Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 15 December  2011.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 15 December 2011 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

Councillors and officers to declare any interest which they may have in any of the items on the agenda for this meeting (including whipping declarations).

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

The following interest was declared:-

Personal Interest

To consider any call-in items.

There were no items to consider.

To note the résumé of the meeting held on 12 December 2011.                   

Officer contact: Beverley Lowe Tel: 474 3208, email: beverley.lowe@stockport.gov.uk

The Committee considered a résumé (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting of the Environment Partnership held on 12 December 2011.

RESOLVED – That the résumé of the meeting held on 12 December 2011 be noted. 

To consider a report of the Corporate Director of Place

This report considers the outcomes of the consultation and proposed final recommendations of the strategy for meeting the physical activity needs of Stockport People through Leisure Facility Provision.

The Scrutiny Committee is invited to comment on the report.

Officer contact: Carol Morrison, tel. no. 0161 474 4501, e mail: carol.morrison@stockport.gov.uk

The Corporate Director of Place submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) in connection with the outcomes of the consultation and proposed final recommendations of the strategy for meeting the physical activity needs of the people of Stockport through leisure facility provision.

The Scrutiny Committee had initially commented on the draft Strategy at its meeting held on 15 September 2011 and the outcome of the consultation at its meeting held on 15 December 2011.

On behalf of the Conservative Group, Councillor Syd Lloyd submitted detailed comments on the consultation process and the draft Strategy, and agreed to forward these to the Corporate Director of Place.         .

The following additional comments were made/issues raised:-

•           Whereas the report stated that there was broad agreement with the Council’s investment plan, this was not supported by users of the Peel Moat Centre.

•           A Member felt that undue weight had been given to the telephone survey.

•           Concern was expressed about the money spent engaging the services of IpsosMori.

•           Some Members did not support the proposed closure of the Peel Moat Centre as there was strong public demand for the facility and there was significant housing development in the vicinity of the centre, and they supported re-investment in the centre.

•           A Member felt that the changes between the original strategy and the amended version following the consultation period appeared minimal, and the views of residents had not been taken into account.

•           A Member welcomed the investment proposals for Brinnington and Offerton, namely the re-provision of a sports hall and fitness suite in a more accessible location in Brinnington with the subsequent closure of Target Life Lapwing and the replacement of the current provision in Offerton in the Dialstone Centre with the enhanced provision of a sports hall and fitness suite as part of the proposed development opportunity.

•           The proposals for Adswood/ Bridgehall and Edgeley required more detail with regard to the capital receipt gained from the disposal of the Peel Moat Centre being utilised for the on-site re-provision of a playing pitch with associated changing facility and for the creation of a reserve to support the new provision of a centre for the town centre/Adswood/Bridgehall and Edgeley area.

·                     If the Edgeley Park stadium was re-developed it would include a new leisure facility to meet the leisure needs of the town centre, Adswood, Bridgehall and Edgeley communities.

·                     Developments at the Avondale Centre over the past twelve months and the investment required at the centre.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Service Director (Place Development)

This report covers the current context around Stockport’s labour market, outlines national policy and programmes, and hoe these are being addressed within Stockport. Key issues covered  are worklessness and employability, particularly in priority neighbourhoods; skills gaps and the changes within the wider skills, education and training provision, including the growth in apprenticeships.

The Scrutiny Committee is invited to comment on the report.

Officer contacts: Richard Mortimer/Michael Fisher, Tel: 474 3742;/3864, email: richard.mortimer@stockport.gov.uk/michael.fisher@stockport.gov.uk

The Service Director (Place Development) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) setting out the current context around Stockport’s labour market, outlining national policy and programmes, and how these were being addressed within Stockport. The key issues covered in the report were worklessness and employability, particularly in priority neighbourhoods, skills gaps and the changes within the wider skills, education and training provision, including the growth in apprenticeships.

The following comments were made/issues raised :-

•           What the Council was doing locally to address the fact that at least 50% of jobs would require at least NVQ equivalent Level 3 skills by 2026.

•           People were choosing not to go onto higher education because of the cost of courses and the effect of people being displaced further down the skills chain as people accepted more lowly skilled jobs.

•           Concern was expressed that the three private employment service providers in the Work Programme would ‘cherry pick’ people as they were contracted on a ‘payments by results’ basis with payments greater for those client groups with health related incapacities. It was too early since its inception to monitor the effect of the Work Programme.

•           A work programme market place event would be taking place on 10 February 2012 to help ensure contractors were using local services.

•           Stockport’s comparative advantages economically with a well educated workforce and strong private sector base, and a strong residential housing offer.

•           Whether or not the development of ‘Airport City’ would be beneficial to Stockport in terms of job creation

•           Some local employers, for example in the engineering sector, struggled to recruit and the Council was helping to address this through skills and employment engagement events for employers.

•           Although Stockport had a highly skilled workforce, there was a polarity with 8% of people without any qualifications.

•           How the Council was monitoring whether apprentices stayed in employment and whether there were long term benefits to apprenticeships.

•           Transport could be a barrier to travel to work and people with lower skills were less likely to travel to work. The railway station in a comparatively high area of unemployment such as Brinnington was underused compared with other areas of the borough.

•           Work was also being undertaken with regard to helping people develop ‘soft skills’ for the job market such as punctuality and mock interviews with employers for school pupils.

RESOLVED – (1) That a further report be submitted to a meeting of the Scrutiny Committee in six months’ time, particularly with regard to the Work Programme, both nationally and locally.

(2) That a report be submitted to a future meeting of the Scrutiny Committee on apprenticeships.

(3) That Wayne Jones from MAN Diesel be invited to a future meeting of the Committee to discuss the observation that certain firms, for example in the engineering sector, found it hard to recruit and that MAN Diesel be possibly used as a case study.

To consider a report of the Service Director (Place Management)

This report considers the responses to the draft parking strategy consultation process and the proposed amendments to the parking strategy.

The Scrutiny Committee is requested to consider and comment on the consultation responses and the Council’s proposed response, and comment on the revised parking strategy.

Officer contact: Sue Stevenson, 0161 474 4351, sue.stevenson@stockport.gov.uk

The Service Director (Place Management) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) in connection with the responses to the draft parking strategy consultation process and the proposed amendments to the parking strategy. The Scrutiny Committee had been initially consulted on the draft strategy at its meeting held on 3 November 2011.      .

The strategy centred around the objective of having a quality offer in the right places in the borough. Issues highlighted in the report included:-

•           The recruitment of additional Civil Enforcement Officers.

•           The review of the residents parking policies and processes.

•           The refurbishment of the Merseyway Car Park.

•           Planning permission having been granted for a multi-storey car park and cycle centre at the Grand Central site.

•           A number of specific local issues that had been identified as being able    to be dealt with via the Area Committees.

•           The need for more flexible payment methods and payment schedules.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

•           Whether the match day parking situation around the Edgeley Park stadium would be affected. The Executive Councillor (Transportation) advised that this was not currently being examined as part of the proposals.

•           Pay on exit from the Council’s car parks remained an option, but a tender was being prepared for a method of payment via a mobile phone based service as this was considerably cheaper, particularly, for example, as the Merseyway car park had a number of exits. Traders had raised the benefit of a system where shoppers would not be conscious of returning to their car by a certain time in order to prevent an additional charge being incurred. It was clarified that motorists would still be able pay by cash at the car parks, as was currently the case.

•           A Member requested that additional limited free parking should be examined on a trial basis in order to assist the regeneration of the district and local centres.

•           The review of the residents’ parking scheme was welcomed and it was felt that Area Committees should be consulted as part of it.

•           The effect on the Council’s car parks of the two hours free car parking offered by many of the supermarkets in the borough.

•           The emphasis should be on enforcing motorists parking illegally where waiting restrictions were in force.

•           Parking in the vicinity of schools remained problematic throughout the borough and the results of investigations should be brought to the appropriate Area Committee.

RESOLVED –  (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That Muse Developments be invited to give a presentation on the proposals for the Grand Central site to a future meeting of the Central Stockport Area Committee.

To consider a report of the Service Director (Place Management)

The Scrutiny Committee is requested to comment on the Draft Obstruction Policy for Highways, Draft Highways Café Policy, Draft Control of Skips, Containers, Scaffolding and Hoardings on the Highway Policy, and the Draft Advertising Boards and Trade Goods Obstruction Policy.

Officer contacts: Andrew Suggett/Sue Stevenson/Graeme Vout, Tel: 474  5694/4351/4562

email: andrew.suggett@stockport.gov.uk/sue.stevenson@stockport.gov.uk/

graeme.vout@stockport.gov.uk

The Service Director (Place Management) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) requesting the Scrutiny Committee’s comments on the Draft Obstruction Policy for Highways, Draft Highways Café Policy, Draft Control of Skips, Containers, Scaffolding and Hoardings on the Highways Policy; and the draft Advertising Boards and Trade Goods Obstruction Policy. The aims of the policies were to promote consistency across the borough, and disability and other user groups had raised a number of concerns about the current arrangements.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

•           A Member considered that there was no need for the policy and each individual situation could be enforced under the Town Police Clauses Act 1847.

•           Whether action could be taken against unregistered companies supplying skips.

•           Whether there would be an appeals process against the refusal to grant a licence.

•           The proposals regarding licensing advertising boards may give rise to a significant increase in fly posting.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted and the Scrutiny Committee’s comments be submitted to the Executive for consideration.

To consider a report of the Service Director (Place Management)

This report considers the proposed changes to services on the Buxton – Manchester railway line, and details of changes which were originally proposed by the High Peak and Hope Valley Community Rail Partnership and subsequent recommendations from Transport for Greater Manchester.

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to note the report.

Officer contact: Sue Stevenson, Tel: 474 4351, email: sue.stevenson@stockport.gov.uk

The Service Director (Place Development) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) in connection with the proposed changes to services on the Buxton – Manchester railway line, and details of changes which were originally proposed by the High Peak and Hope Valley Community Rail Partnership, and subsequent recommendations from Transport for Greater Manchester.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To note the résumé of the meeting held on 7 December 2011.                   

Officer contact: Charlotte Forrest, Tel: 474 3300, email: charlotte.forrest@stockport.gov.uk

The Committee considered a résumé (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting of the Stockport Economic Alliance held on 7 December 2011.

RESOLVED – That the résumé of the meeting held on 7 December 2011 be noted. 

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: David CleeTel: 474 3137 email: david.clee@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 Committee’s next meeting and Forward Plan items which fell within the remit of the Scrutiny Committee.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.