Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 5 March 2024.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 5 March 2024 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

Councillors and officers were invited to declare any interests they had in any of the items on the agenda for the meeting.

The following interests were declared:-

Personal Interest

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

The Chair announced that organisers of the Hazel Grove Carnival were seeking volunteers from the local community to assist with the carnival.

The Chair also announced that council officers had completed their review of the Stepping Hill Travel Plan and would share their comments with the hospital and their consultants in the next week.

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

It was reported that a representative of Greater Manchester Police had been unable to attend the meeting, although a written update was provided and the Chair drew particular attention to the following matters:

·         The arrest and subsequent conviction of prolific shoplifter targeting supermarkets across the Offerton and Great Moor area had taken place. The male in question had been convicted of over 30 shoplifting offences. As a result of this work, the theft shoplifting rate in the area had decreased significantly.

·         A local female juvenile had been granted a Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) from the courts due to numerous complaints made by members of the public and local businesses. The female in question was now forbidden to associate in a group of three or more or attend McDonalds and KFC Hazel Grove following convictions for several offences over the past 12 months.

·         Officers from the East Neighbourhood Team made an arrest for possession of class B drugs with intent to supply after they searched a male in the Hazel Grove area at the beginning of February. Officers located and seized a considerable quantity of cannabis and cash in connection with the arrest.

·         The Neighbourhood crime team continued with their work in tackling burglary crime in the area. As a district the overall burglary detection rate was very good.

·         The next Police and Communities Together (PaCT) meeting was scheduled to take place in May 2024 for the Hazel Grove, Offerton and Stepping Hill area.

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.

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 Assistant Director – Legal & Democratic Governance 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 received from Hazel Grove Mutual Aid for Ward Flexibility Funding for a grant of £339, towards the cost of constructing a shed to house a “take a book, leave a book” library, for the benefit of local residents.

A representative of Hazel Grove Mutual Aid attended the meeting and submitted an application for a grant of £339 from the Ward Flexibility Budget towards the cost of constructing a shed to house a “take a book, leave a book” library, for the benefit of local residents.

RESOLVED – That approval be given to an application received from Hazel Grove Mutual Aid for a grant of £339 from the Ward Flexibility Budget towards cost of constructing a shed to house a “take a book, leave a book” library, for the benefit of local residents.

To consider an application received from Make A Difference for Ward Flexibility Funding for a grant of £66.54, towards the cost of providing informative and educational workshops to enhance the emotional well-being of local residents.

A representative of Make a Difference attended the meeting and submitted an application for a grant of £66.54 from the Ward Flexibility Budget towards the cost of providing informative and educational workshops to enhance the emotional well-being of local residents.

RESOLVED – (5 for, 2 against) That approval be given to an application received from Make a Difference for a grant of £66.54 from the Ward Flexibility Budget towards cost of providing informative and educational workshops to enhance the emotional well-being of local residents.

To consider an application received from Friends of Shahnameh for Ward Flexibility Funding for a grant of £75, towards the cost of organising visits to cultural venues and running regular Persian poetry workshops, for the benefit of Persian and English speaking members of the community.

A representative of the Friends of Shahnameh attended the meeting and submitted an application for a grant of £75 from the Ward Flexibility Budget towards the cost of organising visits to cultural venues and running regular Persian poetry workshops, for the benefit of Persian and English speaking members of the community.

RESOLVED – That approval be given to an application received from the Friends of Shahnameh for a grant of £75 from the Ward Flexibility Budget towards cost of organising visits to cultural venues and running regular Persian poetry workshops, for the benefit of Persian and English speaking members of the community.

There are currently no development applications to consider.

No development applications were submitted.

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 Stepping Hill 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 – Legal & Democratic Governance submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) summarising 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.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Director of Place Management.

The report provides details relating to the launch of two new Climate Action Now (CAN) Funds; the CAN Seed Fund and the CAN Catalyst Fund.

The Area Committee is asked to comment on and note the report.

Officer contact: Liz Atherton by email liz.atherton@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Director of Place Management submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing details relating to the launch of two new Climate Action Now (CAN) Funds; the CAN Seed Fund and the CAN Catalyst Fund.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         Members welcomed the report and funding and commented that it demonstrated the commitment of the council to tackle climate change;

·         Members also welcomed the examples contained within the report about how the funding can be spent and offered to assist with publicising the funds;

·         It was confirmed that funding could be used for projects on council-owned land, subject to permission being obtained for planting and growing;

·         It was reported that the previous CAN fund of £130,000 had supported 79 projects across the borough and reached more than 5,500 residents. The carbon saving in the first year was more than 1,000 tons. One project which had a big energy-saving impact involved the distribution of energy-saving devices, such as draught-excluders, at food banks which would also save residents money on their energy bills.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Director of Place Management.

The report seeks approval to extend the No Waiting at Any Time restrictions on Gower Avenue in Hazel Grove and to resolve an anomaly on Walden Crescent at the junction with Gower Avenue.

The Area Committee is recommended to give approval to the legal advertising of that that element of the Traffic Regulation Orders (detailed in Appendix A of the report) that falls within its purview, and is requested to recommend that the Cabinet Member for Parks, Highways & Transport Services gives approval to the advertisement of the remainder, and subject to the receipt of no objections within 21 days of the advertisement date, the subsequent making of the orders at a cost of £850 to be funded from the Area Committee’s Delegated Budget (Norbury and Woodsmoor Ward allocation.

Officer contact: Max Townsend on 0161 474 4861 or email max.townsend@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 to extend the No Waiting at Any Time restrictions on Gower Avenue, Hazel Grove and to resolve an anomaly on Walden Crescent at the junction with Gower Avenue.

RESOLVED – That approval be given to the legal advertising of that element of the Traffic Regulation Orders (detailed in Appendix A of the report) which fell within the purview of the Area Committee, and that the Cabinet Member for Parks, Highways & Transport Services be recommended to give approval to the advertisement of the remainder, and subject to the receipt of no objections within 21 days of the advertisement date, the subsequent making of the orders at a cost of £850 to be funded from the Area Committee’s Delegated Budget (Norbury and Woodsmoor Ward allocation).

To consider a report of the Director of Place Management.

The report sets out a request for the allocation of £12,000 in Delegated Budget (Hazel Grove ward) to play area improvement works at Clarendon Road Play Area.

The Area Committee is recommended to approve the allocation of £12,000 in Delegated Budget to play area improvements at Clarendon Road Park Play Area.

Officer contact: Richard Booker on 0161 474 4829 or email richard.booker@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) detailing a proposal to make improvements to the play area at Clarendon Road Play Area.

RESOLVED – That approval be given to the making of improvements to the play area at Clarendon Road Park Play Area at a cost of £12,000 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 details an application from 4 Seasons Event Group to hold a Kids Adventure Kingdom Inflatable World & Childrens Funfair Event at Torkington Park from Saturday, 4 to Monday, 6 May 2024.

The Area Committee is recommended to give approval to the application subject to the event organisers obtaining and providing the relevant paperwork at least two weeks prior to the event, including any necessary licences, health and safety documentation and insurance certificates.

Officer Contact: Jacky Budd on 0161 474 3332 or email: jacky.budd@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) detailing an application from the 4 Seasons Event Group to hold a Kids Adventure Kingdom Inflatable World & Childrens Funfair Event at Torkington Park on Saturday, 4 to Monday, 6 May 2024.

RESOLVED – That approval be given to an application received from the 4 Seasons Event Group to hold a Kids Adventure Kingdom Inflatable World & Childrens Funfair Event at Torkington Park on Saturday, 4 to Monday, 6 May 2024, subject to all appropriate paperwork and licences being obtained and submitted to the council at least one week prior to the event taking place.

To consider a report of the Assistant Director – Legal and 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) providing an update 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.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.