Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 19 July 2023.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 19 June 2023 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

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

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 Interest

Personal and Prejudicial Interest

The Chair reported that the Area Committee at its meeting on 19 June 2023 had agreed to delegate the determination of an application for Ward Flexibility Funding made by Drawing Board Productions CIC in respect of the ‘Romiley Post’ newsletter to the Assistant Director for Legal & Democratic Governance (Monitoring Officer) in consultation with the Chair, subject to the applicant agreeing to change the name of the newspaper to better reflect the area in which it was being distributed.

The Chair informed the Area Committee that applicant had declined to change the name of the publication and therefore a grant had not been made on this occasion.

RESOLVED – That the action be noted.

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

The Chair thanked everyone involved in the Stockport Pride event, noting the large number of residents from the Werneth area who had helped to celebrate the LGBT+ community in Stockport.

The Chair noted the number of successful school fairs that had taken place since the last meeting and referred in particular to those which took place at Greave Primary School and Bredbury Green Primary School.

It was announced that the Chadkirk Well Dressing event had taken place on 25 to 28 July 2023. The event had been well attended by residents and it had included an artist of the year competition with several talented artists involved. It was hoped that the same competition would take place next year.

An event celebrating the 70^th birthday of the NHS had taken place at Woodley Precinct which had been a good event with a health theme.

Finally, the Chair announced that on 9 August 2023, MSV, a local housing provider, was due to host a family fun day at the Goyt Valley.

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.

Two public questions were submitted as follows:-

·         Relating to parking around Woodley Primary School.

In response it was stated that this was an ongoing issue and a consultation with local residents in relation to the potential introduction of No Waiting At Any Time traffic regulation orders on Hyde Road had resulted in opposing views, with 36 residents strongly agreeing and 36 residents strongly disagreeing.  The Chair stated that the Director Place Management would provide the questioner with a written response to the question.

·         Relating to crime in the local area, as the questioner had been a recent victim of robbery.

The Chair stated that the Director of Place Management would provide the questioner with a written response to the question.

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 the Assistant Director – Legal & Democratic Governance (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 Canal Boat Trust / New Horizons for an overall grant of £1,000 (£95.24 from this area committee) towards the cost of renewing windows, as part of the New Horizons refurbishment, which offers accessible narrowboat cruises.

A representative of the Stockport Canal Boat Trust/ New Horizons attended the meeting and submitted an application for a grant of £95.24 from the Ward Flexibility Funding Budget towards new windows as part of the New Horizons refurbishment.

RESOLVED – That approval be given to an application received from Stockport Canal Boat Trust / New Horizons for a grant of £95.24 from the Ward Flexibility Funding Budget towards the cost of renewing windows, as part of the New Horizons refurbishment, which offers accessible narrowboat cruises.

To consider a report of the Deputy Chief Executive.

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

Development applications were 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 Deputy Chief Executive 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.

Change of use to 15 bed HMO (sui generis) with associated external  alterations, bin storage, and car and cycle parking.

The Area Committee is recommended to grant planning permission subject to conditions.

Officer Contact: Rachel Bottomley on 0161 474 3643 or email: rachel.bottomley@stockport.gov.uk

In respect of plan no. DC/088158 for a proposed change of use to 15 bed HMO (sui generis) with associated external alterations, bin storage, and car and cycle parking at 35 Sandy Lane, Romiley, Stockport, SK6 4NH,

a representative of the applicant spoke in support of the application; and

a member of the public spoke against the application.

It was then

RESOLVED – (4 for, 2 abstentions) That planning permission be granted.

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 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 details the results of a consultation exercise for the proposed Government’s City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS) – Bus Pinch Point, Pedestrian Refuge Island, Compstall Road, Romiley, proposals.

The Area Committee is requested to recommend that the Cabinet Member for Parks, Highways and Transport Services gives approval to the implementation of the Bus Pinch Points Pedestrian Refuge Island, Compstall Road scheme and the legal advertising of the associated Traffic Regulation Orders as detailed in Appendix B of the report 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 Government’s City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS) and Transforming Cities Funding.

Officer Contact: Caroline Aylmer-Shanks at c.aylmer-shanks@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) detailing the results of the consultation exercise for the proposed Government’s City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS) – Bus Pinch Point, Pedestrian Refuge Island, Compstall Road, Romiley, proposals.

It was reported that, following deferral of this item at the last meeting of this Committee, members had spoken to local residents to obtain their views regarding the proposed scheme.

RESOLVED – That the Cabinet Member for Parks, Highways and Transport Services be recommended to give approval to the implementation of the Bus Pinch Points Pedestrian Refuge Island, Compstall Road scheme and the legal advertising of the associated Traffic Regulation Orders as detailed in Appendix B of the report 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 Government’s City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS) and Transforming Cities Funding.

To consider a report of the Assistant Director – Legal & Democratic Governance.

At the Budget Council Meeting on 23 February 2023, approval was given to the allocation of £0.260m to fund the creation and administration of a Ward Discretionary Budget to provide each ward with an additional discretionary sum of £10,000 to spend on ward priorities.

This report details the proposed governance arrangements for the making of allocations from the Ward Discretionary Budget and the delegation arrangements for the making of decisions with regard to those proposed allocations.

The Area Committee is recommended to:-

(1) Note that each ward has been allocated an additional discretionary sum of £10,000 to spend on ward priorities.

(2) Give approval to the identification of those priorities, or proposed allocations, on a ward-by-ward basis.

(3) Work with officers to draw up formal costed proposals that have the full support of all Members of the ward for submission to a future meeting of the area committee for recommendation to the Cabinet Member for Finance & Resources.

Officer contact: Vicki Bates on 0161 474 3219 or email: vicki.bates@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Assistant Director - Legal and Democratic Governance (Monitoring Officer) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) outlining the creation and administration of a Ward Discretionary Budget to provide each ward with an additional discretionary sum of £10,000 to spend on ward priorities.

The report also detailed the proposed governance arrangements for the making of allocations from the Ward Discretionary Budget and the delegation arrangements for the making of decisions with regard to those proposed allocations.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         Members queried the expected unanimity of ward councillors in identifying uses for the funding.

·         Members sought assurance that the discretionary budget would not be a substitute for ongoing Council projects which would otherwise be funded separately.

·         Bredbury Green and Romiley ward councillors suggested the following areas could for the subject of proposals for use of the funding:-

o   Accessible equipment for local parks.

o   Viability studies for schemes such as a crossing in Romiley.

o   Improvements to Goyt Valley Park and Overdale Park.

o   Improvements in the District Centres at Bredbury and Berrycroft.

o   Cycle schemes in Bredbury Green and Romiley to Stockport.

·         Bredbury and Woodley ward councillors suggested the following areas could for the subject of proposals for use of the funding:-

o   Improvements at local parks and play areas.

o   Highways improvements on Redhouse Lane including road surfacing and chicanes.

o   Provision of CCTV in the area.

o   Viability studies for improvements in the area.

RESOLVED - (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That ward councillors work with officers to draw up formal, costed proposals that have the full support of all councillors for the relevant the ward for submission to a future meeting of the area committee for recommendation to the Cabinet Member for Finance & Resources.

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.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.