Agenda and minutes

To elect a Vice-Chair of the Local Development Framework Working Party for the period until the next Annual Council Meeting.

Councillor Mark Hunter was appointed as Vice Chair of the Local Development Framework Working Party for the period until the next Annual General Meeting.

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 7 October 2015.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 7 October 2015 were approved as a correct record.

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

No declarations of interest were made.

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

The report provides a robust and comprehensive evidence base to inform future Local Plan policies on open space provision.  It also provides a mechanism to enable the Council to ensure that the value of open space is afforded due weight in both plan making and development management decision making processes.

The Working Party is asked to note the report.

Officer Contact: Steve Johnson on 0161 474 3509 or email steven.johnson@stockport.gov.uk.

A representative of the Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) which provided Members with details of a robust and comprehensive evidence base to inform future Local Plan policies on open space provision.  The report further provided a mechanism to enable the Council to ensure that the value of open space was afforded due weight in both plan making and development management decision making processes.

The following comments were made/issues raised:

·         Members questioned whether the forthcoming report would state how much of the Borough’s land mass was designated as green belt.  In response, it was stated that this was an Open Space study and was not looking specifically at Green Belt.

·         The Chair stated that he felt there was a connection to be made between the Open Space Study and the Green Belt.  He questioned whether this information would be provided as part of the spatial framework.  In response the Chair was advised that a Green Belt Assessment was being undertaken as part of the GMSF work and that the Open Space study would feed into the local plan work.  It was acknowledged that open space and Green Belt land were both relevant and that the relationship between these two and future development was something that would be considered as part of the Local Plan work.

·         Members asked whether there could be some elaboration on how the Green Belt would be assessed for quality and value.  What would be the criteria?  The Chair was advised that there was a full assessment of Green Belt being undertaken by consultants that would examine all of the GM Green Belt and provide a value judgement against each purpose of the Green Belt.

·         Members considered that this was a very serious issue and that the Council’s new Executive would need to keep a very close eye on it.

·         The Chair commented that it was vital to open up more avenues of communication, particularly with Cheshire East Council.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

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

The report provides an update on the developments of the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework.

The Working Party is asked to note the report.

Officer Contact: Steve Johnson on 0161 474 3509 or email steven.johnson@stockport.gov.uk.

A representative of the Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration submitted a report which provided Members with an update on the developments of the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework.

The following comments were made/issues raised:

·         Members questioned whether there was a risk of central government getting involved in the Spatial Framework.  In response, Members were advised that if the timetable slipped then there was quite a big risk of central government intervening in local development plans.

·         Members questioned what the position was in relation to industry and warehousing, and considered that if this land could be released for housing, then this would be very helpful.

·         Members asked whether the Council had a list of all sites with extant planning permission and also a list of all the sites that were owned by the Council.  The Chair was advised that such information was available and following a discussion it was agreed that officers would provide Members with the relevant information.

·         Concerns were raised as to whether the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework could be slanting decisions that Members see as being in the best interests of Stockport.

·         The Chair raised the question of the extent to which market realities have been taken into account.  In response, Members were advised that Transport for Greater Manchester were working on this, and trying to formulate a view as to what sustainable development is.  There was some information relating to this on the website.  The Chair stated that he would like this issue to be considered as a specific agenda item at the next meeting of the Working Party.

·         Across Stockport, there are a large number of houses that are empty. Members questioned what the position was relating to these empty properties.

RESOLVED – (i) That the report be noted.

(ii) That the Working Party meet more often in order to be kept up to date with developments.

(iii) That Members be supplied with information relating to extant planning permission and empty properties.

To consider a verbal update from Steve Johnson (Planning Policy).

A representative of the Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration provided a verbal report which provided an update on the Stockport Local Plan.

The following comments were made/issues raised:

·         Members asked when the Stockport Local Plan was likely to be adopted.  In response, Members were advised that the aim was that initial consultation would take place in Spring 2017, and consultation on the preferred option would follow in winter 2017.  It was hoped that the Plan would be adopted by Autumn 2019.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.