Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and order that the Minutes of the meeting held on 11 March 2021 be signed.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 11 March 2021 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.

The following interests were declared:-

Personal Interest

Personal & Prejudicial Interest

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.

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.

No public questions were submitted.

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

No petitions were submitted.

Patsy Evans (Social Impact Business Partner, GRAHAM) will attend the meeting to provide an overview of the work of GRAHAM on the Poynton Relief Road and specifically to discuss the community engagement activities being undertaken or are proposed within the locality.

A representative of the Strategic Head of Service & Monitoring Officer (Legal & Democratic Governance) reported that Patsy Evans (Social Impact Business Partner, GRAHAM) was unable to attend the meeting to provide an overview of the work of GRAHAM on the Poynton Relief Road and to discuss the community engagement activities being undertaken as planned.

RESOLVED – That consideration of this item be deferred to a future meeting of the Area Committee.

To consider an application received from Beacon Counselling towards the cost of funding the voluntary service for those within the area represented by the area committee for 2021.

A representative of the Strategic Head of Service (Legal & Democratic Governance and Monitoring Officer) submitted an application received on behalf of Beacon Counselling for a grant from the Ward Flexibility Budget towards the cost of funding the voluntary service for those within the area represented by the area committee for 2021.

RESOLVED – That approval be given to an application received from Forward Beacon Counselling for a grant of £1000 from the Ward Flexibility Budget (£333.34 from the Bramhall North ward allocation and £333.33 each from the Bramhall South & Woodford and Cheadle Hulme South ward allocations) towards the cost of funding the voluntary service for those within the area represented by the area committee for 2021.

To consider an application for Ward Flexibility Funding received from Woodford Cricket Club for a grant of £500 towards the cost of purchasing replacement practice nets

A representative of the Strategic Head of Service (Legal & Democratic Governance and Monitoring Officer) submitted an application received on behalf of Woodford Cricket Club for a grant from the Ward Flexibility Budget towards the cost of purchasing replacement practice nets.

RESOLVED – That approval be given to an application received from Woodford Cricket Club for a grant of £500 from the Ward Flexibility Budget (Bramhall South & Woodford ward allocation) towards the cost of purchasing replacement practice nets.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director (Place) and 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 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 Strategic Head of Service (Legal & Democratic Governance and Monitoring Officer) outlined the procedure for public speaking on planning applications.

Relocation of existing culvert head with a section of the existing culvert tunnel replaced with an open ditch.

(NOTE: Consideration of this application had been deferred from the last meeting of the Area Committee).

The Area Committee is recommended to grant planning permission subject to conditions.

Officer contact: Jane Chase on 0161 474 3550 or email: jane.chase@stockport.gov.uk

In respect of plan no. DC078355 for the relocation of existing culvert head with a section of the existing culvert tunnel replaced with an open ditch at 92 Heathbank Road, Cheadle Hulme, it was

RESOLVED – (1) (2 for, 4 abstentions) That planning permission be refused on the grounds that the proposal does not comply with the Council’s guidance for the provision of an easement at either side of the relocated water course; that the proposal failed to provide adequate protection to trees within the site and that proposal would involve the relocation of the watercourse.

(2) That Councillor Wyatt be nominated to assist in the defence of any subsequent appeal against the refusal of planning permission. 

To consider a report of the Strategic Head of Service (Legal & Democratic Governance and Monitoring Officer).

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 Bramhall & Cheadle Hulme South Area Committee area.

The Area Committee is recommended to note the report.

Officer contact: Vicki Bates on 474 3219 or email: vicki.bates@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Corporate Director (Place) & Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report of the Strategic Head of Service (Legal & Democratic Governance and Monitoring Officer) (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 Bramhall & Cheadle Hulme South Area Committee area.

Members questioned whether the commuted sum for the Hillbrook Grange application had been agreed during the appeal. In response, it was commented that the commuted sum had been agreed subject to whether the applicant would be able to charge ground rents pending a change in legislation.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director (Place) & Deputy Chief Executive.

The report confirms that the Council has launched a “call for brownfield sites” to support work on our new Local Plan.  This briefing note provides more information on the activities taking place to promote the current call for brownfield sites exercise.

The Area Committee is recommended to note the report and encourage local residents to get involved.

Officer contact: Emma Curle on 0161 474 3542 or email emma.curle@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Corporate Director (Place) & Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) to confirm that the Council had launched a “call for brownfield sites” to support work on the new Local Plan and to provide more information on the activities taking place to promote the call for brownfield sites exercise.

Members suggested that landowners and commercial property owners within Stockport should be contacted directly as part of the call for brownfield sites.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director (Place) & Deputy Chief Executive.

The Resident Parking Policy was updated at the December cabinet meeting. As part of that agreement it has been decided that a prioritised approach to the backlog of residents parking zone (RPZ)/ resident parking schemes (RPS) requests will be implemented.

This report provides an update on the residents parking zones/ schemes.

The area committee is recommended to note that preferred priorities with regards to the delivery of potential schemes within their area will be discussed at ward briefings and note the potential costs and the resource requirements for scheme delivery.

Officer contact: Jon Brown on 07800 618197 or email: jon.brown@stockport.gov.uk 

A representative of the Corporate Director (Place) & Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing the updated Residents Parking Policy that had been approved by the Cabinet in December 2020.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         Members expressed their frustrations at the delay to the production of this report, and noted that residents may feel underwhelmed at the proposals given the prohibitive costs and criteria involved in applying for residents’ parking schemes.

·         Members expressed concern that the budget may allow for only one larger residents parking scheme to be granted through the area committee’s delegated budget per year, due to the considerable costs of each potential scheme.

·         It was commented that a ‘one size fits all’ policy may not be the correct approach for the borough, with different parking pressures being present in different areas.

·         Members welcomed the proposal to pass the decision making authority for the residents’ parking schemes to the ward members.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director (Place) & Deputy Chief Executive.

The report details a number of concerns raised regarding parking on Dorset Avenue, Bramhall, specifically that motorists are parking their vehicles along the east side of Dorset Avenue, sometimes in an erratic manner which is causing access issues for other motorists, including residents, as the carriageway is relatively narrow.  It has also been reported that vehicles are sometimes parked on the bend, on junctions and opposite junctions reducing visibility, and causing safety concerns.

The Area Committee is recommended to give approval to the legal advertising of the Traffic Regulation Orders detailed in Appendix A to the report, and subject to the receipt of no objections within 21 days of the advertisement date, the subsequent making of the orders at a cost of £1,400 to be funded form the Area Committee’ Delegate Budget (Bramhall North ward allocation).

Officer contact: Nicola Ryan on 0161 474 4348 or email: nicola.ryan@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Strategic Head of Service (Legal & Democratic Governance and Monitoring Officer)  submitted a report of the  Corporate Director (Place) & Deputy Chief Executive (copies of which had been circulated) detailing a number of concerns raised regarding parking on Dorset Avenue, Bramhall, specifically that motorists were parking their vehicles along the east side of Dorset Avenue, sometimes in an erratic manner which was causing access issues for other motorists, including residents, as the carriageway was relatively narrow. It had also been reported that vehicles were sometimes parked on the bend, on junctions and opposite junctions reducing visibility, and causing safety concerns.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         It was commented that the issues on Dorset Avenue were closely tied to parking issues in Bramhall Park and that the success of the park had had a detrimental impact on the parking situation on the surrounding streets. Members hoped for a specific plan for the parking issues at Bramhall Park.

·         It was noted that ward members were in ongoing discussions with officers with regard to a long-term solution for parking in the area, and that any proposals would be brought back to the area committee once they were closer to completion.

RESOLVED – That approval be given to the legal advertising of the Traffic Regulation Orders detailed in Appendix A to the report, and subject to the receipt of no objections within 21 days of the advertisement date, the subsequent making of the orders at a cost of £1,400 to be funded form the Area Committee’ Delegate Budget (Bramhall North ward allocation).

To consider a report of the Strategic Head of Service (Legal & Democratic Governance and Monitoring Officer).

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 Strategic Head of Service (Legal & Democratic Governance and Monitoring Officer) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) to provide an update on progress since the last meeting on decisions taken by the Area Committee and to detail the current position on area flexibility funding. The report also includes the current position on the highway and traffic management delegated budget.

It was noted that the area committee balances had been updated in the report for the new financial year with renewed delegated budget and ward flexibility funding budgets for the area committee.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.