Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 6 March 2023.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 6 March 2023 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 interests were declared:-

Personal Interests

No urgent decisions were reported.

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

The Chair announced that this meeting would be the final meetings of the Area Committee to be attended by Councillors Stuart Corris and Vince Shaw due to their retirement from the Council at the forthcoming local elections. The Chair expressed the thanks of the Area Committee to Councillors Corris and Shaw for their work both as members of the Area Committee and for the wider borough and its residents.

It was further noted that this would be the final Area Committee to be attended by Damian Eaton, who had acted as clerk to the Area Committee for many years. The Chair expressed the thanks of the Area Committee for his support during this time.

The Chair encouraged everyone to vote in the forthcoming local election and reminded residents that identification would be required for in-person voting at polling stations.

The Chair then reported that a Coronation street party was due to take place on Sunday, 7 May 2023 until 4.00 pm on Compstall Road, Romiley, which would be closed to traffic during the celebration. It was also noted that Woodley Cricket Club was also due to hold a Coronation party on Sunday, 7 May 2023 which was planned to continue into the evening.

It was announced that the Friends of Romiley Station had received a Platinum Jubilee award for the garden which had had been created from a piece of derelict land with help from the local community. The garden would be maintained into the future by Romiley & Marple Lions.

In relation to the Stockport Spring Clean initiative, the Area Committee thanked Council Officers and local residents for their efforts to ensure that the Borough was tidy for the summer.

Finally it was announced that Stockport’s Neighbourhoods and Prevention Partnership was seeking local residents active in supporting the community, or any Area Committee members, to volunteer to influence the work of the Partnership.  Applicants and nominees were requested to contact charlotte.griffin@stockport.gov.uk.

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.

No petitions were submitted.

James Kington (Assistant Director - Estates and Asset Management, Stockport Council) will attend the meeting to provide an update and progress with regard to the future of the Chadkirk Estate since the discussion on the matter that took place at the meeting of the Werneth Area Committee on 17 October 2022.

(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 in order that prompt consideration could be given to the advancement of discussions over the future of the Chadkirk Estate).

James Kington (Strategic Head of Estates and Asset Management, Stockport Council) and John Pengelly (Chair of the Friends of Chadkirk) attended the meeting and provided an update in relation to the future of the Chadkirk Estate.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         It was stated that the Chadkirk Estate was a ‘jewel in the crown’ for the borough and was an important heritage site.

·         The resident of the farmhouse had moved out and guardians had been moved into the site as a temporary measure to ensure that the property remained secure.

·         A steering group had been set up, consisting of James Kingston, John Pengelly and Paul Edgeworth (Client Property Officer, Stockport Council) to consider potential ownership models for the estate.

·         The site was benefiting form the installation of Wi-Fi internet access.

·         The steering group aimed to give a stronger voice to residents and others in relation to the future of the estate, bring back local focus and consider ways to access funds. It also created a single point of contact between the Friends of Chadkirk and Stockport Council allowing an opportunity for clear communication and an improved working relationship.

·         The next steps for the steering group were to reach out to neighbouring communities for suggestions and to look at nationwide examples of best practice. The steering group was seeking a ‘critical friend’ to consider the group’s learning and work out how best to expand upon it.

·         The steering group was taking a pragmatic approach to options for the Chadkirk Estate. It noted that there had been a lack of progress in the past when only ‘big solutions’ had been considered. The new approach aimed to consider smaller interventions with the aim of building upon those over time.

·         It was expected that the work of the steering group would continue in shadow form for six to twelve months before robust proposals for the future of the estate were considered by the council’s scrutiny committees and decision-making bodies.

·         Various uses of Chadkirk Chapel and the wider estate were discussed with a particular emphasis on creating a Borough and region-wide attraction;

·         The developments relating to the future of the Chadkirk Estate, in particular the creation of the steering group, were welcomed and the group was encouraged to maintain local support.

·         The steering group was recommended to contact Historic England for further guidance on the future of the estate.

·         It was important to ensure that all communities had the opportunity to become involved working with the Chadkirk Estate, not just those who had the time to volunteer. The steering group was encouraged to involve young people who might not otherwise have access to outside space.

·         Updates relating to the future of the Chadkirk Estate should be considered at the Area Committee in three months’ time.

RESOLVED – (1) That James Kington and John Pengelly be thanked for their attendance.

(2) That James Kington and John Pengelly be invited to return to the Area Committee in three months to provide a further update on the Chadkirk Estate.

To consider an application for Ward Flexibility Funding received from Friends of Tangshutt for a grant of £500 towards the cost of hosting ‘May Day’ on the Meadow on 1^st May 2023 between 12 noon and 3pm on Tangshutts Meadow. Other groups will be involved including Stockport Ukulele Group, Agricultural and Rural Group, Sustainable Living and Romiley plus other local volunteers.

Chantal Johnson attended the meeting and submitted an application on behalf of the Friends of Tangshutt for a grant from the Ward Flexibility Budget towards the cost of hosting ‘May Day’ on the Meadow event on 1 May 2023 at Tangshutts Meadow.

RESOLVED – That approval be given to an application received from the Friends of Tangshutt for a grant of £500 from the Ward Flexibility Budget towards the cost of hosting a ‘May Day’ on the Meadow event on 1 May 2023 at Tangshutts Meadow.

To consider an application for Ward Flexibility Funding received from Sustainable Living Romiley for a grant of £1,000 towards the cost of the installation of a community water fountain on the village high street in Romiley.

With the consent of the Area Committee, this item was withdrawn.

To consider an application for Ward Flexibility Funding received from Stockport LGBT+ Centre CIC for an overall grant of £2100 (£200 from this area committee) towards the cost of providing refreshments (coffee and sandwiches) during and after physical activities including walking with litter picks in local green spaces, weekly squash and tennis sessions for all of the Stockport LGBTQIA+ community.

A representative of the Assistant Director – Legal & Democratic Governance (Monitoring Officer) submitted an application received on behalf of Stockport LGBT+ Centre CIC for a grant from the Ward Flexibility Budget towards the cost of providing refreshments (coffee and sandwiches) during and after physical activities including walking with litter picks in local green spaces, weekly squash and tennis sessions for all of the Stockport LGBTQIA+ community.

RESOLVED – That approval be given to an application received from the Stockport LGBT+ Centre CIC for a grant of £200 from the Ward Flexibility Budget towards the cost of providing refreshments (coffee and sandwiches) during and after physical activities including walking with litter picks in local green spaces, weekly squash and tennis sessions for all of the Stockport LGBTQIA+ community.

There are currently no development applications to consider.

There were no development applications to consider.

To consider a report of the Assistant Director – Legal and 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 0161 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 presents the findings of a study carried out by Urban Traffic Control (UTC) part of Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) on the addition of a right turn filter arrow from Berrycroft Lane to Barrack Hill.

The Area Committee is requested to recommend that the Cabinet Member for Highways, Parks and Leisure Services gives approval to the addition of a right turn filter arrow from Berrycroft Lane to Barrack Hill at a cost of £4,500 to be funded from the Area Committee’s Delegated Budget (Bredbury Green and Romiley ward allocation).

Officer Contact: Gemma Brady at gemma.brady@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Assistant Director – Legal & Democratic Governance (Monitoring Officer) submitted a report of the Director of Place Management (copies of which had been circulated) presenting the findings of a study carried out by the Greater Manchester Urban Traffic in relation to the addition of a right turn filter arrow from Berrycroft Lane to Barrack Hill, Bredbury.

The following comments were made/ issues raised: -

·         It was noted that there were similar difficulties for right turning vehicles from School Brow into George Lane which had resulted in some accidents and near misses at the junction.

·         It was suggested that further consideration of the report be deferred until a wider study had been carried out in relation to the feasibility of introducing a further right hand filter lane from School Brow to George Lane.

·         It was noted that a new housing development was currently being built at the Cow & Calf site adjacent to the junction and it was suggested that any future study should be undertaken upon the completion of this development so that consideration could be given to its impact on the operation of the junction.

·         A request was made for the existing highway markings at the junction to be repainted.

RESOLVED – (1) That consideration of this report be deferred to a future meeting of the Area Committee pending the undertaking of a further study into the potential for the addition of a further right turn filter on the junction from School Brow to George Lane.

(2) That the Director of Place Management be requested to remarking of the existing highway markins at the Berrycroft Lane/ Barrack Hill junction.

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

The report details objections received by the Council in relation to the introduction of residents permit parking places and associated waiting restrictions on Church Lane, Colborne Avenue, Kimberley Avenue and Leyburn Grove, Romiley; which seeks to expand the existing permit parking arrangements.

The Area Committee is recommended to:

(1) Note the objections;

(2) Agree that notwithstanding the objections the order be made as advertised. 

Officer Contact: Noel Nhengu by email at noel.nhengu@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Assistant Director – Legal & Democratic Governance (Monitoring Officer) submitted a joint report of the Assistant Director and the Director of Place Management (copies of which had been circulated) which detailed objections received by the Council in relation to the introduction of residents permit parking places and associated waiting restrictions on Church Lane, Colborne Avenue, Kimberley Avenue and Leyburn Grove, Romiley; which sought to expand the existing permit parking arrangements.

RESOLVED – That, notwithstanding the objections, the orders be made as advertised.

To consider a report of the Director of Place Management.

The report provides the Area Committee with details of review undertaken to understand the condition of our local rivers and the key types of pollution affecting them.

The Area Committee is recommended to consider and comment upon the report and its recommendations prior to its submissions to the Cabinet.

Officer Contact: Sue Stevenson on 0161 474 4351 or email: sue.stevenson@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Assistant Director – Legal & Democratic Governance (Monitoring Officer) submitted a report of the Director of Place Management (copies of which had been circulated) providing the Area Committee with details of a review undertaken to understand the condition of our local rivers and the key types of pollution affecting them. 

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         Thanks were given to all who had worked on the report, including council officers, representatives from United Utilities, the Environment Agency, the Mersey Rivers Trust, along with local residents who had engaged with this work.

·         It was commented that the current situation in terms of the amount of sewage going into local rivers was unacceptable and must be changed.

·         The Otterspool Road sewage outflow was highlighted in terms of the number of spills that had occurred. It was noted that the council had planned to plant three woodland areas across the Borough in 2022 including a site at Otterspool, however it had not been possible to plant at this location due to poor soil quality caused by sewage.

·         The Cabinet Member for Climate Change & Environment had contacted both United Utilities and council officers in relation to the issue at the Otterspool outflow and had suggested a site visit.

·         Water pollution was a nationwide issue and it was suggested that the government needed to change the law to compel water companies to stop the practice of discharging sewage into open watercourses.

·         Proper investment was needed to quickly resolve this issue, including accessing funding streams from outside agencies. 

·         The partnership established as a result of United Utilities working closely with the council was both necessary and welcomed;

·         The need for transparency from water companies was recognised and local residents should be able to easily find and understand the number of sewage discharges into local waterways.

·         It was suggested that the Area Committee should continue to investigate and scrutinise pollution in local rivers into the forthcoming municipal year.

RESOLVED – That the report be approved for submission to Cabinet.

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: Jacqueline Kramer on 0161 474 2978 or email: jacqueline.kramer@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Assistant Director – Legal and 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 commented that the governance arrangements for the new Ward Discretionary Fund had not yet been agreed, however this would be circulated to member as soon as it was available.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.