To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Farnell, Councillor Meredith, Councillor Nickson and Councillor Rashid.

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 consider the Minutes of the meeting of Rochdale South Township Committee held 29^th July 2020.

Resolved:

1.    That the Minutes of the Rochdale South Township Committee held on the 10^th September 2020 be approved and signed as a correct record.

To consider sites of biological importance within Rochdale South Township.

The Committee considered the report of the Director of Economy which informed Members that Sites of Biological Importance (SBIs) are local planning designations covering areas of nature conservation importance in Greater Manchester which contain locally valuable habitats, plants and animals. Whilst they are not statutory designations like Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) or Conservation Areas, and therefore do not provide legal protection, they can be taken into consideration when determining planning applications which may affect the site and its nature conservation interest.

New SBIs and changes to existing SBIs are recommended on an annual basis by the Greater Manchester Ecology Unit (GMEU) and are reported to the relevant Township(s) in order that they may be adopted for planning purposes.

The latest review which GMEU have undertaken has recommended that the existing Naden Brook SBI is extended to include 1.1 hectares of additional woodland habitat in the north of the site. Naden Brook lost 0.1ha for technical reasons. Overall therefore the site gained 1ha.

The existing Stanney Brook SBI gained 0.1ha of additional grassland habitat due to resurvey.

Alternatives Considered:

The alternative would be to not support the proposed changes to the SBIs, which would leave some important areas of habitat more vulnerable to damage from development in the area or nearby.

Resolved:

1.    That the extensions the Naden Brook and Stanney Brook SBIs be approved so that the nature conservation interests of the new areas can be taken into account when planning applications which may affect those interests are being considered.

Reasons for the Recommendation:

The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) states that planning decisions should contribute to and enhance the natural and local environment by, amongst other things, protecting and enhancing valued sites of biodiversity value. The areas in question have been identified by experts as being of local biodiversity value and we should thus try and protect this value by taking it into account in planning decisions.

Report of Director of Children’s Services regarding future primary school provision in the Borough – for information.

Consideration was given to a report of the Director of Children’s Services setting out proposals for the expansion of primary school places to meet expected demand in between 2021-24.

Resolved:

1.    That the report be noted.

Report of Director of Children’s Services regarding the provision of secondary school places in the Borough in 2021 and 2022 – for information.

Consideration was given to a report of the Director of Children’s Services setting out proposals for the expansion of primary school places to meet expected demand in between 2021-24.

Resolved

1.    That the report be noted.