Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 3 August 2017.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 3 August 2017 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

No declarations of interest were made.

There were no call-in items to consider.

To consider a report of the Cabinet Member for Economy and Regeneration

Stockport’s Growth and Reform framework was adopted in October 2016 and is our approach to becoming locally self-financing by 2020/21 as well as addressing a range of demand pressures. The Cabinet remain committed to working collectively across the Council, with Partners and with our local communities to embed fundamental changes in the way that we work as well as delivering ambitious development which provide a platform for sustainable and inclusive growth within Stockport.

This report outlines a summary of the proposals relevant to this scrutiny committee which form part of the Cabinet’s response to the MTFP as well as an overview of the ambition and work proposed on Inclusive Growth. These proposals will deliver savings against the non-pooled budget and form a pipeline of proposals, with an initial wave presented at the Cabinet meeting in July and a further wave anticipated in October.

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to note the report and further note that a report will be submitted to the next meeting of the Scrutiny Committee providing a further detailed update on the proposals relevant to this Scrutiny Committee.

Officer contact: Caroline Simpson on 0161 474 3501 or email: caroline.simpson@stockport.gov.uk

The Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) outlining a summary of the proposals relevant to this scrutiny committee which formed part of the Cabinet’s response to the Medium Term Financial Plan as well as an overview of the ambition and work proposed on Inclusive Growth. These proposals would deliver savings against the non-pooled budget and form a series of proposals, with an initial tranche presented at the Cabinet meeting in July and a further tranche anticipated in October.

The Cabinet Member for Economy and Regeneration (Councillor Kate Butler) attended the meeting to present the report and respond to Members’ questions.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

• A Member requested a precise definition of Inclusive Growth and more detail on the three strands of transformation in the Place Directorate outlined in paragraph 3.2 of the report.
• A Member enquired what the basis was for the income generation proposal outlined in the report.
• The development of a comprehensive framework for Inclusive Growth would need the unique insight those living in poverty (including pockets of deprivation) had about the barriers to accessing opportunities, as well as broad and meaningful stakeholder engagement from those investing, commissioning, delivering or impacted by this work. It was confirmed that discussions had already taken place with Solutions SK, Stockport Homes and Life Leisure.
• With regard to the proposal for income generation: cost recovery and commercialisation, a Member requested a list of the 800 ‘paid for’ services to the public. Consideration would be given by Officers as to whether there were any additional services the Council could charge for and these would be reported to the next meeting of the Scrutiny Committee.
• The shift in the type of jobs in the future, particularly arising from the use of new technology, would be the type of issue that would be considered by the Work and Skills Commission and subsequently reported to this Scrutiny Committee.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That it be noted that a report would be submitted to the next meeting of the Scrutiny Committee providing a further detailed update on the proposal for income generation: cost recovery and commercialisation.

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

The report provides a general progress update on the Brown field First work and a more specific update on the recommendations approved by the former Environment and Economy Scrutiny Committee at the meeting held on 2 March 2017.

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to:-

·         consider and comment on the generic progress, and specific progress against actions, in support of the Brownfield First programme as outlined in the report; and

·         endorse further development of the Brownfield first approach.

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

The Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing a general progress report update on the Brownfield First work and a more specific update on the recommendations approved by the former Environment and Economy Scrutiny Committee at the meeting held on 2 March 2017.

The Cabinet Member for Economy and Regeneration (Councillor Kate Butler) attended the meeting to present the report and respond to Members’ questions.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

• The work on Stockport’s Local Plan was running in parallel with the additional review of the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework, but not necessarily at the same speed. The initial consultation on the Local Plan would take two years and the next draft version of the Great Manchester Spatial Framework was now proposed to be published in June 2018. Even without the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework which would provide overall housing targets for Stockport, the Council would still need to go through a Local Plan process.
• The Elected Mayor of Greater Manchester had been granted extensive compulsory purchase order powers under the devolution deal.
• The Forward Fund element of the Housing Infrastructure Fund supported infrastructure to unlock large volume housing sites. The Council was submitting, via the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, a joint expression of interest with Cheshire East Council and Transport for Greater Manchester for a SEMMMS Bus Rapid Transit scheme.
• The amount of monies from the Greater Manchester Housing Fund which had been invested in Stockport were discussed.
• The speed at which the Council would be able to implement the Brownfield First initiative would not be near reaching the housing targets in the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework, given the length of time it had taken to complete the process of implementing compulsory purchase orders.
• Regular reports on the Brownfield First initiative were requested.
• The importance of the Brownfield First work in minimising the effect on the green belt was highlighted.
• The need for energy performance certificates from April 2018 to re-let properties would cause problems to the owners of mills who were wishing to re-let them.
• The importance of the development trackers in keeping a track of developments which had stalled was welcomed.
• The Brownfield First initiative was a boroughwide policy and not just confined to the town centre.
• With regard to Action 3 – Town Centre Housing Zone, the level of density of housing in the town centre was important. The scrutiny review on town centre living would help inform this.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That further update reports be submitted to future meetings of the Scrutiny Committee,

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

The report updates the Scrutiny Committee on the Stockport Portas Pilot initiative.

The Scrutiny Committee is requested to note and comment on the report.

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

The Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) updating the Scrutiny Committee on the Portas Pilot initiative.

The Cabinet Member for Economy and Regeneration (Councillor Kate Butler) attended the meeting to present the report and respond to Members’ questions.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         Members requested more detail on the impact of the funding allocated and how it had been monitored and evaluated.

·         It would have been useful to have an assessment of the effectiveness of the funding spent against the original priorities of the Portas Pilot.

·         The Portas Pilot funding was a small amount of money compared to the £7m invested by the Council in the Market Place and Underbanks Regeneration and Investment Programme.

·         Although the Council was a key partner, the Portas Pilot initiative was about stimulating and empowering people within the community, and the creation of a town team run by stakeholders.

·         A Member queried how sustainable some of the projects would be after the funding from the Portas Pilot initiative had ceased.

·         A Member expressed the view that the increased footfall in the market area was skewed by the attendance at events such as Foodie Friday.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

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

The report provides an update on both the strategic framework underpinning the Council’s approach to cycling and walking, and the various programmes of work which are currently being delivered to further support cycling and walking across Stockport.

The Scrutiny Committee is invited to comment on the report.

Officer contact: Sue Stevenson on 0161 474 4351 or email: sue.stevenson@stockport.gov.uk

The Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an update on the strategic framework underpinning the Council’s approach to cycling and walking, and the various programmes of work which were currently being delivered to further support cycling and walking across Stockport.

The report would be considered by the Cabinet at its meeting to be held on 3 October 2017.

The Cabinet Member for Economy and Regeneration (Councillor Kate Butler) attended the meeting to respond to Members’ questions.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         A number of the projects on walking and cycling also affected equestrians. It was noted that the Council tended to support bridleways off road because of the opportunity for multi-use.

·         A Member requested confirmation when work on the Middlewood Way would commence.

·         A Member welcomed the introduction of Mobikes in Stockport.

·         Where there was more than one mode of transport it could lead to conflict, the potentially most dangerous of which was between cyclists and motor vehicles. Everyone needed to be encouraged to use shared routes responsibly.

·         The safety criteria for pedestrians along shared cycling and walking routes was raised.

·         The provision for non-vehicular access along the new section of the A6 in Hazel Grove would be open in the near future.

·         A Member questioned whether there were any plans by Manchester City Council to provide cycling routes along the A6 at the boundary with Stockport Council.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

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

The purpose of this report is to provide an update on the support offered to current and former members of the armed forces, reservists and their families as part of the Council’s commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant.

The Scrutiny Committee is requested to note and comment on the contents of the report and the future plans to support the armed forces community in Stockport.

Officer contact: Sharon Mayo on 0161 474 3733 or email: sharon.mayo@stockport.gov.uk

The Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an update on the support offered to current and former members of the armed forces, reservists and their families as part of the Council’s commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant.

The Cabinet Member for Economy and Regeneration (Councillor Kate Butler) attended the meeting to present the report and respond to Members’ questions.

RESOLVED – That the report 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 email: david.clee@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Democratic Services Manager submitted a report (copies of which had 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.