Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 31 July 2023.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 31 July 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 Interest

No urgent decisions were reported.

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

The Chair congratulated the work of Romiley Methodist Railway Modellers who had raised money for Action for Children at their annual model railway event.

Following feedback from viewers of webcast recordings of past meetings, the Chair requested that all speakers at the committee meeting speak clearly into microphones for the benefit of those watching the webcast.

The Chair informed the committee that those wanting to help asylum seekers in the area could donate children’s and adult’s clothes to Tiviot Dale Methodist Church. The Chair referred to residents’ concerns regarding the temporary housing of asylum seekers at a hotel in the area.  She also referred to misinformation regarding this matter on social media and urged residents to contact their councillors with any questions.

The Chair then noted that the Area Committee had a ward flexibility fund which allowed local community groups to submit applications for a grant, and she encouraged local groups to access the application form and guidance on the Council’s website.

The Chair, on behalf of councillors for Bredbury Green & Romiley Ward, thanked everyone involved with the Forum Theatre in Romiley, which had to close at short notice and reschedule a number of performances due to unsafe concrete in the theatre building.

Finally, the Chair gave an update on neighbourhood policing on behalf of the Neighbourhood Policing Team. It was stated that 96 crimes had been committed in the Werneth area in past last month, of which twelve were residential burglaries. The Chair encouraged residents to report crimes so that a complete picture of criminal activity within the area could be developed. The Chair informed the committee that the Police and Communities Together (PACT) meeting which had been scheduled to take place on 13 September 2023 had been postponed.

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 questions was submitted as follows:-

·         Relating to the speed of vehicles on Stockport Road, Romiley.

In response members stated that they shared the questioner’s concerns about speeding and that the issue was frequently raised with them by residents. It was also stated that Active Travel Scheme funding had been secured in order to introduce pedestrian crossings which were designed to help slow the flow of traffic through the district centre.  It was reported that work was ongoing within the Council to consider the introduction of 20mph zones on residential roads within the borough.  In relation to Community Speed Watch it was reported that members had met with the Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police, his deputy who was in charge of road policing and the Deputy Mayoress of Greater Manchester who held the Crime Commissioner role.  Members made it clear at that meeting that they wished to see Community Speed Watch rolled out across Greater Manchester and were given an assurance that it would happen. It was stated that residents involved in the Community Speed Watch programme required training and that a pilot scheme was currently underway within the borough.

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 for Legal & Democratic Governance reported that no organisations had indicated that they wished to address the Area Committee as part of the Open Forum arrangements.

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

There were no applications to consider.

To consider a report of the Deputy Chief Executive.

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

A development application 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 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 for Legal & Democratic Governance outlined the procedure for public speaking on planning applications.

First floor extension over side garage and a change in roof design. (Amended)

The Area Committee is recommended to grant planning permission.

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

In respect of plan no. DC/088065 for a proposed first floor extension over side garage and a change in roof design (Amended) at 7 The Crescent, Bredbury Stockport, it was

RESOLVED – 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 for Legal & Democratic Governance 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 Deputy Chief Executive.

The report details a proposal to hold the Annual Review of Outcomes on Friday, 24 November 2023.

The Area Committee is recommended to:-

(1) Nominate a completed development site to be included on the list of sites to be inspected on the 2023 Annual Review Tour; and

(2) Nominate Members to attend the Annual Review of Outcomes Tour on 24 November 2023.

Officer contact: Suzanne Broomhead on 0161 218 1982 or email: suzanne.broomhead@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing a proposal to hold the Annual Review of Outcomes on Friday 24 November 2023.

Members requested that a list of proposed sites be included in next year’s annual review of outcomes report.

RESOLVED – (1) That the development of the former Cow and Calf Hotel site, Bredbury, be nominated to be included on the list of sites to be inspected subject to the development having been completed by the date of the Annual Review of Outcomes Tour.

(2) That the development at Bredbury St Mark’s Cricket Club be nominated as an alternative in the eventuality that it was not possible to visit the above proposed site.

(3) That Councillors Sue Thorpe and Rosemary Barratt be nominated to attend the Annual Review of Outcomes Tour.

To consider a report of the Director of Place Management.

The report details a proposal for the diversion of a section of footpath 33 Bredbury and Romiley from the route shown as a solid black line A-B-C to the route shown by a broken black line A-D-C as shown in Appendix 1.

The Area Committee is recommended to:-

(1) Authorise the making of an Order under Section 119 of the Highways Act, effecting a diversion, when the measures indicated in section 4.5 are complete, of the section of footpath 33 Bredbury and Romiley from a route shown as a black solid line between Points A – B – C, to a route shown in a broken black line between points A – D – C, as shown on the plan attached at Appendix 1.

(2) In the event that objections are received and sustained to the Order, forward the Order to the Secretary of State for confirmation.

(3) Authorise that the Order will be drafted to include a provision to allow the Definitive Map and Statement to be amended without further recourse to Committee.

Officer contact: Nick Robinson on 0161 474 5012 or by email: nicholas.robinson@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Director of Place Management submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing a proposal for the diversion of a section of footpath 33 Bredbury and Romiley from the route shown as a solid black line A-B-C to the route shown by a broken black line A-D-C as shown in Appendix 1 of the report.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         Two objections to the proposed diversion had been raised since the publication of the agenda: one relating to the proposed diversion route which was thought to be dangerous and the other stating that there was a well on the route which was thought to have been used as a source of drinking water by local residents until the 1950s.

·         In terms of the first objection, it was stated that the route referred to by the objector was not the one proposed and as to the second objection, no well was visible on the path and it had not appeared on a map since 1964 and, as such, was not considered to be a reason to prevent the proposed diversion.

·         A further objection related to the diversion being steeper than the current route and muddy in winter.

·         Members queried the decision-making process in relation to this proposal, with a decision being requested prior to a consultation taking place, which was contrary to the usual process.

·         In response to a question about why the council had proposed to offer the landowner a percentage of costs towards replacing stiles with gates, it was reported that the council was obliged so to do as part of an improvement plan to encourage landowners to replace stiles with gates.

·         It was commented that the report would have benefited from a map of the wider area, a flow chart of the decision-making process and the views of objectors along with those of the landowner and council officers.

RESOLVED - (1) That the making of an Order under Section 119 of the Highways Act, effecting a diversion, when the measures indicated in section 4.5 are complete, of the section of footpath 33 Bredbury and Romiley from a route shown as a black solid line between Points A – B – C, to a route shown in a broken black line between points A – D – C, as shown on the plan attached at Appendix 1 be authorised.

(2) That, in the event that objections are received and sustained to the Order, the Order be forwarded to the Secretary of State for confirmation.

(3) That the Order be drafted to include a provision to allow the Definitive Map and Statement to be amended without further recourse to the Area Committee.

To consider a report of the Deputy Chief Executive.

The Council is inviting comments on a Draft Education Contributions Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) from Wednesday 13th September to Wednesday 25th October.

The Area Committee is asked to note the proposed consultation documents and the intended period of consultation.

Officer contact: Hannah Mitchell on 0161 474 3771 or email: hannah.mitchell@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Assistant Director for Legal & Democratic Governance submitted a report of the Deputy Chief Executive (copies of which had been circulated) detailing a proposal and inviting comments on a Draft Education Contributions Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) from Wednesday 13 September to Wednesday 25th October.

It was commented that it would have been useful for the report to have contained examples.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Director of Place Management.

The report details the findings of a consultation exercise in relation to the introduction of an Advisory Disabled Persons Parking Bay on Sandiway, Bredbury and for the Area Committee to determine whether it would wish to give approval for the installation of an Advisory Disabled Persons Parking Bay, with departure from design guidelines.

The Area Committee is recommended to determine whether to:-

(1) Install an extended advisory disabled persons parking bay at a cost of £185 to be funded from the Area Committee’s Delegated Budget (Bredbury & Woodley ward allocation); or

(2) Not install an extended 9m advisory disabled persons bay due to there being two available bays nearby.

Officer contact: Gemma Brady on 07816 195240 or by email at gemma.brady@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Assistant Director for Legal & Democratic Governance submitted a report of the Director of Place Management (copies of which had been circulated) detailing the findings of a consultation exercise in relation to the introduction of an Advisory Disabled Persons Parking Bay on Sandiway, Bredbury.

Members were requested to determine whether to give approval for the installation of an Advisory Disabled Persons Parking Bay, with departure from design guidelines.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         There had been ongoing parking issues at that location for a number of years.

·         It was noted that the disabled parking bay would not be enforceable.

·         Members requested council officers to waive the council’s required criteria of a 5.25 meter width of carriageway for an off-road parking bay as the width at that location was 5 meters. 

RESOLVED – (1) That an extended 9m advisory disabled persons bay not be installed due to there being two available bays nearby.

(2) That the Director of Place Management be requested to give consideration to waiving the council’s required criteria of a 5.25m width of carriageway for an off-road parking bay at this location.

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 for Legal and Democratic Governance 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.

Members were invited to submit proposals for the use of the Ward Discretionary Budget to the representative of the Assistant Director for Legal and Democratic Services.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.