Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 23 July 2019.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 23 July 2019 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.

No declarations of interest were made.

To report any urgent action taken under the Constitution since the last meeting of the Cabinet.

No urgent decisions were reported.

Members of the public are invited to put questions to the Chair and Cabinet Members on any matters within the powers and duties of the Cabinet, subject to the exclusions set out in the Code of Practice.  (Questions must be submitted no later than 30 minutes prior to the commencement of the meeting on the card provided.  These are available at the meeting. You can also submit via the Council’s website at www.stockport.gov.uk/publicquestions)

Members of the public were invited to submit questions to the Cabinet on any matters within its powers and duties, subject to the exclusions set out in the Code of Practice.

One question was submitted by a questioner who was not present at the meeting. The Chair confirmed that, in accordance with the Code of Practice, a written response would be provided.

To consider a report of the Cabinet Member for Economy & Regeneration.

The Council consulted on a Draft Open Space Provision and Commuted Payments SPD between February 2019 and March 2019, and again between May 2019 and June 2019, as part of its review of the approach to securing planning obligations in relation to delivering open space assets in the borough. The details of the consultation responses and the Council’s feedback are provided in Appendix 3, in accordance with Regulation 12 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012.

The Cabinet is recommended to

•      Approve and adopt the revised Recreational Open Space Provision and Commuted Payments’ Supplementary Planning Guidance (SPG) 

•      Revoke the existing ‘Recreational Open Space Provision and Commuted Payments’ Supplementary Planning Guidance (SPG), July 2006.

Officer contact: Sally Maguire on 0161-474-2738 or email: sally.maguire@stockport.gov.uk

The Cabinet Member for Economy & Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) inviting the Cabinet to consider revisions to the Council’s ‘Recreational Open Space Provision and Commuted Sum Payments’ Supplementary Planning Guidance that set out the expectations on developers for open space, play and sport provision within developments or financial contributions to the Council for their provision off-site. The draft Guidance had been subject to two consultations, the details of which were included in the report.

Cabinet Members welcomed the increase in the levels of contributions or commuted sums expected of developers to ensure the Council was able to make adequate provision.

RESOLVED – That the revised Recreational Open Space Provision and Commuted Payments’ Supplementary Planning Guidance (SPG) be approved and adopted and the existing Guidance previously adopted in July 2006 be revoked.

To consider a report of the Cabinet Member for Sustainable Stockport.

The report provides details of a draft Rent Strategy for Council Dwellings for the period 2020-2025.  The purposes of the strategy are:

•        To put rent setting into a local and national context;

•        To set a strategic framework for setting rents over the next five years which is in line with the Government settlement on rents from 1st April 2020 with an aim to set the rents to the limit of CPI + 1% each year for the five year period subject to annual review.

The Cabinet is recommended to endorse the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Rent Strategy 2020 – 2025.

Officer contact: Andy Kippax, 0161-474-4319, andy.kippax@stockport.gov.uk

The Cabinet Member for Sustainable Stockport submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) inviting the Cabinet to consider the Rent Strategy for 2020-2025 for Council dwellings that sought to set a strategic framework for setting rents over the next five years, taking into account local and national requirements and pressures.

The Cabinet Member outlined the pressure that had been placed on the delivery of the HRA Business Plan caused by the Government’s change in policy to require rent reductions over the preceding 5 year, resulting in a £19m reduction in expected income, equating to over £217m over the 30 year HRA business plan, placing significant pressure on the capital investment programme in particular. It was hoped that this Strategy would provide greater certainty for future investments.

The Strategy had been subject to consultation with tenants who had provided constructive and supportive feedback.

RESOLVED – That the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Rent Strategy 2020 – 2025 be endorsed.

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

To inform the Scrutiny Committee that the AGMA Executive Board had agreed a number of amendments to the AGMA constitution following a review by the GMCA Monitoring Officer.

The Cabinet is invited to:-

·         note that the AGMA Executive Board & GMCA have agreed the amendments to the AGMA Constitution;

·         agree the revised AGMA Constitution in so far as it relates to executive functions and recommend that the Council Meeting agree in so far as it relates to non-executive functions;

·         recommend to the Council Meeting that it nominate the GMCA substitute member as the substitute member for the AGMA Executive Board.

Officer contact: Vicki Bates, 0161 474 3219, vicki.bates@stockport.gov.uk

The Cabinet Member for Resource, Commissioning & Governance submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) inviting the Cabinet to consider proposals for amendments to the AGMA Constitution arising from developments with the GMCA. The proposals had already been agreed by the AGMA Executive Board and the GMCA.

RESOLVED – That in relation to the proposed changes to the AGMA Constitution

·         the decision of the AGMA Executive Board and GMCA to agree the amendments to the AGMA Constitution be noted;

·         the revised AGMA Constitution in so far as it relates to executive functions be approved and the Council Meeting be recommended to agree the change in so far as its relates to non-executive functions;

·         the Council Meeting be recommended to nominate the GMCA substitute member as the substitute member for the AGMA Executive Board.

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.

To consider a report of the Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Devolution.

The Cabinet is invited to note the decisions of the GMCA at its meeting held on 26 July 2019.

Officer contact: Jonathan Vali, 0161 474 3201, jonathan.vali@stockport.gov.uk

The Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Devolution submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) setting out decisions taken by the GMCA on 26 July 2019.

The Leader of the Council highlighted the following decisions:-

·         Greater Manchester Model – White Paper on Unified Public Services

·         School readiness programme

·         Implementing the five year environment plan

·         Brexit preparations update

·         Night-time economy blueprint

·         Devolution of the adult education budget

·         Update on concessionary travel pass

The Cabinet Member for Resources, Commissioning & Governance reported that the Council was working with the GMCA and other partners to prepare for the UK’s exit from the European Union and plans had been in place for some time. The Council would continue to respond to further guidance from the Government and work with partners to ensure residents were protected, particularly the most vulnerable in the community.

RESOLVED – (1) That the decisions be noted.

(2) That the Chief Executive be requested to circulate to cabinet members details of the GMCA’s proposals for addressing direct emissions from Manchester Airport.

On:-

(a)  Matters (if any) referred to the Cabinet Meeting

(b)  Any called-in Cabinet Executive Decisions

(Executive Decision Record and report enclosed)

The Corporate, Resource Management & Governance Scrutiny Committee at its meeting on 6 August 2019 considered the call-in of decision CAB179 “Ludworth School Expansion” and referred the decision back to the Cabinet to reconsider its final recommendation.

The Executive is asked to reconsider its previous decision in relation to Ludworth School Expansion and resolution of the Corporate, Resource Management & Governance Scrutiny Committee as follows:-

“That Executive Decision CAB179 be referred back to the Cabinet for its reconsideration at the first available opportunity with a request that Sections 9.6.2 and 9.6.3 within the accompanying report be amended to incorporate the full schedule of proposed mitigation measures circulated in advance of the meeting, and with a further recommendation that the Cabinet amend its decision to include a third resolution stating:-

‘(3) That the relevant Cabinet Members and officers be recommended to investigate and where practicable and appropriate implement the schedule of mitigation measures included within Section 9.6 of the report, subject to any necessary consultations, firstly as part of any planning application submitted by the Council to the Planning Authority and secondly in the formulation and determination of any package of traffic regulation orders subsequently drawn up to mitigate against its impact.’”

Officer contact: Jonathan Vali, 0161 474 3201, jonathan.vali@stockport.gov.uk

A report of the Corporate, Resource Management & Governance Scrutiny Committee was submitted (copies of which had been circulated) inviting the Cabinet to reconsider its previous decision (CAB179) in relation to the expansion of Ludworth School. The Scrutiny Committee considered the call-in of this decision at its meeting on 6 August 2019, the summary of which was included in the report.

The Cabinet Member for Resource, Commissioning & Governance reported that the Scrutiny Committee had not contested the principal of the expansion of Ludworth Primary School but had raised concerns in relation to the traffic and parking problems that may be exacerbated by the expansion, and had requested additional possible measures be included in the report. He invited the Cabinet to agree to these proposed additions and suggested that they be referred to appropriate cabinet members, area committees, officers and partner agencies for their consideration. He also stressed that wherever feasible, and provided appropriate resources could be identified, the process for implementing any further measures be undertaken in parallel with the planning process for the school expansion.

The Cabinet Member also reported that he was planning to have further discussions with local residents and local schools in relation to their concerns.

RESOLVED – That the referral by the Corporate, Resource Management & Governance Scrutiny Committee of the call-in of executive decision CAB179 be noted and that the Cabinet reaffirms the following:-

·           the outcome of the consultation exercise undertaken in relation to the expansion of Ludworth Primary School be noted, and the approval given to its expansion from a 1.5 form entry to a 2 form entry (subject to planning permission)

·           the Deputy Chief Executive be requested to ensure appropriate agencies undertake enforcement of existing traffic regulation orders in the vicinity of the school

and that in addition the following be agreed:

·           the relevant Cabinet Members and officers be recommended to investigate and where practicable and appropriate, and where resources were available, to implement the schedule of mitigation measures included within Section 9.6 of the report, subject to any necessary consultations, firstly as part of any planning application submitted by the Council to the Planning Authority and secondly in the formulation and determination of any package of traffic regulation orders subsequently drawn up to mitigate against its impact.