Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 30 July 2024.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 30 July 2024 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.

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

In relation to the Stepping Hill Hospital Travel Plan, the Chair announced that the council had provided final comments to the hospital on the draft travel plan and was awaiting a response. Councillors would be informed when the hospital provided an update to the council.

In relation to the petition for an on-street parking permit scheme on Diamond Street, Hazel Grove, which was presented to the Area Committee in June, an update on the progress of the scheme was due to be presented to the October meeting of the Area Committee.

The Chair announced that a memorial service was due to take place for Lord Andrew Stunell who served as the Member of Parliament for Hazel Grove Constituency from 1997 until 2015. The service was due to take place at Stockport Town Hall Ballroom on 24September 2024 at 2pm. Those wishing to attend were advised to contact the parliamentary office of Lisa Smart MP.

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

A representative of the Assistant Director for Legal & Democratic Governance reported that a representative of Greater Manchester Police had been unable to attend the meeting and a written update had not been received for circulation in advance of the meeting.

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 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 Webb Lane Alley Collective for Ward Flexibility Funding for a grant of £500 towards the cost of cleaning and providing greenery for a shared alley space, for the benefit of local residents.

With the consent of the Area Committee this item was withdrawn.

There are currently no development applications to consider.

There were no development applications to consider.

To consider a report of the Assistant Director for Legal & 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 for 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 Assistant Director for Legal and Democratic Governance.

As part of its work programme, the Constitution Working Party has been examining the current range of delegations to area committees and other associated matters. This follows a request made by the Working Party that further consideration be given to:-

(a)      the remit of area committees including models of area governance implemented in other localities;

(b)      the current workload of area committees including agenda and meeting length;

(c)      arrangements for the chairing of area committees; and

(d)      venues for area committees.

The Working Party considered this report and requested that it be submitted to area committees to consult members on their views on the current operation of area committees. 

The comments of area committees will be collated and submitted to the Working Party to assist it in making any recommendations for change.

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

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

A representative of the Assistant Director – Legal & Democratic Governance submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) outlining the ongoing work of the Constitution Working Party to examine the current range of delegations to area committees and other associated matters.

It was reported that the Working Party has requested that area committees be consulted on these matters with the comments subsequently being collated and submitted to the Working Party to assist it in making any recommendations for change.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·       Members expressed support for the current area committee system and considered that the best decisions were made closest to the communities affected.

·       The procedure for electing an area committee chair should be a matter for each Area Committee to determine and the process should not be centralised.

·       Members considered that Stockport Town Hall was the most appropriate venue for Stepping Hill Area Committee as it was easily accessible by public transport from all parts of the Stepping Hill area.

·       The current boundaries of the council’s Area Committees were reflective of the geographical and cultural makeup of areas within the borough.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Executive Director People and Neighbourhoods.

The report provides an update on the One Stockport Local Neighbourhoods and Prevention Programme. It shares information on progress across the programme since the last update in January 2024 with steps for key elements to become operational and integration of practise to take place.

The Area Committee is recommend to:-

(1)  Note the report and engage in upcoming Neighbourhood Network meetings.

(2)  Comment on the programme as it continues to develop.

(3)  Request further updates on the programme at a frequency to be agreed.

Officer contact: Carolyn Anderson on 07800 617 588 or email carolyn.anderson@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Executive Director People and Neighbourhoods submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an update on the One Stockport Local Neighbourhoods and Prevention Programme and sharing information on progress across the programme since the last update in January 2024 with steps for key elements to become operational and integration of practise to take place.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·       The data revealed a stark differences between wards within the Stepping Hill area, notably between Offerton and Norbury and Woodsmoor. Stepping Hill Area Committee was a representation of the borough as a whole in term of unequal levels of poverty in different areas.

·       It was reported that the data could be narrowed to a sample size of 1,500 residents.

·       Members suggested that the data could be used to help identify those residents who were eligible to claim pension credit. This was one example of the many potential uses for this data.

·       There were no public libraries within the Norbury and Woodsmoor ward; any recommendations made by councillors of venues for advice centres was welcomed. 

·       The data would be helpful to councillors in their role representing their constituents.

·       Members requested updates at six month intervals.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Director of Place Management.

The report requests approval of the costs for dropped-crossings on Castle Shaw Road in Offerton.

The Area Committee is recommended to give approval to the installation of dropped crossings on Castle Shaw Road, Offerton at a cost of £3,550 to be funded from the Area Committee’s Delegated Budget (Offerton Ward allocation).

Officer contact: Max Townsend on 07527 387 146 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) requesting approval of the costs for dropped-crossings on Castle Shaw Road in Offerton.

RESOLVED – That approval be given to the installation of dropped crossings on Castle Shaw Road, Offerton at a cost of £3,550 to be funded from the Area Committee’s Delegated Budget (Offerton Ward allocation).

To consider a report of the Director of Place Management.

The report provides an update on funding applications that have been submitted for the Stockport CAN Seed Fund in wards in the Stepping Hill Area.

The Area Committee is recommended to consider an application for the Stockport CAN Seed Fund received from Seeding the Change for a grant of £1,000 from the Offerton ward allocation for a pay for the development of a community garden at Britannia Hotel, Offerton which is currently housing people seeking asylum with no greenspace. 

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

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

To consider a report of the Assistant Director for 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 and ward discretionary budget funding (approved only). 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.