Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 7 March 2017.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 7 March 2017 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

No declarations of interest were made.

No urgent decisions were reported.

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

No announcements were made.

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.

Chris Pollitt, Senior 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 update was provided:-

·         Monthly highway inspections were being undertaken.

·         Investigations into drainage on London Road had uncovered an unmapped highway drain running along the footway from the Hazel Grove War Memorial toward Sainsbury’s Supermarket. Further detailed exploratory work was needed and local members would be kept informed of developments.

·         A deep clean of the footways and channels of the A6 from Sainsbury’s/Bramhall Moor Lane to Torkington Road had been undertaken.

·         Minor maintenance works have recently been undertaken to reset the damaged ironwork and the immediate surrounds outside the Paintmaster store and also outside Asda in Hazel Grove.

·         Concrete bins had been replaced with newer bins outside the shops on Turnstone Road, Offerton. Similar bins had been ordered to replace concrete bins on Dorchester Parade, Hazel Grove.

·         The lining on speed humps outside the shops on Turnstone Road had been completed and potholes on Shearwater Road had been made safe.

·         Costings were being sought for work to the vegetation on Bean Leach Road, and the owners of the hedge along Marple Road toward Seventeen Windows had been contacted requesting vegetation be cut back.

·         Work was planned to address the damaged side entry gully on the A6 at the junction with Hillgate.

·         United Utilities had arranged for the replacement of a manhole frame and cover on Marple Road, Offerton, between the junctions with Hall Pool Drive and Brookside Avenue on 12 April 2017; and on London Road, Hazel Grove, between the junctions of Mill Street and Vernon Street on 13 April requiring a temporary off side southbound lane closure between the hours of 7-10pm. 

·         Footway reconstruction and carriageway resurfacing was due to be carried out within the month on Fenton Avenue, Great Moor.

·         A number of fly-tipping incidents had been reported, all of which had been removed.

·         A Section 46 warning letter has been sent to a property in Hazel Grove in relation to fly-tipped waste at one of the Commercial Road recycling facilities.

·         17 complaints had been received about abandoned vehicles, six of which were parked on Lake Street Great Moor and were either ticketed or clamped by the DVLA.

·         Costings for the replacement of street lighting columns on Bramhall Moor Lane had been received and would be submitted to the next Area Committee for consideration.

The following additional issues were raised:-

·         The markings on the north-bound access to Melford Road from Macclesfield Road needed to be realigned.

·         Concerns were expressed about the condition of street lighting and pavements on Beech Avenue.

·         A request was made for the jetting of the grids on Short Street and Lever Street

·         A request was made to investigate a faulty lighting column on Woodsmoor Lane, near the junction with the A6.

·         The replacement metal bollards on Lake Street/ Coombes Road were inappropriately placed and should be outside no. 60 Coombes Street.

·         There were damaged manhole covers on Commercial Road near the drycleaners and on Torkington Road near the pub.

RESOLVED – That Chris Pollitt be thanked for his attendance and presentation.

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 Democratic Services Manager reported that no organisation 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 & 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 applications. 

The part demolition of the existing Early Years Facility, the refurbishment of its remaining part and the erection of a new building, and the re-arrangement of the car parking layout. The proposal comprises 6 new classrooms, a nursery, 2 teaching areas, a hall with changing rooms and an outside play area.

The Area Committee is recommended to grant planning permission.

A representative of the Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration reported that the applicant had requested that consideration of this application be deferred to allow for further consultation with neighbours.

RESOLVED – That consideration of the application be deferred.

Change of use from commercial offices to 3No. Apartments including first floor extension.

The Area Committee is recommended to grant planning permission.

In respect of plan no. 64639 for the change of use from commercial offices to 3 no. apartments including first floor extension at 128-130 London Road, Hazel Grove,

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 – (Four in favour, one against) That planning permission be granted subject to appropriate conditions requiring Ash Street to be resurfaced up to and including the vehicular access to the site and the submission of details on future maintenance and management, and the submission of details of external lighting of the car parking area.

The erection of a new build enclosure to accommodate up to 3no. Combined Heat and Power (CHP) Units within a single volume profiled metal clad portal framed building together with approximately 240sqm of office accommodation in a single storey structure adjoining the main volume.

The Area Committee is recommended to grant planning permission.

In respect of plan no. 64252 for the erection of a new build enclosure to accommodate up to 3no. Combined Heat and Power (CHP) Units within a single volume profiled metal clad portal framed building together with approximately 240sqm of office accommodation in a single storey structure adjoining the main volume at NXP Semiconductors, Pepper Road, Hazel Grove

RESOLVED – That planning permission be granted subject to appropriate conditions.

There are no outstanding planning appeals or enforcements to report.

There were no outstanding appeal decisions to report.

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

The report advises the Area Committee of a proposal for the re-location of the playground on Blackstone Fields to allow for the development of 27 affordable homes development on Blackstone Fields (subject to planning approval).

The Area Committee is requested to consider the contents of this report, and to support the commencement of the proposed community consultation, and engagement with Dial Park Primary school to help identify the preferred equipment for installation within the proposed new play area. 

Officer contact: Andy Kippax, 0161 474 4319, andy.kippax@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) advising the Area Committee of a proposal to relocate the playground on Blackstone Fields to a new location on land at the junction of Blackstone Road and Astle Shaw Road. The proposed move would allow for the redevelopment of the former playground site for 27 affordable homes.

RESOLVED – That in relation to the proposed relocation of the Blackstone Field playground the proposed community consultation be supported including engagement with Dial Park Primary School on preferred equipment for installation within the proposed new play area.

To consider a report of the Democratic Services Manager.

The report requests the Area Committee to give consideration to proposals for alternative arrangements for the funding of those ward flexibility fund applications for boroughwide events.

The Area Committee is recommended to comment on the proposed arrangements.

Officer contact: Craig Ainsworth on 0161 474 3204 or email: craig.ainsworth@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Democratic Services Manager submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) inviting the Area Committee to consider options for considering application for Ward Flexibility Funding that had borough-wide implications.

The following comments were made:-

·         What were the criteria for deciding what constituted ‘borough-wide’ and who would decide this?

·         If an application had borough-wide implications then the chairs of area committees should also be involved in deciding applications, not simply an executive councillor.

·         Concerns were expressed that there was variability in approach to dealing with funding applications and it was suggested that other area committees should consider adopting a similar model to that of this Area Committee and pool the ward funds.

·         Concerns were expressed that due to the variability in how councillors approached the use of their ward funds Stepping Hill Area Committee was being unfairly burdened in funding borough-wide applications.

·         By creating a separate fund and a separate process local councillors may in future not be funding and supporting activity in their community.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That the view of this Area Committee was that the current approach to the determination applications for funding submitted to this Area Committee was adequate, but that should a borough-wide process be developed that it should be funded as per option (a) in the report (a 10% ‘top-slice’ from each ward’s yearly allocation) and that decisions on those applications be taken by area committee chairs collectively.

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

This report was presented to Environment and Economy Scrutiny Committee on 2 March 2017 at which it was agreed that this report would be circulated to all area committees together with an update in respect of this ongoing work to identify sites for potential housing and employment uses, and to strengthen and update the evidence base in respect of available brownfield land to inform the process of the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework (GMSF) and the Stockport Local Plan.

The Area Committee is invited to note the accompanying Brownfield First report, and councillors are invited to use this cycle of Area Committees to consider putting forward suggested sites and promoting this work via their surgeries and discussions in our local communities. 

Officer contact: Emma Curle, 0161-474-3542, emma.curle@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Democratic Services Manager submitted a report of the Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration (copies of which had been circulated) informing the Area Committee of efforts by the Council to identify appropriate brownfield sites in Stockport for inclusion in the Stockport Local Plan. The report had previously been considered by the Environment & Economy Scrutiny Committee.

It was commented that in light of the recent announcement by TfGM of the intention to test autonomous cars, the likely resulting shifts in the travel patterns may result in larger brownfield sites becoming available as a result. In this context a 15 year Local Plan would be unhelpful long as rapid technological change was likely to outpace the assumptions contained within it.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

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

The Area Committee is invited to consider a proposal to introduce No Waiting at Any Time restrictions at the junctions of Beaufort Road, Hollymount Road, Magda Road and Dial Park Road in Offerton.

Area Committee approves the legal advertising of the following Traffic Regulation Orders and subject to no objections being received within 21 days from the advertisement date the following orders can be made:

Introduce No Waiting at Any Time:

Beaufort Road

Both sides from the South Easterly kerb line of Magda Road for a distance of 10 metres in a Southerly direction.

Both sides from the Northerly kerb line of Dial Park Road for a distance of 10 metres in a North Easterly direction.

Hollymount Road

Both sides from the North Easterly kerb line of Magda Road for a distance of 10 metres in a North Westerly direction.

Magda Road

North Westerly side from a point 10 metres South West of the South Westerly kerb line of Hollymount Road to a point 10 metres North East of the North Easterly kerb line of Hollymount Road.

South Easterly side from a point 10 metres South West of the Westerly kerb line of Beaufort Road to a point 10 metres North East of the Easterly kerb line of Beaufort Road.

Dial Park Road

Northerly side from a point 10 metres North West of the North Westerly kerb line of Beaufort Road to a point 15 metres East of the South Easterly kerb line of Beaufort Road.

Officer contact: Max Townsend, 0161 474 4861, max.townsend@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) inviting the Area Committee to consider a proposal to introduce No Waiting at Any Time restrictions on Beaufort Road, Hollymount Road, Magda Road and Dial Park Road, Offerton to protect the junctions of these roads from inappropriate parking. The report also summarised consultation responses from residents in the area.

RESOLVED – That the legal advertising of the following Traffic Regulation Orders be approved at a cost of £700 to be funded from the Area Committee’s Delegated Budget (Offerton Ward allocation) and subject to no objections being received within 21 days from the advertisement date the following orders can be made:

Introduce No Waiting at Any Time:

Beaufort Road

Both sides from the South Easterly kerb line of Magda Road for a distance of 10 metres in a Southerly direction.

Both sides from the Northerly kerb line of Dial Park Road for a distance of 10 metres in a North Easterly direction.

Hollymount Road

Both sides from the North Easterly kerb line of Magda Road for a distance of 10 metres in a North Westerly direction.

Magda Road

North Westerly side from a point 10 metres South West of the South Westerly kerb line of Hollymount Road to a point 10 metres North East of the North Easterly kerb line of Hollymount Road.

South Easterly side from a point 10 metres South West of the Westerly kerb line of Beaufort Road to a point 10 metres North East of the Easterly kerb line of Beaufort Road.

Dial Park Road

Northerly side from a point 10 metres North West of the North Westerly kerb line of Beaufort Road to a point 15 metres East of the South Easterly kerb line of Beaufort Road.

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

The report sets out the outcome of an investigation into upgrading the free permit scheme on Aber Avenue and Crown Mews and invites the Area Committee to determine how the investigation should proceed. The consultation failed to return a majority in favour of upgrading as required by the Council policy.

The Area Committee is asked to consider the report and decide how it wishes to proceed.

Officer contact: Max Townsend, 0161 474 4861, max.townsend@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) inviting the Area Committee to consider the outcome of a consultation with residents on the proposed upgrading of the free permit parking scheme on Aber Avenue and Crown Mews. The consultation had not elicited the required sufficient positive response to proceed to convert the current scheme to a paid-for scheme and the view of the Area Committee was sought on how to proceed.

Councillors expressed concern that residents in these roads were disproportionately affected by the hospital and changes to their parking arrangements and that removing existing restrictions would have a severely detrimental impact on them.

RESOLVED – (1) That the Executive Councillor (Communities & Housing) be recommended to agree to deviate from the Council’s Permit Parking Policy to re-consult residents on Aber Avenue and Crown Mews in line with paragraph 2.4 of the report.

(2) That the Democratic Services Manager be requested to write to the Chief Executive of Stockport NHS Foundation Trust to seek clarification on progress with plans to provide additional onsite parking facilities.

(3) That the Democratic Services Manager be requested to refer the Area Committee’s concerns in relation to the operation of the current Permit Parking Policy to the appropriate Scrutiny Committee for consideration as a possible topic for inclusion in the 2017/18 Scrutiny Work Programme.

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

The report seeks approval for the implementation of a 20mph speed limit order and the construction of cycle facilities on the Hall Pool Drive & Old Hall Drive area.

The Area Committee is asked to comment on this report and recommend that the Executive Councillor (Communities & Housing) approves the implementation of the measures set out in the report and the legal advertising of the traffic regulation orders contained in Appendix A and subject to no objections being received within 21 days from the advertisement date the order can be made.

Officer contact: Shafaq Hussain, 0161 218 1059, shafaq.hussain@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) inviting the Area Committee to consider proposals for the introduction of a 20mph speed limit on Hall Pool Drive and Old Hall Drive, Offerton as part of additional cycling facilities between Offerton and Bredbury. The report also summarised the response to consultation with affected residents.

RESOLVED – That the Executive Councillor (Communities & Housing) be recommended to approve the proposed 20mph Speed Limit Zone and cycling facilities in the Hall Pool Drive and Old Hall Drive area as detailed in the report.

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 and the current position of the Area Flexibility Budget.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.