The parties on the council have all agreed who will be doing what – the roles are traditionally formally approved at the Annual Council Meeting, which for this year is next Tuesday afternoon.

The document below has all those proposals.

SMBC Council Positions 2012-13

Volunteers Required

The Olympic Torch will be passing through Stockport on Sunday 24 June 2012 between 8:30-10am.

8,000 inspirational people will carry the Olympic Flame on its 70 day journey across the UK. Nominated by someone they know, they will inspire millions of people that are watching the Torch Relay in their community, in the UK and worldwide. You can be part of Stockport’s celebrations to welcome the Flame to the town by supporting a local Torchbearer and the celebration events.

Stockport will host 15 Torchbearers, each carrying the Flame approximately 300m. We are looking for enthusiastic individuals or pairs who are excited about the Olympic Torch Relay visiting Stockport and want to play their part in welcoming the Flame/Convoy to the borough.

Your role as a volunteer marshal will be to wait with a Torchbearer at their designated location on the route and make sure they are prepared for their moment to shine. All Marshals will meet at approximately 7am at a location to be confirmed and will be finished by 10am.

There will be 3 activity hubs along the route where volunteers are needed to set up equipment, marshal, give information to members of the public, line the route and support people to participate in the activities on offer. You will be required between the following times:

Mersey Square – Family Fun Day, 7:30am – 2:00pm (breaks will be included)

Stockport College – Boxing demonstration & Pantonic all Stars Steel Band 7:00am – 9:30am

Stockport School – Sport competitions, 7:30am – 12:30pm (breaks will be included)

Personal Specification

Essential:
You are aged 16 or over (or with a responsible adult in a pair)
You have good communication skills
You honour your commitments
You are punctual
You are sociable and approachable
You have an interest in sport, physical activity, art, culture and community events

If you would like to be involved in this once in a lifetime opportunity please email your expression of interest to 2012@stockport.gov.uk and title your email ‘Volunteer Torch Relay’ by Friday 25 May 2012

In your email please state which of the following you would like to volunteer for:

• Torchbearers
• Mersey Square
• Stockport College
• Stockport School
• Any option

Please include your name and a contact number.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Please contact: Laura.murphy@stockport.gov.uk or go to http://www.stockport.gov.uk/2012

· Serious Violent crime has been reduced by 14%

· Acquisitive crime (robbery / burglary / vehicle crime) – has been reduced by 9%.

· Burglary dwelling – a predicted threat at the start of the year – reduced by 16% or 260 victims, largely down to an intensive 12 month programme of awareness raising with the public and target hardening vulnerable localities – helped by £50,000 from Stockport Council.

· Anti-social behaviour reduced by 3196 incidents or 21%. (ASB incidents have been almost halved (45%) in Stockport in the last two years.)

· A 45% reduction in the number of first time entrants into the criminal justice system.

· All priority areas in Stockport are keeping track of the overall Stockport reductions and in some cases bettering performance – for example a 38% reduction in burglary dwelling in Adswood and Bridgehall – a previous hotspot.

There are some challenges, including a recent spike in vehicle crime and an increase in reports of domestic violence, both of which are serious issues. It’s not yet clear whether there is an increase in actual domestic violence or whether more people are reporting it.

Councillor Stuart Bodsworth, champion for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender issues, said: “I am proud that Stockport is flying the Rainbow Flag against homophobic and transphobic bullying and discrimination. I’d like to thank everybody who showed their support for equality. Tackling inequalities is important for Stockport and we should all take a clear stand against homophobia.”

IDAHO takes places every year on May 17 to mark the day in 1990 that homosexuality was removed from the list of mental illnesses by the World Health Organisation.

More information about IDAHO day can be found at www.dayagainsthomophobia.org

The exhibition is organised by SKarts, and includes cash prizes for the works of art judged the best – go along and see if you agree with the judges decisions.

The Gallery, opposite the Town Hall and next to Stockport College, is free to visit.

Opening hours:
Monday: Closed, except for bank holidays 11am – 5pm
Tuesday to Friday: 1pm – 5pm
Saturday: 10am – 5pm
Sunday: 11am – 5pm

We aim to move the location around, spending a year in each ward in turn. This allows local residents from each area to have a chance to get to the area committee, even if travelling is an issue.

Two years ago the Area Committee was in Cheadle Hulme. Last year we held it in Cheadle village. For the coming year it will be at Bolshaw Primary School, Cross Road, Heald Green.

View Cheadle and Gatley in a larger map

By public transport, the school is about 10-15 minutes walk from Heald Green Station.

Dates for upcoming Cheadle Area Committee meetings

• Tuesday 29th May 2012, 6pm
• Tuesday 17th July 2012, 6pm
• Tuesday 28th August 2012, 6pm
• Tuesday 9th October 2012, 6pm
• Tuesday 20th November 2012, 6pm
• Tuesday 15th January 2013, 6pm
• Tuesday 26th February 2013, 6pm
• Tuesday 9th April 2013, 6pm
• Tuesday 28th May 2013, 6pm

The residential junction’s not only used by people going to and from the lakes estate, but also traffic cutting through to avoid the speed humps on Silverdale Road and so gets more than its fair share of traffic by some margin. We want to ensure that it’s at least kept in good condition and we’ll be working to ensure that happens.

Following discussions we’ve had with the minister, Norman Baker, we know that this trial is an essential step on the way to getting a new station at Cheadle, and hopefully at Gatley and Adswood too. The overall scheme for us would most likely be for a tram-train route to run between Stockport and Altrincham on the Chester line.

The other local line likely to benefit from tram-trains is Manchester-Marple.

The full DfT press release can be read here.

Lifestyle Market

Stockport is also one of only three Greater Manchester authorities to also meet a second target – placing children with families within seven months of adoption being cleared by the courts.

Fostering is a challenging area, and no-one’s perfect, but it’s one where Stockport has worked hard and we’re very glad to see that paying off in improving the lives of some of the most vulnerable young people in our society.