The Chair opened the meeting welcoming all in attendance.  Apologies were given and attention was drawn to the code of conduct and terms of reference.  The Chair suggested an amendment to the running order of the agenda to facilitate the release of officers from Greater Manchester Police, and a discussion around installation of IX masts across the ward, which was agreed.

The following statistics were given for the period of the last three months:
Criminal damage – down from 9 to 4
Burglary dwelling 7, burglary other than a dwelling 4, total 8 down from 11.  Residents were informed that the area of concern is around Bagslate/Overtown Lane
Vehicle crime down to 9 from 11
Drugs offences down to 1 from 2
Weapons offences down to 1 from 4
Accurate off-road bike statistics will be provided at the next meeting.

Other activity
One warrant for the supply of drugs has been carried out, one for a cannabis farm and one for possession of an offensive weapon.  A speed operation has taken place around Bury Road/Edenfield Road, but no motorist was caught driving above 35mph.  Residents asked that future operations take place after 9pm as that is when the majority of speeding occurs.

Operation Dark Nights will take place in the coming months as traditionally dark nights see an increase in burglaries.

Operation Dragster
Three operations have taken place during the last quarter in partnership with United Utilities and Lancashire Police.  Two further Operation Dragster dates are planned.  Where there is evidence of 3 x bikes being unloaded, GMP are willing to invoke S.59.  The Chair stated an instance where 6 x vehicles were offloaded and photographic evidence was provided, and a similar occurrence on Woodhouse Lane.  It was unclear whether action has yet been taken in relation to these.  PC McCluskey undertook to provide an update as to actions taken in the near future.  Joint working with Lancashire Police is planned.  Residents felt that successes are not communicated widely enough and would serve as a deterrent.


Surgeries

GMP will be holding three surgeries on the following dates at Norden Old Library:

30 September 2023 at 1-2pm, 28 October 2023 at 1-2pm and 25 November 2023 at 1-2pm

School Parking Operations
Officers attended at Whittaker Moss and Norden Community School, parents moved off as soon as they saw uniformed staff and as a result no tickets were issued.


The Chair thanked the officers present for attending, and thanked Chief Inspector Fraser for his efforts, as well as wishing a speedy recovery to Sgt. Walsh on behalf of the forum.

A spokesman addressed the forum on behalf of residents.  It was acknowledged that masts up to 15m can be erected under permitted development, however, a mast on Shelfield Lane has been erected that is higher than 15m without planning permission.  Councillor Winkler explained the Members across Rochdale Borough Council have met and the matter has been escalated by Rochdale Borough Council and other authorities to the GM Combined Authority to make representation to Central Government.  It was confirmed that the Planning Enforcement officers are aware and are working on this issue, but that the workload is now considerable across the Borough, and permitted development means that their powers are limited.  Residents questioned whether these installations are allowed under permitted development given that underground services are available.  They also stated that notices have been erected after the installations.

Official complaints should be made to Ofcom and there is a petition on the Government website open until 6 October 2023 that residents were encouraged to sign.

There was particular discussion around the installation of a 25m mast outside 39 Shelfield Lane and residents were keen that it be moved as a matter of urgency, however, Councillor Winkler explained the planning process and the retrospective planning procedure that would need to be followed before any action might be taken.  The Chair acknowledged the frustration that people are feeling and that the Council is doing everything it can within the planning and legal processes open to it.
Action: Confirm whether letter to Ofcom and Secretary of State as referenced at the previous meeting was ever sent.

Action: Would it be possible for a Planning Enforcement Officer to meet with the resident of 39 Shelfield Lane?

Action: Can the Council focus on one particular installation (39 Shelfield Lane) as a bench mark case?

In conclusion: The Chair suggested that the creation of a small separate group may be a way forward in order to focus on this matter and to look at what answers they already have, where are the gaps, and who can assist.  The Chair offered to assist in arranging a venue if required.

The minutes of the previous meeting on 30 May 2023 were approved.

Local Plan
Nigel has spoken to Wayne Poole and anyone wishing to be involved is encouraged to email strategic.planning@rochdale.gov.uk

Woodhouse Lane re-surfacing
No date as yet.

Woodhouse Lane drains
Complete.

Rooley Moor Road traffic calming scheme
Discussions have taken place with Highways Officers to look at a potential scheme, it is complicated by the conservation area status.

Caldershaw Road scheme
The scheme is very large and extremely costly and it has not been possible to identify funding from Townships as it is above the total available budget.  This is the situation despite the efforts of Ward Councillors at a recent meeting of Rochdale North Township Delegated Sub Committee.  Consideration is being given to smaller ‘bite size’ elements to deliver the scheme in sections.  The Chair will update as and when there are any developments.  The process for committing and de-committing schemes was explained.  The Chair thanks Highways Officers for their hard work and advice on this issue.

Planning process
Concerns were raised that it appears that there is a lean towards simplifying the process for developers.  An example was given in relation to delegated planning decisions, lack of advertising and lack of consultation, resulting in an undemocratic process.  Members requested that no delegated decisions should be made for applications within Norden Ward.  Councillors confirmed that they are unclear what the threshold is in terms of what applications are delegated.
Action: Townships to establish the process for identifying planning suitable for delegated decision vs committee decision.

Former Nutters Restaurant
Dr & Dr Davison provided the following update:
Alberts Restaurant have submitted a new planning application (23/00621/FUL) that will replace the existing one that has already been approved.  The additional floor space has been reduced from 370 to 48 square metres and the new side extensions are gone now.  This is very welcome - so credit where credit is due.

The existing left hand extension gable front will be replaced with a modern glass design.  The existing right hand extension will be removed and replaced with a glass fronted single storey extension which wraps around the corner.  This does obscure some of the existing front elevation unlike the old design and gives the front elevation an unbalanced appearance.  We would be surprised if the Conservation Officer finds this acceptable.

There is a new much larger external patio area in front of this extension which can cater for 100 people, and there is a new service road proposed to provide access along the western boundary to the function room on the west elevation.

The noise assessment for this proposal ignores the farm and properties to the west of the restaurant which is a major flaw repeated from the previous application.  The noise assessment suggests that external patron noise on the enlarged patio will be greater than previously and will particularly impact these closest neighbours.

The noise assessment is also flawed in that it measures the background noise level from an open location towards the front of the property when it should have been undertaken from the properties that will be most affected by the noise.  As an example, the farm and some properties to the west are much further from the road and hence the background noise measured there would have been lower.  Similarly the rear of our property is sheltered from the road, so again the background noise there would be lower.  In our case any additional acoustic fencing would not be high enough to shield us from the additional noise and no fencing is proposed to protect the other neighbours.

In our opinion the developers should redo the noise assessment to take into account these issues.

All residents were encouraged to look at the planning application and comment, whether they support it or not.

School Lane/Jowkin Lane
The Chair informed the forum of a planning application for a large battery storage area on greenbelt land.  The project would require a six month lead-in time for cabling.  There  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

Councillor Winkler

·           Fly-tipping incidents appear to have reduced significantly.

·           The sink-hole and coinciding emergency road works caused traffic problems recently in the village.  Councillor Winkler explained the works had to take place but also the positive result of improvements to roads and pavements due to the Tour of Britain passing through Norden.

·           Some tree works have been completed.

·           As we approach autumn, works to clear blocked drains are to begin.

Councillor Gartside

Improvements to the lettering on the war memorial have now been completed.  The dedication service will take place on Saturday 14 October 2023 at 12 noon – all are welcome to attend.

The forum was informed that there are still Ward and Members Funds available.  Any resident is welcome to suggest any schemes or encourage community groups to apply.

None.

Thursday 14 December 2023 at 7.00pm