Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 20 August 2020.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 20 August 2020 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 interest was declared:-

Personal Interest

A representative of the Strategic Head of Service & Monitoring Officer (Legal & Democratic Governance) reported that this item had been placed on the agenda at the request of Councillor Matt Wynne.

A representative of Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) made a presentation on recent engagement regarding works in connection with the Stockport Interchange development, including roadworks on Daw Bank which were due to begin on 12 October 2020, feedback on the consultation on the link bridge connecting Stockport Interchange to the railway station which had taken place in March 2020 and an update on the temporary bus station at the Heaton Lane car park.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         A Member enquired whether there were going to be any improvements to assist with pedestrian movements at Daw Bank.

·         The Communications team at TfGM would be liaising closely with Communications Officers at the Council with regard to advising people of the arrangements for the temporary bus station on Heaton Lane.

·         Council Officers would facilitate TfGM Officers contacting staff at the Plaza who would be affected by the use of the Heaton Lane car park as a temporary bus station.

RESOLVED – That the presentation be noted.

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.

Councillors were invited to 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:-

·         The first public question asked if it would be possible to examine the merits of a non-residents’ ‘weekday parking permit’ scheme in Edgeley and requested that a Traffic Enforcement Officer visited Castle Street at peak times.

·         The second public question enquired if the A6 Masterplan Report, which was commissioned by the Council and published in September 2017, was still under consideration.

RESOLVED – That written responses be sent to the questioners.

Councillor Laura Clingan submitted a petition containing twenty two signatures requesting the removal and re-positioning of bollards on Charles Street, Stockport, fixing the groundwork and addition of planters.

RESOLVED – That the petition be referred to the Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration for investigation.

In accordance with the Code of Practice no organisation had indicated that they wished to address the Area Committee as part of the Open Forum arrangements.

There are currently no development applications to consider.

There were no development applications to consider.

To consider a report of the Strategic Head of Service & Monitoring Officer (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 Central Stockport 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 Strategic Head of Service & Monitoring Officer (Legal & Democratic Governance) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) listing any outstanding or recently determined planning appeals and enforcement action within the area represented by the Central Stockport Area Committee.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

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

On the last week of July and first week of August 2019, extreme rainfall events hit parts of north-west England and the south Pennines, with flooding observed across Greater Manchester and Cheshire. The main event day was 31st July 2019.

This report presents the various aspects of the flood events in July and specifically incorporates the draft Independent Section 19 Investigation Report in accordance with the Flood & Water Management Act (FWMA) 2010 on the investigation into the flooding events undertaken independently by Mott MacDonald Consulting Engineers.

The Area Committee is recommended to comment on and note the report.

Officer Contact: Mark Glynn on 0161-474-3700 or email: mark.glynn@stockport.gov.uk or Sue Stevenson on 0161 474 4351 or email: sue.stevenson@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) presenting the various aspects of the flood events in July 2019 and specifically incorporating the draft Section 19 Investigation Report in accordance with the Flood & Water Management Act 2010 on the investigation into the flooding events undertaken independently by Mott MacDonald Consulting Engineers.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         It was doubtful whether there would be enough funding for all of the recommendations to be carried out, many of which were the responsibility of United Utilities or the Environment Agency.

·         Officers were thanked for keeping residents informed and up to date with developments at the time of the flooding.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

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

The Council placed a moratorium on the introduction of any new resident parking schemes in 2019 to enable a full review of the existing approach to be taken. This review was required as elements of the existing policy were not working effectively and were not meeting the needs of residents. There were also concerns relating to the impact of schemes on local services and the town and district centres. In order to ensure a coordinated approach, it was agreed that all policies and procedures relating to residents parking, including the Town Centre, would be reviewed.

In light of the above, the purpose of this paper is:

·         To seek comments on the proposed revised principles to guide future parking policy decisions

·         To seek feedback on the proposed changes to resident parking policy and town centre parking policy to reflect the revised principles.

The Area Committee is recommended to comment on and note the report.

Officer Contact: Mark Glynn on 0161-474-3700 or email: mark.glynn@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) seeking comments on the proposed revised principles to guide future parking policy decisions and seeking feedback on the proposed changes to resident parking policy and town centre parking policy to reflect the revised principles.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         There wasn’t enough space for all the vehicles in Stockport and the report attempted to make proposals that made best use of the space available.

·         A recurring problem with the current system was that introducing residents’ parking on one street simply moved parking problems to an adjoining street where there wasn’t a residents’ parking scheme in place. This was the rationale behind the report proposing the introduction of a zonal approach to residents’ parking schemes.

·         There were issues which would need to be considered in the future such as an increasing use of electric vehicles and a consequent increase in the number of charging points

·         The issue of residents’ parking was a particular problem in the Central Stockport area where there was a greater proportion of terraced streets without driveways than in some other areas. In addition, the number of places for people to park in the town centre in the future would reduce as more residential properties were built.

·         It was clarified that the proposal for Councillors to receive a free permit covering all residents parking zones to enable them to carry out their responsibilities would be withdrawn.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

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

The report sets out two initial pieces of work focussed on the infrastructure challenges in achieving this goal over the next 20 years and the potential high level solutions to this. The opportunity to use the MDC and Stockport Town Centre West as a catalyst for infrastructure planning across the whole Town Centre.

The Area Committee is requested to note the report and the recommendations to Cabinet to:

·         Endorse the contents of the Central Stockport Infrastructure Delivery Plan Prospectus and the Stockport Station Growth Prospectus.

·         Agree that officers should continue to work with TfGM and Network Rail as a priority to explore and identify a new layout and design solution for the Greek Street bridge and the Thompson Street footbridge.

·         Note and comment on the proposed stakeholder engagement plan outlined within the report.

Officer Contact: Paul Richards on 0161 474 2940 or email: paul.richards@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) setting out two initial pieces of works which focussed on the infrastructure challenges in achieving the goal of making Stockport Town Centre a Smart Town over the next twenty years and the potential high level solutions to this. The opportunity to use the Mayoral Development Corporation and the development of Stockport Town Centre West as a catalyst for infrastructure planning across the whole of Stockport Town Centre was also addressed in the report.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         It was important that businesses were kept informed of developments with regard to the proposed new layout and design solution for the Greek Street Bridge.

·         A Member enquired how far advanced the discussions were with Network Rail about the footbridge on Thomson Street.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

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

This report details the proposed removal of the remaining car park VMS displays in Stockport town centre, their replacement with static car park directional signs and the installation of more versatile “free text” VMS displays on key radial routes into the town centre.

The Area Committee is asked to comment on this report and recommend that the Cabinet Member for Economy and Regeneration approves the removal of all remaining outdated VMS displays, replacement with fixed signage, replacement of car park counters and approves the installation of new VMS displays described above and at locations shown on the attached plan with exact locations and final numbers of signs subject to available budget and final assessment for the feasibility of installation.

Officer Contact: Nick Whelan on 0161 474 4907 or email: nick.whelan@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing the proposed removal of the remaining car park VMS displays in Stockport town centre, their replacement with static car park directional signs and the installation of more versatile “free text” VMS displays on key radial routes into the town centre.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         One of the new free text VMS displays was proposed on the A5102 Bramhall Lane which was in a Conservation Area. Concern was expressed that only immediate frontage holders would be consulted and not local residents. Officers agreed to consult Ward Members where the signs were outside residential properties and also about the specific location of a sign on a particular stretch of road.

·         It was clarified that the signs would be displayed ‘24/7’.

·         The vast majority of the signs would display car park information although Transport for Greater Manchester may display other emergency information.

RESOLVED – That the Cabinet Member for Economy and Regeneration be recommended to approve:-

·         the removal of all remaining outdated VMS displays, their replacement with fixed signage and replacement of car park counters: and

·          the installation of the new VMS displays described in the report and at locations shown on the plan attached to the report, with exact locations and final numbers of signs subject to available budget and final assessment for the feasibility of installation and consultation with local Ward Councillors on the exact location of the signs along a particular stretch of road.

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

This report details the proposed sites of Highway Digital Advertising on the Main Road Network throughout the Town Centre, which follows on from the previous report ‘Developing a Strategic Approach to Managing Advertising on and adjacent to the Highway and in Car Parks’ which was submitted to the Executive Meeting on 1st October 2013.

The Area Committee is asked to comment on this report and recommend that the Cabinet Member for Economy and Regeneration approves the Council entering into a tender process for the twelve potential locations for new Highway Digital Advertising displays on the Main Road Network throughout the Town Centre.

Officer contact: Nick Whelan on 0161 474 4907 or email: nick.whelan@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing the proposed sites of Highway Digital Advertising on the Main Road Network throughout the Town Centre.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         Some Members of the Area Committee were opposed to the Highway Digital Advertising on the Main Road Network as they considered that it would not enhance the town centre nor provide a quality environment.

·         Members felt that there should be additional information on the anticipated financial benefits of the initiative and clarity on which products and services would not be permitted to be advertised.

·         The needs of local residents needed to be taken into account with regard to where the proposed displays were to be located.

RESOLVED – That the report be deferred to enable Members to be provided with more information, particularly with regard to projected income from the digital advertising displays and other possible financial benefits.

Inspector Ian Ashenden attended the meeting to report on neighbourhood policing issues within the Central Stockport area. He also reported on recent crime committed in the Central Stockport area.

The following issues were raised/comments made:-

·         The increase in the amount of anti-social behaviour in the Edgeley area, particularly with regard to wheelie bins which included them being set on fire.

·         Localised anti-social behaviour issues around Edgeley Road including the throwing of stones at passing cars at the main entrance to Alexandra Park.

·         Anti-social behaviour in Brinnington was raised in the vicinity of the Covid-19 testing site at Brinnington Park, and on Northumberland Road and The Link.

·         Anti-social behaviour caused by off-road bikes in and around Woodbank Park and whether there were any boroughwide initiatives being considered.

·         Speeding vehicles on Bramhall Lane and Adswood Road in the Davenport and Cale Green Ward.

·         An object being thrown from the bridge across St. Mary’s Way.

·         Details of Operation Treacle which would shortly commence in the run up to Halloween and Bonfire Night.

RESOLVED – That Inspector Ian Ashenden be thanked for his attendance.

To consider a report of the Strategic Head of Service & Monitoring Officer (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 ward flexibility funding. The report also includes the current position on the Area Committee’s Delegated Budget.

The Area Committee is recommended to note the report.

Officer Contact: David Clee on 0161 474 3137 or email:  david.clee@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Strategic Head of Service & Monitoring Officer (Legal & Democratic Governance) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) updating the Area Committee on progress since the last meeting on decisions taken by the Area Committee and the current position on Ward Flexibility Funding.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

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

The report seeks the views of the Area Committee on the proposed demolition of the public toilets located on the Bulkeley Street car Park.

The Area Committee is requested to note the contents of the report and provide any comments.

Officer Contact: Paul Edgeworth on 0161 218 1934 or email: paul.edgeworth@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Strategic Head of Service & Monitoring Officer (Legal & Democratic Governance) submitted a report of the Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration (copies of which had been circulated) seeking the views of the Area Committee on the proposed demolition of the building where the public toilets used to be located at the Bulkeley Street Car Park before their permanent closure in 2014.

RESOLVED – That the proposed demolition of the former block of public toilets at the Bulkeley Street Car Park be supported.