Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 3 June 2019.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 3 June 2019 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.

Policy priorities for 2019/20 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.

These priorities are articulated within the Portfolio Agreements, which form the basis for regular in-year reporting. Portfolio and Corporate Performance and Resource Reports (PPRRs and CPRRs) will assess progress against key objectives, priorities, outcomes and budgets, enabling Scrutiny Committees to hold the Cabinet to account and for the Cabinet to identify current and future risks to delivery.

Council Plan priorities have been aligned to the new Cabinet Portfolio responsibilities approved at Annual Council on 21 May. These reflect emerging strategic priorities, which continue to inform the Medium Term Financial Plan.

This report presents the draft 2019/20 Agreements for the new Sustainable Stockport and Inclusive Neighbourhoods Portfolios for consideration and comment by the Committee.

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to review and comment on the draft Portfolio Agreements.

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

The Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing the draft 2019/20 Agreement for the Sustainable Stockport and Inclusive Neighbourhoods portfolios for consideration by the Scrutiny Committee.

The agreements articulated the policy priorities for 2019/20 that were set out within the adopted Council Plan, incorporating the shared outcomes from the Borough Plan alongside specific priorities of the Cabinet. The priorities within the Portfolio Agreements would form the basis for regular in-year reporting through the Portfolio and Corporate Performance and Resource Reports, enabling the Scrutiny Committee to hold the Cabinet to account.

The Cabinet Member for Sustainable Stockport (Councillor Sheila Bailey) and the Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Resources, Commissioning & Governance (Councillor Tom McGee) also attended the meeting to respond to councillors’ questions.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

Sustainable Stockport

·         There had been a significant reduction in the number of rough sleepers in Stockport which had seen a reduction of 10% compared to 2& nationally.  This had partially been achieved through the offers of support from the Council and its partners which included trial tenancies which aimed to help people move into permanent accommodation.

·         Further information was requested in relation to the proportion of the 241 rough sleepers who could be classified as hard-to-reach or where rough sleeping was entrenched.

·         It was commented that there were a number of rough sleepers whose circumstances were complicated by drug or alcohol misuse or who suffered from mental health problems where the single biggest difficulty was getting them to accept offers of help and support.

·         The phasing of housing developments meant that it was sometimes not possible to consistently meet annual targets for numbers of affordable units.  It was noted that last year’s target was missed as there was slippage in the completion of a number of units that would now be completed during the first quarter of this year.

·         It was stated that 2019 marked the 100th anniversary of the Addison Act which paved the way for council housebuilding, and the Council was seeking to appropriately commemorate the occasion.

·         Concern was expressed in relation to the longstanding impasse with regards to the redevelopment of the site of the Coach House on Swann Lane, Cheadle Hulme which was in the ownership of the Council. 

·         In response to a suggestion that the difficulties with land supply in the borough could at least be partially be resolved through higher density development, it was stated that while higher density development may have some place in the mix of accommodation in Stockport, the development of multi-storey tower blocks would not satisfy the demand for family accommodation for those on the housing wait list.

·         Extensive work had been undertaken in advance to ensure that an appropriate luminescence of LED lighting had been selected as part of the ongoing replacement of street lighting.

·         A pilot project was taking place in Brinnington to trial an alternative method for providing residents with additional capacity for their waste and recycling.  This would involve providing a new larger than standard general waste bin for those households that currently have two bins.

·         The impact of Brexit on critical services such as trading standards was discussed.

Inclusive Neighbourhoods

·         The increased focus on voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise sector within the portfolio was welcomed.

·         The success of this portfolio area would be defined by its ability to shape and influence the agendas of the other seven portfolio areas.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

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

The report details a proposal to submit Stockport Town Centre for Purple Flag Status.  Purple Flag is a National accreditation scheme run by the Association of Town Centre Management.  The current iteration of the scheme, launched in 2012, is an accreditation process similar to the Green Flag award for parks and the Blue Flag for beaches.

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

The Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing a proposal to submit Stockport Town Centre for Purple Flag Status. 

It was stated that Purple Flag was a National accreditation scheme run by the Association of Town Centre Management.  The current iteration of the scheme, launched in 2012, is an accreditation process similar to the Green Flag award for parks and the Blue Flag for beaches.

The Cabinet Member for Sustainable Stockport (Councillor Sheila Bailey) attended the meeting to respond to councillors’ questions.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         Pedestrian connectivity through the town centre was highlighted as an areas that needed improvement with a particular focus on the route from Redrock to the Underbanks.

·         Significant work was taking place to improve wayfinding and develop improved pedestrian links such as proposed bridge from the railway station that would draw people into the town centre.

·         The need to increase residential accommodation in the town centre as means of building footfall was discussed.

·         The boundary of the town centre defined in the proposal was aligned with the boundaries of the Stockport Business Improvement District.  It was stated that it was disappointing that St Mary’s Church was not included within the boundary as it was a significant and valuable asset within the traditional heart of the town centre.

·         In response to a comment relating to the use of resources in making the application, it was stated that there was no significant commitment of funding or officer time to the application process.

·         It was commented that it was important that the application and award of a Purple Flag did not necessitate the diversion of policing resources from elsewhere in the Borough.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Deputy Chief Executive.

The report presents for comments suggestions for Scrutiny Review topic selection in 2019/2020 and for scrutiny work programming building on the recommendations of the Undertaking Scrutiny in Stockport Review undertaken by the Scrutiny Co-ordination Committee in 2018/2019.

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to select a topic for inclusion in the Scrutiny Review Programme.

Officer Contact: Stephen Fox on Tel: 0161 474 3206 or email: stephen.fox@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) setting out a suggested process for the selection of scrutiny review topics and an explanation as to how the reviews would be supported.  The Committee was invited to choose a topic for their next review.

RESOLVED – (1) That the Council Meeting be recommended to include ‘Domestic Waste Collection Service’ within the 2019/20 Scrutiny Work Programme.

(2)  That Councillors John McGahan, Mark Roberts, Kerry Waters, Mark Weldon and Matt Wynne be nominated to sit on the proposed scrutiny review panel.

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 Deputy Chief Executive 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.