The Chair welcomed all to the meeting.

A copy of the code of conduct was circulated with the papers, and all were asked to abide by the code for the duration of the meeting.

The minutes of the last meeting held on Monday 12 June 2017 were agreed as an accurate record with the inclusion of attendee Angela Smith who was present but not recorded and the following updates were given.

Green belt land
Angela Smith gave an update on the Greater Manchester Combined Authority Spatial Framework from 16 August 2017 in which it gave thanks to members of the public for the 27,000 responses to their initial consultation on the initial draft of the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework.  The next stages of the process will start in September 2017 with the publication of some of those responses.  This activity will be followed later in the year by the publication of data and associated sources of information that will help inform the next draft such as population estimates.  The second draft of the plan will then be developed in the new year with a view to be published in June 2018.  This re-write will take into account concerns raised in the consultation by aiming to make the most of Greater Manchester’s brownfield sites and reduce the impact on the green belt and there will be a further twelve week consultation with the public.

Angela gave an update on the work of Bamford Green Belt Action Group.  The group have identified and submitted to Rochdale Borough Council twenty one brownfield sites in the Borough suitable for development, only one of which is in Bamford at the rear of 91 Norden Road, for which there is already a planning application in from McCarthy and Stone Retirement Lifestyles Limited to demolish 91 Norden Road and develop a thirty apartment building with access and parking.  The application is still open for public comment and it has support so far, thirteen of those present at this meeting supported the development in principle and none were against it.

Path near St Michael’s Church weeds
The sunken path near St Michael’s Church has been cleared of weeds, but the cobbled part is still to be cleared.  Rochdale Council’s Clean and Green Team will be chased up to carry out the work.

Blocked drains
The reported blocked drains on Clay Lane and Woodtop Avenue have been cleared but the Norden Road ones have not.  Councillor Sullivan has written again requesting they be cleared.

PCSOs Leanne Palmer and Andy Stewart outlined the crime figures from the last meeting to date and also compared them with the same period last year.

·           Twenty three burglary dwellings which is exactly the same number as the same period last year, however, garages are now also included in those figures.  Seven of these burglaries were attempts where no access was gained and three were at insecure properties.  There is a positive line of enquiry for the burglary on Highlands Road.

·           Seven burglaries of business premises compared with two, all overnight.

·           Twenty thefts from motor vehicle compared with twenty five, and two were from insecure vehicles and five were theft of vehicle registration plates.  The Safeplate initiative was highlighted and an event will hopefully be arranged through PCSO Colin Taylor at The Chapel.

·           Four thefts of motor vehicle that was the same as last time, and two of which were stolen in one burglary.

·           Two robberies, one was domestic related.

·           Twenty two criminal damages compared to eleven.  Two incidences were to public house windows, seven related to damage to motor vehicles and four were domestic related, but given changes to crime recording methods since the comparative period, namely the need to record within 24 hours or record by a third party, the figures would increase.

·           Reports of anti-social behaviour were significantly down from forty eight to fourteen.

A speeding initiative and request for the speed enforcement van had been made and an update will be available at the next meeting.  Speeding on Woodtop Avenue has already been raised by Councillor Jane Howard.

PCSO Whelan has advised the owner of a white van not to park on Bury Road in the vicinity of the Moorgate Avenue junction due to it causing sight line problems for motorist exiting Moorgate Avenue, since which things have improved but she will be asked to advise the owner again.  The causing of an obstruction is judged in each separate circumstance.

Staff and visitors from the children’s home on Woodtop Avenue are parking on Bury Road causing obstructions and compromising safety.  Police are aware and the home will be visited.  The introduction of parking restrictions was discussed and it has to be a balanced approach.  The outcome of the visit will be monitored.

Vehicles parked in cycle lines have been ticketed.

Parking on the bend at the rear of the cemetery on Oulder Hill Drive was reported as a problem.  Councillor Sullivan will visit the complainant.

Community Coordinator
Carlo Schroder, Rochdale Borough Council Community Coordinator from Neighbourhood Services, outlined his Home Office funded role to positively bring communities together and counter extremism and he raised awareness of Hate Crime reporting.

Property on green belt land
The owner of the land and applicant for the twice refused planning permission for the very large dwelling on green belt land is in the process of selling the land and a quick sale is envisaged.

Emergency Services sirens
A discussion took place about the appropriate used of sirens by the Emergency Services as some residents considered they were used unnecessarily, such as at 8.00am on a Sunday morning, and other residents found it reassuring and fully supported the use of sirens as decided by the emergency drivers and Police.  The Emergency Services’ policies on the use of emergency equipment will be highlighted at the next meeting.

Memorial on Bury Road
Complaints were received about a large floral and photographic memorial to a road traffic collision victim named Chloe on Bury Road near Mellor Street being a distraction and danger to road users and a request made to have it removed or tidied up.

Pest control
A complaint was made about the £59 Council charge to treat a wasps nest as it was considered excessive, particularly bearing in mind that retail treatments can be purchased for under £4.  Also the heavy handed approach by two members of Council staff to educate a resident for mistakenly putting one inappropriate carton in the paper recycling bin, but thanks were given for not charging to attend and deal with rats.

Links View estate environmental issues
A resident from the Links View estate had complained about the poor state of cleansing and grass cutting on the estate compared with the rest of Bamford.  A visit to the area will be arranged.


The Ward Councillors hold a surgery from 10am to 11am on the first Thursday of each month in Bamford Chapel, although they often go beyond 11am.  Ward Councillors contact details are available on the Council website:

Councillor Ian Duckworth
Telephone: 01706 648393
Email: ian.duckworth@rochdale.gov.uk

Councillor Jane Howard
Telephone: 07870 172144
Email: jane.howard@rochdale.gov.uk

Councillor Pat Sullivan
Telephone: 0161 762 1129 or 07967 985240
Email: patricia.sullivan@rochdale.gov.uk

Rochdale Borough Council Officers:

Stuart Hay, Township Officer
Telephone: 01706 922230
Email: stuart.hay@rochdale.gov.uk

Diane Lodwig, Public Realm Inspector
Telephone: 01706 922226
Email: diane.lodwig@rochdale.gov.uk

Monday 4 December 2017 at 6.30pm in Bamford Chapel