Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 25 September 2019.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 25 September 2019 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.

The Chair announced that of the four consultations being undertaken by the Council that had been reported on at the last the meeting with regard to the annual budget setting process, three remained ongoing.  Specifically, it was stated that consultations relating to Street Cleansing was running until 11 November 2019; Libraries until 15 November 2019 and Museums until 18 November 2019.

It was further reported that a new consultation had commented in relation to Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Transport that was due to close on 11 November 2019.

The Chair then stated that there were a further two consultations being undertaken on behalf of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority that affected Marple and the wider Stockport area.  These related to Greater Manchester's Cycling and Walking Network, also referred to as the ‘Bee Network’ and in the introduction of a bus franchising scheme for Greater Manchester.  These were running until 8 November 2019 and 8 January 2020 respectively.

The Chair then reported on a number of events that were due to take place within the locality, as follows:-

·         A coffee morning in aid of cancer relief on Saturday, 23 November 2019 at the Marple Senior Citizens’ Hall.

·         A Christmas Fair held by the Stockport Fairtrade Group on Saturday, 23 November 2019 at Stockport Town Hall.

·         A ‘Santa Cruise’ on the New Horizons narrow boat on Friday, 6 December 2019 ending at Marple Social and Forces Club from 6.30 pm.

·         The Marple Bridge Winter Wonderland would be held on Town Street, Marple Bridge on Saturday, 7 December 2019 between 1.00 pm and 4.00 pm.

·         A Christmas Light switch-on event in Marple Precinct on Friday, 29 November 2019 commencing with carols at 5.30 pm followed by the light switch-on at 6.00 pm.

The Chair announced that Mellor Primary School would be participating in the UK’s first Youth Environmental Conference hosted at Manchester Metropolitan University on 20 November 2019, along with a number of other schools from across the borough and wider conurbation.

Finally, the Chair stated that there would be a number of Remembrance Services being held throughout the area on Sunday, 10 November 2019 as follows:-

·         Compstall at 10.50 am

·         High Lane at 11.00 am

·         Marple at 10.30 am

·         Mellor at 12.15 pm

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 submit questions to the Chair of the Area Committee on any matters within the powers and duties of the Area Committee.

Two public questions were submitted as follows:-

·         Relating to the amount of time afforded for local community organisations to respond to consultations being undertaken by the Council.

It was clarified at the meeting that the question had been submitted following correspondence received from a third-party in relation to the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework and the Stockport Mayoral Development Corporation.  Members stated that both of these issues had been widely publicised and had been the subject of significant discussion both within affected communities as well as throughout the decision-making structures of the Council.

It was requested that clarity be sought on whether organisations such as Marple Civic Society were formally notified of consultations on significant proposals that affected the locality.

·         Relating to the number of gully cleaners in the Stockport area, and whether it was considered that more were required in the light of ongoing changes to the climate.

RESOLVED – That in the absence of the questioner, the Deputy Chief Executive be requested to respond to the questioner in writing.

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.

Karen Barnes (Public Realm Inspector) attended the meeting and submitted a report providing an update on issues relating to public realm and enforcement related matters within the area represented by the Marple Area Committee.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         Work was ongoing to remove weed and soil encroachment on the footway along the A6.

·         Information and advice was being provided to residents informing them of their responsibilities in relation to hedge maintenance.

·         Leaf removal work was taking place across Stockport on a phased basis and it was anticipated that this would completed in the Marple area by the end of November.

·         Local councillors had been proactively engaging with students from Marple Hall School in relation to the need to respect local parks and green spaces.  It was stated that this had already had positive results.

·         There was an outstanding drainage issue on Longhurst Lane, Mellor that resulted in running water along the length of the carriageway.  Concern was expressed that during the winter period, this would freeze and cause a hazard to motorists and pedestrians.

·         Weed growth on footways in the High Lane area remained a concern and clarity was requested on whether the weedspraying scheduled for October had taken place.

·         It was commented that the quality of some of the highway improvement works undertaken as part of the Highways Investment Programme was below the expected standard.

·         In response to a comment in relation to blocked gullies, it was stated that the Council operated two gully cleansing vehicles that followed a rota throughout the borough.  However, it was commented that ad hoc request for gully cleansing took these vehicles away from their planned routes, and as such impacted its ability to operate to the planned rota.

RESOLVED – That Karen Barnes be thanked for her attendance.

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 Deputy Chief Executive reported that no organisations had indicated that they wished to address the Area Committee as part of the Open Forum arrangements.

There are no funding applications to consider

There were no applications to consider.

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

The report details an application received on behalf of Crazy Legs Events to hold their annual half-marathon on Sunday, 16 February 2020 that will be run along the Middlewood Way in Stockport.

The Area Committee is recommended to grant the appliction subject to all appropriate paperwork and licences being submitted prior to the event.

Officer Contact: Wayne Bardsley on 0161 474 2588 or email: wayne.bardsley@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing an application received on behalf of Crazy Legs Events to hold their annual half-marathon on Sunday, 16 February 2020 that will be run along the Middlewood Way in Stockport.

RESOLVED – That the application be granted subject to the applicant agreeing to make arrangements for the clearing of any litter associated with the holding of the event upon its completion.

This item has been placed on the agenda at the request of Councillor Thornley.

The Chair reported that this item had been placed on the agenda at the request of Councillor Aron Thornley.

Councillor Thornley reported that there were a number of highways and related issues in the High Lane area that local councillors were continuing to pursue on behalf of local residents following the completion of the A555.  These included:-

·         Discussions were taking place with officers in relation to the provision of Walk-Ride routes within the High Lane area.

·         A number of ‘rat-runs’ were developing where residents had reported increases in traffic volumes of up to 700%.

·         Congestion on the A6 remained an issue and work was taking place to determine if the rephrasing of traffic signals would ameliorate this.

·         Air quality along the A6 corridor remained a major concern for residents.

·         The effectiveness of some of the mitigation measures put in place for the A555 was discussed, with specific reference to speed humps.

·         The need to make improvements to public transport.

·         The impact of any housing allocation made as part of the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework proposals.

RESOLVED – That the position be noted.

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

A representative of the Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) updating the Area Committee on progress on decisions taken by the Area Committee since the last meeting and the current position on the Area Flexibility and the Delegated budget.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That a breakdown of the how the Area Committee’s Delegated Budget had been allocated be circulated to members of the Area Committee.

There are no development applications to consider.

There were no applications to consider.

To consider a report of the Deputy Chief Executive.

The report summarises recent appeal decisions, lists current planning appeals and dates for local enquiries and informal hearings, progress on authorised enforcement action set out by area committee.

The Area Committee is requested to note the report.

Officer Contact: Vicki Bates on Tel: 0161 474 3183 or email: vicki.bates@stockport.gov.uk

A representative 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.