Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 30 January 2017.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 30 January 2017 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair subject to the deletion of Councillor Mags Kirkham from the list of attendees at the meeting.

No declarations of interest were made.

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

The Chair announced that an Artisan Farmer’s Market continued to be held at Romiley Precinct on the first Saturday of each month.

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 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.

Two public questions were submitted as follows:-

(i) Relating to why residents on the University Estate in Woodley had not been informed in relation to works to dig out a tunnell around Greave Primary School which had resulted in water, soil and clay being washed into the gardens of properties on Balliol Close.

RESOLVED – That the Corporate Director for People be requested to respond to the questioner in writing.

(ii) Relating to the recent approval by the Council Meeting to provide two additional parking enforcement officers to monitor parking outside schools, and whether one of these would be allocated to Greave Primary School.

It was responded that the additional parking enforcement officers would be a Boroughwide asset and would not be allocated to specific schools.  However, it was anticipated that additional targeted enforcement would result in a general improvement in parking outside schools throughout Stockport.

The local Public Realm Inspector 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.

Robin Boardman (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:-

·         There was a pothole on Osborne Street, Bredbury on the speed cushion near the chicane.

·         Officers were thanked for the way in which resurfacing work was done on Stockport Road West to minimise disruption to residents and businesses.

·         It was reported that fly-tipping had occurred in Romiley Precinct.

·         It was requested that Community Payback add Field Street to its rota of litter picks.

·         It was commented that the surface of Werneth Road, Woodley was in poor condition and consideration needed to be given to it being resurfaced.

RESOLVED – That Robin Boardman be thanked for his attendance.

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

No petitions were submitted.

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

On the 13th September 2016, extreme rainfall events hit parts of south west England and the south Pennines, with significant flooding observed across Greater Manchester, Cheshire, Staffordshire, and also in parts of west Cornwall.  The rainfall event significantly affected Stockport, with the borough receiving approximately 44% of its total monthly rainfall in just one day. Leading up to this day Stockport had experienced a period of warm dry weather and as a result ground conditions were not saturated and water levels within the local watercourses were quite low. However, the volume and intensity of rainfall overloaded the local drainage system, causing surface water flooding throughout large parts of the borough.

This report presents the various aspects of the flood events in September and specifically incorporates a draft Independent Section 19 Investigation Report in accordance with the Flood & Water Management Act (FWMA) on the investigation into the flooding events undertaken by Jacobs Consulting Engineers.

The Area Committee is recommended to comment on the draft Jacobs Section 19 Report for the September 2016 floods in Appendix A and recommend that the Executive approves the final report.

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

A representative of the Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing a commentary on the various aspects of the flood events in the Borough on 13 September and specifically incorporating a draft Independent Section 19 Investigation Report in accordance with the Flood & Water Management Act on the investigation into the flooding events undertaken by Jacobs Consulting Engineers.

It was commented that skips had been provided by the local authority for residents during previous flooding incidents, but no mention was made in the report of whether such provision was made on this occasion.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

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

The report outlines the current review of the Rights of Way Improvement Plan (ROWIP) and provides an opportunity to comment on the current state of the Rights of Way network.   This is part of the ongoing consultation reviewing our current ROWIP. To do this, we want to know what people think of the current Rights of Way network and their priorities on how it could be improved. The ROWIP review is looking at all off road walking, cycling and equestrian routes in Stockport and it is not limited to recorded Public Rights of Way.

The Area Committee is recommended to comment on the current provision of off road facilities in the borough to assist in the development of the future Rights of Way Improvement Plan.

A representative of the Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing the ongoing consultation reviewing the current Rights of Way Improvement Plan and seeking comments on the current provision of off road facilities in the borough to assist in the development of the future Rights of Way Improvement Plan.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         Connectivity with pathways adjacent to the canal network needed to feature within the Plan.

·         In response to a query about the maintenance responsibilities of the Council, it was stated that a balance needed to be made between opportunities to improve the network, such as through upgrading routes to cycleways, and the quality of surfacing to meet the needs of the traffic which used it.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider an application for Ward Flexibility Funding from ‘Help the Hatters’ towards the cost of a community museum.

(NOTE: This application was previously considered by the Central Stockport Area Committee which requested that the application be submitted to all area committees for consideration).

A representative of the Democratic Services Manager submitted an application on behalf of ‘Help the Hatters’ for Ward Flexibility Funding towards the cost of a community museum. 

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         The application was unclear in its aims and objectives and did not identify specific benefit to residents of the Werneth area.

·         Stockport County did a lot of work with local schools and the minor outlay requested in the application was worthy of support by this area committee.

·         The application sought funding from across the Borough and would be better dealt with by way of a Boroughwide application scheme.

·         There was a lack of information in this application and the applicant had not identified that they had a number of key policies in place.

RESOLVED – That consideration of this application be deferred to a future meeting of the Area Committee pending the submission of additional information which demonstrated that the application would benefit residents within the Werneth area and confirming that they had the necessary policies and procedures in place that were a prerequisite for the award of any grant.

To consider a report of the Deputy Chief Executive.

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 on 0161 474 3217 or email: joy.morton@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Democratic Services Manager submitted a report of the Deputy Chief Executive (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 Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration.

The report details four objections received to a proposal for the provision of Residents’ Permit Parking to the lay-by fronting The Parade.  The proposal was duly supported by the Area Committee and the order was advertised by Legal Services.

The Area Committee is recommended to make the Order as advertised.

Officer contact: Nathan Copley on 0161 474 3219 or email: nathan.copley@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Democratic Services Manager submitted a report of the Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration (copies of which had been circulated) detailing a number of objections which had been received in response a proposal for the provision of Residents’ Permit Parking to the lay-by fronting The Parade, The Ridgway, Romiley.

RESOLVED - That notwithstanding the objections, the Order be made as advertised.

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 on 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 the Area Flexibility and the Delegated budget.

Members expressed concern in relation to progress towards implementing a number of the traffic schemes previously approved by the Area Committee.

RESOLVED – That the Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration be requested to respond to the continuing concern of the Area Committee in relation to the lack of progress on schemes which had previously been approved by the Area Committee.