Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and order that the Minutes of the meeting held on 14 December 2020 be signed.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 14 December 2021 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.

The following interest was declared:-

Personal Interest

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

The Chair reported that a number of residents had reported receiving emails purporting to be from NHS England in relation to the Covid-19 vaccination programme and seeking registration from the recipient and payment information.  The Chair confirmed that there was no requirement for residents to register to receive the vaccine, and that no payment would ever be requested.  Residents were reminded that they should never disclose personal information in response to unsolicited emails.

The Chair extended her congratulations to the Cherry Tree Project in Romiley on securing a new home for their services.  It was further reported that the Ada Kay Centre, Bredbury had been taken over The Weekend Day Centre for Dementia Care.

The Chair thanked local residents in the Werneth area for their community efforts to assist others during the recent flooding which also included Welkin Mill and several businesses.

Councillor Clark than reported that following an increase an anti-social behaviour in the Bredbury Green & Romiley ward, local councillors helped arrange a multi-agency meeting to discuss the issue including representation from Greater Manchester Police, the Youth Offending Team, several housing associations, local schools and a recently formed neighbourhood watch group.  It was stated that a positive discussion had taken place and it was hoped that as covid restrictions were gradually lifted it would be possible to run a number of initiatives and activities in the area.

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.

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 any application received from Twisted Trees productions for a grant of  £950 from the Ward Flexibility Budget towards the cost of a Romiley-wide art trail.

A representative of the Strategic Head of Service (Legal & Democratic Governance and Monitoring Officer) submitted an application received on behalf of Twisted Trees Productions for a grant from the Ward Flexibility Budget towards the cost of a Romiley-wide art trail.

RESOLVED - That approval be given to an application received from Twisted Trees Productions for a grant of £950 from the Ward Flexibility Budget towards the cost of a Romiley-wide art trail.

To consider a joint report of the Leader of the Council & Cabinet Member for Devolution and the Deputy Leader of the Council & Cabinet Member for Resources, Commissioning & Governance.

This report covers how partners across Stockport have approached the development of a shared borough plan, including an overview of the insight which has informed the development of the priorities, and introduces a draft borough plan for scrutiny comment and consideration. The draft plan is being shared with all scrutiny committees and comment is invited on the whole plan however to support discussions Table 1 indicates where borough plan priorities more directly relate to the remit of this committee. The draft plan is also accompanied by a full engagement report (appendix 1) and an equality impact assessment (appendix 2).

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 partners across Stockport had approached the development of a shared borough plan, including an overview of the insight which has informed the development of the priorities, and introducing a draft borough plan for comment and consideration.

Kirsteen Roe (Service Director – Citizen Focus, Stockport Council) attended the meeting to present the item and to respond to questions from councillors.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         The publication of an addendum to the report providing feedback on the specific comments on the Borough Plan made by the Area Committee at its last meeting was welcomed.

·         It was commented that the report referred to Stockport being ‘one of the best connected towns’, however this was not representative of the Borough as a whole as there were many communities that suffered from extremely poor connectivity including, for example, Greave.

·         The ongoing impact of the coronavirus pandemic had made people look more to their immediate communities rather than to the Borough as a whole, and there needed to be a more localised focus to the Plan.

·         Further information was requested in relation to the number of groups and organisations involved in the Stockport Interfaith Forum that had been referred to within the report.

·         Further detail was requested in terms of what was being proposed in terms of interventions in Stockport’s local and district centres.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

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

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

A development applications 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 for Place Management & Regeneration 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 Strategic Head of Service (Legal & Democratic Governance and Monitoring Officer) outlined the procedure for public speaking on planning applications.

Construction of a detached building, together with associated outdoor groundworks including creation of a pond, seating areas and outdoor forest school, for use as training centre / hub for armed forces veterans (part retrospective).

The Area Committee is recommended to grant planning permission.

Officer contact: Mark Jordan on 0161 474 3557 or email: mark.jordan@stockport.gov.uk 

In respect of plan no. DC072210 for the construction of a detached building, together with associated outdoor groundworks including creation of a pond, seating areas and outdoor forest school, for use as training centre / hub for armed forces veterans (part retrospective) at Hillside Farm, Werneth Low Road, Romiley,

a member of the public spoke against the application; and

the applicant spoke in support of the application.

It was then

RESOLVED – That the Planning & Highways Regulation Committee be recommended to grant planning permission.

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 Corporate Director (Place) & Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report of the Strategic Head of Service (Legal & Democratic Governance and Monitoring Officer) (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.

·         Concern was expressed in relation to the apparent lack of compliance with the tree replacement notice on land adjacent to Unity Mills, Poleacre Lane, Woodley and it was requested that action be taken to ensure that the replacement trees were planted within the current planting season.

·         Further clarity was requested with regard to the payment of costs associated with the enforcement action taken at land at Hillside Farm, Werneth Low Road, Romiley that was the subject of a planning application earlier on the agenda for the meeting. 

·         An update on progress with regard to the enforcement notice served at 123 Werneth Road, Woodley in relation to the removal of an unauthorised rear extension  was also requested.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director (Place) & Deputy Chief Executive.

The report details a proposal to improve the security at Romiley Allotments with the installation of a new security fence.

The Area Committee is recommended to give approval to the making of a contribution of £5,000 for the clearance of vegetation and old fencing including removal of old concrete posts along 110m fence line, and the installation of green palisade fencing to be funded from the Area Committee’s Delegated Budget (Bredbury Green & Romiley ward allocation).

Officer contact: Jacky Budd on 0161 474 3332 or email: jacky.budd@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) detailing a proposal to improve the security at Romiley Allotments with the installation of a new security fence

RESOLVED - That approval be given to the making of a contribution of £5,000 for the clearance of vegetation and old fencing, including the removal of old concrete posts along 110m fence line, and the installation of green palisade fencing to be funded from the Area Committee’s Delegated Budget (Bredbury Green & Romiley ward allocation).

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.

·         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.

·         Reference was made to a previous request of the Area Committee made at its meeting on 28 September 2021 in relation to an audit of street furniture within the locality to take place, and it was requested that a report be brought to the next meeting of the Area Committee detailing the current position.

·         It was stated that a report had been requested for the next meeting of the Area Committee in relation to the funding that had been collected by way of Section 106 contributions for use within the Werneth Area.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.