Agenda and minutes

In the absence of the Chair and Vice-Chair, it was:-

RESOLVED – That Councillor Colin MacAlister be elected Chair for the duration of the meeting.

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 19 December 2019.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 19 December 2019 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

Councillors and officers were invited to declare any interests they had in any of the items on the agenda for the meeting.

The following interests were declared:-

Personal Interests

There were no call-in items to consider.

To consider whether it is in the public interest to exclude the public during consideration of Agenda Item 6 – ‘Greater Manchester’s Clean Air Plan – Tackling Nitrogen Dioxide Exceedances at the Roadside – Update’ and Agenda Item 7 ‘Stockport Interchange Procurement Update’ which contain information ‘not for publication’ in its appendices by virtue of Category 3 ‘Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority)’ as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).

That in order to prevent the disclosure of information which was not for publication, the disclosure of which would not be in the public interest, the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of any of the exempt information in Agenda Item 6 – ‘Greater Manchester’s Clean Air Plan – Tackling Nitrogen Dioxide Exceedances at the Roadside – Update’ and Agenda Item 7 ‘Stockport Interchange Procurement Update’.

To consider a joint report of the Deputy Chief Executive and the Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration.

The Third Quarter Update Portfolio Performance and Resource Reports for the Economy and Regeneration Portfolio is presented for consideration by the Committee. These focus on highlights and exceptions in delivering the portfolio priorities, reform programmes and other key projects since the Mid-Year Report. It includes the latest forecast performance and financial data for the Portfolio, along with an update on the portfolio savings programmes.

This report is based on the 2019/20 Portfolio Performance and Resource Agreement (PPRAs), which was considered by the Committee on 11 July and approved by Cabinet on 23 July 2019.

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to:-

·         Consider the Third Quarter Update Portfolio Performance and Resource Reports;  

·         Review the progress against delivering key projects, priority outcomes, targets and budgets for 2019/20;

·         Highlight key areas of and responsibility for taking forward corrective action to address any performance or resource issues;

·         Highlight any significant issues or changes to be fed back to the Cabinet alongside the Corporate Performance and Resource Report;

·         Identify how areas of strong performance and good practice can be shared in other services.

Officer Contacts: Alan Lawson/Lisa Joy on 0161 474 5397/4044 or email: alan.lawson@stockport.gov.uk / lisa.joy@stockport.gov.uk

The Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing the Third Quarter Update Portfolio Performance and Resources Report for the Economy and Regeneration Portfolio. The report focussed on highlights and exceptions in delivering the portfolio priorities, reform programmes and other key projects since the Mid-Year Report and included the latest forecast performance and financial data for the Portfolio, along with an update on the portfolio savings programme.

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

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

• With regard to the twenty two employers who had been offered and accepted a Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises Grant Apprenticeships Grant, a Member asked for clarification on how many apprentices had benefited from this.
• Officers were in constant dialogue with the Market Place Management with regard to trying to boost footfall in the Market Place.
• The change in the budget reserve for the Seashell Trust was a reflection of the work that needed to be carried out.
• The zero amount in the Capital Asset Maintenance for the Pot Hole Programme for 2020/21 was a reflection of the one-off sum allocated for the programme.
• A Member enquired why the money allocated in the Capital Programme’s Asset Development and Improvement Schemes for District Centres in 2021/22 was zero.
• The re-phasing of the Capital Programme for the SEMMMS Relief Road was due to amendments to the programme. There was no change to the overall budget.
• Following the cross-party input into the Council’s response to the recent bus reform consultation, the Sub-Committee was advised that the Mayor of Greater Manchester was scheduled to announce his decision in March.
• In response to a Member’s question, it was clarified that the proposed route of the Metrolink service from East Didsbury to Stockport could be altered.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

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

The report sets out the progress that has been made following the Government’s response to Greater Manchester’s Outline Business Case to tackle Nitrogen Dioxide Exceedances at the Roadside, and the implications for the 10 Greater Manchester local authorities in relation to the schedule of work and statutory consultation on the Clean Air Plan.

(NOTE: This report contains two appendices which have been circulated to members of the Scrutiny Committee only).

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

Officer contact: Mark Glynn on 0161-474-3700 or email: mark.glynn@stockport.gov.uk or 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) setting out the progress that had been made following the Government’s response to Greater Manchester’s Outline Business Case to tackle Nitrogen Dioxide Exceedances at the Roadside, and the implications for the ten Greater Manchester local authorities in relation to the schedule of work and statutory consultation on the Clean Air Plan.

(Note: Note 4 and Note 11 to the report contained information which was ‘not for publication’ and had been circulated to Members of the Scrutiny Committee only).

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

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

• It was queried how much of the initial tranche of £36 million that had been allocated towards developing the implementation and contract arrangements of a Charging Clean Air Zone in Greater Manchester had been allocated for Stockport. It was also queried how this initial development work could take place as no decision had yet been taken on the number of cameras that would be required to enforce the Zone, and how the oversight of this expenditure would be monitored.
• There was currently a lot of detail to be worked through, for example whether the companies who were upgrading vehicles would be obliged to inform the DVLA.
• A glossary of the acronyms would be helpful for Members.
• The exclusion of Highways England from the scope of the ministerial directive on air quality was disappointing.
• It was important that small businesses were not adversely affected by the proposals. The clean air and vehicle scrappage proposals would be introduced at a significant cost to residents and local businesses. Larger businesses may transfer in the future to an area which was not in a Clean Air Zone.
• It was queried whether there were any legal penalties which could be introduced, such as local byelaws, to prevent engine idling near to schools. Members were advised that whilst there was legislation in place to allow local authorities to impose fixed penalty notices for engine idling, it was currently very difficult to enforce and the penalty was a relatively small fine. However, work was taking place around schools to discourage engine idling.
• The Scrutiny Committee needed to consider the proposals again when more figures and information were available and the Scrutiny Committee would be able to look at the scheme in its entirety.
• Extra equipment would be required to measure and assess the air quality once the proposals were introduced.
• It was noted that the Council acknowledged in the report that residents had expressed concern regarding the air quality from aircraft and that Officers would continue to work with Manchester Airport to address these concerns.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

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

The report provides an update on the progress of the Stockport Interchange scheme, since the last report approved by the Cabinet in June 2018 and specifically the progress made on the procurement of the preferred main contractor and development partner.

(NOTE: Appendix Two is ‘to follow’, but contains exempt information and will be circulated to members of the Scrutiny Committee only).

The Scrutiny Committee is invited to comment on the report.

Officer Contact: Paul Richards on 0161 474 2940 or email: paul.richards@stockport.gov.uk

The Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration submitted a report (copiers of which had been circulated) providing an update on the progress of the Stockport Interchange scheme since the last report approved by the Cabinet in June 2018 and specifically the progress made on the procurement of the preferred main contractor and development partner. A representative of the Corporate Director made a presentation on the scheme.

(Note: Appendix 2 to the report contained information which was ‘not for publication’ and had been circulated to Members of the Scrutiny Committee only).

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

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Deputy Chief Executive                                                          

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 Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) setting out the planned agenda items for the Scrutiny Committee’s next meeting and any Forward Plan items.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.