Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 25 April 2013.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 25 February 2013 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

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

The Chair announced that he had recently attended the inaugural meeting of the newly formed Werneth Foodbank which had been established following a recognition of the need to support those residents in the local area who were disadvantaged or suffering from financial hardship.

Councillors and members of the public are invited to raise ‘Neighbourhood Policing’ issues with the local Neighbourhood Policing Team.

PC Steve Gotts (Greater Manchester Police) attended the meeting to answer questions from Councillors and members of the public in relation to Neighbourhood Policing issues within the Werneth area.

The following issues were raised/ comments made:-

·         There had been a reduction in domestic burglaries and burglaries other than dwelling across the Werneth area over the last reporting period.  It was thought that the recent arrest and conviction of a number of prolific offenders was the cause of the recent reduction.

·         Tacking anti-social behaviour remained a focus for local policing resources.

RESOLVED – That PC Gotts be thanked for his attendance.

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 and at local libraries and information centres.  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 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.

One public question was submitted relating to odour emissions from the Romiley Board Mill. 

RESOLVED – That the Democratic Services Manager be requested to respond to the questioner in writing.

The local Area Conditions Officer and the Highways Officer will attend the meeting to provide an update on matters raised at the last committee meetings. Councillors and Members of the public are invited to raise issues affecting local environmental quality.

Alan Whitfield (Public Realm Inspector) attended the meeting to report on current issues and to answer questions from Councillors and members of the public in relation to environmental and highways issues within the area represented by the Werneth Area Committee.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         Legal action was being pursued following on incident of flytipping on Welkin Road, Bredbury.

·         Work was being undertaken with the Canal and River Trust and Symphony Housing to tackle ongoing problems of waste accumulations on the edge of the canal to the rear of properties on Peak Bank, Romiley.

·         The Probation Service had undertaken litter picks and cut back vegetation from the footpath from Bredbury Parkway to Mill Lane and Lowick Green, Bredbury.

·         Resurfacing work had been completed on Crookiley Way, Bredbury and Henbury Drive and Davenport Drive, Woodley were due to receive additional surface treatment.

·         Osborne Street and Vernon Road, Bredbury were currently having existing speed humps renewed and carriageway patching undertaken.

·         Work to resurface Higher Bents Lane from Redhouse Lane to Harrytown, Bredbury was due to take place during the school summer holidays and would likely involve road closure to accommodate the works.

RESOLVED – That Alan Whitfield be thanked for his attendance.

To consider a report of the Service Director (Place Management).

The report details a proposed highway maintenance scheme to re-profile the carriageway at the junction of The Toppings and Queens Road, Bredbury.

The Area Committee is recommended to give approval to the re-profiling of the carriageway at the junction of The Toppings and Queens Road, Bredbury.

Officer contact: Alan Whitfield on 218 1492 or email: alan.whitfield@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Service Director (Place Management) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing a proposed highway maintenance scheme to re-profile the carriageway at the junction of The Toppings and Queens Road, Bredbury.

RESOLVED – That approval be given to the re-profiling of the carriageway at the junction of The Toppings and Queens Road, Bredbury at a cost of £4,000 to be funded from the Area Committee’s Highway Maintenance and Traffic Management Delegated Budget (Bredbury Green and Romiley ward allocation).

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 Democratic Services Manager 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 Area Flexibility Funding or to receive feedback from organisations who have received funding.

There were no applications to consider.

To consider a report of the Service Director (Place Development).

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 Corporate Director of Place 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 from the Place Directorate upon payment of the Council’s reasonable charges).

Single storey rear extension & garage conversion, alterations and extensions (front and rear) to the roof to create additional accommodation.

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

Officer contact: Jane Chase on 474 3550 or email: jane.chase@stockport.gov.uk

In respect of plan no. 51638 for a single storey rear extension and garage conversion, alterations and extensions (front and rear) to the roof to create additional accommodation at 3 Layton Drive, Romiley, it was

RESOLVED – That planning permission be granted.

To consider a report of the Service Director (Legal and Democratic Services).

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: Joy Morton, 0161 474 3217 or email: joy.morton@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Service Director (Place Development) submitted a report of the Service Director (Legal and Democratic Services) (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 Service Director (Place Management).

The report details proposals for the use of commuted sums for play provision in the Werneth Area and requests the Area Committee to give consideration to the location of those play areas where those sums should be spent.

The Area Committee is recommended to give approval to the allocation of commuted sums as detailed in the report.

Officer contact: Ian Walmsley on 474 4382 or email: ian.walmsley@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Democratic Services Manager submitted a report of the Service Director (Place Management) (copies of which had been circulated) detailing proposals for the use of new commuted sums for play provision in the Werneth area and locations of the play areas where these sums are to be spent.

RESOLVED – That approval be given to the use of £2,007.72 from development no.1070 for 2 Sandy Lane, Romiley towards future play improvements at Romiley Recreation Ground.

To consider a report of the Service Director (Place Management)

The report requests the Area Committee to comment on the proposed introduction of play streets in Stockport.

The Area Committee is requested to comment on the report.

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

A representative of the Service Director (Place Management) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing proposals for the introduction of play streets in Stockport following a number of expressions of interest in the potential for closing roads for the purposes of children being able to play out near their homes.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         It was noted that there would be a requirement for public liability insurance to be taken out by the residents involved, the cost of which may be prohibitive for many schemes.

·         It was commented that in principle the concept was sound, however there needed to be continued commitment and buy in from residents to ensure that schemes would continue operate effectively.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Service Director (Place Management)

The report outlines proposed changes to the current pay and display tariff through the introduction of an hourly charge and highlights the likely effects of this change. This hourly charge will enable visitors to easily extend their parking time in one hour increments. This will enable people to spend more time in the boroughs car parks and on street parking if needed and encourage them to spend more time in the boroughs centres and so support their economies.

The Area Committee is requested to comment on the report.

Officer Contact: Sue Stevenson on 474 3451 or email: sue.stevenson@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Service Director (Place Management) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) outlining proposed changes to the current pay and display tariff through the introduction of an hourly charge and highlighting the likely effects of this proposed change.

It was reported that the hourly charge would enable visitors to easily extend their parking time in one hour increments. This would enable people to spend more time in the borough’s car parks and on street parking if needed and encourage them to spend more time in the borough’s centres and so supporting their economies.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         There needed to be robust mechanisms in place to ensure that the validity of mobile parking ticket payments were checked.

·         It was important that the Merseyway Car Park moved to ‘pay on exit’ as soon as possible.

·         Parking should be used as a method to encourage footfall in the town and district centres and not disincentivise visitors.

·         Consideration should be given to trialling free parking for certain periods of time.

·         The proposed increase in charges for contract parking may exacerbate existing problems of underuse in certain locations.

·         Inconsistencies in parking charges within the same district needed to be removed.

RESOLVED – That the Executive Councillor (Economic Development and Regeneration) be recommended to give consideration to the comments of the Area Committee.

To consider a report of the Service Director (Place Management).

The report details proposals to make amendments to the Council’s residential parking policy and seeks the comments of the Area Committee on the proposed changes.

The Area Committee is recommended to comment on the proposed changes to the residential parking policy.

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

A representative of the Service Director (Place Management) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing proposals to make amendments to the Council’s residential parking policy and seeking the comments of the Area Committee on the proposed changes.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         Set-up costs of new schemes would be disproportionately and potentially unfairly more expensive for smaller areas than larger schemes.

·         Concern was expressed in relation to the level of enforcement that current schemes experienced.

·         Members stated that Residential Parking Schemes were originally established such that any charges levied would seek only to cover the Council’s ongoing costs to administer the schemes.  In the light of that, the justification of any proposed increases in charges was queried.

·         More rigorous enforcement of the existing restrictions would aid in driving down the cost to Traffic Services.

RESOLVED – That the Executive Councillor (Economic Development and Regeneration) be recommended to give consideration to the comments of the Area Committee.

To consider a report of the Service Director (Education).

The Area Committee is requested to provide political nominations for the Authority vacancy at St Christopher’s Catholic Primary School.

Officer contact: Libby Evans on 474 3847 or email: libby.evans@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Democratic Services Manager submitted a report of the Service Director (Education) (copies of which had been circulated) requesting the Area Committee to provide political nominations for the Authority vacancy at St Christopher’s Catholic Primary School.

The representative of the Democratic Services Manager reported that since the publication of the agenda, the term of office of Mrs Mary Nuttall on the governing body of Woodley Primary School had become due to expire, and the Area Committee was therefore requested to give consideration to her reappointment.

RESOLVED - (1) That the Executive Councillor (Lifelong Learning and Achievement) be recommended to approve the reappointment of Mrs Mary Nuttall to the governing body of Woodley Primary School.

(2) That the vacancy at St Christopher’s Catholic Primary School be noted.

To consider a report of the Democratic Services Manager.

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, 0161 474 3207 or email: damian.eaton@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Democratic Services Manager 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 Area Flexibility and the Highway Maintenance and Traffic Management delegated budgets.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.