Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 10 January 2017.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 10 January 2017 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.

Councillors and Officers were invited to declare any interests which they had in

any of the agenda items for the meeting.

The following interests were declared:-

Personal Interest

RESOLVED – That in order to prevent the disclosure of information which was not for publication, the disclosure of which would not be in the public interest, would not be fair and would be in breach of Data Protection principles, the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following ‘not for publication’ item:-

 Item                 Title

 5                      Town Centre Projects Update Report

This item contained 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).

The Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration to report.

The Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration made a presentation on the Town Centre Development Programme, setting the scene for current actions taken by the Council, outlining investment principles and setting out future proposals for the reshaping of the town centre.

The following comments were made/issues raised: -

·         It was important to start the next stage of the regeneration of the town centre from the right place, but also to maintain the momentum in order to facilitate growth in the town centre and to create a better environment for investment.

·         It was imperative to keep the existing town centre in operation whilst developing a new town centre.

·         The Council had embarked with partners in the Business Improvement District (BID) to work with Creative Concern to help articulate the vision for the town centre.

·         The Council needed to attract more vibrant events into the town centre to help stimulate the area.

·         A Member enquired whether links had been explored with any of the universities in Greater Manchester.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

The Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration to report.

Alistair Chapman from CBRE and Tom Prescott from Barker Proudlove made a presentation outlining national and local trends in market provision, the success of Trafford Council’s development of the market hall at Altrincham and set out a number of discussion points for the Working Party to consider.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         Pressure had been put on general goods markets by value stores. The complete shopping experience was a reason why shoppers would be prepared to pay more.

·         The key was to attract shoppers from the Merseyway Shopping Centre to the market.

·         A Member expressed the view that the Council needed to build on the success of Foodie Friday and install fixed market stalls.

·         Stockport’s unique selling point was its heritage.

·         It was pointed out that the people who lived near Altrincham market had significantly higher incomes than people who lived near Stockport market.

·          The successful development of the produce hall was the key to unlocking the town centre.

·         The Council should look at highlighting alternative access routes to the market, for example from Merseyway Car Park.

·          A Member felt that the days on which the market was open should be re-examined and consideration given as to whether six days a week was feasible.

·          It needed to be examined whether the general goods offer would be enough to fill the market hall particularly if some of the market traders retired. The configuration of the market hall restricted its use for food and drink purposes.

RESOLVED – The Task Force was of the view that:-

·         The management of underutilised Council/third party assets in the Market Place should be considered, for example the Produce Hall and Blackshaws Café.

·         There should be a commitment to the general goods market remaining in the market hall.

·         There was a need to do something different to ensure that the general goods market had a future.

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 projects and supporting activity.

The Task Force is invited to comment on the report.

Officer Contact: George Perrin on 0161 474 4510 or email: george.perrin@stockport.gov.uk

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.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.