Tag: Stockport Council

Stockport teenager removes his own graffiti

Before and after his cleanup of his own graffiti
Before and after the graffiti cleanup from a graffiti culprit

A Stockport teenager cautioned by Greater Manchester Police for graffiti offences has removed his graffiti himself.

The formal police warning was followed by intervention from Stockport Council’s Youth Offending Service. The intervention can involve restoration to the victim to repair any harm caused by the offence.

The young person agreed to complete ‘restorative justice’ by removing the graffiti from the skate park at Woodford Recreation Ground.

Councillor Stuart Bodsworth, Executive Member for Communities and Sustainability, said: “The graffiti removal allowed the young person to turn a negative situation into a positive. He said that it made him realise how difficult it was to remove the graffiti and that it would change his behaviour in the future.”

“Graffiti is an illegal practice. It spoils public and private property and can be very costly to remove. The Council’s enforcement team works closely with the Youth Offending Service and the police to tackle incidents of graffiti to keep Stockport an attractive place to work, visit and live.”

Councillor Patrick McAuley joins Stockport Lib Dems

Cllr Patrick McAuley Liberal Democrats
Cllr Patrick McAuley joins the Lib Dem group at Stockport Town Hall

Councillor Sue Derbyshire welcomes Councillor Patrick McAuley as new member of the Stockport Liberal Democrat Group at the Town Hall

Speaking after the Stockport Liberal Democrat Group voted to accept the membership application from Councillor Patrick McAuley, Independent Councillor for Manor Ward, Councillor Sue Derbyshire said:

“Since he was elected Cllr McAuley has shown dedication to being an effective councillor but that is very hard to do as an Independent.

“I am glad that he has looked closely at what the Liberal Democrat Group is doing in trying to protect the most vulnerable people and essential services in these very difficult times and has decided to join us to promote the interests of Stockport.”

Following his election to the Group, Councillor Patrick McAuley said:

“It has become clear that the only party prepared to put people first in Stockport, and who embody the principle of “people matter” that I have espoused since leaving the Labour party almost a year ago, are local Liberal Democrats.

“Councillors Derbyshire, Hawthorne and I will be a formidable force as ward colleagues in working tirelessly for the interests of the residents of Manor ward.

“The road ahead is long and there will be significant financial challenges to face but I continue to be impressed by this Group’s approach to inclusiveness in their efforts to reduce the impacts of the economic crisis on our residents.”

Grand Central Update

Grand Central Stockport development
Cllr Iain Roberts at the sight of the development

A development agreement has been reached for Stockport’s new ‘Office Quarter’.

Stockport Council and Muse Developments have signed and sealed a Development Agreement, marking an important milestone in the development of a high-specification office quarter, next to the train station in the town centre.

The Council bought the Grand Central site last year to bring forward the office-led development, including hotel and improved car parking, as well as an attractive new gateway to the town centre.

National development and regeneration specialist Muse Developments were appointed by the Council as development partner to deliver the project.

Phase One consists of a new 1,000 space multi-story car park and a range of highway improvements, due to be completed at the beginning of 2014.

The new car park will meet increasing demand for parking next to the railway station and encourage more people to take the train. A temporary parking solution for commuters will be provided during its construction.

Phase Two has been masterplanned for the first commercial office building, new public space, a hotel and highway improvements by 2015.

Phase Three will include further office buildings, extension of the open space and further improved accessibility for pedestrians on a phased basis up to 2020.

Councillor Iain Roberts, Executive Member for Economic Development and Regeneration at Stockport Council, said: “The signing of the Development Agreement confirms both parties’ commitment to delivering a cutting-edge new office quarter and commuter destination for Stockport. It is a crucial part of our overall vision for the town centre – attracting jobs, investment and footfall. We’ve worked hard to make sure that it’s self-financing and at no extra cost to the Council-tax payer.”

Crime continues to fall in Stockport

Sue derbyshire crime reductionStockport’s ‘Safer Stockport Partnership conference’ heard how Stockport’s succesful crime policy had helped deliver sustained crime reduction in Stockport over the last eight years with over 900 fewer victims of crime.

Last year anti-social behaviour was reduced by 21% which equates to 3,196 fewer incidents over the year.

The conference, opened by Lib Dem Cllr Mark Weldon, the Council’s Executive Member for Supporting Communities, provided an opportunity for organisations to share information on how they work to successfully prevent crime and disorder in the borough.

Cllr Weldon said: “It’s very encouraging that crime has fallen for the eighth consecutive year thanks to the SSP’s highly successful partnership work. However, we are not complacent and are determined to ensure that crime falls even further by building on the close working relationships with community groups and partner organisations.”

The conference was addressed by Cllr Sue Derbyshire, the Leader of Stockport Council, and SSP’s two Joint Chairs, Chief Superintendent Chris Sykes of Greater Manchester Police and Eamonn Boylan, Chief Executive of Stockport Council.

One of the highlights of the conference was the SSP Awards Ceremony where members of the community received a certificate of commendation for their contributions towards community safety.

Among those who received awards were a group of young women from Brinnington involved in the ‘Girls are Strong’ project which looked at the impacts of domestic abuse and ways to promote positive relationships through activities and events organised through Stockport Without Abuse (SWA) and Brinnington Education Achievement Partnership (BEAP).

Stockport resident, Brenda Bates was presented with an award for her work through Poet’s Corner Action Group in North Reddish which meets on a monthly basis to provide a forum in which residents resolve neighbourhood issues together.

Chief Superintendent Chris Sykes from GMP, said: “Brenda’s community mindedness, persistence and determination has enabled her to communicate honestly with the residents of North Reddish and partner agencies in order to respond to the needs of the community.

“An example of Brenda’s innovative work is the development of football opportunities for some of the challenging young people in North Reddish, which is now delivered every Saturday on the estate by Reddish North End Football Club.”

For more information about the SSP and the ‘Safer in Stockport initiative visit www.saferstockport.org.ukor call 0161 474 3143.

Stockport Succeeds in Portas Bid

Stockport has successfully bid to become a ‘Portas Pilot’.

Mary Portas, from the BBC series ‘Mary Queen of Shops’ carried out an independent review of high streets last year and is working with the Government to offer extra help to towns with the most innovative ideas to boost their high streets.

Stockport’s bid focused on encouraging specialist shops, markets and creative industries within the historic Markets and Underbanks area of the town centre.

Councillor Sue Derbyshire, Leader of Stockport Council, said: “This is fantastic news for Stockport. It’s a testament to the enthusiasm, commitment and inspiration of local businesses, market traders, organisations and residents, who worked with the council to make ours a winning bid.

“But this is only the start. Work establishing our new ‘town team’ – made up of all the town centre partners- has already begun. They will work hard to get the best for the town centre, reduce the number of empty shops and develop an exciting new cultural quarter around our unique historic market area.

“Today’s news and the work already underway on office quarter Grand Central and plans for a new town centre leisure development, means exciting times ahead for Stockport.”

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Local elections 2012: Results

Number of councillors on Stockport Council for each party

Stockport Liberal Democrats are extending a ‘thank you’ to residents for their support following the local elections this month.

Councillor Sue Derbyshire was re-elected in Manor ward with more than 44% of the vote, although with just a 24 vote majority over Labour.

Sue was also elected by her fellow councillors to become Leader of the Council.  Liberal Democrats remain the largest party in Stockport.

Following the vote, Sue thanked Stockport residents and reaffirmed her commitment to making sure Stockport Council keeps delivering excellent services in the borough.

In Davenport and Cale Green ward Ann Smith received a record 13% swing from Labour’s 2011 result.  Although Ann lost her seat on the Council in a narrow win for Labour, Ann has promised to keep on campaigning in the area.

Labour’s councillors for the ward live as far away as Reddish and Woodley.  Ann has promised to keep campaigning in the area to make sure Labour’s councillors don’t take voters for granted.

Detailed results for each ward in Stockport borough can be found by clicking here.