Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 8 March 2012.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 8 March 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 interests were declared:-

Personal Interest

To consider any call-in items.

There were no call-in items to consider.

To consider a report of the Service Director (Major Projects)

The report provides an update on the progress of the A6 to Manchester Airport Relief Road business case, prior to the Executive being requested to approve the submission of the business case to the Department for Transport in order that that the scheme can be granted programme entry status.

The Scrutiny Committee is requested to comment on the report.

Officer contact: Jim McMahon, Tel: 0161 474 4800, email: jim.mcmahon@stockport.gov.uk

The Service Director (Major Projects) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an update on the progress of the A6 to Manchester Airport Relief Road business case, prior to the Executive Meeting being requested to approve the submission of the business case to the Department of Transport in order that the scheme could be granted programme entry status.

In March 2012 a ‘Deal for Manchester’ was announced and the Government’s Budget Statement identified the ‘Earn Back’ model which would provide the Combined Authority with the mechanism needed to fully fund the Scheme and its wider infrastructure plan for Greater Manchester. Detailed discussions were continuing with Government officials and the business case would state that the funding of the scheme was subject to the final approval of the Combined Authority to allocate funding from the ‘earn back’ model to the scheme.

In order that the scheme was progressed and to mitigate programme risk with Stockport Council acting on behalf of Cheshire East Council, Manchester City Council and itself, it was proposed that a Section 8 Agreement with regard to the delegation of powers to the three local authorities was developed.

The following additional comments were made/issues raised:-

•           The consultation undertaken with small groups of residents living on particular roads affected by the scheme had proved effective and would continue.

•           There would be a major media launch of the scheme identifying those communities affected by the scheme.

•           Discussions were taking place with Transport for Greater Manchester and local bus companies with regard to bus routes along the new road and where there might be bus stops. Bus companies were reluctant to have bus stops away from areas where people lived and the traditional bus routes in Stockport were near centres of population with frequent stops, and consequently generated more revenue for the bus companies.

•           The Airport City development might mean that the area near to sections of the road was very different by the time the construction of the road was completed.

•           As the ‘earn back’ scheme was dependent on the condition of the Greater Manchester economy, a Member expressed doubt whether the road would be built.

•           Following the public consultation and statutory procedures which needed to be followed, it was expected that the scheme would be started on site in late 2014 and completed in 2017.

RESOLVED – That the comments of the Scrutiny Committee be reported to the Executive Meeting on 19 June 2012.

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

This report advises the Scrutiny Committee of the development of a supplementary Planning Document to support the implementation of policy AED5 in the Core Strategy which seeks to maximise local employment and skills benefits from commercial developments.

The Scrutiny Committee is requested to consider the key issues in the report and endorse the proposals in the Supplementary Planning Document.

Officer contact: Nick Hill, Tel: 0161 474 3736 email: nick.hill@stockport.gov.uk

The Service Director (Place Development) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) advising the Scrutiny Committee of the development of a Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) to support the implementation of Policy AED5 in the Core Strategy which sought to maximise local employment and skills benefits from commercial developments. The report followed a period of public consultation on the proposed SPD, prior to consideration for its adoption by the Executive Meeting on 9 July 2012.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

•           The employment and skills objectives in the SPD set out what local partners were seeking to achieve in the borough. The strategic priorities for employment and skills, as set out in the Stockport Adult Education, Skills and Employment Action Plan, were aspirational.

•           The need for the Council or Job Centre Plus to take a lead in the provision of supply-side services in order to ensure that policy or contractual changes within the different agencies did not compromise the supply-chain as a whole. Nevertheless, a Member felt that the different agencies should be in competition with each other.

•           Stockport’s Core Strategy included Policy AED5 which set out that the Council sought to maximise local employment and training benefits for unemployed residents from new significant commercial developments. It was proposed that ‘significant’ development was one where there was employment use and a minimum of twenty end user jobs.

•           The document was a reactive policy and dependent on the development applications which were received, but Officers would be working with and supporting a range of employers to maximise local employment and skills benefits from new developments.

•           It was significant that currently around 10,000 additional people in employment were expected in Stockport in the period between 2010-2020.

RESOLVED – (1) That the comments of the Scrutiny Committee be reported to the Executive Meeting on 9 July 2012.

(2) That the Stockport Adult Education, Skills and Employment Action Plan be submitted to a future meeting of the Scrutiny Committee.

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

This report advises the Scrutiny Committee of the main and additional minor modifications required to the minerals Plan following submission to the Secretary of State and the hearing sessions held during February 2012.

The Scrutiny Committee is requested to comment on the report.

Officer contacts: Richard Wood/Simon Styche, Tel: 0161 474 1940/0161 474 4386, email: richard.wood@stockport.gov.uk/simon.styche@stockport.gov.uk.

The Service Director (Place Development) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) advising the Scrutiny Committee of the main and additional minor modifications required to the Minerals Plan, following submission to the Secretary of State and the hearing sessions held during February 2012. The Plan would be submitted to the Executive Meeting on 14 June 2012 and the Council Meeting on 5 July 2012 for approval.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Service Director (Legal and Democratic Services) and Service Director (Place Development)

This report advises the Scrutiny Committee of the draft Carbon Management Plan 2012-2015 which further commits the Council to actively seek ways in which to improve energy efficiency, integrate low carbon asset design and explore options for integrating renewable energy within its own operations, whilst also seeking to influence others within the borough.

The Scrutiny Committee is requested to comment on the report.

Officer contacts: Murray Carr/Darren Pegram, Tel: 0161 474 1940/0161 218 1635, email: paul.lawrence@stockport.gov.uk/nicola.turner@stockport.gov.uk

Representatives of the Service Director (Place Management) and Service Director (Legal and Democratic Services) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) advising the Scrutiny Committee of the draft Carbon Management Plan 2012-2015. The plan further committed the Council to actively seek ways in which to improve energy efficiency, integrate low carbon asset design and explore options for integrating renewable energy within its own operations, whilst also seeking to influence others within the borough. The plan defined the steps that the Council would need to take to significantly reduce its carbon emissions by at least 15% over the next five years.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

•           Whether there were any figures to substantiate the forecast reduction in carbon emissions for 2010/11 and 2011/12.

•           The Council had deployed solar panels on the non-schools estate, and would be working with schools to identify potential energy efficient improvements to the building stock, renewable energy installations and raise awareness to promote behavioural change in schools through a Low Carbon Schools Service.

•           The Council had made significant strides in reducing its carbon emissions through building rationalisation and the use of energy efficient buildings such as Fred Perry House. There were now a number of larger projects, such as the establishment of bio mass plants.

•           The funding of certain carbon management projects through the recycling fund.

•           Changes to controls reducing energy consumption and associated            carbon emissions in street lighting.

•           The success of the ‘Get Me Toasty’ scheme in encouraging people to take up the offer of free loft or cavity wall insulation if they are homeowners or in privately rented accommodation.

•           A scheme had been established at Reddish Vale Technology College where pupils were helping to pioneer the use of ‘green’ technology.

RESOLVED – (1) That the comments of the Scrutiny Committee be reported to the Executive Meeting on 9 July 2012.

(2) That reports on the Carbon Management Plan be submitted to the Scrutiny Committee on an annual basis.

To note the résumé of the meeting held on 22 February 2012

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 22 February 2012.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

•           A Member asked for a list of vacant shop units in the town centre.

•           The basis on which businesses located in Greater Manchester were offered an additional £750 per apprentice if they had signed up to the Greater Manchester Commitment by taking on an unemployed young person.

RESOLVED – (1) That the résumé of the meeting held on 22 February 2012 be noted. 

(2) That Members of the Committee be provided with a list of vacant shop units in the town centre, together with a definition of what constitutes a ‘vacant shop unit’.

(3) That a report on the Portas Pilot be submitted to a future meeting of the Scrutiny Committee.

To note the résumé of the meeting held on 5 March 2012

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 5 March 2012.

RESOLVED –That the résumé of the meeting held on 5 March 2012 be noted. 

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.

It was then

MOVED AND SECONDED – That a report on the outcome of the investigation into a financial anomaly discovered during work to finalise the accounts for Solutions SK for the year ended 31 March 2012 be considered by this Scrutiny Committee.

AMENDMENT MOVED AND SECONDED – That a report on the outcome of the investigation into a financial anomaly discovered during work to finalise the accounts for Solutions SK for the year ended 31 March 2012 be considered by this Scrutiny Committee if there are any issues which specifically relate to the work of the Committee.

For the amendment 5, against 5.

The Chair exercised her casting vote in favour of the amendment.

AMENDMENT CARRIED

It was then:-

RESOLVED – (1) That the Agenda Planning report be noted.

(2) That a report on the outcome of the investigation into a financial anomaly discovered during work to finalise the accounts for Solutions SK for the year ended 31 March 2012 be considered by this Scrutiny Committee if there are any issues which specifically relate to the work of the Committee.