Iain Roberts

Greater Manchester Police has launched a new cross-divisional task force to target burglars, robbers and car thieves that move between areas of Manchester and Stockport to commit crime. The Operation Mistral team consists of dedicated crime analysts, intelligence officers and senior investigation officers that deploy a range of specialist officers from the mounted, dog, tactical aid and roads policing units to support local policing teams in targeting prolific offenders.

The task force is based at Cheadle Heath police station and also includes a team of highly experienced crime investigators that is working with forensics experts and the Crown Prosecution Service to maximise opportunities to bring offenders to justice. Crime reduction officers are also working as part of the team to help communities safeguard themselves from thieves.

Further details of the initiative can be found on the Greater Manchester Police website by clicking here.

Kevin Melling, from Stockport Council, and Cllr Dave White have been visiting every Local Area Committee meeting to get feedback from councillors on how Stockport can improve its response to freezing weather conditions as we saw for nearly a month from around 18th December.

The Tories have been attacking the Council for not gritting more pavements.  Odd when you consider that Stockport did better than most and that you can’t just scatter grit on pavements like you can on roads.  It’s the action of cars grinding the grit into the ice on busy roads that actually does the job.

That doesn’t happen on pavements - you need to clear the snow and ice first and - as many of us found over the cold period - that can be a very slow and laborious process.

But I guess making that sort of attack is easier than understanding the issues and coming up with serious suggestions.

I had two comments:

1. If we can get more business owners to clear in front of their premises, the people clearing pavements could focus on those used by elderly people: paths from sheltered accommodation and old peoples’ homes, and to medical centres and doctors’surgeries for example.  We need to counter the misinformation being spread in the media about the risk of being sued.
2. Where residential roads have steep slopes (e.g. Kendal Drive, Eskdale, Rydal Close, Airedale Close), they should be given higher priority on the gritting list.

Overall, and having seen and heard from many other areas around the country, I believe Stockport did better than most at keeping the roads clear, resuming refuse and recycling services as quickly as possible and getting help to the most vulnerable.

Many Council staff went above and beyond the call of duty in working to keep everything moving.

But, of course, that doesn’t mean no improvements can be made and I was very pleased to see Cllr White and Kevin Melling taking the initiative to go out and ask for feedback.

On Wednesday morning I met with Mrs Yule, the Headteacher at Lady Barn House School on School’s Hill, Cheadle.  This followed concern from local residents about traffic and parking around the school at dropping off and picking up times.

Hopefully I’ll find the time to write more detail about what the school has been doing, but for now I’ll give the summary.

The school does make efforts to minimise the problems.  In the morning children are dropped off in the car par, in the afternoon picking up is obviously trickier as the kids can’t always be there at just the right time.

Exiting the school, there are “no right turn” signs, though some parents ignore them.

The school encourages parents to be responsible when parking and driving, and are very happy for the police to hand out tickets to those breaking the law.  They regularly send out letters to parents reminding them of the need to be responsible.

Of course, most people who live near a school recognise that traffic increases for short periods in the mornings and afternoons - it’s a problem every school in the country has.

And, as Inspector Gilbertson told us at the Area Committee meeting, when you have parents parking illegally and willingly accepting the fine, with no intention of changing their behaviour, there’s little police or the school can do.

But that doesn’t mean we can’t improve the situation in this case.  I was keen to look at ways the Council could help the school to stop traffic needing to come onto Schools Hill at all.

We’re going to explore whether there’s a safe and affordable way to have parents parking off Schools Hill (perhaps Cheadle Baths or the Sainsburys/John Lewis car park) and be bussed or walked to school from there.

For both the school and the Council there are issues and challenges to be overcome; but we’re talking about it, and that’s got to be a positive start.

For the first time, Manchester Harriers are holding parent’s cross-country races on Saturday 6th February, and there’ll be prizes!

Harriers run the Primary Schools Cross Country League at William Scholes Field, Gatley on Saturday mornings from 10am.

The remaining dates of the season are Saturday 6th February and Saturday 6th March.  The league has been in existence for over 30 years and there are about 300 runners at each race meeting.

There will be two parents’ races - one for ladies, one for men, running from 10.30am on Saturday 6th February.

There’s also a primary schools relay event after school on Thursday 25th March, starting at 4pm, with trophy presentations at 5pm.

Contact Ian Burnett for more information at i.b.burnett@googlemail.com or by calling 0161 485 2155.

Stockport has appointed Eamonn Boylan as the Council’s new Chief Executive, subject to confirmation. Mr Boylan’s appointment goes before a full meeting of Stockport Council on 4th February for ratification.

Mr Boylan is currently Deputy Chief Executive of national housing and regeneration body the Homes and Communities Agency where he is responsible for improvement programmes for land, private finance, growth and new initiatives

Stockport Council Leader, Councillor Dave Goddard, said: “We are delighted that Eamonn is to become our new Chief Executive. This is a real statement of intent from Stockport that we want to move from excellent to exceptional. Eamonn has a proven track record and we are absolutely certain he will drive us into the best possible position.

“We know that Stockport has a great workforce, we have good transport links and we have sites ripe for development. The climate is still challenging economically and we have total confidence that Eamonn is the right person to take us on the next stage of our journey.

“National inspectors have told us we run one of the best authorities in the country but there is no room for complacency. We need to provide value-for-money in all the 600 services we deliver. We want to build on our current success to improve life for everyone here in Stockport. Eamonn will play a crucial role in that constant improvement, regeneration and in providing value-for-money.

“He knows the region well and he’s played key roles already in attracting international investment and in working with other authorities to achieve great results.”

Mr Boylan, who lives in south Manchester, is expected to take up the post later this year when current Chief Executive John Schultz retires.

Previously Deputy Chief Executive of Manchester City Council (2002-2009), Director of Housing and Community Services at Manchester (1999-2002) and Director of Housing and Operational Services at Sheffield (1997-1999), he has played a key role in the development of the Housing Market Renewal Programme, the Northern Way Growth Strategy and, through his work with the Core Cities Group and the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities, in the emerging policy framework for city regions.

Said Mr Boylan: “I am delighted to be appointed Chief Executive. Stockport is renowned for being a well-run authority and I look forward to building on those strengths. There’s no doubt this will be a challenging time but I am determined we maximise the opportunities available for improvement, investment and regeneration.

“I look forward to working with colleagues not just within the Council but also in partner organisations across the borough and the region.”

The Deputy Leader of Stockport’s Conservative Group, Cllr Maureen Walsh, has this week resigned from the Conservative Group, leaving local Tories in disarray.  She now sits as an Independent on Stockport Council.

Having got to know Maureen over the last few months, I personally feel  angry at how she has been treated, and how local Tories have tried to cover their tracks and pretend there’s nothing wrong.

There are some councillors you respect, whichever side of the chamber they’re on, and Maureen is one of them.  She’s represented her ward of Bramhall North well and done a great deal of charity work through the Council, raising thousands of pounds for good causes.

I understand Maureen is going to put out her own leaflet to put the record straight, so incensed is she at how she’s been treated.

Here’s what we’ve said in our latest leaflet to North Bramhall and Hazel Grove:

Bramhall residents have been stunned by the news that popular local councillor Maureen Walsh has decided to quit the Conservatives.

Cllr Walsh, who has represented the Bramhall North area for 10 years, has decided to leave the party after a string of disagreements which have left local Conservatives deeply divided and in turmoil.

In a sign of desperation, the Tories have now selected a candidate for the local elections in May who doesn’t even live in Bramhall!

Cllr Walsh meanwhile is so upset, she is circulating her own message to local residents which directly contradicts the ’spin’ the Tories have tried to put on the chaos.

Rather than say more at this stage, I’d prefer to wait for Maureen’s own words

At yesterday’s Local Area Committee, I’d asked for the issue t Cheadle’s Christmas lights to be put on the agenda and Council officer Brian Nash waited very patiently for the item to come up - over three hours into the meeting!

I commented that I’d had lots of positive comments about the Christmas displays this year - the lights and trees.  Gatley looked great, and Cheadle did too - except for the five lights that were out.

Cllr Jones also mentioned problems with the small Christmas trees for shops, which didn’t really work (partly because Brian was in hospital for much of the period).

Although the street-lighting people didn’t get the five sets of lights working in Cheadle, they did (at a day’s notice) get the lights for the tree on Cheadle Green working when it was needed.

We’re all keen to improve the lights year-on year.  My view is that we need to avoid over-stretching - these things are tricky to organise and we  do better to put on a good display and do it well than to attempt to do more and more and have it go wrong when something unforeseen happens (an it always does, of course!)

Thanks to everyone who contacted me about the tyres dumped by the stream at the top of Gatley Hill.

I’m told they’ve now been removed (though I haven’t had a chance to get up and take a look myself - all my trtrips to Gatley Hill are after dark at this time of year).

If anyone has any information about who dumped the tyres there, I’d be very grateful - please get in touch,

Two or three people have told me that there’s more dog mess than usual in the small park at the ends of Sevenoaks, Leyland and Saville Roads in Gatley.

Most dog owners are responsible these days and clean up after their pets, so its disappointing when a minority don’t.  Since this area is commonly used as a play area for young children living nearby it’s of particular concern.

I’ve asked the Council to increse dog warden patrols in that area, and I urge all dog owners to be considerate and put dog mess in the bin at the side of the field.

I’ve heard this afternoon that the Informal Hearing into appeals will be held on Wednesday 10th March 2010 at the Town Hall, Edward Street, Stockport, SK1 3XE commencing at 10.00am.

A Planning Inspector appointed by the First Secretary of State will determine the appeal.

The two applications being appealed are:

(DC041677)
Partial demolition and reconstruction of former Tatton Cinema foyer, demolition and reconstruction of adjacent two storey retail units to provide 377m2 retail unit, erection of three storey 44 bedroom care home (Use Class C2) on site of former auditorium, alterations to highway, provision of access, car parking, servicing and landscaping.

(DC041678)
Conservation Area Consent for the Partial demolition and reconstruction of former Tatton Cinema foyer, demolition and reconstruction of adjacent two storey retail units to provide 377m2 retail unit, erection of three storey, forty four bedroom care home (Use Class C2) on site of former auditorium, alterations to highway, provision of access, car parking and servicing, provision of landscaping and development ancillary thereto.