Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 28 May 2012.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 28 May 2012 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

No declarations of interest were made.

To report any urgent action taken under the Constitution since the last meeting of the Executive.

To consider whether it is in the public to exclude the public during consideration of agenda item 8 (Covent Garden Village Acquisitions) which contains information “not for publication by virtue of Category 3 ‘Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority)’ as set out in the Local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).

RESOLVED – That in order to prevent the disclosure of information which was not for publication relating to the financial or business affairs of the any particular person (including the authority), the disclosure of which would not be in the public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would be in breach of Data Protection principles, the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the ‘not for publication’ appendix to agenda item 6 (Covent Garden Village Acquisitions (FIN/RGN2)).

Members of the public are invited to put questions to the Chair and Executive Councillors on any matters within the powers and duties of the Executive, subject to the exclusions set out in the Code of Practice.  (Questions must be submitted no later than 30 minutes prior to the commencement of the meeting on the card provided.  These are available at the meeting and at local libraries and information centres. You can also submit via the Council’s website at www.stockport.gov.uk/publicquestions)

The public were invited to put questions to the Executive on any matters within their powers and duties, subject to the exclusions set out in the Code of Practice.

Three questions had been received prior to the meeting from questioners who were not present at the meeting and in accordance with the procedure for asking questions it was stated that written responses would be provided.

To consider a joint report of the Leader of the Council and the Executive Councillor (Governance & Corporate Services)

(Note: this report includes information ‘Not for Publication’ contained within its appendix that has been circulated to executive councillors only)

The report seeks approval from the Executive to acquire properties within the “Covent Garden Village” area to further the vision for the area, which is the creation of a residential led scheme of mixed tenure but with the focus on increasing more economically active households that will support existing businesses and facilitate new business investment within the local area, and Stockport town centre. It is proposed that the acquisition is funded utilising the Council’s prudential borrowing facility.

The Executive is recommended to approve;

·         the purchases of the properties within Covent Garden as identified, and on the terms set out in the Confidential Appendix.

·         the submission of the application for GM Growing Places Funding on the terms stated in this report.

Officer contact: Ian Harrison, 474 4550, ian.harrison@stockport.gov.uk

The Executive Councillor (Governance & Corporate Services) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) inviting the Executive Meeting to consider a proposal to acquire properties within the ‘Covent Garden Village’ as part of a residential scheme to further the vision for area. The acquisitions would be funded through prudential borrowing.

(Note: the report included information ‘Not for Publication’ contained within its appendix that had been circulated to executive councillors only)

An extract from the Minutes of the Corporate, Resource Management & Governance Scrutiny Committee held on 18 June 2012 in respect of this item was also circulated for consideration.

RESOLVED – That approval be given to

·         the purchases of the properties within Covent Garden as identified in the report and accompanying plans, on the terms set out in the Confidential Appendix, and

·         the submission of an application for Greater Manchester Growing Places Funding on the terms set out in the report.

To consider a report of the Executive Councillor (Economic Development & Regeneration)

The report details the Main and additional Minor Modifications required to the Greater Manchester Joint Minerals Plan following Submission to Secretary of State and the Hearing Sessions held during February 2012.  It seeks full Council approval for the Main Modifications to the Plan to be made available for public consultation during August and September 2012.

The Executive is requested to recommend to the Council Meeting that it:

·         Approve the Main Modifications to the Joint Minerals Development Plan Document and subsequent period of public consultation; and

·         Note the additional minor modifications.

Officer contact: Richard Wood or Simon Styche, 474 4386, richard.wood@stockport.gov.uk/ simon.styche@stockport.gov.uk

The Executive Meeting considered the Main and additional Minor Modifications required to the Greater Manchester Joint Minerals Plan following consideration of the Plan by the Secretary of State’s Inspector and have recommended that the Council Meeting:-

·         Approve the Main Modifications to the Joint Minerals Development Plan Document and subsequent period of public consultation, and

·         Note the additional Minor Modifications.

To consider a report of the Executive Councillor (Economic Development & Regeneration)

The report provides an update on the progress of the A6 to Manchester Airport Relief Road (the Scheme) business case and requests Executive approval to  submit the business case to the Department for Transport (DfT) in order that the Scheme can be granted programme entry status.

The Executive is recommended to;

(1)       approve the submission of the business case to the Department for Transport and that the approval of the final document for submission is delegated to the Chief Executive in consultation with the Executive Councillor (Economic Development and Regeneration), and 

(2)       subject to the final approval of the Combined Authority to allocate funding from the Earn Back model to the Scheme it is recommended that the Corporate Director, Corporate and Support Services is delegated the power to sign the Section 151 agreement on behalf of the three promoting authorities with regards to the estimated costs and funding of the Scheme for the purposes of submitting the business case to DfT.

Contact Officer: Jim McMahon, 474 4800, jim.mcmahon@stockport.gov.uk

The Executive Meeting considered an update on the business case for the A6 to Manchester Airport Relief Road Scheme and has agreed that:-

·         approval be given to the submission of the business case for the A6 to Manchester Airport Relief Road Scheme to the Department of Transport and that the approval of the final submission be delegated to the Chief Executive in consultation with the Executive Councillor (Economic Development & Regeneration) and

·         subject to the final approval of the Combined Authority to allocate funding from the Earn Back model to the Scheme, the Corporate Director for Corporate and Support Services be authorised to sign the Section 151 Agreement on behalf of the three promoting authorities with regards to the estimated costs and funding of the Scheme for the purposed of submitting the business case to the Department of Transport.

To consider a report of the Leader of the Council and the Executive Councillor (Governance & Corporate Services)

The purpose of this report is to update the Executive on the progress of this scheme and to seek the Executive’s approval to vary the current Development Agreement made between the Council and THI Riverside Limited (with GB Buildings as the guarantor) for the comprehensive redevelopment of 3 parcels of land in Offerton. 

The Executive is recommended to agree the way forward as set out at in the Preferred Option referred to above with authority to negotiate the required amendments to the Development Agreement delegated to the Service Director, Place Development and Corporate Director for Corporate and Support Services in consultation with the Executive Councillors (Governance & Corporate Services) and (Economic Development & Regeneration).

Officer contact:Paul Lawrence, 0161 474 4515, paul.lawrence@stockport.gov.uk

The Executive Councillor (Governance & Support Services) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) updating the Executive Meeting on progress with the Dialstone Centre and Blackstone Fields redevelopment scheme and inviting consideration of a proposal to vary the current Development Agreement made between the Council and THI Riverside Limited (with GB Buildings as the guarantor) to allow the Developer to secure an end user operator for the care retirement element of the scheme.

An extract from the Minutes of the Corporate, Resource Management & Governance Scrutiny Committee held on 18 June 2012 in respect of this item was also circulated for consideration.

Executive Councillors sought, and were given assurances that the Developer had been subject to a further Due Diligence process.

RESOLVED – That approval be given to the preferred option set out in the report (Option 2 in the report) and that authority to negotiate the required amendments to the Development Agreement for the redevelopment of the Dialstone Centre and Blackstone Fields be delegated to the Service Director (Place Development) and the Corporate Director for Corporate and Support Services in consultation with the Executive Councillors (Governance & Support Services) and (Economic Development & Regeneration).

To consider a report of the Executive Councillor (Governance & Support Services)

The building at 19 Dawlish Avenue, Brinnington was formerly used as a children’s home but was closed and declared surplus during 2008. The Central Area Committee subsequently endorsed its disposal. The Equity Housing Group sought to acquire the property and in 2010 obtained planning permission for the development of 6 self-contained flats plus a staff flat.

The purchase piece for the building was agreed with Equity in 2009 at £75,000. Equity Housing Group have now come back to the Council to explain that due to a halving of grant funding on this project they are now only able to offer £ 28,000 to acquire the property.

It may be considered that the disposal of this building at the undervalue stated will provide additional ongoing financial benefits to the Council which will exceed the sum forgone upon sale.

The Executive is requested to confirm whether it is willing to approve the disposal of this property to the Equity Housing Group at the under value indicated if so to instruct the Corporate Director of Corporate and Support Services to complete the transaction.

Officer contact: Ian Keyte, NPS Stockport, 0161495 6093, ian.keyte@nps.co.uk

The Executive Councillor (Governance & Support Service) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) inviting the Executive Meeting to consider a proposal to dispose of a site, formerly a children’s home, at 19 Dawlish Avenue, Brinnington at a purchase price under the valuation for the site, due to reductions in grant funding available to Equity Housing Group who were proposing to purchase the site.

An extract from the Minutes of the Corporate, Resource Management & Governance Scrutiny Committee held on 18 June 2012 in respect of this item was also circulated for consideration.

The Council Solicitor provided additional background information to the scheme and its funding.

RESOLVED – That approval be given to the disposal of the property at 19 Dawlish Avenue, Brinnington to the Equity Housing Group at the undervalue indicated and that the Corporate Director for Corporate and Support Services be authorised to complete the transaction.

To consider a report of the Leader of the Council.

The Localism Act 2011 makes fundamental changes to the system of regulation of standards of conduct for elected members and co-opted members of the Council.  In order to ensure that the Council has compliant arrangements in place for the statutory deadline of the 1st July 2012, the Council has already approved interim arrangements.   This report attempts to detail the final arrangements, subject to the passing of the relevant Statutory Instrument.

The Executive is invited to recommend that:

1.      That the Council adopts the recommended code of conduct for Members as set out at Appendix 1 of the report;

2.      That the Council adopts the recommended local arrangements to handle complaints about breach of the Code of Conduct for Members of both Stockport Council and the Town Councils as set out in Appendix 2 of the report;

3       That Council receives a further report and recommendations on parts 2 and 3 of the Code of Conduct, once the statutory detail has been published.

Officer contact: Barry Khan, 0161 474 3202, Barry.Khan@stockport.gov.uk

The Leader of the Council submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) inviting the Executive Meeting to consider further details of the arrangements to replace the existing system of regulation of standards of conduct for elected and co-opted members of the Council with the provisions of the Localism Act 2011 and the relevant Statutory Instruments.

An extract from the Minutes of the Corporate, Resource Management & Governance Scrutiny Committee held on 18 June 2012 in respect of this item was also circulated for consideration.

RESOLVED – That the Council Meeting be recommended to:-

·         Adopt the recommended Code of Conduct for Members as set out in Appendix 1 of the report, subject to the replacement of ‘must’ with ‘should’ under paragraph 3.1 ‘Training’ and the redrafting of paragraph 2.7 ‘Personal Judgements’ to provide greater clarity on when it was appropriate of whipping for councillors.

·         Adopt the recommended local arrangements to handle complains about breaches of the Code of Conduct for Members of Stockport Council as set out in Appendix 2 of the report.

·         Note the additional information submitted in relation to Parts 2 and 3 of the Code of Conduct following the recent publication of Statutory Instruments.