To consider the minutes of the Rochdale North Township Committee held on 10^th August 2021.

Resolved:

That the Minutes of the meeting of the Rochdale North Township Committee held on 10^th August 2021 be approved and signed as a correct record..

Members are required to declare any disclosable pecuniary, personal or personal and prejudicial interests they may have and the nature of those interests relating to items on this agenda and/or indicate if S106 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 applies to them.   

There were no declarations of interests.

To determine whether there are any additional items of business which, by reason of special circumstances, the Chair decides should be considered at the meeting as a matter of urgency.

There were no urgent items of business.

The following matter was raised as part of the Open Forum:

a)    Rochdale Pensioners Association – Meeting Venue

Garry Basnett and Emily Bannister, from the Rochdale Pensioners Association, informed the Committee that following the closure of Rochdale Town Hall for refurbishment, the Association needed a meeting venue, as following the lifting of Covid restrictions it was intended to start in person meetings again. Also, on completion of the refurbishment of the Town Hall, if it would be possible to resume meetings there.

The Townships and Communities Manager informed the Committee that as the question had been submitted in advance of the meeting, following discussion with the Facilities Management Service, it had been agreed that the Pensioners Association could have a free let at Number One Riverside for their meetings.

Further consideration of resuming meetings at the Town Hall would be given in due course.

The Committee thanked the Pensioners Association for the valuable work they undertook.

To receive an update from Greater Manchester Police.

Sergeant Walsh (Greater Manchester Police (GMP)) updated the Township Committee on activities and initiatives that were being undertaken by GMP in the Rochdale North Township, including details of specific initiatives being undertaken in each Ward.

Members of the Committee expressed their thanks to GMP officers and support staff for their work in and across the Township during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Resolved;

1.    That the Greater Manchester Police update be noted and welcomed.

2.    That the thanks of the Committee be extended to GMP Officers and support staff for their work in the Township during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Report of the Director of Economy to follow.

The Committee considered a report of the Cabinet Member for Economy and Communications/Director of Economy which summarised the outcome of the public consultation on the draft Lower Falinge Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) and the Council’s response to these, and recommended Township approved the amended SPD for the consideration of Cabinet for adoption.

Alternatives considered:

If the SPD was not adopted it could undermine a co-ordinated place making strategy for Rochdale’s Lower Falinge area - instead any proposed re-development would have to be dealt with through stand-alone planning applications. Proposals for investment and development would also have to be considered on a piecemeal basis. Rehousing residents within the local area, close to their existing home and the Town Centre, would become challenging, and housing market failure would not be addressed. There was a risk that the opportunity for a significant number of new homes to be built within this area, adjacent to the Town Centre, if the SPD was not delivered.

Resolved:

1.    That the representations received in response to the consultation on the draft Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) be noted and that the amendments included in the revised document and the Schedule of Comments included within the Statement of Consultation be agreed.

2    That Cabinet be recommended to adopt the revised Lower Falinge Supplementary Planning Document (SPD).

Reasons for the recommendation

To agree to the amended SPD to allow the formal adoption of the SPD at Cabinet under regulation 14 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012 and section 23 of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004, which will be afforded weight as a material planning consideration.