Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 14 June 2012.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 14 June 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 (Place Management)

This report advises the Committee with a proposed list of residential road maintenance schemes to be funded through the £1M Residential Road Repairs Highway Capital Investment Programme.

The Scrutiny Committee is requested to comment on the Residential Road Repairs Highway Capital Investment Programme, prior to is consideration by the Executive Councillor (Public Realm).

Officer contacts: Andrew Suggett/Megan Black, tel. nos. 0161 474 2425/0161 218 1410. email: andrew.suggett:stockport.gov.uk/megan.black@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Service Director (Place Management) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) advising the Scrutiny Committee of a proposed list of residential road maintenance schemes to be funded through the £1M Residential Road Repairs Highway Capital Investment Programme. Members were invited to comment on the programme, prior to its consideration by the Executive Councillor (Public Realm).

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

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

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

The information is provided in the form of the Quarter 4 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 Service Director (Place Development) and representatives of the Service Director (Place Management) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing a detailed overview of performance which relates to this Scrutiny Committee. The information was provided in the form of the Quarter 4 2011/12 Portfolio Performance and Resources Reports for each of the former 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:-

•           How many electric cars were currently being used in Stockport. The Committee was advised that there would be charging points in the town centre in addition to the charging points which the owners would have at their homes. Solutions SK were using some electric vehicles on a trial basis. The model in Greater Manchester was that owners of electric vehicles would join a club for a nominal amount.

•           The number of gullies which had been emptied

•           Business support arrangements and the increase in this quarter of the occupancy of managed workspace and incubator floorspace at Houldsworth Mill

•           The withdrawal of Sainsbury’s from its proposed development at Knightsbridge and Travelodge’s revised plans for development at Grand Central.

•           The proposal for a Construction Academy at Brinnington

•           Whether dog fouling prosecutions could be publicised, for example in ‘The Review’.

•           Replacement recycling bins in parks and the facilities at Bredbury for waste disposal

•           A Member asked to be updated on the work which had begun with Burnage Rugby Club to develop an orienteering route.

•           The cost of the Council maintaining the Green Flag standard in a number of its parks and whether there were cheaper alternatives to maintaining higher standards. If the Council developed its own criteria, a Member felt that the former Head of Parks and Recreation, the late David Brayshay, should be remembered in the naming of the criteria.

•           A Member requested a copy of the Service Level Agreements associated with the creation of the Public Realm Service and the TUPE transfer of staff to Solutions SK and the move of retained staff to their new place of work, ie Network Assets and Clean and Inspect to Enterprise House and Greenspace and Waste Minimisation to Endeavour House.

•           A Member requested a copy of the revised Service Level Agreement regarding co-located libraries/children’s centres

•           The savings in the Culture, Tourism and Venues Department had been achieved by voluntary redundancies.

•           The effect of the proposals for Covent Garden on the residents who currently lived there.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

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

The new Executive portfolio roles and responsibilities were reported to the Council Meeting on 22 May 2012. The refreshed Council Plan and Budget, approved by the Executive, on 9 July, is supported by ten Portfolio Performance and Resource Agreements (PPRs). These set out in detail the priority outcomes, measures, budgets, projects and risks that will form the basis for Portfolio reports during 2012/13.

The PPRAs have been approved by Portfolio Holders and published alongside the Executive report of 9 July. They are now being considered by the relevant Scrutiny Committees.

The new Portfolios within the remit of the Environment & Economy Scrutiny Committee are:-

•           Economic Development and Regeneration

•           Public Realm

•           Sustainable Future

The Scrutiny Committee is requested to consider and comment on the Portfolio Agreements.

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

The Service Director (Place Development) and representatives of the Service Director (Place Management) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) setting out the new Portfolio Performance and Resource Agreements  which, following the new Executive portfolio roles and responsibilities reported to the Council Meeting on 22 May 2012, set out in detail the priority outcomes, measures, budgets, projects and risks that would form the basis for Portfolio reports during 2012/13.

The new Portfolios within the remit of this Scrutiny Committee were:-

•           Economic Development and Regeneration

•           Public Realm; and

•           Sustainable Future.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

•           It was clarified that public transport fell within the Economic Development & Regeneration portfolio

•           There needed to be greater emphasis on district and local centres in the Economic Development & Regeneration portfolio, and the work that was being carried out there.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

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

This report provides an update on the progress of the A6 to Manchester Airport Relief Road scheme and the proposed Member involvement in the process over the next year.

The Scrutiny Committee is requested to comment on the approach to Member involvement in the development of the A6 to Manchester Airport Relief Road scheme.

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

A representative of 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 scheme and the proposed Member involvement in the process over the next year.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

•           A request for more information on the Earn Back funding agreed as part of the City Deal in March.

•           The current situation with regard to the whole package of measures in the original SEMMMS proposals, including the tram-train iniiative.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

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

This covering report introduces a presentation to be made at the meeting of the Scrutiny committee on proposals to regenerate the Bridgefield site in the town centre.

The Scrutiny Committee is invited to comment on the proposals.

Officer contacts: Nicola Turner /George Perrin, tel. nos. 0161 218 1635/0161 474 4510, email: nicola.turner@stockport.gov.uk/george.perrin@stockport.gov.uk

The Service Director (Place Development) submitted a covering report (copies of which had been circulated) introducing a presentation on proposals to regenerate the Bridgefield site in the town centre.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

•           Support was given to the strategy of generating activity  to create interest in the area and how the Town Team as part of the Portas Pilot could assist in businesses moving into the area.

•           What type of restaurants should be encouraged and the guidelines which the larger chains adhered to, and how to make the area an attractive proposition for independent restaurants.

•           How to keep customers in the area after, for example, they had eaten at a restaurant.

•           Whether the Council should develop proposals for the area as a benchmark with what the private sector can offer. The Committee was advised that there had been interest from developers in the site and that they were endorsing the Council’s strategy.

•           Concern that the backs of some of the current buildings on Princes Street would need improving. Work would take place on this as part of the Portas Pilot.

•           Whether the vision for the area was for the daytime or for ’24 hours’.

•           Access to Debenhams for disabled people was an important issue. One of the benefits of a new development at Bridgefield Street would be that there would be good access for disabled people from the start.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

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

This report seeks the views of the Scrutiny Committee on the draft Woodford Garden Village Supplementary Document prior to its consideration by the Executive on 20 August 2012.

Officer contact: Ian Harrison, tel. no. 0161 474 4550, email: ian.harrison@Stockport.gov.uk.

The Service Director (Place Development) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) seeking the views of the Scrutiny Committee on the draft Woodford Garden Village Supplementary Planning Document (SPD), prior to its consideration by the Executive Meeting on 20 August 2012. The Stockport Core Strategy identified the Woodford Aerodrome as an opportunity site, with the Planning Inspector agreeing that the preparation of a Supplementary Planning Document was the most appropriate way of guiding the future redevelopment of the site. It was proposed that the two Major Existing Developed sites which encompassed the area were merged and that development was focussed on the northern part of the site.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

•           The development covered a large area and encompassed significantly more houses than was originally proposed and did not take into account the views of local people. Work also needed to take place with local groups.

•           Employment provision had not been adequately addressed in the SPD.

•           There was no provision for services such as dentists or doctors.

•           There was no provision for additional community facilities such as community centres, libraries and leisure facilities.

•           There was only provision for a primary school (single form entry) and a day nursery and crèche, and no mention of when during the scheme they would be built. It was queried whether Bramhall High School could cope with the additional secondary school children.

•           Transportation had not been adequately addressed in the SPD and following the proposed development there would be additional motorists using the surrounding road network.

 •          The Service Director (Legal and Democratic Services) had confirmed that the SPD was legal.

•           The proposals were predicated on the A6 to Manchester Airport Relief Road being built.

•           There was no mention of the Police’s views on the proposals and the houses and estates being designed so as to try and prevent crime.

•           Whether there was any sustainable energy plans as part of the proposals.

•           A Member enquired how the proposals would reduce inequalities in the borough and offer a proportion of affordable housing.

•           There could, for example, be a section of houses for older people.

•           There was the opportunity to make the site green and sustainable with numerous play areas and routes through to the nearby countryside.

•           The Council would adopt the roads if they met the Council’s standards.

•           There was the possibility of a neighbourhood plan by a ballot of the local community, but this needed to be in accordance with the Core Strategy.

•           The Government’s New Homes Bonus would bring additional monies to the Council.

•           Discussions were taking place with the golf club which was located outside the development area.

•           The heritage centre would be re-located.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted and the Scrutiny Committee’s comments reported to the Executive Meeting on 20 August 2012.

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

This report details the review of the parking service undertaken in 2011/12 which included the development of a parking strategy, the soft market testing process and independent audit and its recommendations.

The Scrutiny Committee is requested to comment on the report and support the recommendations to the Executive.

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

A representative of the Service Director (Place Management) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing the review of the parking service undertaken in 2011/12 which included the development of a parking strategy, the soft market testing process and independent audit and its recommendations.

A mixed approach for the provision of car parking services would be recommended to the Executive. It was recommended that enforcement should be retained in-house, as should the provision of the cash collection function and that opportunities for collaboration in the delivery of the back office and the external provision of cash collection should be investigated.

On-going regeneration work in the Town Centre and the complexity of developments in and around the Town Centre car parking portfolio had indicated that it was not appropriate at this stage to seek a private sector partner for this element of work. This would be reviewed in two years’ time.

A Pay By Mobile Phone system was to be implemented. The contract had recently been awarded and the system would come into use in the near future.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

•           The opportunities for joint working with other local authorities should continue to be explored.

•           There were advantages to a pay on exit system so that people could continue shopping and did not have to return to their cars quickly, although it would be expensive to introduce such a system.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted and the comments of the Scrutiny Committee be reported to the Executive Meeting on 20 August 2012.

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

This report advises the Scrutiny Committee of the findings of the consultation 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 Obstructions Policy.

The Scrutiny Committee is requested to comment on the report and the amended draft policies.

Officer contacts: Andrew Suggett, Sue Stevenson and Graeme Vout el: 0161 474 4351, email: andrew.suggett@stockport.gov.uk, sue.stevenson@stockport.gov.uk or graeme.vout@stockport.gov.uk.

A representative of the Service Director (Place Management) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) advising the Scrutiny Committee of the findings of the consultation 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 Obstructions Policy.

All policies had been designed to balance the (potentially conflicting) interests of a number of stakeholders, including pedestrians, people with disabilities, residents, businesses and local traders.

‘A’ board permits would be issued for free and would last up to five years providing that the ‘A’ board met the stipulated requirements and the nature of the ‘A’ board did not change in size, shape, position etc. Any ‘A’ boards placed on the highway without a permit would be treated as an obstruction. It was proposed that this approach was implemented in stages along the A6 first and then into the town and district centres and all other areas over a twelve month period with a review of progress and process after the first six months.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

•           The proposed policy was over prescriptive when, for example, the Council was trying to encourage the establishment of cafes in the town centre.

•           The trial for the ‘A’ boards permits on the A6 was supported

•           There were problems caused by advertising boards for people in wheelchairs or pushing someone in a wheelchair on the pavements and the policy helped to combat these problems.

•           Concern was expressed about the level of licence fees that café owners would have to pay.

•           A Member felt that appeals against decisions under the Highways Café Policy should be considered by the Area Committees and not the Licensing, Environment & Safety Committee.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted and the Scrutiny Committee’s comments reported to the Executive Meeting on 20 August 2012.

To consider a report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Strategy, Policy, Partnerships & Transformation)

Officer contact: Joe Conmee on 0161 474 5936, e mail: joseph.conmee@stockport.gov.uk.

A representative of the Democratic Services Manager submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) of the Assistant Chief Executive (Strategy, Policy, Partnerships & Transformation) which assisted the Scrutiny Committee in selecting and prioritising appropriate topics for inclusion in the 2012/13 Scrutiny Review Programme.

With regard to the proposed Scrutiny Review on Skills and Employment, a Member suggested using the Construction Academy in Brinnington as a test case.

RESOLVED – (1) That scrutiny reviews be undertaken during the 2012/13 Municipal Year on Skills and Employment, and the relationship between the planning process and the obligations that fall on the maintenance of the public realm by the Council thereafter.

(2) That the first review take place on Skills and Employment and the Panel comprise Councillors David White (Lead Member), Andrew Bispham, Richard Coaton, Christine Corris and Patrick McAuley.

(3) That a report be submitted to a future meeting of the Committee on the issue of Future Burial Provision.

To note the résumé of the meeting held on 24 April 2012

Officer contact: Charlotte Forrest, Tel: 474 3208, 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 24 April 2012.

RESOLVED –That the résumé of the meeting held on 24 April 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.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.