Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meetings held on 29 November and 18 December 2012.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meetings held on 29 November and 18 December 2012 were approved as correct records and signed by the Chair.

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

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 whether it is in the public interest to exclude the public during consideration of agenda item 6 (Stockport Business Incubator) which contains information ‘not for publication’ by virtue of Category 3 ‘Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority)’ as set out in the Local Government Act 1972.

RESOLVED – That in order to prevent the disclosure of information which was not for publication relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (Category 3 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 as amended) the disclosure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 agenda item 6 (Stockport Business Incubator).

To consider call-in items (if any).

There were no call-in items to consider.

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

This report provides an interim update on the progress of the first phase of the consultation on the A6 to Manchester Airport Relief Road scheme and the proposed next stages in the development of the scheme.

The Scrutiny Committee’s views are requested.

Officer Contact: Sue Stevenson on 0161 474 4351 or e mail: sue.stevenson@stockport.gov.uk

The Service Director (Major Projects) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an interim update on the progress of the first phase of the consultation on the A6 to Manchester Airport Relief Road scheme and the proposed next stages in the development of the scheme.

The first phase of the consultation commenced on 20 October 2012 and would close on 25 January 2013. The consultation process included sending leaflets to approximately 85,000 properties in the area of the scheme, holding 17 days of exhibitions, information on the dedicated website including an interactive map, dedicated phone number and e-mail address for queries and radio, local press, bus and road sign advertisements. Social media (facebook and twitter) had also been used. A report on the final phase one consultation results and a recommendation on a preferred scheme would be provided in the spring once all the responses had been analysed and further scheme development work had been undertaken in order to determine the proposed preferred scheme.

The Executive Councillor (Economic Development & Regeneration) also attended the meeting to answer Members’ questions.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

•           A great deal of the SEMMMS report had already been implemented.

•           The Council was in discussion with Transport for Greater Manchester and the bus companies about the provision of bus stops along the route.

•           Work on the Relief Road Scheme was scheduled to start on site in 2014.

•           How the consultation guarded against multiple responses from the same respondent.

•           The policing of motorists using the road across police boundaries.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

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

This report updates the Scrutiny Committee on proposals for the Stockport Business Incubator, including an application for ERDF funding to support investment in enhanced business incubator services, with a view to attracting and growing high growth new and existing small businesses.

The Scrutiny Committee’s views are requested.

Officer Contact:  Sharon Mayo on 0161 474 3733 or e mail: sharon.mayo@stockport.gov.uk

The Service Director (Place Development) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) updating the Scrutiny Committee on proposals for the Stockport Business Incubator, including an application for European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) funding to support investment in enhanced business incubator services, with a view to attracting and growing high growth new and existing small businesses. The report was scheduled to be submitted to the Executive Meeting on 18 February 2013.

The Executive Councillor (Economic Development & Regeneration) also attended the meeting to answer Members’ questions.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

•           The response to the tendering exercise and the checks carried out on the proposed new incubation service provider at Stockport Business Incubator.

•           The ‘Plan B’ should ERDF funding not prove forthcoming.

•           The link of the Stockport Business Incubator to the Council’s approved Economic Development Strategy.

•           There may be a conflict between the economic development and financial objectives of the incubator.

•           The proposed nature of the contract with the new incubation service provider and the outputs required.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That, should the Executive approve the recommendations in the report, a report be submitted to the Scrutiny Committee in six months’ time, detailing progress against the high level outputs.

This item has been placed on the agenda at the request of Councillor Dean Fitzpatrick

A representative of the Democratic Services Manager reported that this item had been placed on the agenda at the request of Councillor Dean Fitzpatrick.

The Executive Councillor (Public Realm) attended the meeting to answer Members’ questions.

Councillor Fitzpatrick referred to a letter which had been sent on 24 October 2012 by the, Executive Councillor (Public Realm), to the Friends of Parks Groups asking if any groups would be willing to take a more active role, including the management and maintenance of the parks. Councillor Fitzpatrick had raised a number of questions to which he had received responses, copied to all members of the Scrutiny Committee. The Executive Councillor confirmed that consultation was currently taking place on the question asked of the Friends of Parks Groups and that no decisions had currently been taken.

In response to Members’ questions, a representative of the Service Director (Place Management) reported that four groups had currently expressed a provisional interest in taking over the management and maintenance of their park, namely Abney Hall, Romiley, Woodlands and Heaton Moor. A meeting was to be held on 5 March 2013 to discuss the proposals further.

The following issues were raised/comments made:-

·         Work could be taken away from Solutions SK.

·         How the Council would guard against any possible financial malpractice.

·         There would be a loss of economies of scale in, for example, grounds maintenance work.

·         There was no figure on any proposed savings to be made.

·         Which Friends of Parks Groups had declined to consider taking over the management and maintenance of their park.

·         The amount of time and effort currently put in by some of the volunteers at the Friends of Parks Groups in order to fund raise was considerable.

·         Should a Friends of Parks Group agree to take over the management and maintenance of a park, discussions would take place as to whether the group wished to become a Trust.

RESOLVED – That following the meeting on 5 March 2013 with the four Friends of Parks Groups who had expressed a provisional interest in taking a more active role in the running of their park, a progress report be submitted to a future meeting of the Scrutiny Committee.

To note the resumes of the meetings held on 25 October and 6 December 2012.

Officer contact: Charlotte Forrest on 0161 474 3208, email: charlotte.forrest@stockport.gov.uk

The Scrutiny Committee considered a résumé (copies of which had been circulated) of the meetings of the Adult Education, Skills and Employability Partnership held on 25 October and 6 December 2012.

RESOLVED – That the résumés of the meetings held on 25 October and 6 December 2012 be noted.

To note the resume of the meeting held on 28 November 2012.

Officer Contact: Charlotte Forrest on 0161 474 3208 or e mail: charlotte.forrest@stockport.gov.uk

The Scrutiny Committee considered a résumé (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting of the Stockport Economic Alliance held on 28 November 2012.

RESOLVED – That the résumé of the meeting held on 28 November 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 on 0161 474 3137 or e mail: 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.