STEPPING HILL AREA COMMITTEE Meeting: 10 December 2019 At: 6.00 pm PRESENT Councillor Mark Weldon (Chair) in the chair; Councillor Paul Ankers (Vice-Chair); Councillors Lou Ankers, Grace Baynham, Will Dawson, Charles Gibson, Wendy Meikle and John Wright. 1. MINUTES The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 5 November 2019 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair. 2. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST 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 Councillor Interest Will Dawson Agenda Item 5(iv) - ‘Ward Flexibility Funding – 1st Great Moor Explorer Scout Unit’ as a father of a son in the Beaver unit. John Wright Agenda Item 5(iv) - ‘Ward Flexibility Funding – 1st Great Moor Explorer Scout Unit’ as a former Scout Leader. 3. URGENT DECISIONS No urgent decisions were reported. 4. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT (i) Chair's Announcements There were no announcements made (ii) Public Question Time Members of the public were 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. Stepping Hill Area Committee - 10 December 2019 A representative of the Deputy Chief Executive reported that three questions had been submitted by members of the public as follows:- Relating to the implementation of mitigation measures for residents of Ashbourne Road in respect of the A555 A6 to Manchester Airport Relief Road, with specific reference to a proposed landscaping scheme. In response, it was confirmed that a planting scheme was due to be carried out in January 2020. Councillors requested that they be kept appraised in respect of the progression of this scheme and that an update be provided to the 28 January 2020 meeting of the Area Committee. Relating to the timescale for the proposed consultation on the Stepping Hill Area controlled parking zone and the details of the costings of any scheme including possible contributions from the Stockport NHS Foundation Trust and the ongoing revenue requirement to provide enforcement. In response it was stated that officers had clarified that an income and costing model had not yet been developed for the scheme, and that assumptions had been made in relation to the number of residential properties with private driveways that would participate in the scheme along with the amount of on street parking that would persist in the area in the light of a new charging regime introduced. Relating to the ethics of residents being required to pay for a Residents Permit Parking Scheme which was only necessary because of the policies of Stepping Hill Hospital. In response, it was stated that there was a general right to park on the highway where traffic regulations orders did not preclude it. There was a cost to implementing any scheme to exclude certain sections of the highway from that general right, and there was a further cost to enforce those restrictions which needed to be borne by those who benefited from the scheme. (iii) Public Realm The Chair reported that the Public Realm Officer was unable to attend this meeting of the Area Committee, however it was stated that a summary of activities with the Public Realm service area had been circulated to members of the area committee separately. Councillor Wright commented on the condition of the Riley’s Snooker Club on the A6 in relation to overgrowing vegetation on the exterior of the building. In response, it was stated that this fell within the Brinnington and Central Ward, however it was requested that this be referred to the Public Realm Officer for the Central Stockport Area Committee to action. RESOLVED – That the report be noted. (iv) Petitions A representative of the Deputy Chief Executive reported on receipt the following petitions:- Stepping Hill Area Committee - 10 December 2019 (i) Pause the GM Cycle and Walk Offerton – Stockport Proposals until further consultation A petition, containing 220 signatures, from local residents, was submitted requesting that: ‘The Greater Manchester Mayor and Stockport Council’s proposed changes to the area are much wider than many residents first realised. It affects much of the Offerton and Manor wards, not just the Fingerpost junction, and is more than just the creation of cycle paths. This combined with many households not receiving vital information means that residents think that further, detailed and more inclusive consultation is necessary before many and of these changes should take place. RESOLVED – That the petition be referred to the Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration for investigation. (ii) Proposed changes to several roads around the Offerton area including:- A petition, containing 164 signatures from local residents, was submitted in relation to the following proposed traffic measures:- Worsley Crescent becoming one way No right turn both Dialstone Lane and Banks Lane onto Hempshaw Lane A new crossing on Dialstone Lane near to Dialstone Wines A new crossing on Banks Lane near to Harold Street (with the bus stop being moved next to the car park entrance) New cycle paths throughout the area The petition also requested more information and clarity on the proposed changes to Offerton roads, including all traffic planning measures and impact assessments. RESOLVED – That the petition be referred to the Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration for investigation. (iii) Proposed Bridle/Cycle Path (3 Metres wide) to the rear of 50-56 Sandown Road, Hazel Grove A petition, containing 17 signatures, was submitted by local residents, objecting to the erection of a bridle/cycle path to the rear of 50-56 Sandown Road, Hazel Grove. Steve Dyre attended the meeting to speak in support of local residents who had signed the petition. Mr Dyre reported that a further 16 signatures had been received since the petition had been submitted. Nick Whelan (Traffic and Asset Manager, Stockport Council) commented that there would be a report submitted to the January 2020 cycle of Area Committees which would respond to issues raised in this petition. Stepping Hill Area Committee - 10 December 2019 (iv) Petition to stop the relocation of the bus stop on Banks Lane adjacent to 31 Banks Lane A petition, containing 29 signatures, was submitted requesting that the bus stop on Banks Lane adjacent to 31 Banks Lane not be relocated as proposed. It was noted that although the location of the bus stop on Banks Lane fell outside the area represented by the Stepping Hill Area Committee, being within Manor Ward, it was nonetheless the case that a large number of its users would primarily be drawn from within the adjacent Offerton Ward. RESOLVED – That the petition be referred to the Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration for investigation. (v) Open Forum 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. (vi) Ward Flexibility Funding - English Knights Lacrosse Mr Paul Thompson attended the meeting and submitted an application on behalf of English Knights Lacrosse for a grant of £150 from the Ward Flexibility Budget towards of the cost of playing kit. RESOLVED – That approval be given to an application for Ward Flexibility Funding from English Knights Lacrosse of £150 (Stepping Hill ward allocation) towards the cost of playing kit. (vii) Ward Flexibility Funding - Age UK Stockport A representative of the Deputy Chief Executive submitted an application received on behalf of Age UK Stockport for a grant of £600 from the Ward Flexibility Budget towards the cost of facilitating community events RESOLVED – That approval be given to an application for Ward Flexibility Funding from Age UK Stockport for a grant of £440 (£147 from each of the Hazel Grove and Offerton ward allocations and £146 from the Stepping Hill ward allocation) towards the cost of facilitating community events. (viii) Ward Flexibility Funding - 1st Great Moor Explorer Scout Unit Bernard Corfe attended the meeting an submitted an application on behalf of the 1st Great Moor Explorer Scout Unit for a grant from the Ward Flexibility Fund towards the cost of a laptop and expedition camping unit. RESOLVED – That approval be given to an application for Ward Flexibility Funding from the 1st Great Moor Explorer Scout Unit for a grant of £600 (£200 from the Offerton Stepping Hill Area Committee - 10 December 2019 ward allocation and £400 from the Stepping Hill ward allocation) towards the cost of a laptop and expedition camp unit. (ix) Ward Flexibility Funding - Young Caritas A representative of the Deputy Chief Executive reported that the Werneth Area Committee had made a grant for the total amount requested by Young Caritas and as such it was requested that this item be withdrawn. RESOLVED – With the consent of the Area Committee, this item was withdrawn. 5. DEVELOPMENT APPLICATIONS 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).