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Stockport Council & Other News

Destruction of Padden Brook day by day.

Environmental vandalism, Exasperated residents, Freedom of Information, LibDem Councillors, Lisa Smart LibDem PPC, Padden Brook, Senior council officers, SMBC FOI Posted on Fri, July 11, 2025 01:44

Who was told – Vicki Bates (vicki.bates@stockport.gov.uk); michael.cullen@stockport.gov.uk; cllr.rachel.bresnahan@stockport.gov.uk; cllr.angie.clark@stockport.gov.uk; cllr.mark.roberts@stockport.gov.uk; Lisa Smart – Enquiries (enquiries@lisasmart.org.uk); liz.sykes@Stockport.gov.uk

Fri 11/07/2025 00:55

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing to express my serious concern regarding recent environmental changes and their associated risks at the hillside area adjacent to Padden Brook, SK6. This area, which I understand to be protected land, has recently been denuded of trees and shrubs, with no apparent restoration or mitigation works in place.

This loss of vegetation is already having visible and potentially dangerous consequences:

  1. Increased Surface Water Runoff
    Rainwater now flows unchecked down the hillside, directly into the culvert under the road. The culvert may be struggling to cope with this increased volume of water.
  2. Damage to Road Infrastructure
    The road surface above the culvert is beginning to break up, which may indicate water infiltration and underlying structural issues. If this continues, it could lead to collapse or further deterioration.
  3. Potential Risk to Nearby Housing
    The above issues pose a growing flood and subsidence risk to nearby residential properties, which could result in structural damage, increased insurance costs, or devaluation.

Given these concerns, I respectfully request that the Council or relevant environmental body take the following actions as a matter of urgency:

  • Commission an environmental and hydrological assessment of the area;
  • Inspect and, if necessary, repair or upgrade the culvert and road infrastructure;
  • Investigate the circumstances under which the vegetation was removed, and whether this complies with local planning or conservation regulations;
  • Consider immediate erosion control measures, such as replanting or engineered slope stabilization, to prevent further degradation.

I would appreciate a response outlining the actions your office intends to take and any timescales involved. I would also be grateful to be kept informed of any investigations or decisions regarding this issue.

Thank you for your attention to this matter. I look forward to your prompt response.

Yours faithfully

Sheila Oliver



I have tried to post up all the genuine, in-the-public-interest questions here, but they crashed my blog (1).

Donna Sager, CYPD, Eamonn Boylan, Environmental vandalism, Exasperated residents, Fir Tree Primary School, Freedom of Information, LibDem Councillors, Lisa Smart LibDem PPC, No Playing Fields, Senior council officers Posted on Wed, July 09, 2025 06:55

Suffice it to say, not one of them was vexatious. They all referred to endangering the lives of children and local residents with brown asbestos and landfill gases, illegal development of protected public open space, financial and other irregularities which would blow your mind. These can be emailed to any interested party on request.



It is not vexatious under the FOIA if the questions are asked in the public interest (5)

Environmental vandalism, Exasperated residents, Information Commissioner, LibDem Councillors, Lisa Smart LibDem PPC, Senior council officers, Vale View School Posted on Tue, July 08, 2025 16:30

Click on any of the links at random in these 5 related postings and you will see issues raised in the public interest. Not one of them was vexatious.

Yours

Sheila Oliver

Local Authority Specialist Researcher
Citizens 2022 Committee

From: Vicki Bates (Legal) [mailto:vicki.bates@stockport.gov.uk]
Sent: 07 July 2025 20:03
To: ‘Sheila Oliver’
Cc: Data Protection
Subject: RE: External: You could well be struck off due to your actions with regards to the planning corruption at the still gassing toxic waste dump school

Dear Mrs Oliver

Thank you for your further email.

As per my email just now to you and the ICO – please could you confirm what questions you were prevented from asking at committee/council meetings?

You will recall that your questions around Vale View Primary were deemed vexatious through both the FOI legislation and the council’s Unacceptable Actions by Complainants Policy.

I am now on leave until 21 July 2025 and your emails will not be responded to during that time.

Kind regards

Vicki Bates

(She/Her)

Assistant Director – Governance

Monitoring Officer

(Legal, Democratic and Electoral Services and Information Governance)

Corporate and Support Services

Legal Department

Stockport Council

Room 325
Town Hall

Edward Street
Stockport
SK1 3XE

Direct:  0161 474 3219 / 07815 715 625

***Please note that if you receive this email from me outside of usual office hours I do not expect a response from you***

From: Sheila Oliver <sheilaoliver@ntlworld.com>
Sent: 04 July 2025 09:14
To: Vicki Bates (Legal) <vicki.bates@stockport.gov.uk>
Cc: Leader <leader@stockport.gov.uk>; Michael Cullen <michael.cullen@stockport.gov.uk>; Cllr Rachel Bresnahan <cllr.rachel.bresnahan@stockport.gov.uk>; Cllr Angie Clark <cllr.angie.clark@stockport.gov.uk>; Cllr Mark Roberts <cllr.mark.roberts@stockport.gov.uk>; enquiries <enquiries@lisasmart.org.uk>; Liz Sykes <liz.sykes@stockport.gov.uk>
Subject: External: You could well be struck off due to your actions with regards to the planning corruption at the still gassing toxic waste dump school

You don’t often get email from sheilaoliver@ntlworld.com. Learn why this is important

Many times I gave you evidence of multi £m planning corruption regarding the Vale View School.  You blocked access to documents.  I told you it was illegal to block council meeting questions under the FOIA. I kept every shred of evidence over 20 years.

You need to make sure you start to act within the law regarding Padden Brook, despite the desired corruption of other parties within the council on this matter.

I am very annoyed.  Don’t annoy me any further.

Sheila



It is not vexatious under the FOIA if the questions are asked in the public interest (4)

Environmental vandalism, Exasperated residents, Freedom of Information, Information Commissioner, LibDem Councillors, Senior council officers, SMBC FOI Posted on Tue, July 08, 2025 16:12

Click on any of the links at random in these 5 related postings and you will see issues raised in the public interest. Not one of them was vexatious.



It is not vexatious under the FOIA if the questions are asked in the public interest (3)

Environmental vandalism, Exasperated residents, Freedom of Information, LibDem Councillors, Senior council officers, SMBC FOI, Vale View School Posted on Tue, July 08, 2025 16:11

Click on any of the links at random in these 5 related postings and you will see issues raised in the public interest. Not one of them was vexatious.

https://blogging.sheilaoliver.org/2021/05/17/yet-another-council-meeting-question-refused-under-the-freedom-of-information-act-although-it-was-a-council-meeting-question-and-not-asked-under-that



It is not vexatious under the FOIA if the questions are in the public interest (2)

Environmental vandalism, Exasperated residents, Freedom of Information, Information Commissioner, LibDem Councillors, Senior council officers, SMBC FOI Posted on Tue, July 08, 2025 16:09

Click on any of the links at random in these 5 related postings and you will see issues raised in the public interest. Not one of them was vexatious.

so they could build housing on the site

and it turned out to be brown asbestos, particularly lethal which has been left on the site, and it is vexatious of me to say this

https://blogging.sheilaoliver.org/2015/05/31/jill-barlow-at-stockport-blocking-information-pertaining-to-fraud-1661



I doubt Vicki Bates, Monitoring Officer, will comply with this. Padden Brook and Hatherlow Sunday School prove the point.

Environmental vandalism, Exasperated residents, Freedom of Information, Information Commissioner, LibDem Councillors, Lisa Smart LibDem PPC, More loss of green space, Padden Brook, Senior council officers, SMBC FOI Posted on Mon, July 07, 2025 07:16

When Stockport Council agreed in November 2024 to “tackle developer blight on the community,” it likely referred to a set of policy changes, enforcement efforts, and planning reforms aimed at addressing the negative effects caused by developers who:

  • Leave land or buildings unused after demolition or partial construction,
  • Fail to complete developments in a timely manner,
  • Disregard planning conditions, such as green space or community facilities,
  • Neglect property maintenance, causing visual and social decline in neighbourhoods.

💥 What “Developer Blight” Typically Includes

In practical terms, “developer blight” refers to:

  • Eyesores like unfinished buildings or derelict lots,
  • Broken planning promises (e.g., missing schools, parks, or sports facilities),
  • Long delays between planning approval and actual delivery,
  • Neglect of social, environmental or heritage considerations,
  • Disruption to local residents during extended development phases.

🛠️ What Tackling It Could Mean in Practice

Here’s how a council like Stockport might act on this pledge:

1. Stronger Enforcement

  • Use of Section 215 Notices (Town and Country Planning Act) to compel developers to tidy up unsightly land or buildings.
  • Increased planning condition monitoring, with fines or stop notices for non-compliance.
  • Naming developers who breach terms (“rogue developer” policies).

2. Developer Bonds or Deposits

  • Require performance bonds—money held in escrow until projects are completed to agreed standards.
  • Penalise developers financially for excessive delays or abandonment.

3. Tighter Planning Agreements (Section 106)

  • Stricter legal obligations on developers to deliver agreed community benefits (e.g., playgrounds, green infrastructure, affordable housing).
  • Deadlines for each stage of delivery built into contracts.

4. Public-Private Accountability

  • Publicly tracking developers’ performance on planning portals or dashboards.
  • More regular updates to councillors and residents about major schemes.

5. Reclaim or Repurpose Land

  • Use Compulsory Purchase Orders (CPOs) to take back unused sites and bring them into productive public or community use.
  • Work with housing associations or community land trusts to develop stalled plots.

6. Community Empowerment

  • Increased rights for residents to report breaches or delays.
  • Transparency about developer contributions and planning gain spending.

🧭 Why This Matters in Stockport

Stockport has a history of controversy over:

  • Missing community sports facilities promised in development agreements,
  • Contaminated land (e.g., Harcourt Street/brickworks sites),
  • Allegations of vexatious treatment of residents raising planning concerns,
  • Delays and incomplete delivery in urban regeneration projects.

This motion could signal a shift toward greater accountability and pro-resident enforcement.


🔍 Summary

Tackling “developer blight” means confronting practices that harm local environments and trust—by holding developers to account and protecting community interests. It’s a blend of enforcement, transparency, policy tightening, and possibly reclaiming neglected sites.

Here’s the exact motion passed at the Council Meeting on 21 November 2024 regarding tackling developer blight:


🗳️ Motion Details

“The council calls for more powers to tackle the neglect and blight on our communities caused by private developers. We believe amendments to the laws relating to compulsory purchase orders (CPOs) and blighted land are required, to:

  • Give councils greater powers to take over ownership of derelict land and property which has become a blight on the local community;
  • Make CPOs cheaper to administer, simpler to implement and faster to progress;
  • Change the emphasis with CPOs, the legal requirement should be placed on a site’s owner to demonstrate progression of a scheme, thereby reducing the costs to local authorities;
  • Consider increased taxation to tackle problems where blight and anti‑social behaviour occur, the government could enable the funds raised to be used to facilitate construction of new homes;
  • Enable councils to convert affected land into community assets, which they can retain, or dispose of for the construction of housing.

The motion also asked the Chief Executive to write to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government and the Mayor of Greater Manchester highlighting:


🛠️ What This Means in Practice

Here’s how the Council aims to translate this motion into action:

  1. Stronger CPO powers – The Council is pushing for legal reform to make compulsory purchase quicker, cheaper, and easier for publicly neglected or derelict private sites.
  2. Responsibility shift onto developers – If developers don’t actively progress construction, they must legally demonstrate why, or face faster CPOs initiated by the Council.
  3. Tax incentives or penalties – Exploring taxation, potentially on unused or unsightly sites, with proceeds channelled into community-led development or housing projects.
  4. Community reuse schemes – Councils could take control of blighted sites to convert them into public assets (parks, community centres) or lay groundwork for affordable homes.
  5. Advocacy at regional/national level – By formally writing to ministers and the Mayor, the Council is seeking broader legislative and funding powers to support these measures.

🔍 Why It Matters for Stockport

Stockport has encountered several problematic developments:

  • Contaminated or derelict sites, like the Harcourt Street brickworks plot.
  • Unfulfilled planning obligations, e.g. missing community sports facilities.
  • Abandoned construction sites, creating prolonged disruption or visual deterioration.

This motion empowers the Council to proactively address these issues—demanding both:

  • Immediate action via local CPOs, enforcement, and accountability, and
  • Systemic reform by lobbying for expanded legal tools and funding.

✅ Next Steps

  • The Chief Executive’s letter to government and regional bodies will establish Stockport’s formal position and request legislative backing.
  • Keep an eye out for Council updates or press releases, which might mention:
    • New CPOs initiated,
    • Enforcement actions (e.g., Section 215 notices),
    • Budgeting for site conversions or community asset projects.
  • Follow any upcoming consultations or local plans, where public engagement will shape how these powers are applied.


Lisa Smart and Angela Clark – not fit to hold public office.

Freedom of Information, Information Commissioner, LibDem Councillors, Lisa Smart LibDem PPC, Polluted Land, SMBC FOI, Vale View School Posted on Sat, July 05, 2025 14:12

If a councillor becomes aware of financial irregularities at their council, they have a legal and ethical duty to act promptly and responsibly. Here’s what they must and should do:


1. Report it Immediately

The councillor must report the issue through appropriate channels:

a. Internal Reporting

  • Chief Finance Officer (Section 151 Officer) – Legally responsible for the council’s financial integrity under the Local Government Finance Act 1988.
  • Monitoring Officer – Responsible for ensuring legality and ethical conduct under the Local Government and Housing Act 1989.
  • Head of Internal Audit – If one exists, they can investigate potential fraud or irregularities.

b. External Reporting (if internal route is ineffective or inappropriate)

  • External Auditor (e.g. Grant Thornton, Mazars): Councillors can raise concerns with the body appointed to audit the council.
  • Local Government Ombudsman – For concerns involving maladministration.
  • Police – If there is evidence of fraud or criminal wrongdoing.
  • National Fraud Initiative (in the UK) or relevant anti-corruption bodies.

2. Follow Whistleblowing Procedures

  • Use the council’s whistleblowing policy. Most councils have formal processes in place to protect those reporting wrongdoing.
  • Councillors are typically protected under the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998 (PIDA) if they raise concerns in good faith.

3. Maintain Confidentiality

  • Do not share the details publicly unless formally permitted.
  • Avoid accusations without evidence—focus on facts, not speculation.

4. Document Everything

  • Keep written records of what was seen/heard, when, and any steps taken.
  • This helps in case of future investigations or legal scrutiny.

5. Seek Legal or Ethical Advice (if needed)

  • From the council’s Monitoring Officer or an independent legal adviser.
  • Local Government Association (LGA) or Standards Committees may also offer support.

⚖️ Why It Matters:

Councillors have a fiduciary duty to protect public funds and uphold integrity in public service. Failure to act on financial irregularities can lead to:

  • Personal liability (in cases of gross negligence)
  • Breach of the councillor Code of Conduct
  • Reputational damage or loss of office


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