Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 16 June 2016.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 16 June 2016 were approved as a correct record.

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

No declarations of interest were made.

To consider whether it is in the public interest to exclude the public during consideration of agenda items 5-8 which contain information ‘not for publication’ by virtue of Category 3 ‘Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority)’ as set out in the Local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 (as amended).

RESOLVED – That in order to prevent the disclosure of information which was not for publication, the disclosure of which would not be in the public interest, would not be fair and would be in breach of Data Protection principles, the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following ‘not for publication’ items:-

 Item                 Title

 5                      Stockport Market - Draft Brief for Consultants

6                          Key Projects Position Statement

7                          Investing in Growth Communications

8                         Investing in Growth Communications Planner (March-September 2016).

These items contain information exempt under Category 3 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended) (information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority).

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration

Officer Contact: Graeme Vout on 0161 474 4562 or email: graeme.vout@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) regarding the Stockport Town Centre Business Improvement District (BID) Business Plan, together with the current BID development timeline. The report enabled Members to have a final opportunity to shape the business plan before it was finalised and submitted to the Council, prior to the BID ballot in October 2016. The Council was not required to formally agree any BID proposal and it could only veto BID proposals if they were contrary to formally adopted and published Council policy.

Members were requested to provide comments at the meeting and for a period up to 12 noon on 25 July 2016.

The business plan had been considered at the previous meeting of the Task Force on 16 June 2016 and at the meeting of the Environment and Economy Scrutiny Committee held on 7 July 2016.

RESOLVED – That the Executive Councillor (Economy and Regeneration) be recommended:-

(a)  That, on the basis of the Stockport Town Centre BID Business Plan, the Council would not wish to veto the BID proposals.

(b)  That, subject to receipt of the final Stockport Town Centre BID Business Plan, consideration of whether they conflict with Council policy and agreement not to veto the final proposals, the Chief Executive as Returning Officer and “Ballot Holder” agree to hold a ballot for the proposed Stockport Town Centre BID, upon receipt of a formal request to do so by Vision Stockport.

(c)  That, subject to receipt of the final Stockport Town Centre BID Business Plan, consideration of whether they conflict with Council policy and agreement not to veto the final proposals, the Council agrees to complete the necessary legal agreements required for the operation of the BID Levy, Ballot and service arrangements and any other necessary matters for the proposed BID in consultation with the appropriate Officers.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration

The Task Force is invited to comment on the report.

Officer Contact: Nicola Turner on 02161 218 1635 or email: nicola.turner@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) regarding a draft brief for consultants which addressed the issue of the proposed relocation of the general goods market in Stockport.

RESOLVED – That the draft report from the consultants be available within eight weeks of the commissioning meeting and a further report be submitted to a future meeting of the Task Force.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration

The report provides a summary position statement for the key town centre growth projects and supporting activity.

The Task Force is requested to comment on the report.

Officer Contact: Nicola Turner on 0161 218 1635 or email: nicola.turner@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing a summary position statement for the key town centre growth projects and supporting activity.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         Support was given for the new layout of the report.

·         A date was requested when the Greater Manchester wide study commissioned by Transport for Greater Manchester to consider the commercial options associated with transport infrastructure would be finalised and Members requested detail on what this would mean for Stockport.

·         Concern was expressed that a timetable was not yet available for the major works to be undertaken by Network Rail at the bridge at the roundabout at the junction of Greek Street and King Street West. A report was requested to be submitted to a future meeting of the Task Force on progress, the Council’s liaison with Network Rail on the arrangements and why the works had been excluded by Network Rail from the works on the West Coast main line.

·         The Task Force was keen to see progress on negotiations with potential partners/occupiers of the former White Lion public house on Great Underbank.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That reports be submitted to future meetings of the Task Force on the Royal Mail building on Exchange Street and the major works to be undertaken by Network Rail at the bridge at the roundabout at the junction of Greek Street and King Street West, Stockport.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration

The report sets out:-

•           the importance of communicating the Investing in Growth programme and repositioning the perception of the town centre in order to realise the value of the investment underway;

•           work in progress to communicate and promote the Investing in Growth programme for the town centre and borough as a whole;

•           proposals to rebrand and develop promotional activity that conveys the vision for the town centre, how it will change as a result of this investment and what it will be like in the future.

The Task Force is requested to comment on work to date and in progress, and comment on the proposals for future promotional activity.

Officer Contact: Nicola Turner on 0161 218 1635 or email: nicola.turner@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) setting out:-

·         the importance of communicating the Investing in Growth programme and repositioning the perception of the town centre in order to realise the value of the investment underway;

·         work in progress to communicate and promote the Investing in Growth programme for the town centre and borough as a whole;

·         proposals to rebrand and develop promotional activity that conveys the vision for the town centre, how it will change as a result of this investment and what it will be like in the future.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         The difficulties associated with the branding of different projects, the town centre as a whole and the targeting of different audiences was highlighted.

·         The investment proposals for the Merseyway shopping centre needed to come forward as soon as possible and retailers were aware of the principles to help with business retention.

·         A Member enquired whether there were any plans for the British Homes Stores building after it became vacant.

·         Whether there would be joint marketing with the Light Cinema after the opening of the Redrock development.

·         How much liaison was being carried out between businesses.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That a report be submitted to a future meeting of the Task Force on the investment proposals for the Merseyway shopping centre.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration

The report details the communications and marketing activity planned for the Investing in Growth programme.

Officer Contact: Nicola Turner on 0161 218 1635 or email: nicola.turner@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing the communications and marketing activity planned for the Investing in Growth programme.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         There would be Officer representation from the Council at the British Council of Shopping Centres (BCSC) event in September.

·         It was requested that the Council make greater use of time lapse photography on its websites and provide links to other websites that had.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.