Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Cabinet Member for Resources, Commissioning & Governance.

In March 2019 the Greater Manchester Combined Authority agreed to create a Mayoral Development Corporation (MDC) to lead the regeneration of Town Centre West. The Legislation needed to establish the ‘Stockport Town Centre West Mayoral Development Corporation’ is currently before Parliament and is due to come into force on 2 September 2019, creating the MDC as a ‘body corporate’ which is run by a board appointed by the Greater Manchester Mayor in consultation with Stockport Council.

The Cabinet is recommended to:

·         note the proposed make-up of the Mayoral Development Corporation board;

·         agree the proposed Council representation on the Mayoral Development Corporation board prior to the creation of the MDC in September;

·         note that the Mayoral Development Corporation will produce an annual Business Plan as soon as possible following its creation and that its Business Plan will be submitted to the Council and to Greater Manchester Combined Authority for approval.

Officer contact: Paul Richards, 0161-474-2940, paul.richards@stockport.gov.uk

The Cabinet Member for Resource, Commissioning & Governance submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) inviting the Cabinet to consider further proposals for the governance arrangements of the Mayoral Development Corporation (MDC) for Town Centre West, including the nomination of local authority representatives to the MDC Board.

RESOLVED – That in relation to the governance arrangements for the Mayoral Development Corporation:-

·         the proposed make-up of the Mayoral Development Corporation Board be noted;

·         the proposed Council representation on the Mayoral Development Corporation Board prior to the creation of the Corporation in September be approved as the leaders of the three largest political groups on the Council;

·         the intention for the Mayoral Development Corporation to produce an annual Business Plan as soon as possible following its creation and for it to be submitted to the Council and to Greater Manchester Combined Authority for approval be noted.

Report of the Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration.

In March 2019 the Greater Manchester Combined Authority agreed to create a Mayoral Development Corporation (MDC) to lead the regeneration of Town Centre West. The Legislation needed to establish the ‘Stockport Town Centre West Mayoral Development Corporation’ is currently before Parliament and is due to come into force on 2 September 2019, creating the MDC as a ‘body corporate’ which is run by a board appointed by the Greater Manchester Mayor in consultation with Stockport Council.

The Cabinet will be invited to approve the appointment of the leaders of the three largest political groups on the Council to the MDC Board.

The Scrutiny Committee is invited to:-

·         note the proposed make-up of the Mayoral Development Corporation board;

·         comment on the proposed Council representation on the Mayoral Development Corporation board prior to any decision by Cabinet;

·         note that the Mayoral Development Corporation will produce an annual Business Plan as soon as possible following its creation and that its Business Plan will be submitted to the Council and to Greater Manchester Combined Authority for approval.

Officer contact: Paul Richards, 0161-474-2940, paul.richards@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing the proposed arrangements for the appointment of a board for the Mayoral Development Corporation with a membership that aimed to balance the need to achieve political oversight and democratic accountability with the specialist regeneration expertise needed to deliver development at-pace and at-scale.

The Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Resources, Commissioning & Governance (Councillor Tom McGee) attended the meeting to respond to questions from the Scrutiny Committee.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         Following a question from a member, it was stated that the remainder of the Board would comprise of Mayoral appointees from the Combined Authority, Homes England with the remainder from the private sector.

·         It was confirmed that planning powers and business rates would be retained by the Council.

·         It was stated that it had not yet been decided whether the board members from the private sector would be remunerated.

·         A discussion took place in relation to the arrangements for the selection of Council nominated Board members in the eventuality that there was a parity of membership between two of the political groups.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.