Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 26 February 2018.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 26 February 2018 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

Councillors and officers to declare any interests which they have in any of the items on the agenda for the meeting.

Councillors and officers were invited to declare any interests which they had in any of the items on the agenda for the meeting.

No declarations were made.

To consider call-in items (if any).

There were no call-in items to consider.

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

The report details a proposal to accelerate Brownfield First delivery in Stockport town centre in relation to a number of development opportunities in the Rail Station Masterplan area around King Street West.

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to comment on and note the report.

Officer contact: Paul Richards on 0161 474 2940 or email: 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 a proposal to accelerate Brownfield First delivery in Stockport town centre in relation to a number of development opportunities in the Rail Station Masterplan area around King Street West.

The Cabinet Member for Communities and Housing (Councillor Sheila Bailey) attended the meeting to present the report and respond to councillors’ questions.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         Concern was expressed in relation to the juxtaposition of residential buildings with busy, and potentially noisy, transportation corridors such as the viaduct.

·         Further work was to take place with regard to the development of a town centre design guide.

·         It was commented that there were real concerns with regard to air quality in and around the town centre which needed to be addressed as part of any work to increase residential development.

·         The Strategy envisage a mixed use development that would retain an element of employment usage and work was taking place to accommodate or relocate existing tenants.

·         The proposal to include a significant element of innovative public open space was welcomed.

·         The proposal included the potential use of compulsory purchase powers to ensure that the land needed for development could be assembled.

·         The strategy represented a significant test of the emerging Brownfield First strategy.

·         It was unlikely that the development would result in a significant level of affordable accommodation as viability remained a challenge because of the nature of the existing buildings.

·         The ongoing work on the town centre living project had established that there was a market for residential accommodation in the town centre.

·         Affordable housing should not be focussed in one part of the borough, but needed to be spread more evenly to ensure that local communities remained sustainable and that young families could continue to live within their community.

·         Consideration needed to be given as how the river aspect could be improved to ensure that this provided amenity to new residents.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Democratic Services Manager.                                                       

The report sets out planned agenda items for the Scrutiny Committee’s next meeting and Forward Plan items that fall within the remit of the Scrutiny Committee.

The Scrutiny Committee is invited to consider the information in the report and put forward any agenda items for future meetings of the Committee.

Officer contact: Damian Eaton on 0161 474 3207 or email: damian.eaton@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Democratic Services Manager submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) setting out the planned agenda items for the Scrutiny Committee’s next meeting and any relevant Forward Plan items.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.