Agenda and minutes

GED LUCAS, CORPORATE DIRECTOR OF PLACE AND CAROL MORRISON, SERVICE DIRECTOR (COMMUNITIES)

The Chair reported that this would be the last meeting of the Scrutiny Committee that would be attended by Ged Lucas (Corporate Director of Place) and Carol Morrison (Service Director, Communities) prior to their retirement later this month. On behalf of the political groups represented on this Committee, the Chair, Councillor David White and Councillor Syd Lloyd expressed their thanks to Mr Lucas and Ms Morrison for their work on behalf of both the Scrutiny Committee and the Council, and wished them a long and happy retirement.

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 2 February 2012.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 2 February 2012 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.

(a)       Reference ED1377: Strategy for meeting the physical activity needs of Stockport people through leisure facility provision – outcomes and final recommendations

The Committee was informed that the Executive at its meeting on 27 February 2012 had considered the draft Leisure Strategy, a report summarising the outcome of the consultation exercise, a summary of the investment plan and an Equality Impact Assessment; and

(1)       approved the Strategy for Meeting the Physical Activity Needs of Stockport People through Leisure Facility Provision;

(2)       approved the final proposals in respect of leisure facilities, namely:-

(i)        the development of three new leisure facilities, in addition to the new facility opened in Reddish in 2010 by:-

•          identifying and securing the opportunity for new provision in a location suitable to meet the leisure needs of the Town Centre, Adswood, Bridgehall and Edgeley communities.

•           re-providing a sports hall and fitness suite in a more accessible location in Brinnington with subsequent closure of Target Life Lapwing.

•           Replacing current Offerton provision in the Dialstone Centre with enhanced provision of a sports hall and fitness suite as part of the proposed development opportunity.

(ii)        providing high quality, fit for purpose facilities through:

•           investment of £7m+ in Target Fitness Avondale, Cheadle, Hazel Grove, Marple and Romiley together with Target Life Council owned leisure facilities and Grand Central Pools.

(iii)       the closure of Target Fitness Peel Moat and continue to provide high quality facilities at Target Fitness +, Houldsworth Village and Target Life Priestnall.

(iv)       the utilisation of capital receipt gained from the disposal of Peel Moat for on-site re-provision of a playing pitch with associated changing facility and for the creation of a reserve to support the new centre provision for the Town Centre/Adswood/Bridgehall and Edgeley area.

(v)        that the programme be delivered by Life Leisure (Stockport Sports Trust) on behalf of the Council and in accordance with the agreed Medium Term Financial Plan developed by the Council and Life Leisure in both capital and revenue terms.

The decision of the Executive had been ‘called in’ by Councillors Alexander Ganotis, Colin Foster and David White; and Councillors Syd Lloyd, Anthony O’Neill and William Wragg.

Councillors Alexander Ganotis and Colin Foster explained their reasons for ‘calling-in’ the decision, namely that:-

•           Despite the consultation carried out there had been a pre-determined desire to close the Peel Moat Centre.

•           There had been a lack of repairs carried out to the centre, the alternative centres were inappropriate and the number of people living in the area was expanding.

•           The site of the Peel Moat Centre should be developed to include new outdoor pitches as the existing outdoor pitches had become redundant as a result of a lack of investment.

•           The Centre was well-used, particularly during the day time, and its closure would be detrimental to the community.

•           The Council had known for approximately five years that Stockport College was intending to sell the site of the former North Area College and had provided funding for a joint review of the site.

•           The consultation on the Leisure Strategy did not reflect the current situation as subsequently Stockport College had decided to dispose of the former North Area College site.

•           At the time the Council had announced in August 2010 that it was proposing to close the Avondale Centre, Stockport Sports Trust had encouraged users to leave the Peel Moat Centre in anticipation of its closure and there had been a consequent significant reduction in users of the centre.

Councillors William Wragg, Anthony O’Neill and Syd Lloyd explained their reasons for ‘calling in’ the decision, namely that:-

•           There were concerns about the consultation exercise and the contention that members of the public who lived in the Manchester City Council area had been excluded from the analysis of users of the Peel Moat Centre.

•           There had been no assessment of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

At 7.18pm it was

RESOLVED – That the meeting be adjourned.

The meeting reconvened at 7.23pm.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director of Place

The report provides a detailed overview of performance which relates to this Scrutiny Committee.

The information is provided in the form of the Quarter 3 2011/12 Portfolio Performance and Resources Reports for each of the Environment, Leisure, Regeneration and Transportation Portfolios, and specific detail and information in relation to the council’s ‘A Safe and Strong Stockport’, ‘A Thriving Stockport’ and ‘A Green Stockport’ Priorities.

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to:-

(1) Review the current levels of performance;

(2) Highlight key areas of, and responsibility for, taking forward corrective action to address any existing or forecast performance issues;

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

Officer contact: Doug Holland, Tel: 0161 474 2976, email: doug.holland@stockport.gov.uk

The Corporate Director of Place submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing the Scrutiny Committee with a detailed overview of performance which related to this Scrutiny Committee. The information provided was in the form of the Quarter 3 2011/12 Portfolio Performance and Resources Reports for each of the Environment, Leisure, Regeneration and Transportation Portfolios, and specific detail and information in relation to the Council’s ‘A Safe and Strong Stockport’, ‘A Thriving Stockport’ and ‘A Green Stockport’ Priorities.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

•           The ‘Mr Toasty’ scheme encouraging residents to take up the offer of free insulation was a one year scheme which lasted until September/October this year.

•           The Rogue Trader Day carried out in Bramhall in October.

•           How many more solar PV panels were to be installed.

•           The transfer of 15 employees from Solutions SK to the Council.

•           A Member requested details of the actual number of the 160% increase in apprenticeship numbers over the last five years.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

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

This report details a review which has been undertaken to look at how the expected pressures on the street lighting budget which has been undertaken in the light of the rise in energy prices and the application of the carbon tax in 2013/14.

The Scrutiny Committee is requested to comment on the report.

Officer contact: Megan Black, Tel: 0161 218 1410, email: megan.black@stockport.gov.uk

The Service Director (Place Management) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing a review which had been undertaken to look at how to reduce the expected pressures on the street lighting budget which had been undertaken in the light of the rise in energy prices and the application of the carbon tax in 2013/14.

Reducing energy consumption of street lighting was seen as the best way to reduce the expected pressures in the Transportation portfolio and would also reduce carbon dioxide consumption which would reduce the carbon tax liability in the Finance portfolio.

The three options which had been considered to utilise low energy equipment were to replace 100% of the street lighting network, replace 50% of the network or replace 8% of the network.

RESOLVED – That the Executive be advised that this Scrutiny Committee supports the recommended option of a capital investment programme to replace 8% of the existing street lighting network.

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

This report presents the issues involved in developing and delivering a bid to become a Portas Pilot town team.

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to comment on the report.

Officer contacts: Paul Lawrence/Nicola Turner, Tel: 0161 474 1940/0161 218 1635, email: paul.lawrence@stockport.gov.uk/nicola.turner@stockport.gov.uk

The Service Director (Place Development) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) presenting the issues involved in developing and delivering a bid to become a Portas Pilot town team.

The Portas Review, published in December 2011, had made a number of recommendations aimed at identifying what government, local authorities, businesses and communities could do together to promote the development of new models of prosperous and diverse high streets. The Government had stated that it would be responding in full to all the recommendations, but in the meantime had announced that it would be inviting bids to be one of twelve high street pilots to ‘test proof of concept’ and to ‘put in place a Town Team’ as a central part of any pilot bid.

RESOLVED – That the development of a bid by the Council to become a Portas Pilot town team be supported.

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: David Clee Tel: 474 3137 email: david.clee@stockport.gov.uk.

A representative of the Democratic Services Manager submitted a report (copies of which have 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.

COUNCILLOR WENDY MEIKLE

Councillor Wendy Meikle advised the Scrutiny Committee that this was her last scheduled meeting as Chair of the Committee prior to becoming Mayor for 2012/13.

Members of the Committee thanked her for the work she had carried out as Chair of the Committee and wished her well in her new role.