Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 28 November 2022.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 28 November 2022 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

No urgent decisions were reported.

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

It was reported that the Friends of Chadkirk had organised a successful ‘winter wassail’ event on 7 January 2023 which had been well attended and support by local residents.

It was further reported that Romiley Market was due to recommence following a break during January with the market resuming on the first Saturday of each month.

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

No petitions were submitted.

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

There were no applications to consider.

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 in the powers or duties of the Area Committee, subject to the exclusions set out within the Code of Practice.

One public question was submitted relating to measures to improve road safety near Woodley Primary School and the consideration that would be given to the views of local residents.

In response, it was stated that ward councillors would talk to local residents and take into account their views prior to any decision being taken.  Work was taking place both at the school and within the council to establish what could be achieved within the locality.  It was stated that any proposal that involved the use of traffic regulation orders would be required to be considered by the area committee and would be subject to a formal statutory advertisement period to allow for the receipt of any objections.

A further public question was submitted where the questioner was not in attendance at the meeting and in accordance with the Code of Practice, the Chief Executive was requested to respond to the questioner in writing.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration.

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

(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 Corporate & Support Services 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 upon payment of the Council’s reasonable charges).

A representative of the Assistant Director – Legal & Democratic Governance (Monitoring Officer) outlined the procedure for public speaking on planning applications.

Single storey rear extension and balcony.

The Area Committee is recommended to grant planning permission.

Officer contact: Aisling Monaghan by email: aisling.monaghan@stockport.gov.uk

In respect of plan no. DC084686 for a single storey rear extension and balcony at 716 Stockport Road West, Bredbury, Stockport, it was

RESOLVED – That planning permission be granted.

Representatives of United Utilities, the Environment Agency and the Mersey Rivers Trust have been invited to attend the meeting to discuss matters related to pollution in local waterways.

Jemma Parkinson (Stakeholder Manager, United Utilities), Mark Sewell (Catchment Asset Manager, United Utilities), and Lyndsay Beaton (Senior Project Manager, Mersey Rivers Trust) attended the meeting to support a discussion on matters related to pollution in waterways within the Werneth area.

Information was also submitted by the Environment Agency in advance of the meeting.

The opened the discussion by stating that the area committee had powers to conduct a local scrutiny review in respect of any issues that affect the local area.  It was stated that the area committee had elected to undertake a review into the issue of sewage entering local waterways following concerns that water quality was not as good as it could be.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         None of the agencies involved in managing rivers, watercourses or water supplies were responsible for generating pollution that entered waterways.

·         There were other sources of water pollution such as from agricultural run-off or industrial discharges.

·         The focus of the area committee’s scrutiny review was on the discharge of sewage into waterways.

·         The discharge of effluent into water courses was strictly regulated by the Environment Agency through permits held by water companies.

·         United Utilities were working to finalise their 2025-2030 asset management plan which would include significant investments to improve water quality.

·         It was noted that much of the wastewater system in the north west was Victorian.

·         It was a priority for water companies to educate residents on what not to flush to prevent blockages and reduce spills.

·         Concern was expressed that a sewer outflow on Otterspool Road had spilled on 153 occasions for over 1000 hours in 2021.

·         The Mersey Rovers Trust worked with local landowners to introduce natural flood management schemes that retained water to prevent spill incidents in the first place.

·         99% of overflows were monitored and work was taking place to provide a publicly available live monitoring system so that residents could understand where spills were taking place.

·         There were only two designated inland bathing waters in the country.

·         It was noted that members and residents had observed evidence of sewage discharges in waterways within the Werneth area.

·         The River Mersey was used and promoted for watersports, however its recreational value was being constrained by the impact of sewage discharges.

·         It was stated that the removal of surface water from new developments should only be achieved through connection to a combined system as a last resort.

·         It was suggested that Stockport’s local planning policies should reflect a surface water management hierarchy that promoted alternative means of discharging of surface water.

·         The requirement under the Environment Act to limit spills from overspills to no more than 10 per annum by 2050 represented the biggest challenge to the water industry.

·         A discussion took place between the potential conflict for private water companies to act in both the interests of consumers and shareholders.

·         It was suggested that representatives of United Utilities visit Stockport Hydro to observe the impact that sewage discharges were having on the operation.

·         The quickest and cheapest win would be to prevent rainwater from entering the combined waste system.

RESOLVED – That Jemma Parkinson, Mark Sewell and Lyndsay Beaton be thanked for their attendance.

To consider a report of the Assistant Director - Legal & 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 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 Assistant Director – Legal & Democratic Governance (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 Director of Place Management.

The report details the locations of council-owned parking spaces within the Bredbury & Woodley and Bredbury Green and Romiley wards where it is planned to install Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure.

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

Officer contact: Mark Glynn on 0161 474 3700 or email: mark.glynn@stockport.gov.uk or Sue Stevenson on 0161 474 4351 or email: sue.stevenson@stockport.gov.uk.

A representative of the Director of Place Management submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing the locations of council-owned parking spaces within the Bredbury & Woodley and Bredbury Green and Romiley wards where it is planned to install Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         The proposal to increase the number of EV charging facilities within the Werneth area were welcomed.

·         The introduction of chargers at Romiley Railway Station was welcomed, however it was queried why consideration had not been given at this stage to Woodley or Bredbury stations.  In response, it was stated that the car park at Romiley Railway Station was in council ownership which meant that this could be progressed more quickly than at Bredbury and Woodley.

·         It was stated that these proposals represented the first phase of new EV chargers, and consideration was actively being given to further sites to be included in future phases.

·         Robust agreements needed to be in place with landowners, infrastructure and energy providers to ensure the long-term sustainability of any charging site.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Director of Place Management.

The repirt provides an overview of the proposed implementation of Speed Indicators Devices (SID’s) in the Werneth Area.

The Area Committee is recommended to support the SID programme and for the Highway Ward Spokespersons for each ward to be authorised to submit four potential locations where they would like the SIDs to be installed.

Officer Contact: Adam Meadowcroft on 07800 618 430 or email: adam.meadowcroft@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Director of Place Management submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an overview of the proposed implementation of Speed Indicators Devices (SID’s) in the Werneth Area.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         The proposed new devices represented a significant improvement on those previously deployed by the authority and would allow for better access to the data collected.

·         It was suggested that consideration be given to retaining devices at specific locations for extended periods of time.  In response, it was stated that research suggested that the devices lost their impact if they remained in static locations.

RESOLVED – That the Director of Place Management be authorised to determine the locations for the installation of mobile speed indicator devices within the Bredbury & Woodley and Bredbury Green & Romiley wards (four locations per ward) following consultation with the Highway Ward Spokespersons.

To consider a report of the Director of Place Management.

The report details an application from the Friends of Tangshutt Fields to hold a ‘May Day on the Meadow’ event at Tangshutt Fields on the 1 May 2023.

The Area Committee is recommended to give approval to the application subject to all appropriate paperwork and licences being obtained and submitted to the Council at least one week prior to the event taking place.

Officer Contact: Jacky Budd on 0161 474 3332 or email: jacky.budd@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Assistant Director – Legal & Democratic Governance submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing an application from the Friends of Tangshutt Fields to hold a ‘May Day on the Meadow’ event at Tangshutt Fields on the 1 May 2023.

RESOLVED – That the application be granted subject to all appropriate paperwork and licences being obtained and submitted to the Council at least one week prior to the event taking place.

To consider a report of the Assistant Director – Legal & 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. 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 Assistant Director – Legal & Democratic Governance (Monitoring Officer) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) updating the Area Committee on progress on decisions taken by the Area Committee since the last meeting and the current position on the Area Flexibility and the Delegated budget.

It was noted that the area committee still had funding available for allocation to local community groups as part of its ward flexibility budget, and that applications for events and activities in the area would be welcomed.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.