Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 5 March 2020.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 5 March 2020 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

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

The following interests were declared:-

Personal Interest

There were no call-in items to consider.

To consider whether it is in the public interest to exclude the public during consideration of part of Agenda Item 7 – ‘MDC Strategic Business Plan 2020-2025’ which contains information ‘not for publication’ in its appendix by virtue of Category 3 ‘Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority)’ as set out in the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).

RESOLVED – That in order to prevent the disclosure of information which was not for publication, the disclosure of which would not be in the public interest, the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of any of the exempt information in Agenda Item 7 – ‘MDC Strategic Business Plan 2020- 2025’ should it be necessary for the Scrutiny Committee to consider and comment on these aspects of the report.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director, Corporate and Support Services

The report sets out the annual Portfolio Performance and Resources Report (PPRR) for the Economy and Regeneration Portfolio. Given the unprecedented circumstances, it has been agreed that it focuses on the financial and performance out-turn data for 2019/20 rather than the usual more comprehensive summary of progress against priorities.

The PPRR is based on the 2019/20 Portfolio Performance and Resource Agreement which was considered by the Committee on 11 July and approved by the Cabinet on 23 July 2019. Out-turn performance data is reported where available. Provisional data is included in some cases, and the latest data is shown where the full-year figure is not yet available. Exception commentary is also included to provide context to the data.

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to:-

·         Consider the annual Portfolio Performance and Resources Report;

·         Review the progress against delivering key targets and budgets for 2019/20;

·         Highlight key areas of and responsibility for taking forward corrective action to address any performance or resource issues;

·         Highlight any significant issues or changes to be fed back to the Cabinet alongside the Corporate Performance and Resource Report;

·         Identify how areas of strong performance and good practice can be shared in other services.

Officer Contacts: Alan Lawson/Lisa Joy on 0161 474 5297/4044 or email: alan.lawson@stockport.gov.uk/lisa.joy@stockport.gov.uk

The Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) setting out the annual Portfolio Performance and Resource Report (PPRR) for the Economy and Regeneration Portfolio. Given the unprecedented circumstances, it had been agreed that it focussed on the financial and performance out-turn data for 2019/20 rather than the usual more comprehensive summary of progress against priorities.

The PPRR was based on the 2019/20 Portfolio Performance and Resource Agreement which had been considered by the Committee on 9 July and approved by the Cabinet on 23 July 2019. Out-turn performance data was reported where available. Provisional data was included in some cases, and the latest data was shown where the full-year figure was not yet available. Exception commentary was also included to provide context to the data.

The Cabinet Member for Economy and Regeneration (Councillor David Meller) attended the meeting to respond to questions from the Scrutiny Committee.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         Members commended the Council’s support to local businesses during the Covid-19 pandemic and the work to help them get back on track. Following the Government’s announcement on 1 May 2020 regarding a top up grant scheme for businesses that were not eligible for the other grants linked to business rates that it had previously made available, the Council had administered a local discretionary grant to local businesses. A Member enquired whether there was additional funding available from the Greater Manchester Combined Authority.

·         With regard to performance indicator E&R1.1, it was highlighted that there had been an unusually large number of works undertaken in 2019/20 for which planning consent was required, but had not been granted.

·         In response to a Member’s question, the Scrutiny Committee was advised that there were standard timescales for the inspection of bridges.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Cabinet Member for Economy and Regeneration

This report provides an overview of the Council’s response to date, building on regular updates received directly be Members and including detail relating to the remit of this Committee, and a view of how this response will be developing over the coming weeks and months.

The Scrutiny Committee is invited to:-

·         Discuss and note this report and the response to date;

·         Note the commitment to return to Scrutiny with information about future phases of response.

Officer Contact: Kathryn Rees on 07989208640 or email:kathryn.rees@stockport.gov.uk

The Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an overview of the Council’s response to date to the Covid-19 pandemic, building on regular updates received directly by Members and including detail relating to the remit of this Committee, and a view of how this response would be developed over the coming weeks and months.

The report provided an overview of the activity, progress and impact to date in relation to the programmes and services relevant to this Committee in the following areas:-

·         Economic resilience

·         Stockport Jobs Match – job scheme for residents

·         Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme

·         Business Support Finder service

·         Loan Scheme for small businesses

·         Launch of the SK Business Recovery website

The Corporate Director outlined the borough’s ‘One Stockport’ campaign which the Council would shortly be launching with its economic partners. It was a new borough wide campaign where, by working in collaboration, Stockport could become united and encouraged to build a better future for everyone by supporting the local economy, connecting communities, and promoting health and wellbeing.

The Cabinet Member for Economy and Regeneration (Councillor David Meller) attended the meeting to respond to questions from the Scrutiny Committee.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         There was support for the business and economic recovery support initiated by the Council and the ‘One Stockport’ campaign. The financial support, advice and guidance available to local businesses, including how businesses could reopen safely, had been well received. Effective communications were of paramount importance in conveying information to Councillors and residents.

·         A webinar on economic recovery had been sent to local businesses via the Stockport Economic Alliance.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That it be noted that further reports on this issue would be submitted to future meetings of the Scrutiny Committee.

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

The Stockport Town Centre West Mayoral Development Corporation has been created to deliver the Council’s ambitious agenda to deliver new homes, increase the long-term viability of the whole town centre, and regenerate Stockport’s Town Centre West.  It will deliver the long-term vision for the area as set out in the Strategic Regeneration Framework for Town Centre West which the Council approved in November 2019.

This report recommends that Cabinet approve the MDC’s Strategic Business Plan which will formally guide the MDC’s activity and act as the document against which the MDC’s effectiveness can be assessed. The Strategic Business Plan is included in Appendix A of this report.

(NOTE: This item includes a ‘not for publication’ appendix that has been circulated to members of the Scrutiny Committee only).

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

Officer contact: Caroline Simpson on 0161-218-1940 or email: caroline.simpson@stockport.gov.uk

The Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing the Stockport Town Centre West Mayoral Development Corporation’s (MDC) Strategic Business Plan which would formally guide the MDC’s activity and act as the document against which the MDC’s effectiveness could be assessed.

The Cabinet Member for Economy and Regeneration (Councillor David Meller) attended the meeting to respond to questions from the Scrutiny Committee.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         A Member asked for further information on the recruitment process for the Chair of the Mayoral Development Corporation Board.

·         It was suggested that it would be helpful to the Scrutiny Committee to look at issues in isolation rather than contained in their entirety in the Business Plan.

·         Future reports would benefit from an assessment of the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and the economic situation at the moment in time. However, it was the view of Officers that the benefits of the Mayoral Development Corporation would remain the same in a ‘post Covid-19 pandemic’ environment.

(NOTE: The item included a ‘not for publication’ appendix that had been circulated to members of the Scrutiny Committee only).

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

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

The report sets out the Council’s proposed approach to support safe cycling and walking under the social distancing guidelines in the short term.

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

Officer Contact: Caroline Simpson on 0161 218 1940 or email: caroline.simpson@stockport.gov.uk

The Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) setting out the Council’s proposed approach to support safe cycling and walking under the social distancing guidelines in the short term and initiatives to support the continuation and acceleration of increased cycling and walking levels in the borough.

The Cabinet Member for Economy and Regeneration (Councillor David Meller) attended the meeting to respond to questions from the Scrutiny Committee.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         A number of the routes were temporary, but being put in place quickly in response to schools and shops re-opening following the lockdown as part of the Covid-19 pandemic. If an initiative proved successful, a full consultation would be carried out a later date.

·         Officers would continue to inform and engage with local Members on the proposals.

·         The Council had expressed support for those who wished to cycle into Manchester from Stockport and Manchester City Council was working with the Council to help facilitate this.

·         Work would be carried out to explore routes that crossed over the boundaries of the borough into neighbouring local authorities to see if there was scope for joint working with the other local authorities.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted. 

To consider a report of the Statutory Scrutiny Officer

The Scrutiny Committee is invited to give consideration to possible topics for further consideration during the 2020/21 Municipal Year. Suggestions will be considered and subject to a further decision at the next meeting in July 2020 when the Scrutiny Committee will be invited to make a formal recommendation to the Scrutiny Co-ordination Committee as part of the Scrutiny Work Programme.

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: David Clee on 0161 474 3137 or email: david.clee@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 Forward Plan items.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         A Member requested that an update on the work of the Development Plan Working Party and the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework be submitted to a future meeting of the Committee.

·         A Member enquired how major town centre events such as Foodie Friday would be able to operate in a ‘post Covid-19 pandemic’ environment.

·         Concern was expressed about the delay to the submission of the Parking Strategy Update Report.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.