Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 12 July 2016.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 12 July 2016 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 Interests

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

The Chair reported that the Greater Manchester Police & Crime Commissioner was shortly to launch his second cycle of small grants funding through the Active Citizen’s fund. This will be available to Community and Voluntary groups and organisations with funding projects being awarded of up to £5,000.

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.

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.

A representative of the Democratic Services Manager reported that a representative of the Public Realm Service was unable to attend the meeting. A written submission from the Service was circulated to councillors prior to the meeting.

Councillors expressed disappointment that no officer was able to attend.

RESOLVED – That the update be noted.

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

Mr Gash submitted a petition signed by residents of six terraced properties on Fenton Avenue, Hazel Grove requesting that the Council introduce Residents Permit Parking in light of the difficulties residents were having parking on the Avenue. The petition stated that the currently problems had been made worse by the introduction of Permit Parking on adjacent roads resulting in motorists associated with Stepping Hill Hospital parking on Fenton Avenue.

RESOLVED – That the petition be received and referred to Traffic Services for investigation.

Representatives of the Stockport NHS Foundation Trust will attend the meeting to outline their plans in respect of staff parking charges at Stepping Hill Hospital.

Ann Barnes (Chief Executive) and James Sumner (Deputy Chief Executive) from the Stockport NHS Foundation Trust attended the meeting to answer questions from councillors about proposals to increase the cost of staff parking at the Stepping Hill Hospital site and concerns that this would lead to increased parking on neighbouring streets as staff sought to avoid paying the charges.

Ann Barnes and James Sumner gave an overview of the situation at the Hospital and the reasons for the increase being proposed. It was stated that the Trust’s policy changed in April 2016 to give parking priority to patients and visitors, because a disproportionate number of the spaces on site were used by staff – of the approximately 1650 spaces on site, 825 were designated for staff only, and 495 patient only, with the remainder mixed use but often being taken by staff. The Trust regularly received complaints from patients that they were late for clinic appointments due to difficulties in finding a parking space.

Pressure on parking had grown as attendances and admissions had increased, meaning more parking for extra patients but also for the associated increased staffing need.

The Trust also had to deal with increased inappropriate parking, such as double parking, which needed to be handled sensitively given the nature of the visits to the hospital.

The income from staff parking charges was insufficient to provide additional parking capacity as the current cost was low in comparison to other similar organisations.

The Trust had actively encouraged the use of the Hazel Grove park and ride to ease pressure on capacity and for environmental benefits, but take up from staff and patients had been low as the difference in price was small. It was hoped the increase in parking charges would make this a more attractive alternative.

In order to facilitate increased capacity within the hospital site, the Trust was considered a three year plan that would involve selling land within the current site footprint which would then give a capital receipt to allow for the construction of a new mutli-storey facility.

Councillors then asked questions, including:-

·                The increased parking charges in themselves would not overcome the lack of capacity, and there was concern that the increased revenue would be used to offset budget pressures elsewhere with the Trust. Could any assurance be given that the revenue would be reinvested in parking facilities? In response it was stated that revenue from parking would contribute to these costs for expanding capacity on site.

·                The Council had implemented a number of Permit Parking Schemes around the site to compensate for the problems caused by those using or working at the hospital. Given the longstanding problem, why had action not been taken sooner to address it? In response it was stated that capacity had been increased in the past, and other measures put in place to address parking, but these had not been sufficient to keep pace with the growth in the number of people attending the hospital, and the resultant increases in staff to care for them. The Trust and its partners continued to work to reduce attendances at the hospital, but this was a long term challenge. There were short term pressures, such as the construction of the surgical centre, which once complete would ease the pressure, but there had been disproportionate growth in demand. It was reiterated that the Trust’s long term aim was to build a Multi-Storey Car Park, but financial constraints had limited these options.

·                Clarification was sought on what parking enforcement was done on site. In response it was stated that the Trust enforced parking through a private contractor and had done for a number of years, but that it was becoming increasingly difficult to administer, given that often infringements could be attributable to lack of capacity.

·                In order to make the Park and Ride option more attractive, had the Trust considered providing a shuttle  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.(v)

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 Chief Executive 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).

Construction of an external Artificial Tennis Court with Fencing, floodlighting and a new modular build changing room block.

The Area Committee is recommended to grant planning permission.

Officer contact: Chris Smyton, 0161 474 3657, chris.smyton@stockport.gov.uk

In respect of plan no. 60653 for the construction of an external artificial tennis court with fencing, floodlighting and a new modular build changing room block at Pepper Road Gym, 1A Pepper Road, Hazel Grove, it was

RESOLVED – That planning permission be granted subject to conditions, including an appropriate condition relating to drainage.

Retention of static caravan for residential use in connection with Brook Vale Farm.

The Area Committee is invited to recommend that the Planning &

Highways Regulation Committee grant planning permission subject to appropriate conditions.

Officer contact: Chris Smyton, 0161 474 3657, chris.smyton@stockport.gov.uk

In respect of plan no. 61698 for the retention of a static caravan for residential use in connection with Brook Vale Farm, Bean Leach Road, Offerton, it was

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

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 3219, joy.morton@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Democratic Services Manager submitted a report of the Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) summarising recent appeal decisions, listing current planning appeals and dates for local enquiries, informal hearings and progress on authorised enforcement action.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Deputy Chief Executive.

The report sets out an objection received to a proposed Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) at The Boulevard, Hazel Grove.

In light of the objection and the response provided by the representative of the Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration it is proposed to amend the relevant part of the TRO schedule as follows:

Introduce Limited Waiting 2 Hours Monday to Saturday 8am – 6pm No Return within 1 Hour:

North West side from a point 8.5 metres North East of the projected South Westerly building line of No. 1 in a North Easterly direction for a distance of 12 metres (4 perpendicular bays 3M wide x 4.5M length).

Officer contact: Zoe Allan, 0161 474 3138, zoe.allan@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) setting out an objection received to the proposed amendment of existing waiting restrictions on the Boulevard, Hazel Grove, and the response of officers to the issues raised in the objection. The Area Committee was recommended to amend the proposal in light of the consultation feedback.

RESOLVED – That the Metropolitan Borough Council of Stockport (The Boulevard, Hazel Grove) (Limited Waiting) (Disabled Persons Parking Place) and (Revocation) Order 2016 be made as advertised subject to the following amendment:-

Introduce Limited Waiting 2 Hours Monday to Saturday 8am – 6pm No Return within 1 Hour:

North West side from a point 8.5 metres North East of the projected South Westerly building line of No. 1 in a North Easterly direction for a distance of 12 metres (4 perpendicular bays 3M wide x 4.5M length).

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.

Councillors expressed concern that the resume of traffic management issues included within the report was inaccurate and a number of requests had been omitted. Concerns were also expressed about how quickly matters were being progressed.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That a representative of the Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration be requested to attend the next meeting to provide an update on the outstanding traffic management issues raised by the Area Committee.