Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 1 August 2023.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 1 August 2023 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair subject under Agenda Item 8 – ‘Woodsmoor Lane, Woodsmoor’ – to the deletion of “Norbury & Woodsmoor ward allocation” and its replacement therefor with “Offerton ward allocation”.

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

The following interests were declared:-

Personal Interests

Personal and Prejudicial Interest

No urgent decisions were reported.

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

The Chair reported that the Area Committee would be asked to give approval to the withdrawal of Plan no. DC/082829 for the demolition of existing detached house and garage and construction of 2no. three-storey, five bedroom residential properties (use Class C3(a)), with associated parking, landscape and boundary treatments at 135 Chester Road, Hazel Grove, Stockport.

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 was unable to attend the meeting, although a written update was provided and the Chair drew particular attention to the following matters:-

·         Crime updates for the past month in Hazel Grove/Offerton (Area) were given as follows:-

o   Total Crime for Stockport - 2093

o   99 Crimes reported in Hazel Grove area

o   Three residential burglaries in the Hazel Grove area.

·         Three individuals had been involved in a robbery at the Hazel Grove Sainsburys stores of whom two had been identified and charged. One had been remanded for trial until March 2024 and one had been due in Court on 7 September 2023 having admitted the offence. The third individual was being investigated by the neighbourhood crime team.

·         The Neighbourhood Police Inspector was invited to attend the next meeting of the Area Committee on 17 October 2023.

RESOLVED – That the update be noted.

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.

One public question was submitted relating to the Travel Plan for Stepping Hill Hospital.

In response it was stated that members shared the frustrations of local residents with missed deadlines and ongoing delays to the Travel Plan. Consequently, members had requested that the Travel Plan be submitted to the Stepping Hill Area Committee on 28 November 2023, or alternatively for a representative of Stepping Hill Hospital to attend that meeting to provide an update. Members hoped that the Travel Plan would provide tangible and significant adjustments which would represent real change for local residents.

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 (Monitoring Officer) 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 Ward Flexibility Funding or to receive feedback from organisations who have received funding.

There were no applications to consider.

To consider a report of the Deputy Chief Executive.

The following development applications will be considered by the Area Committee:-

A development application was 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 Deputy 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 upon payment of the Council’s reasonable charges).

A representative of the Assistant Director for Legal & Democratic Governance outlined the procedure for public speaking on planning applications.

The construction of a new detached two storey teaching block on the site of an existing sixth form college. The teaching block comprises 10no. new classrooms, a staff room and supplementary flexible learning spaces, in addition to circulation space, WC provisions on both floors and plant and server space. The footprint of the building measures 681.2sqm. The surrounding site will be landscaped with paths and planting, and includes an external secure courtyard for use by students and staff.

The Area Committee is requested to recommend that the Planning & Highways Regulation Committee grants planning permission.

Officer contact: Mark Jordan on 0161 474 3557 or email: mark.jordan@stockport.gov.uk

In respect of plan no. DC/088758 for the construction of a new detached two storey teaching block on the site of an existing sixth form college; the teaching block comprised 10no. new classrooms, a staff room and supplementary flexible learning spaces, in addition to circulation space, WC provisions on both floors and plant and server space. The footprint of the building measured 681.2sqm; the surrounding site would be landscaped with paths and planting, and included an external secure courtyard for use by students and staff at Aquinas Sixth Form College, Nangreave Road, Heaviley, Stockport,

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

It was then

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

Proposed demolition of existing detached house and garage, and construction of 2no. three-storey, five bedroom residential properties (Use Class C3(a)), with associated parking, landscape and boundary treatments.

The Area Committee is recommended to grant planning permission subject to conditions and a Section 106 Legal Agreement in relation to the “Open Space Provision and Commuted Sum Payments SPD” and relevant planning policies.

Officer contact: Helen Hodgett on 0161 474 3656 or email: helen.hodgett@stockport.gov.uk

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

To consider a report of the Assistant Director - 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 Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report of the Assistant Director for Legal & Democratic Governance (copies of which had been circulated) summarising recent appeal decisions; listing current planning appeals and dates for local enquiries; informal hearings for planning appeals, and enforcement action within the Stepping Hill Area Committee.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Deputy Chief Executive.

The report details a proposal to hold the Annual Review of Outcomes on Friday, 24 November 2023.

The Area Committee is recommended to:-

(1) Nominate a completed development site to be included on the list of sites to be inspected on the 2023 Annual Review Tour; and

(2) Nominate Members to attend the Annual Review of Outcomes Tour on 24 November 2023.

Officer contact: Suzanne Broomhead on 0161 218 1982 or email: suzanne.broomhead@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing a proposal to hold the Annual Review of Outcomes on Friday 24 November 2023.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That the completed development site at Gladstone Street be nominated to be included on the list of sites to be inspected on the Annual Review Tour.

(3) That consideration of the nomination of councillors to attend the Tour be deferred to the next meeting.

To consider a report of the Deputy Chief Executive.

The Council is inviting comments on a Draft Education Contributions Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) from Wednesday 13th September to Wednesday 25th October.

The Area Committee is asked to note the proposed consultation documents and the intended period of consultation.

Officer contact: Hannah Mitchell on 0161 474 3771 or email: hannah.mitchell@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Assistant Director for Legal & Democratic Governance submitted a report of the Deputy Chief Executive (copies of which had been circulated) detailing a proposal and inviting comments on a Draft Education Contributions Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) from Wednesday 13 September to Wednesday 25th October.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         Members queried whether the funds from every Section 106 order would be spent on education or whether there would be some flexibility within the proposal to allocate funding elsewhere, for example to parks.

·         It was commented that the proposal did not represent an additional source of funding, but allowed for that funding to be spent on education.

·         Members queried whether the catchment area boundaries for schools in the secondary phase of education in particular remained appropriate and fit for purpose.

·         Members requested a further opportunity to comment upon this proposal and it was agreed that queries be forwarded to the representative of the Assistant Director for Legal and Democratic Governance.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Assistant Director – 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. 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.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         Following the Committee’s approval of the Ward Flexibility Funding application for Drawing Board Productions – Hazel Grove Post, it was reported that the first issue had been published.

·         It was noted that a report was due to be submitted to this Area Committee relating to a design study into physical traffic calming on Carisbrooke Avenue, Hazel Grove.

·         Members requested the following corrections to be made on the report:

o   Bean Leach Drive – Hazard Centre Lines - £300 – to be taken from Hazel Grove allocation, not Offerton allocation.

o   9 Southwood Road – Remove ‘DPPB’ - £100 – to be taken from Offerton allocation, not Norbury & Woodsmoor allocation.

o   Capesthorne Close – to be taken from Norbury & Woodsmoor allocation.

·         Members were invited to submit proposals for the use of the Ward Discretionary Budget to the representative of the Assistant Director for Legal and Democratic Services.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.