To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Councillor S. Ahmed and Councillor Meredith.

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.  

In relation to agenda item number 13 – Rochdale South Township Funds 2023/24 – Councillor M. Arshad declared a personal interest in the submitted funding application TC/25/23 ‘Chamber House Drive road humps’ as their home address was on a street adjacent to the proposed scheme.

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

There were no items for exclusion of press and public.

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 received.

Members are requested to approve the Minutes of the Meeting held on the 12 July 2023.

Matters arising:

-       In relation to Minute 4b ‘Lighting Installation Request - Footpath at Gerard Street/Oldham Road, Rochdale’, an update was provided advising the Committee that a meeting had taken place and the service were looking into a resolution alongside Councillors Meredith and P. Massey.

-       In relation to Minute 13, the Assistant Director (Place) with responsibility for Environmental Management was in attendance to advise members regarding the fee structure for Environmental Management Services.

The Sub-Committee was advised that a contingency fee was now added to costings to factor in increased fees and charges in most trades during the current economic climate. Members were assured that any surplus would be returned if the contingency fee was not required. It was also advised that in order to deliver outstanding township schemes additional officer posts had been introduced and the structure fees contributed to the implementation of the schemes.

The Chair requested that the fee structure continue to be monitored and assessed where any reductions could be made or further improvements made to bring in line with the fee structure changes other services had introduced.

Resolved:

That the minutes of the Rochdale South Township Delegated Sub-Committee meeting held on the 12 July 2023 be approved as a correct record.

To receive the minutes of the meeting held on 21 September 2023.

That the Minutes of the Balderstone and Kirkholt Area Forum held on 21 September 2023 be noted.

To receive the minutes of the meeting held on 21 August 2023.

That the Minutes of the Bamford Area Forum held on 21 August 2023 be noted.

To receive the minutes of the meeting held on 23 August 2023.

That the Minutes of the Brimrod, Marland and Sudden Area Forum held on 23 August 2023 be noted.

To receive the minutes of the meeting held on 21 June 2023 and 11 September 2023.

That the Minutes of the Castleton Area Forum held on 21 June 2023 and 11 September 2023 be noted.

To receive the minutes of the meeting held on 5 September 2023.

That the Minutes of the Kingsway Area Forum held on 5 September 2023 be noted.

To receive the minutes of the meeting held on 7 August 2023.

That the Minutes of the Milkstone and Deeplish Area Forum held on 7 August 2023 be noted.

To consider a report of the Highways Officer.

The Township Sub-Committee received a report of the Director of Neighbourhoods that asked Members to consider a Proposed Experimental Traffic Regulation Orders in the Knoll Street Area, Castleton. The report sought approval from Members to implement the experimental scheme and to give authorisation to the Head of Highways to promote, advertise, and make the Experimental Traffic Regulation Orders necessary for one-way working, and parking amendments.

The report advised members that the Council had recently introduced Traffic Regulation Orders (TRO) associated with the Manchester Road (and adjoining streets) traffic management scheme. The Council had received concerns from residents over an increase in local traffic volumes and associated operational safety conflicts from indiscriminate parking near junctions and from contravention of the new one-way arrangement.

The Experimental TROs sought to mitigate the effects of obstructive parking and any breach of the one-way restriction through the introduction a further package of complementary TRO measures.The individual Experimental TROs necessary for one-way working and parking amendment would be subject to a formal public consultation exercise for the required period of up to six months.

Councillor Sheerin informed the Committee of concerns regarding the implementation of the existing TRO in relation to areas of Keswick Street and the inconvenience this causes residents and the knock on effect to other local streets. It was noted that the additional Experimental TRO was only temporary and any adverse effects would be monitored and reviewed before a permanent decision would be made.

The Sub-Committee expressed concerns that the Highways Officer was not in attendance at the meeting to present the report and answer questions from members. An Officer from Highways and the Assistant Director (Place) were present in relation to other agenda items but were not briefed on this specific scheme. The Chair advised that Officers not in attendance was detrimental to the ability of members to accurately fulfil their role on the committee and that it was vitally important that Officers attend to present their reports.

Ward Councillors advised that the Highways Officer had liaised with ward members and local residents in preparing the report and they were in agreement for the proposal to be approved.

Alternatives considered:

That the Proposed Experimental Traffic Regulation Orders in the Knoll Street Area, Castleton not be implemented as proposed in the report. Alternative reduced extents of one-way working and/or prohibition of waiting restriction(s) would not offer the level of operational safety and capacity sought.

Resolved:

1.    That the Proposed Experimental Traffic Regulation Orders in the Knoll Street Area, Castleton be approved and implemented as per the recommendation.

2.    That the Assistant Director (Place) advise Officers of the importance of attending committee meetings to present reports and answer questions in order to facilitate the Committee to fulfil its statutory role. 

Reasons for the decision:

The experimental (and any subsequent permanent) scheme was promoted and recommended as part of the Council’s statutory responsibility to ensure that its highways operate safely and efficiently for all road users. The proposal was complementary to the Council’s Core  ...  view the full minutes text for item 25.

To consider Rochdale South Township Funds 2023/24.

The Sub-Committee considered a report of the Director of Neighbourhoods which provided an update on revenue and capital expenditure, commitments and balances of Rochdale South Township Funds 2023/2024 and the allocation of funds to proposed projects.

Members were informed that the Rochdale South Township Capital Funds available for allocation was £25,743and that the Rochdale South Township Revenue (Projects) Funds available for allocation was £16,062.

In considering the funding applications the Sub-Committee received three verbal representations from the public applicants in attendance at the meeting.

Alternatives considered:

Members were asked to decide whether or not to approve the allocation of funds to projects/schemes as appropriate.

Resolved:

1.    That the expenditure, commitments and balances of the Rochdale South Township Revenue and Capital Funds, as detailed in Appendices 1 and 2 of the submitted report, be noted;

2.    That the decisions made under delegated authority as detailed in Appendix 3 of the submitted report be noted;

3.    That the Sub-Committee notes that the Townships and Communities Manager has assessed the proposed projects to be considered for funding against the criteria of eligibility for the Rochdale South Township Fund, the priorities of the Township and any specific risks have been identified within the report;

4.    That the Townships and Communities Manager, in consultation with the Chair, Vice Chair and opposition spokesperson of the Sub-Committee, be given delegated authority to make decisions on any deferred projects;

5.    That applications for Rochdale South Township Funds 2023/2024, as outlined at Appendix 4 of the submitted report, be dealt with as follows:

Reasons for the decision:

Management of the Rochdale South Township Fund was delegated to the Rochdale  ...  view the full minutes text for item 26.