Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and order that the Minutes of the meeting held on 28 September 2020 be signed.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 9 November 2020 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

Councillors and officers were invited to declare any interests which they had in any of the items on the agenda for the meeting.

No declarations of interest were made.

No urgent decisions were reported.

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

The Chair announced that the Friends of Romiley Station had won an award at the recent Best Kept Station awards for its Community Arts Project.

The Chair stated that it was a matter of some regret that the markets in Romiley and Woodley had been cancelled at short notice, however it was noted that the Council had compensated the stallholders which was welcomed.

It was further announced that Bredbury Library was due to reopen on Wednesday, 16 December 2020 for three days a week.

The Chair then referred to the recent meeting of the Council Meeting where it was agreed that the Council would not approve the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework and that local councillors had supported this decision. 

Finally, Councillor Roberts reported that the ’Light-up Romiley Christmas Trail’ had started on Saturday, 12 December and had been well-received by local residents.  Those wishing to undertake the trail were encouraged to maintain social distancing when doing so.

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 via the Council’s website at www.stockport.gov.uk/publicquestions.

No public questions were submitted.

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

Members of the public were invited to put questions to the Chair on any matters in the powers or duties of the Area Committee, subject to the exclusions set out within the Code of Practice.

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.

A representative of the Strategic Head of Service (Legal & Democratic Governance and Monitoring Officer) reported that no organisations had indicated that they wished to address the Area Committee as part of the Open Forum arrangements.

To consider an application for Ward Flexibility Funding received from Stockport Garrick Theatre Limited for a grant of £2,350 (£100 from this Area Committee) towards the cost of completing a basement renovation project.

A representative of the Strategic Head of Service (Legal & Democratic Governance and Monitoring Officer) submitted an application received on behalf of Stockport Garrick Theatre Limited for a grant from the Ward Flexibility Budget towards the cost of completing a basement renovation project.

RESOLVED - That approval be given to an application received from Stockport Garrick Theatre Limited for a grant of £100 from the Ward Flexibility Budget towards the cost of completing a basement renovation project.

There are currently no development applications to consider.

There were no development applications to consider.

To consider a report of the Strategic Head of Service (Legal & Democratic Governance and Monitoring Officer).

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 Werneth Area Committee area.

The Area Committee is recommended to note the report.

Officer contact: Vicki Bates on 474 3219 or email: vicki.bates@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Strategic Head of Service (Legal & Democratic Governance and Monitoring Officer) 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 Werneth Area Committee.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director (Corporate and Support Services) and Deputy Chief Executive.

This report builds on the One Stockport update presented to Area Committees in November 2020 where there was discussion about the shape of One Stockport to outline our approach to developing a shared One Stockport borough plan. This report covers how we are progressing the borough plan, our approach to capturing the views of our residents, businesses and workforce, the data and insight we are considering - and how this will inform our priorities for the future

We previously presented to Area Committees in November 2020 to outline our approach to One Stockport and our emerging borough plan. We committed to bringing an update on the progress of the borough plan and as such this report sets out our approach to engagement, data and insight that will inform our priorities for the future.

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

Officer contact: Holly Rae on 0161 474 3014 or email: holly.rae@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Corporate Director (Corporate and Support Services) and Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing how the Council was proposing to progress the development of the borough plan; the approach to capturing the views of residents, businesses and the workforce; the data and insight that would be considered, and how this would inform the priorities for the future.

Holly Rae (Head of Service, Strategy and Commissioning, Stockport Council) attended the meeting to present the item and to respond to questions from councillors.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         In response to question from a councillors, it was stated that following the last round of area committees in November at which members commented on the One Stockport campaign, particular note had been taken of the strong sense of local identity that residents felt towards their specific community within the borough.

·         Members expressed support for the development of a borough plan that reflected on and supported some of the good work that had taken place in response to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

·         Concern was expressed that the continued use and application of the ’One Stockport’ brand did not reflect local identity and may not solicit the right level of engagement or response.

·         Clarification was requested on the level of engagement in specific areas of the borough received through the consultations already undertaken to ensure that there were no areas that were geographically underrepresented.

·         It was highlighted that through the work undertaken so far ‘looking after the environment, climate change and having access to parks and open spaces’ had been identified as being an important issue for children and young people across the borough.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Strategic Head of Service (Legal & Democratic Governance and Monitoring Officer).

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 on 0161 474 3207 or email damian.eaton@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Strategic Head of Service (Legal & Democratic Governance and Monitoring Officer)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.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         Ward councillors were working on a number of projects for the allocation of funding from the Area Committee’s Delegated Budget that would come forward to future meetings of the area committee.

·         It was stated that there had been a number of serious incidents of vandalism and anti-social behaviour that had taken place at Romiley Allotments and that a report would be brought forward to a future meeting of the Area Committee so that consideration could be given to the use of funding from the Area Committee’s Delegated Budget to make improvements to the existing security arrangements.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.