Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 16 October 2023.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 16 October 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

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

The Chair thanked those involved in establishing a plan to get Romiley Forum Theatre up and running, including MK Theatre Arts and the Bredbury and Romiley Community Association, following the discovery of RAAC in the building.

The Chair also thanked MK Theatre Arts for the well attended and successful show at the Romiley Christmas Lights.

It was further announced that the MK Theatre Arts group was working with the Friends of Chadkirk to give an evening of entertainment on Friday, 15 December 2023 at Chadkirk Chapel. The second half of the evening’s entertainment was scheduled to feature the MK Theatre touring pantomime of Cinderella. This pantomime was also touring local schools which would help to spread awareness of the group’s activities and encourage participation.

The Chair announced that Woodley Precinct Christmas light switch on was due to take place on Sunday, 9 December from 3.30pm and that there would also be a bench blessing event happening at the same time.

In the light of there being no remaining banks open in the Bredbury and Woodley area, the Chair endorsed a formal request for a review of banking facilities and expressed support for an appropriate level of banking services being available, including the availability of free cash withdrawal.

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 member of the public submitted a question as follows:-

·         Relating to decision making in the planning process.

RESOLVED - That, in accordance with the Code of Practice, the Chief Executive would be requested to respond to the questioner in writing.

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

No petitions were submitted.

To consider a report of the Director of Place Management.

The report updates members on the impact on council owned greenspace following an incident involving a sewage spillage incident near Otterspool Road, Romiley involving a United Utilities infrastructure failure.

The Area Committee is recommended to:

(1)  Note the information in relation to the United Utilities repair and the continuing monitoring by United Utilities.

(2)  Note that the site is now being managed as a meadow.

Officer contact: Anthony Crook on 0161 474 4572 or email anthony.crook@stockport.gov.uk

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

To consider an application for Ward Flexibility Funding received from the African and Caribbean Community Association for a grant of £92.28 towards the cost of organising a celebration of International Men’s Day, with health talks on preventing prostate cancer, diabetes and high-blood pressure and a health walk.

A representative of the Assistant Director – Legal and Democratic Governance submitted an application received on behalf of the African and Caribbean Community Association for a grant of £92.28 from the Ward Flexibility Budget towards the cost of organising a celebration of International Men’s Day, with health talks on preventing prostate cancer, diabetes and high-blood pressure and a health walk.

RESOLVED – That approval be given to an application received from the African and Caribbean Community Association for a grant of £92.28 from the Ward Flexibility Budget towards the cost of organising a celebration of International Men’s Day, with health talks on preventing prostate cancer, diabetes and high-blood pressure and a health walk.

To consider an application for Ward Flexibility Funding received from Helen Ogden & Helena Fone for a grant of £400 towards the cost of planting evergreen and winter flowering plants to enhance the area around Romiley Precinct.

Helen Ogden and Helena Fone attended the meeting and submitted an application for a grant of £400 from the Ward Flexibility Budget towards the cost of planting evergreen and winter flowering plants to enhance the area around Romiley Precinct.

RESOLVED – That approval be given to an application received from Helen Ogden and Helena Fone for a grant of £400 from the Ward Flexibility Budget towards the cost of planting evergreen and winter flowering plants to enhance the area around Romiley Precinct.

To consider an application for Ward Flexibility Funding received from Hurricanes Cheerleading for a grant of £258 towards the cost of purchasing new club member uniforms for their members.

A representative from Hurricanes Cheerleading attended the meeting and submitted an application for a grant of £258 from the Ward Flexibility Budget towards the cost of purchasing new club member uniforms for their members.

RESOLVED – That approval be given to an application received from Hurricanes Cheerleading for a grant of £258 from the Ward Flexibility Budget towards the cost of purchasing new club member uniforms for their members.

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 for Legal & Democratic Governance submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) listing any current planning appeals and dates for local enquiries; informal hearings for planning appeals; and enforcement action within the Werneth Area Committee.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Director of Development and Regeneration.

The report provides an update on delivering Romiley District Centre Action Plan, initial thoughts on how the £5,000 from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund is to be allocated and support for Large Local Centres.

The Area Committee is recommended to:-

(1)  Note the progress made in developing the Romiley District Centre Action Plan.

(2)  Provide feedback on initial ideas for priority projects to allocate the £5,000 UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

(3)  Note the plans to develop an information portal to support businesses and organisations in large Local Centres. 

Officer contact: Richard Daniels on 0161 218 1621 or email richard.daniels@stockport.gov.uk 

A representative of the Director of Development and Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an update on delivering the Romiley District Centre Action Plan, initial thoughts on how £5,000 for the UK Shared Prosperity Fund was to be allocated and support for Large Local Centres.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         Members queried the timescales for spending the district centre budget. In response, the Area Committee was advised that a portion of the budget had been ring-fenced for district centres, however, the additional grant provided by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund had a spending deadline of March 2024.

·         The Chair announced that a meeting had taken place between officers and Bredbury Green and Romiley ward representatives to discuss using the Ward Discretionary Budget to improve Bredbury local centre.

·         Members welcomed the involvement of local people in making positive changes for district centres.

·         Members for Bredbury & Woodley ward were considering how the ward discretionary budget money could be used to improve Woodley district centre, as well as to combat crime.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Director of Place Management.

The report seeks approval for the introduction of Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) in relation to the City Regional Sustainable Travel Settlements (CRSTS) Bredbury to Woodley Walking and Cycling Improvements.

The Area Committee is recommended to:- 

(1) Consider and comment on the study carried out by Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM), and 

(2) Recommend that the Cabinet Member for Parks, Highways & Transport Services gives approval to the legal advertising of the Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) set out in Appendix A of the report and, subject to the receipt of no objections within 21 days of the advertisement date, the subsequent making of the order, the funding being subject to submission (and approval) of a business case to the CRSTS.

Officer Contact: Gemma Brady 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) seeking approval for the Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) in relation to the City Regional Sustainable Travel Settlements (CRSTS) Bredbury to Woodley Walking and Cycling Improvements.

Members welcomed the scheme and noted the importance of enforcement in ensuring its efficacy.

RESOLVED – That the Cabinet Member for Parks, Highways and Transport Services be recommended to give approval to the legal advertising of the Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) set out in Appendix A of the report and, subject to the receipt of no objections within 21 days of the advertisement date, the subsequent making of the order, the funding being subject to submission (and approval) of a business case to the CRSTS.

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 & Democratic Governance submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) updating the Area Committee on progress since the last meeting on decisions taken by the Area Committee and detailing the current position on area flexibility funding. The report also included the current position on the highway and traffic management delegated budget.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         A report on trial speed cushions on the road between Grieve School and Pennine Road was requested for the next meeting of this Committee.

·         Bredbury and Woodley ward councillors proposed that the part of the ward discretionary budget be used for a feasibility study related to the disused building in Bredbury Recreational Ground.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.