Decision details

The Executive considered an update on progress with developing the Stockport Town Centre Access Plan, including the outcome of consultations and the development of business cases, and has agreed that

·         the approach to the development and submission of the full business case and phase one and two final business cases including the consultation process as set out in the report be approved;

·         the Corporate Director Place Management & Regeneration in consultation with Executive Councillor (Communities & Sustainability) be authorised to approve the full business case, the final phase one business case and the phase two business cases and consultation reports;

·         the Corporate Director for Corporate and Support Services (as Section 151 Officer), the Chief Executive and the Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration be authorised to sign off the full business case and final phase one and two business cases;

·         approval be given to the phase two schemes be developed and the necessary powers obtained, including the making of compulsory purchase orders, side road orders and planning applications to deliver the schemes;

·         where applicable, the exercise of compulsory purchase powers to acquire such interests and to create such rights that are necessary to enable the link road to be implemented, be approved subject to there being no material change in circumstances that would mean that the Council is unable to properly implement the Orders and proceed with the scheme;

·         officers be requested to carry out and enter into arrangements to secure where necessary, the appropriation for planning purposes of land required for the link road or other schemes in order to utilise the power contained in Section 237 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990;

·         agreement be given to the making of a Compulsory Purchase Order under s.226(1)(a) and s226(3)(a)  of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended), s.13 of the Local  Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976, s.1 of the Localism Act 2011 and Side Road Orders under and all other relevant powers to acquire all outstanding land and interests required for the new link road and other elements of the phase two schemes where required, to allow the building of the new link road and the other phase two schemes;

·         the Chief Executive and Corporate Director for Corporate and Support Services be authorised to take all necessary steps to bring the aforementioned Compulsory Purchase Order and Side Roads Order into operation, provided that the Orders are confirmed by the Secretary of State for Transport, and to continue to enter into negotiations and to agree terms for the Council to acquire by voluntary means all the land and other interests and the rights needed to facilitate the proposed link road and other schemes;

·         that should the Compulsory Purchase Order be confirmed, the acquisition of the land and rights the subject of the Compulsory Purchase Order be approved, subject to there being no material change in circumstances that would mean that it could not properly pursue the Compulsory Purchase Order;

·         the Corporate Directors of Place Management & Regeneration and Corporate and Support Services be authorised (1) to take all necessary steps to implement these resolutions and to appropriate land, in accordance with the terms set out in this report and (2) to approve agreements with landowners setting out the terms of withdrawals of objections to the Order including where appropriate the exclusion of land from the Order, to make deletions from, and/or minor amendments, and modifications to the proposed Order and Order Plans, to agree to refrain from vesting any land/rights included within the Order should this be in their opinion appropriate, and to negotiate terms for the acquisition by agreement of any outstanding interests/rights in the land within the Order prior to its confirmation;

·         that officers be requested to develop and consult on the Traffic Regulation Orders to support the schemes and their construction;

·         the Corporate Directors Place Management and Regeneration and Corporate and Support Services in consultation with the Executive Councillors (Communities & Sustainability) and (Corporate, Customer & Community Services) be authorised to agree all matters relating to the Department for Transport and GMCA grant offer and its terms, and any implications for the Scheme and the agreement with Greater Manchester Combined Authority;

·         the Corporate Director Place Management & Regeneration in consultation with Executive Councillor (Communities & Sustainability) be authorised to approve the final schemes and their construction programme following approval of the final business cases; and

·         the Chief Executive, Corporate Director for Corporate and Support Services and the Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration, in conjunction with the Leader of the Council and Executive Councillors (Corporate, Customer & Community Services) and (Communities & Sustainability) be authorised to enter into all appropriate agreements to enable the development, funding and construction of the Town Centre Access Plan. 

None