Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and order that the Minutes of the meeting held on 8 March 2021 be signed.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 8 March 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 as declared:-

Personal Interest

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

The Chair reported that there had recently been an incursion by travellers on the football pitches on Mill Lane, Woodley and Chair expressed the thanks of the area committee to those officers who responded to the incident, and to those residents who assisted in the clean-up of the site afterwards.

Councillors then noted that this would be the last meeting of the Area Committee to be attended by the Chair (Councillor Christine Corris) before her forthcoming retirement from the Council.  Members expressed their thanks and gratitude to Councillor Christine Corris for her work on behalf of local residents and the wider borough during her tenure as a member of the Council.

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 at www.stockport.gov.uk/publicquestions).

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.

One public questions was submitted relating to parking issues on Mill Lane, Woodley following the reopening of the Life Leisure sports facility.

The Chair responded that it was an issue that local members were aware of. It was stated that anecdotally, it appeared the problem was most prevalent on Saturdays and may be due to the cross-over of activities taking place at the centre.  Members undertook to raise the issue with Council officers to assess whether there was any further action that could be taken.

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.

A representative of 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 received from Beacon Counselling for a grant of  up to £1,000 from the Ward Flexibility Budget towards the cost of funding the voluntary service for those within the area represented by the area committee for 2021.

A representative of the Strategic Head of Service (Legal & Democratic Governance and Monitoring Officer) submitted an application received on behalf of Beason Counselling for a grant from the Ward Flexibility Budget towards the cost of funding the voluntary service for those within the area represented by the area committee for 2021.

RESOLVED – That approval be given to an application received from Beason Counselling for a grant of £1,000 from the Ward Flexibility Budget towards the cost of funding the voluntary service for those within the area represented by the area committee for 2021.

To consider an application received from Etherow Country Park Sailing Club for a grant of £1,000 (£500 from this Area Committee) from the Ward Flexibility Budget towards the cost of providing ‘introduction to sailing’ courses for 10-16 year olds.

A representative of the Strategic Head of Service (Legal & Democratic Governance and Monitoring Officer) submitted an application received on behalf of Etherow Country Park Sailing Club for a grant from the Ward Flexibility Budget towards the cost of providing ‘introduction to sailing’ courses for 10-16 year olds.

RESOLVED – That approval be given to an application received from Etherow Country Park Sailing Club for a grant of £500 from the Ward Flexibility Budget towards the cost of providing ‘introduction to sailing’ courses for 10-16 year olds.

To consider an application received from the Social Events and Activities (SEA) Group for a grant of £680 (£50 from this Area Committee) from the Ward Flexibility Budget towards the cost of providing a day out for those who have been socially isolating in their own homes for the last 12 months.

A representative of the Strategic Head of Service (Legal & Democratic Governance and Monitoring Officer) submitted an application received on behalf of the Social Events and Activities (SEA) Group for a grant from the Ward Flexibility Budget towards the cost of providing a day out for those who have been socially isolating in their own homes for the last 12 months.

RESOLVED - That approval be given to an application received from the Social Events and Activities (SEA) Group for a grant of £50 from the Ward Flexibility Budget towards the cost of providing a day out for those who have been socially isolating in their own homes for the last 12 months.

There are currently no 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.

Members requested that ward councillors be provided with an update with regard to compliance with the tree replacement notice on land adjacent to Unity Mills, Poleacre Lane, Woodley.

It was further noted the report listed an enforcement notice with regard to land at Hillside Farm, Werneth Low Road, Romiley that had since been granted planning permission and it was requested that he report be updated to reflect this.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

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

The report confirms that the Council has launched a “call for brownfield sites” to support work on our new Local Plan.  This briefing note provides more information on the activities taking place to promote the current call for brownfield sites exercise.

The Area Committee is recommended to note the report and encourage local residents to get involved.

Officer contact: Emma Curle on 0161 474 3542 or email emma.curle@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Strategic Head of Service (Legal & Democratic Governance and Monitoring Officer) submitted a report of the Corporate Director (Place) & Deputy Chief Executive (copies of which had been circulated) confirming that the Council has launched a “call for brownfield sites” to support work on the new Local Plan and providing more information on the activities taking place to promote the current call for brownfield sites exercise.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

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

The report details the findings of a consultation exercise for traffic calming features and resident permit parking on Compstall Road, Romiley, and seeks comments regarding the introduction of Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs) for a Residents Permit Parking Scheme and the introduction of ‘No Waiting At Any Time’ parking restrictions with associated signage; amendments to road markings, three build outs and provision of a vehicle activated sign.

The Area Committee is requested to recommend that the Cabinet Member for Sustainable Stockport gives approval to the legal advertising of the traffic regulation orders set out in appendix A (and the associated works) and subject to the receipt of no objections within 21 days of the advertisement date, the subsequent making of the orders to be funded from the Capital Budget.

Officer contact: Eraina Smith on 0161 474 4911 or email: eraina.smith@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Corporate Director (Place) & Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing the findings of a consultation exercise for traffic calming features and resident permit parking on Compstall Road, Romiley, and seeking comments regarding the introduction of Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs) for a Residents Permit Parking Scheme and the introduction of ‘No Waiting At Any Time’ parking restrictions with associated signage; amendments to road markings, three build outs and provision of a vehicle activated sign.

Members discussed the potential of providing a refuge in the centre of the carriageway to better facilitate pedestrian movements across the road at this location.

RESOLVED – (1) That the Cabinet Member for Sustainable Stockport be recommended to give approval to the legal advertising of the traffic regulation orders set out in appendix A (and the associated works) and subject to the receipt of no objections within 21 days of the advertisement date, the subsequent making of the orders to be funded from the Capital Budget.

(2) That the Corporate Director be recommended to undertake a feasibility study to establish whether it is possible to provide a pedestrian refuge in the centre of the carriageway on Compstall Road to facilitate pedestrian movements across the highway at this location.

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

The Resident Parking Policy was updated at the December cabinet meeting. As part of that agreement it has been decided that a prioritised approach to the backlog of residents parking zone (RPZ)/ resident parking schemes (RPS) requests will be implemented.

This report provides an update on the residents parking zones/ schemes.

The area committee is recommended to note that preferred priorities with regards to the delivery of potential schemes within their area will be discussed at ward briefings and note the potential costs and the resource requirements for scheme delivery.

Officer contact: Jon Brown on 07800 618197 or email: jon.brown@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Corporate Director (Place) & Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing the updated Residents Parking Policy that had been approved by the Cabinet in December 2020.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         The cost of each scheme to the Area Committee’s Delegated Budget was prohibitively expensive and consideration should be given to providing an additional budgetary allocation to Area Committees for this specific purpose.

·         Resident permit parking schemes needed to receive a level of enforcement commensurate with expense incurred by local residents.

·         Concern was expressed in relation to the arrangements for residents’ carers to attend properties the subject of a residents permit parking schemes and the expense associated with this.

·         Clarity was requested on how the level of the financial contribution to be made by Area Committees was calculated.

·         It was not proposed that there would be a budgetary reimbursement of the initial investment made by Area Committees resulting from the fees levied on residents.

·         The flexibility provided for within the scheme was welcomed.

·         It was queried whether any additional officer time would be allocated to clear the backlog of schemes resulting from the moratorium on new schemes that had been introduced pending the introduction of the policy.  It was clarified that recruitment was taking place to provide additional capacity in this area.

·         It was queried what the arrangements were for amendments to existing schemes and whether this would incur the full costs to the Area Committee’s budget identified in the report. 

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

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

The report details a proposal to upgrade the directional signage from the former Romiley Forum to Forum Theatre.

The Area Committee is recommended to give approval to the proposed signage to be manufactured and installed area for Forum Theatre at a cost of £900 to be funded from the Area Committee’s Delegated Budget (Bredbury Green & Romiley ward allocation).

Officer Contact: Julie Pelham on Tel: 0161 474 4846 or email: julie.pelham@stockport.uk

A representative of the Corporate Director (Place) & Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing a proposal to upgrade the directional signage from the former Romiley Forum to Forum Theatre.

RESOLVED - That approval be given to the manufacture and installation of upgraded tourist directional signage for the Forum Theatre at a cost of £900 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.

It was requested that a breakdown be provided of the work undertaken with regard to the feasibility study previously approved by the Area Committee with regard to a change in the road layout at Mill Lane and Rodney Drive, Woodley/

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.