Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 16 January 2012.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 16 January 2012 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.

The following interests were declared:-

Personal Interests

Personal & Prejudicial Interests

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

Greenspace Maintenance Consultation

The Chair expressed concern at the process and time allotted for the public consultation on the Greenspace Maintenance consultation and that it appeared that not all the documents were available to view on the Council website. In addition, he was concerned that groups such as the Allotments Holders had not been consulted with directly.

RESOLVED – That the Service Director (Place Management) be requested to write to Councillors outlining the consultation process adopted, future timescales for reporting back to Area Committee and explaining how he will ensure all interested user groups will be consulted.

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

A representative of the Democratic Services Manager reported that a representative of Greater Manchester Police had been unable to attend the meeting.

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 the meeting and on the Council’s website at www.stockport.gov.uk/areacommittees).

One public question was submitted relating to the terms of the lease at Reddish Vale Farm.

RESOLVED – That the Service Directors (Place Management) and (Legal & Democratic Services) be requested to provide a written response to the questioner within 7 days.

The local Area Conditions Officer and the Highways Officer will attend the meeting to provide an update on matters raised at the last committee meetings. Councillors and Members of the public are invited to raise issues affecting local environmental quality.

(a) Muhammad Tayyab (Area Conditions Officer) attended the meeting to answer questions from Councillors and members of the public in relation to environmental issues within the area represented by the Heatons & Reddish Area Committee.

The following issues were raised/ comments made:-

·         There had been a dramatic decrease in instances of flyposting with no instances being reported in the previous month.

·         There had been 52 cases of flytipping reported in the last month. A number of cases remained ongoing with the potential for prosecutions.

·         3 Notices had been issued to businesses in relation to duty of care for the disposal of trade waste.

·         58 cases of graffiti had been reported, 6 of which were considered to be of an offensive nature.

·         There had been 55 jobs received for advancement and one Section 92a Notice had been issued.

·         A breach of a section 46 Notice had been heard at Stockport Magistrates Court.

·         Problems associated with graffiti in North Reddish Park.

·         Graffiti on garden fences on Laurel Lane in the vicinity of the Allotments.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted and Muhammad Tayyab be thanked for his attendance.

(b) Sharon Darwin (Highways Officer) attended the meeting to answer questions from Councillors and members of the public in relation to highway issues within the area represented the Heatons & Reddish Area Committee.

The following issues were raised/ comments made:-

·         The strategic link roads in the Heatons were due for inspection at the end of March.

·         The lining crew were currently operating in North Reddish.

·         The gritting of road in Reddish and the borough as a whole during the recent cold period had been inadequate.

·         The pooling of water in the vicinity of the pedestrian crossing on Heaton Moor Road.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted Sharon Darwin be thanked for her attendance.

To receive petitions from members of the public and community groups.

No petitions were submitted.

In accordance with the Code of Practice no organisation has indicated that they wished to address the Area Committee as part of the Open Forum arrangements.

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

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

i)             Youth Space

(a) Representatives of Youth Space attended the meeting and presented an application requesting funding towards the provision of a Young Peoples Conference and associated printing costs.

RESOLVED – That the Democratic Services Manager in consultation with the Chair be authorised to make a grant to Youth Space to support the provision of a Young People’s Conference and associated printing costs.

(b) Representatives of the Welcome Café Inspire Group attended the meeting and presented an application requesting funding to help establish a group for socially isolated adults with long term health problems.

RESOLVED – That the Democratic Services Manager be requested to make a grant of £1000.00 to be divided between the four wards in accordance with the breakdown of where those people who would benefit from the grant reside.

The following development application will be considered by the Area Committee:-

DC048518                 49, Broomfield Road, Heaton Moor

Erection of detached house.

The Area Committee is recommended to grant planning permission.

Officer contact: Cathy Hodgson on tel: 474 3540 or email: cathy.hodgson@stockport.gov.uk

A development application was submitted.

(NOTE: Full details of the decisions including conditions and reasons for granting or refusing planning permission and imposing conditions are given in the schedule of plans. The Corporate Director of Place is authorised to determine conditions and reasons and they are not therefore referred to in committee minutes unless the committee makes a specific decision on a condition or reason. In order to reduce printing costs and preserve natural resources, the schedule of plans is not reproduced within these minutes. A copy of the schedule of plans is available on the council’s website at www.stockport.gov.uk/planningdecisions. Copies of the schedule of plans, or any part thereof, may be obtained from the Place Directorate upon payment of the Council’s reasonable charges)

A representative of the Democratic Services Manager outlined the procedure approved by the Council for public speaking on planning applications.

In respect of plan no. 48518 for the erection of a detached house at 49 Broomfield Road, Heaton Moor,

a member of the public spoke against the application,

the applicant’s agent spoke in support of the application,

it was then

RESOLVED – (1) That the Planning and Highways Regulation Committee be requested to undertake a site visit in order to assess the impact of the proposed development on the character of the conservation area, on the residential amenity of local residents, whether the proposed development constitutes overdevelopment, the effect on landscaping and trees and parking.

(2) That the Service Director (Place Management) be requested to liaise with the applicant in order to request that the site of the proposed development be marked out to aid the visiting team with their deliberations.

To consider a report of the Service Director (Legal and Democratic Services).

The report summarises recent appeal decisions; lists current planning appeals and dates for local enquiries; informal hearings for planning appeals, and enforcement action within the Heatons and Reddish Area Committee area.

The Area Committee is recommended to note the report.

Officer contact: Joy Morton, 0161 474 3217, joy.morton@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Service Director (Legal & Democratic Services) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) listing any outstanding or recently determined planning appeals and enforcements withinthe area represented by Heatons & Reddish Area Committee.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

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

The report presents for comment the Draft Obstruction Policy for Highways, Draft Highways Café Policy, Draft Control of Skips, Containers, Scaffolding, and Hoardings on the Highway Policy, and the Draft Advertising Boards and Trade Goods Obstructions Policy.

The Area Committee is requested to comment on the report.

Officer Contact : Sue Stevenson on tel: 474 4351 or email: sue.stevenson@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Service Director (Place Management) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) requesting the Area Committee to comment on the draft Obstruction Policy for Highways, the draft Highways Café Policy, the draft Control on Skips, Containers, Scaffolding and Hoardings on the highway and the draft Advertising Boards and Trade Goods Obstructions Policy.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         The impact of the Café on the Highways policy on the Heatons and the Town Centre.

·         Consultations carried out with Disability Stockport in relation to the positioning of A Boards.

·         Who was liable if a members of the public tripped over an A-Board.

·         Concern was expressed at the detrimental impact that proposed charging would have on Traders and it was suggested that officers meet with the Traders Associations during the course of the consultation period.

·         Increasing awareness amongst the public in respect to land owned by the Council and private land should play a major part when implementing the approved policy.

·         Contact details for the Highways Department should be placed on each permit issued for Skips.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted and the comments be referred to the Service Director (Place Management) for consideration as part of the consultation.

To consider a report of the Managing Director, NPS Stockport Ltd.

To consider a proposal to accept a surrender of the current lease of Reddish Vale Farm with a view to granting a new 65 year lease to the present tenant.

The Area Committee is requested to recommend that the Corporate Director for Corporate and Support Services enters into the appropriate negotiations with a view to accepting the surrender of the current lease.

Officer Contact: John Coles on tel: 496 6099 or email:john.coles@nps.co.uk

A representative of the Democratic Services Manager submitted a report of the Managing Director NPS Stockport (copies of which had been circulated) requesting the Area Committee to consider a proposal to accept a surrender of the current lease of Reddish Vale Farm with a view to granting a new 65 year lease to the present tenant.

RESOLVED – (1) That the Managing Director, NPS Stockport be informed that the Area Committee had no objection to the proposal to surrender the current lease of Reddish Vale Farm with a view to granting a new 65 year lease to the present tenant.

(2) That the Service Director (Place Management) be requested to submit a report to the next meeting of the Brinnington & Reddish Joint Ward Committee  outlining the terms of the current lease in respect to the number of horses kept on the farm, the use of the Bridleway by horses as opposed to Reddish Vale Road and an update in respect to highway issues in the area surrounding Reddish Vale Farm.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director, Corporate and Support Services.

The report requests the Area Committee to make comments on the development of a new care home facility on land at Blackstone Road by Boroughcare in light of concerns on the future viability of facilities at the Lisburne and Belmont Court sites.

The Area Committee are requested to comment on the report.

Officer Contact: Ian Keyte on tel: 474 6093 or email: ian.keyte@nps.co.uk

A representative of the Democratic Services Manager submitted a report of the Managing Director, NPS Stockport (copies of which had been circulated) requesting the Area Committee to give consideration to the development of a new care home facility on land at Blackstone Road by Boroughcare.

RESOLVED - That the report be referred to the Adults & Communities Scrutiny Committee for their consideration and the Managing Director NPS be requested to provide the Scrutiny Committee with the following additional information:-

·         Current user numbers for the Lisburne & Belmont sites and anticipated user numbers for the proposed Blackstone site.

·         An outline of the relationship between the Council and Boroughcare.

To consider a report of the Service Director (Communities)

The report requests the Area Committee to consider the use of commuted sums for play provision in the Heatons and Reddishcommittee area and approves the location of the play area where these sums are to be spent.

The Area Committee is requested to approve the allocation of commuted sums.

Officer Contact: Vanessa Brook on tel: 474 4446 or email: vanessa.brook@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Democratic Services Manager submitted a report of the Service Director (Communities) (copies of which had been circulated) requesting the Area Committee to give consideration to the use of commuted sums for play provision in the Heatons & Reddish area and to approve the location of the play areas where these sums were to be spent.

RESOLVED – (1) That the spending of Commuted sums at the sites indicated be approved:-

£334.62 – to be divided equally between Manchester Road Recreation Ground and the Grafton Road play area.

£334.62 – to be divided equally between the Heaton Moor play area and Manchester Road recreation ground.

£334.62 – Manchester Road Recreation Ground.

£836.55 – Heaton Moor Park

£2342.34 – Heaton Moor Park

(2)That consideration of the following commuted sum be deferred to allow for the submission of further information - £1003.86 accrued from development no.943 (89/91 Heaton Road South).

(3) That the Chair, in consultation with the ward Councillors be authorised to determine how the £501.96 accrued from development no. 1017 (21 Clarendon Street, South Reddish) should be spent.

To consider a report of the Service Director (Learning & Achievement)

The Area Committee is requested to provide political nominations for the Authority vacancies at Didsbury Road and Broadstone Hall Primary Schools.

Officer contact: Libby Evans on 474 3847 or email: libby.evans@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Democratic Services Manager submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) requesting the Area Committee to provide nominations for vacancies at Didsbury Road Primary and Broadstone Hall Primary Schools.

RESOLVED – (1) That the Executive Councillor (Children & Young People) be requested to make the following appointment:-

School                       Name                                     Nominating Group

Broadstone Hall       Mrs B Judson                       Conservative

(2) That consideration of the vacancy at Didsbury Road Primary School be deferred.

To consider a report of the Democratic Services Manager.

The report provides an update on progress since the last meeting on decisions taken by the Area Committee and details the current position on area flexibility funding. The report also includes the current position on the highway and traffic management delegated budget.

The Area Committee is recommended to note the report.

Officer contact: Damian Eaton, 0161 474 stephen.fox@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Democratic Services Manager submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) updating the Area Committee on progress since the last meeting on decisions taken by the Area Committee and the current position on Area Flexibility Funding.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.