Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 4 March 2024.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 15 April 2024 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.

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

The Chair thanked the Committee for their patience and support for the year.

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

The Chair reported that a representative of Greater Manchester Police had been unable to attend the meeting, but welcomed any neighbourhood policing questions or issues to be raised.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·       Ward Councillors meet with the local police representatives regularly and report matters directly as well as are kept informed of any activities by the police.

·       A member of the public enquired about the frequency of the police attending the meeting. In response, it was stated that the police have attended meetings previously but not recently.

·       A member of the public raised concerns on behalf of the Heaton Norris Community Centre and the tenants of the Heatons Towers regarding an update relating to dogs, drugs and alcohol.

RESOLVED – That the issues raised will be forwarded to the Police Representative for a response.

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.  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.

Two public questions were submitted as follows:-

·       Relating to Willow Grove Cemetery.

RESOLVED – That the Director of Place Management be requested to respond to the questioner in writing.

·       Relating to the “Proposed No Waiting at Anytime Restrictions”

RESOLVED – That the Director of Place Management be requested to respond to the questioner in writing.

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

One petition was submitted by Mr Chris Yates with 331 signatures relating to the “Loss of Open Space and Play”.

RESOLVED – that the petition be referred to the Director of Place Management for investigation and response.

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.

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

To consider an application for Ward Flexibility Funding received from Tigers Basketball Club for a grant of £200 (£50 from Heatons North, £50 from Heatons South, £50 from Reddish North, £50 from Reddish South) towards the cost of purchasing basketball kits, training equipment and court hire.

David Ng attended the meeting and submitted an application received on behalf of Tigers Basketball Club for a grant of £200 from the Ward Flexibility Budget (£50 from each ward allocation) towards the cost of purchasing basketball kits, training equipment and court hire.

RESOLVED - That consideration of this item be deferred to a future meeting of the Area Committee pending the receipt of additional information relating to the organisations safeguarding policies for children.

To consider an application received from Friends of Cheshire Theatre School for Ward Flexibility Funding for a grant of £960 (£180 from Heatons North, £300 from Heatons South, £240 from Reddish North, £240 from Reddish South) towards the cost of registration, entry, travel and costume fees to compete at the Dance World Cup.

Charris Worthington attended the meeting and submitted an application received on behalf of the Friends of Cheshire Theatre School for a grant of £960 from the Ward Flexibility Funding Budget (£180 from Heatons North, £300 from Heatons South, £240 from Reddish North, £240 from Reddish South ward allocation) towards the cost of registration, entry, travel and costume fees to compete at the Dance World Cup.

RESOLVED – That approval be given to an application from the Friends of Cheshire Theatre School for a grant of £960 from the Ward Flexibility Funding Budget (£180 from Heatons North, £300 from Heatons South, £240 from Reddish North, £240 from Reddish South ward allocation) towards the cost of registration, entry, travel and costume fees to compete at the Dance World Cup.

To consider an application received from Make A Difference for Ward Flexibility Funding for a grant of £442.60 (£110.65 per ward allocation) towards the cost of providing informative and educational workshops to enhance the emotional well-being of local residents.

Nadia Ali and Georgia Farouger attended the meeting and submitted an application received on behalf of Make A Difference for a grant of £442.60 from the Ward Flexibility Funding Budget (£110.65 from each ward allocation) towards the cost of providing informative and educational workshops to enhance the emotional well-being of local residents.

RESOLVED – That approval be given to an application from Make A Difference for a grant of £442.60 from the Ward Flexibility Funding Budget (£110.65 from each ward allocation) towards the cost of providing informative and educational workshops to enhance the emotional well-being of local residents.

To consider an application received from Friends of Shahnameh for Ward Flexibility Funding for a grant of £90 (£45 from Heatons North, £45 from Heatons South) towards the cost of organising visits to cultural venues and running regular Persian poetry workshops, for the benefit of Persian and English speaking members of the community.

Mali Sade attended the meeting and submitted an application received on behalf of Friends of Shahnameh for a grant of £90 from the Ward Flexibility Funding Budget (£45 from Heatons North, £45 from Heatons South ward allocation) towards the cost of organising visits to cultural venues and running regular Persian poetry workshops, for the benefit of Persian and English speaking members of the community.

RESOLVED - That consideration of this item be deferred to a future meeting of the Area Committee pending the receipt of additional information relating to the organisations safeguarding/child protection policies for children.

To consider a report of the Deputy Chief Executive.

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

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 Deputy chief Executive 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/planning. Copies of the schedule of plans, or any part thereof, may be obtained upon payment of the Council’s reasonable charges).

A representative of the Assistant Director for Legal and Democratic Governance outlined the procedure approved by the Council for public speaking on planning applications.

Alteration & conversion of Listed Engine House to form 2 self-contained apartments, erection of Roundhouse to provide an additional 52 self-contained apartments (54 apartments total), provision of access, car parking and landscaping and re-location of existing electricity sub-station.

The Area Committee is requested to recommend that the Planning &

Highways Regulation Committee grants planning permission.

Officer contact: Jeni Regan |0161 474 3531| jeni.regan@stockport.gov.uk

With the consent of the Area Committee this item was withdrawn.

To consider a report of the Assistant Director for Legal and Democratic Governance.

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: Vicki Bates | 0161 474 3219 | vicki.bates@stockport.gov.uk

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

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Director of Place Management.

The report provides details relating to the launch of two new Climate Action Now (CAN) Funds; the CAN Seed Fund and the CAN Catalyst Fund.

The Area Committee is asked to comment on and note the report.

Officer contact: Liz Atherton | liz.atherton@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Director of Place Management submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing details relating to the launch of two new Climate Action Now (CAN) Funds; the CAN Seed Fund and the CAN Catalyst Fund.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·       Members welcomed the report and the funding options.

·       The CAN fund had already been advertised and publicised within the communities.

·       Members were happy to share the information within their networks locally.

·       It was noted that all community groups and “Friends of” groups were eligible to apply.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Director of Place Management.

The report provides details relating to a proposed highway maintenance scheme on Mauldeth Road, Heaton Moor (outside Tithe Barn Primary School) – Footway Re-profiling and surfacing at a cost of £6,500.00.

The Area Committee is requested to consider and support the maintenance scheme outlined in the report and authorise the Director of Place Management to order the work.

Officer contact: Simon Sherry | 0161 474 2420 | simon.sherry@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Assistant Director for Legal and Democratic Governance submitted a report of the Director of Place Management (copies of which had been circulated) relating to a proposed highway maintenance scheme on Mauldeth Road, Heaton Moor (outside Tithe Barn Primary School) – Footway Re-profiling and surfacing at a cost of £6,500.00.

RESOLVED – That approval be given to the proposed Highway Maintenance scheme on Mauldeth Road, Heaton Moor (outside Tithe Barn Primary School) – Footway re-profiling and surfacing at a cost of £6,500.00 from the Highway Maintenance & Traffic Management delegated budget.

To consider a report of the Assistant Director for Legal & Democratic Governance.

The report outlines a proposal for the virement of funds from the Ward Discretionary Budget to the Ward Flexibility Funding Budget.

The Area Committee is requested to recommend that the Cabinet Member for Finance & Resources gives approvalto a virement of £500 from the Ward Discretionary Budget to the Ward Flexibility Funding Budget (Reddish South ward allocation).

Officer contact: Georgia Latham on 0161 474 3229 or email: georgia.latham@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Assistant Director for Legal & Democratic Governance submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) outlining a proposal for the virement of funds from the Ward Discretionary Budget to the Ward Flexibility Funding Budget.

RESOLVED – That the Cabinet Member for Finance & Resources be recommended to give approval to a virement of £500 from the Ward Discretionary Budget to the Ward Flexibility Funding Budget (Reddish South ward allocation).

To consider a report of the Assistant Director for Legal and Democratic Governance.

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 and ward discretionary budget funding (approved only). 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: Charles Yankiah | 0161 474 3206 | charles.yankiah@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Assistant Director for Legal and Democratic Governance submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an update on progress since the last meeting on decisions taken by the Area Committee and detailing the current position on ward flexibility funding. The report also included the current position on the highway and traffic management delegated budget.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·       Members were provided with an update relating to the end of year approved applications for Ward Flexibility Funding and Delegated Ward Budgets, the new balance sheets for 2024/25 with balances brought forward and the update to the Covid Commemoration Fund balances.

·       It was stated that there was enough funding for community groups to apply across all the wards of the Area Committee.

·       Members noted that further consideration should be given to boroughwide applications and the process.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) The Assistant Director for Legal and Democratic Governance be requested to review the process for the submission of boroughwide applications for Ward Flexibility Funding.