Agenda and minutes

To elect a Chair of the Area Committee for the period until the next Annual Council Meeting.

Councillors Lou Ankers and Rory Leonard were nominated for election to the office of chair of the Area Committee for the period until the next Annual Council Meeting.

For Councillor Ankers - 6

For Councillor Leonard - 2

RESOLVED – That Councillor Lou Ankers be elected Chair of the Area Committee for the period until the next Annual Council Meeting.

To appoint a Vice Chair for the period until the next Annual Council Meeting.

RESOLVED – That Councillor Oliver Harrison be appointed Vice-Chair of the Area Committee for the period until the next Annual Council Meeting.

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 5 April 2022.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 5 April 2022 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 report that the Deputy Chief Executive has taken urgent action under the Constitution to make a grant of £300 from the Ward Flexibility Funding Budget towards the cost of organising a street party for the Queen’s Jubilee on Friday 3rd June 2022 for the residents of Chatsworth Road and a grant of £490 from the Ward Flexibility Funding Budget towards the cost of organising a street party for the Queen’s Jubilee on Thursday 2nd June 2022, including an event in Poise Brook Park.

The decisions were taken as urgent action as the events was due to take place in advance of this meeting of the Area Committee and as such, the ordinary approval process could not be followed.

A representative of the Strategic Head of Service (Legal & Democratic Governance and Monitoring Officer) reported that the Deputy Chief Executive has taken urgent action under the Constitution to make a grant of £300 from the Ward Flexibility Funding Budget towards the cost of organising a street party for the Queen’s Jubilee on Friday 3rd June 2022 for the residents of Chatsworth Road and a grant of £490 from the Ward Flexibility Funding Budget towards the cost of organising a street party for the Queen’s Jubilee on Thursday 2nd June 2022, including an event in Poise Brook Park. It was stated that the decision was taken as urgent action as the event was due to take place in advance of this meeting of the Area Committee and as such, the ordinary approval process could not be followed.

RESOLVED – That the action be noted.

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

The Chair invited Councillor Grace Baynham, Cabinet Member for Highways, Parks and Leisure Services to provide an update in relation to the status of the draft travel plan between the council and the hospital.

Councillor Grace Bayham informed Members that the council had been working with the hospital to review its travel plan over recent months. It was clear that the changes in behaviours seen during and following the pandemic had meant that the current plan did not now reflect the travel patterns of staff. The hospital was therefore commissioning a survey of staff and visitor travel during the early autumn, which would then be used to update the plan. It was reported that Councillor Baynham had raised concerns with senior colleagues on behalf of the Committee as the draft travel plan had been expected by Members at the June meeting and had asked for the hospital to contact Members of the Area Committee to provide an update at the earliest available opportunity

Given the Committee’s concerns around road safety, the Chair requested that a representative of Greater Manchester Police be invited to attend future meetings of the Area Committee to answer questions from Councillors and members of the public in relation to Neighbourhood Policing issues within the area represented by the Stepping Hill Area Committee. 

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.

No public questions were submitted.

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

No petitions were submitted.

To consider a report of the Director for Place Management.

This report updates Members regarding the progress of the Stockport Climate Action Now (CAN) Fund since it launched in November 2021. It provides an overview of how the funding scheme works, examples of projects already funded by the scheme, eligibility for funding, details of how the fund has been allocated and where, and how Members can help promote the take-up of the CAN Fund.

The Area Committee is recommended to note the report.

Officer contact: Nick Leslie by email nick.leslie@stockport.gov.uk

Liz Atherton (CSS Manager - Head of Climate Action Now, Stockport Council) attended the meeting and submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) regarding the progress of the Stockport Climate Action Now (CAN) Fund since it launched in November 2021 and providing an overview of how the funding scheme worked, examples of projects already funded by the scheme, eligibility for funding, details of how the fund had been allocated and where, and how Members could help promote the take-up of the CAN Fund.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         Given the large amount of funding remaining per ward, it was queried whether the remaining funding would be carried forward into the next municipal year.

·         In response it was stated that the funding was agreed a couple of years ago and at that time it was agreed that any money that was not spent in the municipal year would be absorbed into the Stockport CAN budget, however the team wanted to spend as much of the funding available as possible and encouraged applicants to apply for funding. It was reported that council officers and Councillors were currently in discussions in relation to whether the funding should continue in future years.

·         Whether there had been much uptake and interest in the higher funding larger schemes.

·         Noted the similarities between the Stockport CAN funding and Ward Flexibility Funding which allowed applicants to apply across multiple wards for higher amounts and queried whether this model was being used by the team.

·         Given that insulation and energy saving proposals could be funded by the scheme, it was queried whether the fund could be used to support residents struggling by the cost of living crisis.

·         In response Members were advised that there were some limitations in the funding in that an individual was unable to apply, and an application could not be for individual benefit or a for profit business, however if a group of residents living on one street wanted to apply for energy saving devices such as radiator reflectors or small saving interventions, they would be eligible.

·         Encouraged Councillors to be more proactive in their outreach work based on the information that had been provided.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider an application for Ward Flexibility Funding received from the Friends of Shahnameh for a grant of £90 (Hazel Grove ward allocation only) towards the cost of a half a day festival on 15 May 2022 ‘Celebrating Diversity’  to help people integrate in the society and come out of isolation, connecting with each other. The festival would be a half a day festival / celebration for over 200 people with talks, music and Q&A sessions, reading poetry in English and Persian, so language barrier in Persian speaking communities will be addressed.

A representative of the Strategic Head of Service (Legal & Democratic Governance and Monitoring Officer) submitted an application received on behalf of Friends of Shahnameh for a grant of £90 (Hazel Grove ward allocation only) towards the cost of a half a day festival on 15 May 2022 ‘Celebrating Diversity’ to help people integrate in the society and come out of isolation, connecting with each other. The festival would be a half a day festival / celebration for over 200 people with talks, music and Q&A sessions, reading poetry in English and Persian, so language barrier in Persian speaking communities will be addressed.

RESOLVED - That approval be given to an application received from Friends of Shahnameh for a grant of £90 from the Ward Flexibility Budget (Hazel Grove ward allocation) towards the cost of a half a day festival on 15 May 2022 ‘Celebrating Diversity’ to help people integrate in the society and come out of isolation, connecting with each other. The festival would be a half a day festival / celebration for over 200 people with talks, music and Q&A sessions, reading poetry in English and Persian, so language barrier in Persian speaking communities will be addressed.

To consider an application for Ward Flexibility Funding received from the Lisburne School for a grant of £1,000 (Offerton ward allocation only) towards the cost of purchasing two defibrillators for the Lisburne school sites. All of the 170 children who attend Lisburne have Special Educational Needs and many have serious medical conditions.

A representative of the Strategic Head of Service (Legal & Democratic Governance and Monitoring Officer) submitted an application received on behalf of Lisburne School for a grant of £1,000 (Offerton ward allocation only) towards the cost of purchasing two defibrillators for the Lisburne school sites. All of the 170 children who attend Lisburne have Special Educational Needs and many have serious medical conditions.

Members welcomed the application, encouraged defibrillators and commented on the importance of their availability.

RESOLVED - That approval be given to an application r received from Lisburne School for a grant of £1,000 from the Ward Flexibility Budget (Offerton ward allocation) towards the cost of purchasing two defibrillators for the Lisburne school sites. All of the 170 children who attend Lisburne have Special Educational Needs and many have serious medical conditions.

To consider an application for Ward Flexibility Funding received from the Renew Stockport – Iranian Community Support for a grant towards the cost of training amateur actors (refugees & asylum seekers) to perform a drama for Farsi speakers in Stockport.

This item was withdrawn due to the applicant withdrawing their request for funding from this Committee.

There are currently no development applications to consider.

There were no development applications to consider.

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 Werneth 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) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) summarising recent appeal decisions; listing current planning appeals and dates for local enquiries; informal hearings for planning appeals, and enforcement action within the Stepping Hill Area Committee.

Members noted that the appeal at Hazel Grove Railway Station was dismissed.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Director of Place Management.

The report seeks approval for the construction of and costs to address an anomaly with an existing disabled bay and a dropped-kerb facility.

The Area Committee is requested to give consideration to a proposal to address an anomaly with existing disabled bay markings and approve the cost for a dropped-kerb facility at a cost of £2,000 to be funded from the Area Committee's Delegated Budget (Hazel Grove ward allocation).

Officer Contact: Max Townsend on 0161 474 4861 or email: max.townsend@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Strategic Head of Service (Legal & Democratic Governance and Monitoring Officer) submitted a report of the Director of Place Management (copies of which had been circulated) which sought approval for the construction of and costs to address an anomaly with an existing disabled bay and a dropped-kerb facility.

Members noted that there was an error in the agenda front sheet which referenced that the proposal would be funded from the Area Committee’s Delegated Budget (Hazel Grove ward allocation), this was corrected as the proposal would be funded from Stepping Hill ward allocation.

RESOLVED – That approval be given for the construction of a dropped kerb facility to address an anomaly with an existing disabled bay on Arundel Avenue, Hazel Grove, at a cost of £2,000 to be funded by the Area Committee’s Delegated Budget (Stepping Hill ward allocation).

To consider a report of the Director of Place Management.

The report seeks approval for the introduction of lowered kerbs toe entrance to Commercial Road apartments on the eastern side of Catherine Street to aid accessibility.

The Area Committee is requested to give consideration to a proposal to introduce lowered kerbs toe entrance to Commercial Road apartments on the eastern side of Catherine Street to aid accessibility at a cost of £1,103.15 to be funded from the Area Committee's Delegated Budget (Hazel Grove ward allocation).

Officer Contact: Gillian Kidd on 0161 474 4848 or email: gillian.kidd@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Strategic Head of Service (Legal & Democratic Governance and Monitoring Officer) submitted a report of the Director of Place Management (copies of which had been circulated) which sought approval for the introduction of lowered kerbs toe entrance to Commercial Road apartments on the eastern side of Catherine Street to aid accessibility.

Members queried why the proposal hadn’t been funded by way of Section 106 contributions as part of the planning application for the apartment buildings, however recognised the benefits of the proposal for residents with accessibility issues accessing the nearby shops.

RESOLVED – That approval be given for the introduction of lowered kerbs at the entrance of Commercial Road apartments on the eastern side of Catherine Street to aid accessibility, at a cost of £1,103.15 to be funded from the Area Committee’s Delegated Budget (Hazel Grove ward allocation). 

To consider a report of the Director of Place Management.

The report provides an update on bulb provision to local community groups and for local initiatives.

The Area Committee is recommended to note the report and agree whether it wished to make an allocation from its Delegated Budget towards the provision of additional bulb planting within its area.

Officer contact: Peter Cooke on 0161 474 4851 or email: peter.cooke@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Strategic Head of Service (Legal & Democratic Governance and Monitoring Officer) submitted a report of the Director of Place Management (copies of which had been circulated) providing an update on bulb provision to local community groups and for local initiatives.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         That the process in relation to bulb planting wasn’t accessible for informal groups wishing to plant bulbs and whether there could be a greater degree of flexibility.

·         That the Committee preferred not to make an allocation from its Delegated Budget unless a group approached the Committee separately once the funding was exhausted.

·         It was noted that a recommendation within the recent Economy & Regeneration Scrutiny Review related to the provision of planters which would be maintained by community groups.

·         It was suggested that a report on access to local initiatives relating to beautification outside the district centre be a future topic for consideration at Communities & Housing Scrutiny Committee.

·         It was stated that while Members agreed in principle with the proposal to provide an element of funding from the Delegated Budget to bulb planting schemes and recognised the benefits, it would be necessary to see the detail of such schemes before funding was committed.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Director of Place Management.

The report sets out an application received by the Council from SKC Leisure to hold a Summer Fun week at Torkington Park from 30th July until 7th August 2022.

The Area Committee is recommended to approve the application subject to the organiser producing the appropriate health & safety documentation, insurances being in place and paying the fee.

Officer contact: Jacky Budd on 0161 474 3332 or email:  jacky.budd@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Strategic Head of Service (Legal & Democratic Governance and Monitoring Officer) submitted a report of the Director of Place Management (copies of which had been circulated) detailing an application from SKC Leisure to hold a Summer Fun week at Torkington Park from 30th July until 7th August 2022.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         That whilst the event was welcomed, Members had reservations in relation to the length of the Summer Fun week.

·         That Committee Members weren’t familiar with the applicant and hadn’t been consulted by officers in advance of the application.

·         Whether it would be appropriate to defer and delegate the consideration of the application pending conversations with the ward Councillors and officers.

·         Raised concerns in relation to the expected attendance number stated in the application and the impact that this would have on insurance.

RESOLVED – That the Parks Event Application be delegated to the Chair and ward Councillors pending clarification from the officer and applicant.  

The Area Committee is invited to nominate Ward Spokespersons with whom the Director of Place Management can consult on highway maintenance and traffic management matters.

A copy of the Ward Spokesperson Protocol is attached for information.

The Area Committee is recommended to nominate Ward Spokespersons in accordance with the Protocol.

Officer contact: Damian Eaton 0161 474 3207 or email: damian.eaton@stockport.gov.uk

The Area Committee was invited to nominate Ward Spokespersons with whom the Director of Place Management could consult on highway maintenance and traffic management matters.

RESOLVED - That the following Councillors be appointed as Ward Spokespersons for highways and traffic issues:-

Hazel Grove Ward         - Councillors Paul Ankers and Oliver Johnstone

Offerton Ward                 - Councillor Wendy Meikle

Stepping Hill Ward        - Councillors Grace Baynham and Christine Carrigan

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

The report requests the Area Committee to consider appointments of representatives on Outside Bodies.

The Area Committee is requested to make nominations for appointments on Outside Bodies.

Officer contact: Georgia Latham on 0161 474 3229 or email: georgia.latham@stockport.gov.uk  

A representative of the Strategic Head of Service (Legal & Democratic Governance and Monitoring Officer) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) requesting the Area Committee to appoint representatives of the Council to local Outside Bodies.

RESOLVED – That the following councillors be nominated to represent the Council on the Hazel Grove Community Association:-

Councillor Lou Ankers

Councillor Paul Ankers

Councillor Oliver Johnstone

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: Georgia Latham on 0161 474 3229 or email:  georgia.latham@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Strategic Head of Service (Legal & Democratic Governance and Monitoring Officer) 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 the current position on Area Flexibility Funding.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         Thanked Councillor Grace Baynham, Cabinet Member for Highways, Parks and Leisure Services, for her update in relation to the travel plan, however requested an update report.

·         That the Committee had raised in the past that it was felt that the council was not doing enough to hold the hospital to account in relation to their travel plan arrangements.

·         Requested that the relevant Cabinet Member with officer support be asked to attend the Area Committee to outline their plants to address this issue.

·         That the Chair writes to the hospital to request that the hospital attend Area Committee to address Committees concerns and also request that Members are briefed on this matter in advance of the next meeting.

·         Noted the abbreviations within appendix A of the report and requested that a glossary be provided in relation to the Resume of Traffic Issues Progress Report.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.