Agenda and minutes

To consider whether it is in the public to exclude the public during consideration of the following agenda items which contain information “not for publication” and to consider any representations received to the notice of the intention to consider exempt information at this meeting.

The Deputy Leader of the Council invited the Executive to consider excluding the public from the meeting during consideration of the ‘not for publication’ report to agenda item 2 ‘Property Purchase’. The Deputy Leader referred to the fact that the location of the property had been published in the press. On that basis he proposed that the public be permitted to remain in the room during the consideration of the item and those details that had been published in the press but that should executive councillors wish to discuss any matters referred to in the ‘not for publication’ report the public and press would need to be excluded from the meeting.

RESOLVED – That in order to prevent the disclosure of information which was not for publication relating to the financial or business affairs of the any particular person (including the authority), the disclosure of which would not be in the public interest, would not be fair and would be in breach of Data Protection principles, the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the ‘not for publication’ report for agenda item 2 ‘Property Purchase’ should the exempt information contained in the report need to be discussed.

To consider a report of the Executive Councillor (Support & Governance)

This report will be considered in accordance with the Special Urgency Provisions set out in the PR7 - Access to Information Procedure Rule contained in the Council’s Constitution and Regulation 11 of The Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012.

The report will contain information ‘not for publication’ that will be circulated to executive councillors only.

The Chair of the Corporate, Resource Management & Governance Scrutiny Committee has given her consent in principle to this matter being considered under the Special Urgency Provision and to its exemption from the 28 Day Notice required for meetings to be in private, both on the grounds it was not reasonable to delay consideration of this matter.

Officer contact: Paul Lawrence, 0161 218 1940, paul.lawrence@stockport.gov.uk

The Deputy Leader of the Council and Executive Councillor (Support and Governance) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) inviting the Executive to consider a proposal to make an offer to purchase Edgeley Park. The proposal was for the Council to make an unconditional offer to Cheshire Sports for the purchase of the property, subject to contract and the appropriate due diligence checks.

The Deputy Leader emphasised that the proposed offer was in accord with the Council's aim of enhancing the economic and social wellbeing of the borough, and the property contributed to this aim. He also emphasised that the proposal would need to be in the wider public interest and ensure that public resources were being safeguarded. The proposal was a purely commercial arrangement and the Council would not be providing financial support to the Football Club nor any subsidies to the users of the facility. 

The Deputy Leader acknowledged the receipt by the Council of an electronic petition calling on the Council to purchase the ground. At the time of receipt the petition had been signed 4459 times, although it was recognised that the number of signatures had risen since. 

Executive councillors expressed their support for the proposals and acknowledged the important economic and social benefits the current use of the property had for the immediate community and the borough more generally. It was emphasised that the proposals were fully in accord with the property’s designation as an asset of community value and that this status would be unaffected by this proposal. They also acknowledged and welcomed the support received from all political groups on the Council. 

(Note: the report contained information 'not for publication' that had been circulated to executive councillors only).

RESOLVED - (1) That the proposal to make an unconditional offer for the purchase of Edgeley Park as detailed in the confidential report be approved, subject to contract and the undertaking of all necessary due diligence processes.

(2) That the authority to resolve all matters associated with the completion of this transaction as detailed in the confidential report be delegated to the Corporate Directors for Corporate and Support Services and for Place Management & Regeneration, in consultation with the Executive Councillor ( Support and Governance)  subject to the satisfactory outcome of the due diligence process.

(3) That the remaining recommendations contained in the ‘not for publication’ report be approved.