Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 23 August 2012.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 23 August 2012 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

The following interests were declared:-

Personal Interest

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

No announcements were made.

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

Sergeant Smith (Greater Manchester Police) attended the meeting to answer questions from Councillors and members of the public in relation to Neighbourhood Policing issues within the area represented by Heatons & Reddish Area Committee.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         The past month had been a successful one in terms of crime reduction.

·         Vehicle crime continued to be a major issue but staff were working more flexibly to address the problem.

·         Ringmaster continued to be a useful tool in terms of relaying key crime messages.

·         Anti- social behaviour and the use of off-road motorbikes.

·         Anti-social behaviour in the Buckingham Road area.

·         An invitation to councillors to go out on patrol with the Neighbourhood policing team.

RESOLVED – That Sergeant Smith be thanked for his attendance and presentation.

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 at local libraries and information centres.  You can also submit via the Council’s website at www.stockport.gov.uk/publicquestions.

No public questions were submitted.

The local Public Realm 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 the highway and local environmental quality.

Janette Sadgrove (Public Realm Service) attended the meeting to report on current issues and to answer questions from Councillors and members of the public in relation to public realm issues within the area represented by Heatons & Reddish Area Committee.

The following issues were raised/comments made:-

·         Duty of care inspections.

·         Pedestrian safety on cycle paths and the Council’s policy.

·         The provision of grit bins.

·         The repainting of white lines on Didsbury Road.

·         Walk to School routes and the clearing away of leaves on those routes.

·         Quality checking in respect to the repair of road surfaces.

·         Councillors requested that the maps identifying when routes were maintained or inspected be circulated.

RESOLVED – That Janette Sadgrove be thanked for her attendance and presentation.

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

No petitions were submitted.

Affordable Warmth

Clare Redfern, Affordable Warmth Officer, Stockport Council will attend the meeting and make a presentation about the services available to Stockport residents about affordable warmth.

Affordable Warmth

Marion Gordon, Housing Strategy Manager, Stockport Council attended the meeting and gave a presentation in respect to affordable warmth in Stockport. She provided advice in relation to free cavity wall and loft insulation, general energy saving advice, fuel debt advice, green deal advice and the provision of advice sessions to community groups and training sessions for council officers to enable them to make appropriate referrals.

RESOLVED – That Marion Gordon be thanked for her attendance and presentation.

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

There were no Area Funding applications to consider.

There are no development applications to consider.

There were no development applications to consider.

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 within the area represented by Heatons & Reddish Area Committee.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

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

The report sets out the planning appeal statistics for 2011/2012.

The Area Committee is recommended to note the report.

Officer Contact: Joy Morton on 474 3219 or email:joy.morton@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Service Director (Legal & Democratic Services) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) setting out planning appeal statistics for 2011/12.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

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

The report provides the Area Committee with details on the provision of the borough’s lights and festive trees.

The Area Committee is recommend to note the proposals outlined in the report.

Officer Contact: Graeme Vout Tel: 474 4562 or email: graeme.vout@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Service Director (Place Development) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing the Area Committee with details on the provision of the boroughs’ lights and festive trees.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That the Service Director ( Place Development) be requested to provide costings to and meet with the Heatons North and Reddish South ward councillors about the possibility of providing Christmas lights on Schools Lane.

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

The report provides the Area Committee with an opportunity to comment on potential cycle projects that could be included within the transportation capital programme in 2012/2013.

The Area Committee is requested to comment on the report.

Officer Contact:  Sue Stevenson Tel 474 3451 email: sue.stevenson@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Service Director (Place Management) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing the Area Committee with an opportunity to comment on potential cycle projects which could be included within the transportation capital programme in 2012/2013.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted and Service Director (Place Management) be requested to give further consideration to erecting additional signage in district and local centres warning of the dangers of riding bicycles on pavements.

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

The report outlines proposals to address road safety concerns at Tithe Barn Primary School on Mauldeth Road, Heaton Moor.

The Area Committee is requested to approve the proposals outlined in 3.3 of the report and recommend that the Executive Councillor (Economic Development & Regeneration) approve the proposals outlined in 3.2 of the report.

Officer Contact: Mark James 474 2077 or email: mark.james@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Democratic Services Manager submitted a report of the Service Director (Place Management) (copies of which had been circulated) outlining proposals to address road safety concerns at Tithe Barn Primary School, Mauldeth Road, Heaton Moor.

RESOLVED – (1) That the following be approved at an approximate cost of £600 to be funded via the Highway Maintenance and Traffic Management delegated budget:-

2 number of advisory 20mph signs

(2) That the Executive Councillor (Economic Development and Regeneration) be requested to approve the following at an approximate cost of £1700 :-

“Slow” Road Markings

5 number of advisory 20mph signs

(3) That the Service Director (Place Management) be requested to carry out the proposed actions as detailed in section 2.7 (ii) and 2.7 (iv) (including the strip of pavement up to Pinewood Close) of the report.

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

The report requests the Area Committee to consider the use of commuted sums for play provision in the Heatons and Reddish Area Committee area and to approve the locations of play areas where these sums are to be spent.

The Area Committee is requested to determine the use of commuted sums.

Officer Contact: Ian Walmsley Tel 474 4382 email: ian.walmsley@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Democratic Services Manager submitted a report of the Service Director (Place Management) requesting the Area Committee to consider the use of commuted sums for play provision in the Heaton and Reddish areas.

RESOLVED – (1) That the Service Director (Place Management) be informed that the Area Committee recommends that commuted sums be spent in the following areas of play:-

Thornfield Park - £501.96

Thornfield Park - £3346.40

Heaton Moor Park - £2007.72

Thornfield Park - £501.96

Thornfield Park - £836.55

Craig Road Play area - £501.96

Unity Park - £334.62

Grafton Street - £501.96

(2) That the Service Director (Place Management) be informed that the Area Committee wishes to split the commuted sum of £1003.86 received from the development at 89-91 Heaton Road between Crescent Park and Manchester Road Park.

To consider a report of the Democratic Services Manager.

The Area Committee is requested to appoint Councillors to lay wreaths on behalf of the Council at the Remembrance Day Services at Heaton Mersey War Memorial, Reddish War Memorial and at St Paul's Church, Heaton Moor on Sunday 11 November 2012.

Officer Contact: Stephen Fox 474 3206 email: stephen.fox@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Democratic Services Manager submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) requesting the Area Committee to nominate Councillors to lay wreaths on behalf of the Council at Remembrance Day Services.

RESOLVED – That the following Councillors be appointed to lay wreaths on behalf of the Council at the Remembrance Day Service indicated:-

·         Heaton Mersey War Memorial – Cllr Dean Fitzpatrick

·         Reddish Ward Memorial – Cllr Tom Grundy

·         St Paul’s Church, Heaton Moor – Cllr Alexander Ganotis

This item has been placed on the agenda at the request of Councillor David Sedgwick

A representative of the Democratic Services Manager reported that this item had been placed on the agenda at the request of Councillor David Sedgwick.

Councillor Sedgwick explained that he had been approached by a local group concerning the possibility of the Area Committee supporting an environmental project on land close to the former North Heaton School Site.

RESOLVED – That Councillor Sedgwick be requested to invite the group to attend a future meeting of the Area Committee to outline their proposals and the Democratic Services Manager be requested to ascertain who owns the land in question.

There are no vacancies to consider.

There were no vacancies to consider

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: Stephen Fox, 0161 474 3206 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, the current position on Area Flexibility Funding and the Highway Maintenance and Traffic Management delegated budget.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

(Note: The Chair was of the opinion that this item although not included on the agenda should be considered as a matter of urgency in accordance with Section 100B  4(b) of the Local Government Act 1972 to enable the Area Committee to promptly consider an application for the use of Reddish Vale Country Park)

A representative of the Democratic Services Manager submitted a report of the Service Director (Place Management) (copies of which were circulated) requesting the Area Committee to consider an application for the use of Reddish Vale Country Park from the Brinnington Residents and Tenants Association to hold a lantern Parade from Vale View School into the park on Saturday 20 October 2012.

RESOLVED – That the application for the use of Reddish Vale Country Park from the Brinnington Residents and Tenants Association to hold a lantern Parade from Vale View School into the park on Saturday 20 October 2012 be approved.