of the Central Stockport Area Committee needed to be more involved in the development applications considered by the Town Centre Committee in a similar way that Area Committees were consulted on major development applications to be considered by the Planning and Highways Regulation Committee.

·         With regard to the current powers and duties of Area Committees, a Member expressed the view that, under the Locality Working Model, the presumption should be that decisions were made at an Area Committee level unless there was a reason they could not be.

·         A Member expressed the view that Area Committees should be given greater delegated budgets and responsibilities.

·         Support was given to the suggestion from Councillor Colin Foster that ward councillors were involved in the comments submitted by the Council on consultations on planning applications from neighbouring local authorities.

·         Support was given to the comment of the Conservative Group that an upgrade of IT equipment for Planning Officers would benefit the public’s understanding of the planning process. Equipment to project planning applications for display at Committee meetings would also be helpful.

·         If Members wished a Traffic Officer to attend a particular Area Committee for a particular item then this request should be made through Democratic Services prior to the meeting.

·         The Chair of the Working Party agreed to discuss with Chief Superintendent Caroline Ball how the Police could engage to a greater extent with the Council’s Area Committees.

·         With regard to Area Committee boundaries, the problems with the Cheadle Hulme North Ward and the Cheadle Hulme South Area Committee being in two different Area Committees were debated.

RESOLVED –  (1) That the Monitoring Officer clarify with the Chief Planning Officer the definition of the strategic planning applications currently submitted to the Town Centre Committee.

(2) That the issue of additional powers and duties for Area Committees be deferred until such time as the Executive was consulting on Year 2 of the budget.

(3) That it be recommended that a requirement be included in the Scheme of Delegation for the Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration to consult with Ward Councillors on consultations on planning applications with neighbouring local authorities,

 (3) That the Democratic Services Manager investigate with the Chief Planning Officer and Head of Information the upgrade of IT equipment for Planning Officers, particularly with regard to projecting planning applications for display at Area Committee meetings.

(4) That Councillor Iain Roberts provide examples at the next meeting of the Working Party of the problems encountered with the Cheadle Hulme North Ward and the Cheadle Hulme South Ward being in two different Area Committees.