Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and order that the Minutes of the meeting held on 2 February 2021 be signed.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 2 February 2021 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.

No declarations of interest were made.

No urgent decisions were reported.

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

There were no announcements made.

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.

No public questions were submitted.

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 Strategic Head of Service (Legal & Democratic Governance and 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 Forward (Stockport LGBT+ Centre CIC) for a grant of £1,000 (£100 from this Area Committee) towards the cost of holding a virtual LGBT+ History Month.

A representative of the Strategic Head of Service (Legal & Democratic Governance and Monitoring Officer) reported on the receipt of an application received on behalf of Forward (Stockport LGBT+ Centre CIC) for a grant from the Ward Flexibility Budget towards the cost of holding a virtual LGBT+ History Month.

RESOLVED – That approval be given to an application received from Forward (Stockport LGBT+ Centre CIC) for a grant of £100 from the Ward Flexibility Budget towards the cost of holding a virtual LGBT+ History Month.

To consider an application for Ward Flexibility Funding received from Help the Hatters for a grant of £1,000 (£142.83 from this Area Committee) towards the cost of providing food and toys for the Handy Ladies Charity.

A representative of the Strategic Head of Service (Legal & Democratic Governance and Monitoring Officer) reported on the receipt of an application received on behalf of Help the Hatters for a grant from the Ward Flexibility Budget towards the cost of providing food and toy donations to the local community and offering funding and support to other organisations.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         It was noted that the application sought, in part, to redistribute the grant funding to other organisations a number of which had received funding from the Council either through the Ward Flexibility Fund or from other funding streams.  It was clarified that while the application was not typical, it was fully compliant with the guidance on the use of ward flexibility funding.

·         It was commented that Help the Hatters had been in receipt of funding from the Area Committee approximately one year ago, however this had been for a different project.

RESOLVED - (5 for, 1 against, 2 abstentions) That approval be given to an application received from Help the Hatters for a grant of £142.83 from the Ward Flexibility Budget towards the cost of providing food and toy donations to the local community and offering funding and support to other organisations.

To consider whether it would be appropriate to make a grant to the Mayor’s nominated charity, Beacon Counselling.

A representative of the Strategic Head of Service (Legal & Democratic Governance and Monitoring Officer) reported upon a request from members of the Area Committee that they seek to make a grant to Beacon Counselling to support their activities in the light of the unprecedented difficulties in raising funding as a result of the ongoing impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

RESOLVED - That approval be given to the making of a grant of £1,000 to Beacon Counselling, towards the cost of supporting their activities in the light of the unprecedented difficulties in raising funding as a result of the ongoing impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

This item has been placed on the agenda at the request of Councillor Lou Ankers.

This item relates to the impact of the petrol station constructed adjacent to Sainsbury’s, Hazel Grove and its impact on traffic volumes on adjacent highways.

The Chair reported that this item had been placed on the agenda at the request of Councillor Lou Ankers.

Councillor Ankers reported that she had asked for this item to be included on the agenda to facilitate a discussion in relation to increased traffic volumes in the vicinity of the Sainsbury’s Supermarket in Hazel Grove following the construction of the adjacent petrol filling station.  It was reported that a number of residents had raised the issue of traffic congestion in the area.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         It was suggested that it would be useful to undertake monitoring of the highway network within the vicinity to get a better understanding of the issues being experienced.  It was noted that this would need to take place during the Autumn once the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on normal traffic flows had subsided.

·         There had been an assumption in the data provided as part of the traffic impact analysis associated with the development application for the petrol filling station that there would be an additional vehicular movement each minute through the junction, and this needed to be reassessed in the light of its current operation.

·         The single biggest issue was traffic queueing on the A6 itself trying to turn right to gain access to the site causing congestion back down the A6 past the ASDA supermarket.

·         Concern was expressed in relation to the operation of the signalised junction outside Sainsbury’s and whether this was providing the optimal traffic flows through the junction.  In response it was stated that the signals in the area were operating on the basis of a Split Cycle Offset Optimisation Technique (SCOOT) that should aim to work together so that traffic flow is smoother and congestion reduced.  However, it was undertaken to ask GMUTC to examine the operation of the junction to ensure this was operating correctly.

·         Sainsbury’s had introduced traffic management measures within the site itself to try and optimise the use of the available spaces and limit traffic congestion within the site.

·         It was suggested that it was more likely that highway issues were associated with traffic generated by the supermarket itself rather than the petrol filling station which was compounded by the road layout in the area and the interoperation of the many traffic signals in the immediate area.

·         The Hazel Grove area needed a much wider study to examine the interconnected highway and traffic issues throughout the whole area.

·         It was commented that there was a major congestion issue further down the A6 at the McDonalds/ School Street junction particularly in peak-time periods.  In response it was stated that the Council had been in touch with the police and McDonalds to discuss the issues at this particular location.

·         It was noted that it would be difficult to develop a solution that would resolve all of the congestion issues on the A6.

·         The ASDA supermarket on the A6, in addition to those on Commercial Road were also responsible for traffic generation within the locality which warranted a more comprehensive study of the wider area.

RESOLVED - (1) That it be noted that it was proposed to undertake traffic counts and monitoring within the vicinity of Sainsbury’s, Hazel Grove during Autumn 2021 to get a better understanding of the issues being experienced within the area.

(2) That it be noted that a comprehensive transport study of the whole Hazel Grove corridor would be undertaken in the future, most likely from 2022 onwards.

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

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 Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration 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).

A representative of the Strategic Head of Service (Legal & Democratic Governance and Monitoring Officer) outlined the procedure for public speaking on planning applications.

Demolition of the former Offerton High School buildings with a replacement part single and part two storey primary school and associated external works to facilitate the proposed use.

The Area Committee is requested to recommend that the Planning & Highways Regulation Committee grants planning permission.

Officer contact: Chris Smyton on 0161 474 3657 or email: chris.smyton@stockport.gov.uk

In respect of plan no. DC078016 for the demolition of the former Offerton High School buildings with a replacement part single and part two storey primary school and associated external works to facilitate the proposed use at Former Offerton High School, The Fairway, Offerton,

a representative of the applicant spoke in support of the application,

It was then

RESOLVED – That the Planning and Highways Regulation Committee be recommended to grant planning permission subject to consideration of the Area Committee’s comments in relation to the potential for the provision of additional access points to the proposed school with specific reference to Curzon Road, and the Area Committee‘s concern over highway safety by virtue of traffic generation and whether this could be alleviated by the implementation of appropriate mitigation measures.

Demolition of existing buildings and structures on-site, including the former Woodman Inn (Use Class A4), and erection of a single five storey block comprising of 32 no. residential apartments (Use Class C3 (a)) with access, parking provision, landscaping and associated works.

The Area Committee is requested to recommend that the Planning & Highways Regulation Committee grants planning permission subject to conditions; the applicant entering into a Section 106 agreement to secure a review mechanism/clawback clause in relation to open space contributions; and no new substantive issues being raised by an extended public notification period of the departure from the development plan.

Officer Contact: Helen Hodgett on 0161 474 3656 or email: helen.hodgett@stockport.gov.uk

In respect of plan no. DC077768 for the demolition of existing buildings and structures on-site, including the former Woodman Inn (Use Class A4), and erection of a single five storey block comprising of 32 no. residential apartments (Use Class C3 (a)) with access, parking provision, landscaping and associated works at Woodman Inn, 60 London Road, Hazel Grove,

a representative of the applicant spoke in support of the application,

It was then

RESOLVED – That the Planning & Highways Regulation Committee be recommended to grant planning permission.

To consider a report of the Strategic Head of Service (Legal & Democratic Governance and Monitoring Officer).

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 Stepping Hill Area Committee area.

The Area Committee is recommended to note the report.

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

A representative of the Strategic Head of Service (Legal & Democratic Governance and Monitoring Officer) presented a report (copies of which had been circulated) to summarise recent appeal decisions; list current planning appeals and dates for local enquiries; informal hearings for planning appeals, and enforcement action within the Stepping Hill Area Committee area.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Strategic Head of Service (Legal & Democratic Governance and Monitoring Officer).

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 Strategic Head of Service (Legal & Democratic Governance and Monitoring Officer) presented a report (copies of which had been circulated) to provide an update on progress since the last meeting on decisions taken by the Area Committee and to detail the current position on area flexibility funding. The report also included the current position on the highway and traffic management delegated budget.

Members queried whether proposals for their ward involving the delegated budget would need to be agreed in advance of the end of the financial year. It was commented that any underspend from the delegated budget would be carried over into the next financial year.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.