Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Director of Development and Regeneration.

The report provides an update on delivering the Edgeley District Centre Action Plan.

The Area Committee is requested to note the partnership approach to developing the Edgeley District Centre Action Plan.

Officer contact: Helen Walters | helen.walters@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Director of Place Management submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) which provided an update on delivering the Edgeley District Centre Action Plan.

Richard Daniels (District Centre Manager, Stockport Council) attended the meeting to answer questions from members.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:

·         The district centre action plan had been drafted with input from the Institute of Place Management, local councillors and various stakeholders and organisations.

·         At least four new businesses had been established during April and May 2023.

·         Businesses received regular updates from the District Centre Manager and were signposted to the relevant departments and/ or organisations that they required.

·         A Workplace Wellbeing Workshop and free accountancy clinic had been promoted for traders. Further e-learning had been offered to help reduce costs, carbon footprint and improve profits.

·         Retail crime information had been circulated to traders, with security advice for small retail premises.

·         A fantastic addition to Castle Street was the new Sky Hub. A partnership between Age UK and Sky, the Hub offered a welcoming and comfortable community space where people could use Sky devices and free Wi-Fi, as well as receive help with tech and accessing services online. Age UK Stockport, supported by Sky Cares volunteers, planned to run regular workshops and support sessions over June and July, Monday to Friday, from 10am to 3pm. Digital sessions and information and advice support sessions would run from August, and would be promoted via the council’s social media and on the building itself.

·         The three planters at the end of Castle Street had been adopted by traders, and were all growing well. Thanks were expressed to Friends of Alexandra Park for their support in getting the planters in place.

·         Traders were keen to establish a Crime Partnership meeting. This would be held with police officers to discuss crime statistics and key performance indicators to support Crime Partnership. The next step was to set a date for the first Crime Partnership meeting.

·         A successful Spring Worker Bee Market had been held on 13 May 2023, with positive feedback received from traders and stall holders. A meeting was scheduled to be held to progress plans for the (summer) 12 August 2023 market. It was hoped to increase animation, live music and family entertainment at the market.

·         The team were looking to update the ‘welcome to Edgeley’ signage.

·         Members requested to meet with the District Centre Manager and relevant officers to review the action plan and put forward ideas to be incorporated into the plan. To look at the district centre in a holistic sense and to include but not be limited to, a review of domestic waste arrangements, network management arrangements and anti-social parking.

RESOLVED – That the report and partnership approach to developing the Edgeley Action Plan be noted.