Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 13 February 2017.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 13 February 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.

No declarations of interest were made.

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

The report reviews the Mills Strategy and Action Plan in the context of future Council priorities for development and investment and considers what future approach would be appropriate and achievable, and presents a draft revised Mills Review Action Plan for the Panel’s consideration.

The Panel 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) which reviewed the Mills Strategy and Action Plan in the context of future Council priorities for development and investment and considered what future approach would be appropriate and achievable, and presented a draft revised Mills Review Action Plan for the Panel’s consideration.

The report had been developed in line with emerging plans and information such as the Brownfield First Review, Employment Land Review and the Greater Manchester Historic Textile Mills Buildings at Risk Survey.

All the 48 mills in Stockport were in private ownership, of which:-

·         7 were considered to be vacant

·         28 were currently occupied or partially occupied by a range of businesses, industrial/commercial/retail/leisure

·         6 were occupied by single commercial users (office or industrial)

·         2 had been refurbished to provide mixed residential with other users (office/leisure)

·         5 had been converted to residential only.

11 of the mill buildings were expected to be refurbished for residential use within the next five years, and were currently either vacant or occupied by commercial users.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         concern was expressed that the Council did not currently have more leverage with the private owners of mills, although it was acknowledged that the Brownfield First Review may assist with this. The Council could, should resources permit, undertake more survey work on the condition of the mills and grant aid some of the refurbishment works. In the past the refurbishment of Broadstone Mill had been undertaken with funding from the European Union.

·         the Council had some leverage with regard to the repair of those mills which were listed buildings. In addition, five out of the seven mills which were considered to be vacant were expected to be refurbished.

·         work on the Brownfield First Review would continue after the Mills Strategy Scrutiny Review was concluded and work on the two needed to be cross checked.

·         the economy was more buoyant when the first Mills Review had been carried out and the review needed to take this into account.

·         further work would continue by liaising with the owners of buildings and planning briefs would be prepared, if required.

·         Ofiicers were working on establishing priorities to help define which mills were a high priority to redevelop and which were a low priority.

·         the work of the Greater Manchester Historic Textile Mills Buildings at Risk Survey tended to be about urgent health and safety work which was required rather than improving the appearance of the mills.

·         A Member enquired whether anything could be done about the proliferation of advertisement boards, signs and banners outside some of the mills, particularly those which had multiple users.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That the Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration be requested to cross check the work being carried out for the Mills Scrutiny Review against that being carried out for the Brownfield First Review.

(3) That Members be advised at the next meeting of progess on the work being carried out on the Greater Manchester Historic Mills Survey report for Stockport.

To agree the date of the next meeting of the Scrutiny Review Panel.

RESOLVED – That the next meeting of the Review Panel be held at 6.00pm on 9 May 2017.