Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 11 August 2015.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 11 August 2015 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

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

The following interests were declared:-

Personal Interest

Personal & Prejudicial Interests

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

The Chair made the following announcements:-

·         Wellbeing Week would run from 5-10 October 2015 and would include a range of activities available to the public, including a Wellbeing Festival in the Town Hall on Monday 5 October, and Dementia Awareness Event at Offerton Community Centre on the afternoon of Saturday, 10 October. Further details were available on the Council website.

·         From 1 October 2015, smoking in cars carrying passengers under the age of 18 would come into force.

·         The month-long Stopober campaign to encourage and support people to give up smoking would begin on 1 October 2015.

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.

Mr Jon Twigge, on behalf of local residents, attended the meeting and submitted three petitions:-

Permit Parking on Queens Road, Hazel Grove

A petition of 28 signatures from 23 properties on Queen’s Road, Hazel Grove requesting the Council investigate the introduction of a permit parking scheme on the section of road that was not currently part of a scheme.

Permit Parking on Douglas Road, Hazel Grove

A petition of 19 signatures from 18 properties on Douglas Road, Hazel Grove requesting the Council investigate the introduction of a permit parking scheme.

Parking Restrictions on Douglas Road, Hazel Grove

A petition of 22 signatures requesting the Council investigate the introduction of limited waiting restrictions on those parts of Douglas Road, Hazel Grove not covered by other restrictions in view of problems with long term parking by non-residents.

RESOLVED – That the petitions be referred to Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration for investigation and that the Corporate Director report back to the Area Committee as appropriate.

The local Public Realm Inspector will attend the meeting to provide an update on matters raised at the last committee meetings. Councillors and Members of the public are invited to raise issues affecting local environmental quality.

Kay Williams, Public Realm Inspector, attended the meeting to answer questions from councillors and members of the public in relation to highway and environmental quality issues within the area represented by the Stepping Hill Area Committee.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         Monthly Highway Safety Inspections had been completed.

·         Annual highway inspections had reached yellow routes and these were due to be completed by the beginning of October 2015.

·         The number of graffiti reports by ward since the last meeting were 2 for Offerton, 4 for Hazel Grove, 13 for Stepping Hill.

·         For the area committee area there were 147 reports of highway issues, and 31 environmental quality reports.

·         The planters on Cavendish Road had been cleared. Following receipt of residents’ details officers would approach them with a view to arranging for replacement plants.

RESOLVED – That Kay Williams be thanked for her attendance.

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 Democratic Services Manager reported that no organisations had indicated that they wished to address the Area Committee as part of the Open Forum arrangements.

To consider any applications for Area Flexibility Funding or to receive feedback from organisations who have received funding.

There were no applications to consider.

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 and 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 Democratic Services Manager outlined the procedure approved by the Council for public speaking on planning application.

Variationofconditions7 and8 of planning permissionDC055612.

The Area Committee is recommended to grant planning permission.

In respect of plan no. 59066 for the variation of conditions 7 and 8 of planning permission DC055612 at Warren Wood Primary School, Turnstone Road, Offerton

a member of the public spoke against the application on behalf of local residents, and

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

It was then

RESOLVED – That planning permission be granted.

Single storey rear/side extension, roof lights to rear elevation and relocation of gable window on east facing side elevation.

The Area Committee is recommended to grant planning permission.

In respect of plan no. 59105 a single storey rear/ side extension, roof lights to rear elevation and relocation of gable window on east facing side elevation, a representative of the Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration confirmed that the dimensions of the development were approximately 6.4m wide and 2.4m high to eaves and 4.9m to the top of the ridge, rather than the measurements in the report which had been included in error.

A member of the public then spoke against the application, and

the applicant spoke in support of the application.

It was then

RESOLVED – That planning permission be granted subject to an additional condition requiring a planting scheme of indigenous species to be agreed by officers, in consultation with the applicant, and following consultation with the Chair of the Area Committee.

To consider a report of the Deputy Chief Executive.

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: Joy Morton, 0161 474 3217, joy.morton@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Democratic Services Manager submitted a report of the Deputy Chief Executive (copies of which had been circulated) listing any outstanding or recently determined planning appeals and enforcements within the area represented by the Stepping Hill Area Committee.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

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

The Council is responsible for many kilometres of highway grass verges that are maintained on an ongoing basis in terms of mowing under the Street Cleansing and Grounds Maintenance contract.  However, the Council is receiving an increasing number of reports relating to damaged / rutted grass verges from vehicles parking half on and half off the verge or driving over the verge.

The report details the various options for the repair and prevention of damage to grass verges.

The Area Committee is recommended to:-

·         note the limited options available to the Council to take formal action against people who cause damage to grass verges;

·         endorse the approach to prevent repeated damage by considering each verge on a site by site basis;

·         agree the Ward Spokesperson as the point of contact for discussion and final decision on the recommended solution; and

·         note the costs of any works (above the cost of equivalent repair) will be requested from the ward Delegated Budget.

Officer contact: Johanna Smith, 0161 474 4896, johanna.smith@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Democratic Services Manager submitted a report of the Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration (copies of which had been circulated) summarising the Council’s policy and options in responding to damage to grass verges caused by parked vehicles.

RESOLVED – That

·         the limited options available to the Council to take formal action against people who cause damage to grass verges be noted;

·         the approach to prevent repeated damage by considering each verge on a site by site basis be endorsed;

·         the Ward Spokesperson be authorised to act as the point of contact for discussion and final decision on the recommended solution; and

·         the costs of any works (above the cost of equivalent repair) being requested from the ward Delegated Budget be noted.

To consider a report of the Democratic Services Manager.

The Area Committee is asked to appoint a councillor to lay a wreath on behalf of the Council at the Remembrance Day Service at Hazel Grove War Memorial on Sunday, 8 November 2015.

Officer contact: Jonathan Vali, 0161 474 3201, jonathan.vali@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Democratic Services Manager submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) inviting the Area Committee to nominate a councillor to lay a wreath on behalf of the Council at the Remembrance Sunday Service at Hazel Grove War Memorial.

RESOLVED – That Councillor Oliver Johnstone be appointed to lay a wreath on behalf of the Council at the Remembrance Sunday Service at Hazel Grove War Memorial on Sunday, 8 November 2015.

To consider a report of the Democratic Services Manager.

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: Jonathan Vali, 0161 474 3201, jonathan.vali@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Democratic Services Manager submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) updating the Area Committee on progress with implementing decisions taken by the Area Committee since the last meeting and the current position of the Area Flexibility budget.

A representative of the Democratic Services Manager reported that the proposed acquisition of the Hazel Grove Ambulance Station was not currently being proceeded with due to the North West Ambulance Service’s ongoing review of its estate.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

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

An event application has been received from Hazel Grove Together to hold a Christmas Festival at Torkington Park on Saturday 5th December 2015.

The Area Committee is recommended to grant the application subject to the organisers providing the necessary paperwork.

Officer contact: Sharon Duke, 0161 474 3289, Sharon.duke@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Democratic Services Manager submitted a report of the Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration (copies of which had been circulate) inviting the Area Committee to consider an application to use Torkington Park on Saturday 5 December 2015 for a Christmas Festival.

RESOLVED – That the application from Hazel Grove Together to use Torkington Park on Saturday, 5 December 2015 for a Christmas Festival be approved, subject to receipt by the Council of appropriate paperwork from the applicant.