Issue - meetings

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

The report sets out the policy priorities for 2018/19 which were set out within the Council Plan, which was adopted at the Budget Council Meeting in February. This incorporates the shared outcomes from the Borough Plan alongside specific priorities of the Cabinet.

The Scrutiny Committee is invited to consider and comment on the draft Portfolio Agreement.

Officer Contacts: Alan Lawson/Kora Yohannan on 0161 474 5397/4032 or email: alan.lawson@stockport.gov.uk/kora.yohannan@stockport.gov.uk

The Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing the 2018/19 Agreement for the Economy and Regeneration Portfolio which set out the policy priorities for the year ahead and incorporated the existing Council and Borough Plan priorities alongside the specific priorities of the Cabinet. The Agreement would also form the basis for regular in-year reporting.

The Cabinet Member for Economy and Regeneration (Councillor Kate Butler) attended the meeting to respond to Members’ questions.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

• An update was requested on the new Highways Code of Practice – ‘Well Managed Highways’ which aimed to improve the way local authorities managed highway assets.
• A significant proportion of carbon dioxide emissions were outside the influence of local authorities.
• Clarity was requested on where Stockport stood in the Index of Multiple Deprivation.
• A Member enquired what the criteria was for the development of a Neighbourhood Plan.
• In response to a Member’s question, the Cabinet Member provided a definition of Inclusive Growth.
• A Member enquired which other town centres were included in the Town Centre Challenge.
• Performance Indicator E&R 2.6 ‘% of unemployed 18-24 year olds in the Borough’ still had a target of ‘aim to minimise’ and this should be re-examined. There was a need to move away from those Performance Indicators which said ‘aim to minimise’ or ‘aim to maximise’. Clarity was required on some of the Performance Indicators which indicated a percentage increase or decrease.
• The success of the Strawberry Studios exhibition at Stockport Museum was highlighted and how this would be followed by subsequent exhibitions at the museum.
• The capital programme works for the redevelopment of Merseyway were part of a much larger package of works for which funding had been secured to repair the structure.
• The capital programme did not show programmes which the Council was bidding for funding for 2020/21.
• A Member requested figures on UK nationals from Stockport leaving the UK.
• With regard to Performance Indicator E&R 1.9 ‘net number of business start-ups – i.e. business ‘births’ minus ‘deaths’, it was requested how many people were employed by these new business start-ups. The net number of business start-ups may not be the best measure of the health of the economy.
• A Member enquired why the Council was spending £1.422m in ‘Economy, Work and Skills (Growth)’ when the income was only £0.088m.
• Reference was made to the Greater Manchester Clean Air Plan and how clean air was being monitored.
• The most important issues to businesses starting up in Stockport included connectivity, skills, staff recruitment and retention, and a desire to use flexible workspaces.
• With regard to the proposed A6-M60 Relief Road, the Government had indicated that it was not currently looking to fund feasibility studies for such road schemes.
• The widening of the food and drink offer in the borough was commended.

RESOLVED – That the draft 2018/19 Portfolio Performance and Resources Agreement be recommended to the Cabinet for approval.