To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Allonby, Councillor Hodgkinson and Councillor Rowbotham.

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 interest.

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.

To determine any items on the agenda, if any, where the public are to be excluded from the meeting.

There were no items for the exclusion of the public and press.

A minutes silence was observed as a mark of respect for the recent passing of Sir Tony Lloyd, Member of Parliament for the Rochdale Constituency.

Members are requested to approve the Minutes of the Meeting held on 30^th November 2023.

Resolved:

That the minutes of the meeting of the Middleton Township Committee held on 30^th November 2023 be approved as a correct record.

The following matters were raised as part of the Open Forum:-

a) Living Christmas tree – Middleton Gardens

A question was asked about having a living Christmas tree in Middleton Gardens and the Committee were informed that the provision of a living Christmas tree was currently being looked into.

b) Middleton Town Centre Manager

A question was asked whether a Middleton Town Centre Manager had been appointed. The Committee were advised that the position had been advertised twice and not filled. Alternative options were being looked at and some of the work was being undertaken by the Council Events Team in the interim.

c) Sign on Edgar Wood Bank

A question was asked about what was being done about the sign on the Edgar Wood Bank and if it had planning permission was in place for the sign. The Committee were informed that no permission was in place for the sign and that a number of issues had been identified in the area that would be looked into and reported back on as appropriate.

d) Car Park to the rear of the former Woodman Public House

A question was asked about action being taken in regard to the car park at the rear of the former Woodman Public House being used as a business for the sale of motor vehicles. The Committee were informed that there was a case ongoing for change of use of the site and that the unauthorised use of the site was subject to an enforcement case and that that an enforcement notice had not been served.

e) Cancellation of Charity Events

A question about what happens to funding when charity events are cancelled was asked and the Committee were informed that each funding provider would have their own terms and conditions and any specific concerns could be raised direct with the funding provider.

Further questions about a proposed play park in the Alkrington Area and a Charity Commission enquiry were raised in the meeting and a written response would be provided as appropriate.

The Assistant Director – Economy to provide an update on the Middleton Masterplan.

The Committee received an update from the Assistant Director (Economy) on the progress of the Middleton Masterplan. This included:

·         Traffic modelling being designed for proposed schemes included in the masterplan;

·         The development of a draft Supplementary Planning Document for the Eastern side of the masterplan area over the summer months;

·         Consideration of the use of enforcement powers for issues on Long Street;

·         Transport for Greater Manchester were looking at traffic signalisation;

·         Planning Applications were at various stages in the process for Lodge Mill, Parkfield House and Warwick Mill;

·         Funding Historic England were holding ‘drop in’ sessions at Middleton Library on 17^th and 21^st February on developing a Heritage Trail and any comments and suggestions would be welcomed;

·         Safe routes for pedestrians and cyclists would be designed;

The Chair invited Committee Members and members of the public to ask questions and make comments and the following matters were raised;

·         The bus lanes often contributed to traffic issues and gridlock at certain times. The Assistant Director commented that there were no plans to remove bus lanes but that ways of easing issues in particular areas were being looked at as part of the masterplan;

·         consultation needed to be more widely publicised to enable greater participation by members of the public;

·         Some of the Edgar Wood buildings were in a poor state and enforcement action should be considered to address this where appropriate;

·         In relation to proposed cycle lanes – Members commented that these would not be the same as in Castleton and would be subject to further consultation;

Resolved:

That the update on the Middleton Masterplan be noted.

To receive a presentation from Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH) representatives.

The Township Committee received a presentation from a representative from Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH) which updated on the leadership structure of the organisation, its recovery plan and voluntary undertaking with the Regulator of Social Housing and its plan for 2024.

The RBH Representative advised that a new RBH email address had been established for Members of Parliament and Councillors’ enquiries. RBH aimed to respond within 24 hours Monday to Friday.

Information about the progress against the RBH’s recovery plan and voluntary undertakings such as improvements to governance and customer representation, using customer complaints and feedback to inform decision making, better engagement with stakeholders and establishing a damp and mould taskforce was also given.

The RBH Representative also outlined the organisation’s plans for 2024 such as continuing investing in the housing stock and engaging with customers to understand their priorities.

During consideration of the presentation, the Chair invited comments and questions from Committee Members and members of the public and this included:

·         questions around mould and damp and the numbers of properties affected in Middleton and the education/advice provided about mould and damp removal/prevention;

·         the costs of logo changes and re-branding;

·         grounds maintenance around RBH properties;

·         representation on the RBH Board and ratio of staff and tenants on the Board;

·         water rates and concerns about the potential threat of eviction for non-payment of water rates;

·         was there a legal requirement in relation to the amount of green space and infrastructure such as shops;

·         comments about the shortage of social housing; 

·         legal claims in relation to damp and mould, what proportion of cases were being defended and the costs.

In response the RBH representative commented that:

·         information on ways to help prevent and treat damp and mould was provided;

·         the logo and branding changes were done at minimal cost and would be phased in as documents with the older branding ran out;

·         RBH’s current priority was to invest in the current housing stock;

The representative from RBH was thanked for the presentation.

Resolved:

That the presentation from Rochdale Boroughwide Housing be noted.

To consider a report of the Director of Economy and Place in relation to an objection to a Proposed Traffic Order, Waiting Amendments, Durnford Street Area, Middleton.

The Committee considered the report of the Head of Highways which advised that an intended package of localised parking amendments was developed for the Durnford Street Area and had been promoted following significant objection received to the earlier Residents Parking Zone (RPZ) proposal that could not be appropriately mitigated.

With historic and more recent changes in adjacent land use and occupation, the Council had sought to amend waiting restrictions along Durnford Street and

several adjoining roads to better reflect current operational requirements.

The proposal as advertised and detailed in the report had promoted an alternative arrangement for kerbside parking through the potential amendment (to existing, with revocation) and introduction of new restrictions within the area served by Durnford Street. It encompasses prohibition of waiting restrictions to maintain and protect driver and pedestrian visibility at a number of side road junctions along the route including Sadler Street, Mirfield Drive, and Milton Street.

The approved parking amendment scheme was advertised formally through

Notices of Intent posted between 19th October and 9th November 2023.

Two written representations were received, each requesting amendment to the proposed Traffic Order (included as Appendix C to the report). One representation favoured a reduction in scheme extents whilst the other supported an extension of the proposed restrictions.

Alternatives considered:

No alternatives were presented within the submitted report.

Resolved:

1. That it be noted that the advertised scheme (included as Appendix A to this report) has satisfied the requirements of the commissioning brief and accords with the resolution received from the Committee and that it be approved for implementation;

2. That the Assistant Director (Legal and Governance) be authorised to progress the scheme for implementation.

Reasons for the decision:

The scheme was promoted and recommended as part of the Council’s statutory

responsibility to ensure that its highways operates safely and efficiently for all

road users.

To consider a report of the Director of Children’s Services relating to the need for Primary School Places 2024-2027 and Secondary School Places 2024-2028.

Consideration was given to a report of the Director of Children’s Services regarding the need for Primary School places 2024 – 2027 and need for Secondary School Places 2024 – 2028.

The purpose of the reports was to outline to the Committee the work undertaken by the Council in planning for school places for primary and secondary schools in the Borough and the Township.

The Committee was informed that the council had a statutory duty to provide education and school places to all school aged children living in the borough.

It was noted that the reports had already been approved at Cabinet on 19^th December 2023.

During consideration of the submitted reports, the Chair invited comments and questions from Committee Members and members of the public and this included:

·         how the calculations had been done to check school places;

·         questions about families with children in different schools and the impact this had on them;

·         when new houses were being built there was a need to consider infrastructure, there were issues with house building all over the country and the need for sensible planning;

·         the costs to the Council of children being educated outside of the Borough;

·         the impact on teachers especially with larger classes;

·         the constraints of legislation on class sizes;

·         consultation would take place from next month on the Local Plan for the Borough;

It was noted that a detailed question submitted in advance of the meeting from a member of the public would be responded to direct outside of the meeting.

Resolved:

That the need for Primary School places 2024 – 2027 and need for Secondary School Places 2024 – 2028 reports be noted.