Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration.

The report alerts Councillors and the public to the consultation on the Local Plan Issues Paper which has recently commenced, provides information about consultation events and background to the Local Plan.

The Area Committee are invited to consider and comment on the report.

Officer Contact: Steve Johnsonon Tel: 474 3171 or email: steve.johnson@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing the process and timescale for the ongoing consultation on the Local Plan Issues Paper and detailing a proposal to undertake a consultation event for the Werneth area at Werneth School on Wednesday, 13 September between 6.00 pm and 8.30 pm.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         It was important that the use of acronyms and technical terminology was kept to a minimum to ensure that the public were able to easily engage with the Local Plan consultation process.

·         It was noted that there was an emphasis on the use of social media and other technological solutions to communicate with the public in relation to the ongoing consultation, however it was suggested that use of local newspapers to advertise the events may help extend the reach of the consultation to some of the traditionally harder to reach communities in Stockport.

·         It was commented that members had experienced some difficulty in accessing the Council’s website since it had been relaunched, and that the website had been reporting that it was no longer compatible with common web browsers.

·         The Stockport Local Plan Issues Paper provided an easily understandable summary of the main issues and should be as widely disseminated as possible.

·         It was suggested that any introductory presentation provided as part of the area based consultation events should be repeated throughout the event  to ensure that those members of the public who were unable to attend the full session would be able to participate fully and be in possession of all the relevant information.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.