Issue - meetings

To consider a joint report of the Director of Place Management and Director of Development & Regeneration.

The report presents the draft 2024/25 Agreements for the Climate Change & Environment and Economy, Regeneration & Housing Portfolios for consideration and comment by the Committee.

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to review and comment on the draft Portfolio Agreements.

Officer contact: Alan Lawson 0161 474 5397 | alan.lawson@stockport.gov.uk

The Director of Place Management and Director of Development & Regeneration submitted a joint report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing the draft 2024/25 Agreements for the Climate Change & Environment and Economy, Regeneration & Housing portfolios.

The Cabinet Members for Climate Change & Environment (Councillor Mark Roberts) and Economy, Regeneration & Housing (Councillor Colin MacAlister) responded to questions from the Scrutiny Committee.

The following comments were made/issues raised in relation to the Climate Change & Environment portfolio:

·         It was noted that approximately 15% of the council’s workforce had completed Carbon Literacy training. Members were curious as to the long-term impact the training had e.g., on decision-making at the council by officers and members, and children in schools. Although difficult to measure, the impact could be seen through the excellent quality of the debate by young people at the Schools Climate Assembly. Further, all officers in the council’s Planning Team had undergone Carbon Literacy training; these officers would have an important opportunity to tackle climate change in their work on the draft Local Plan.

·         It was important that the council acted as civic leader on climate action and convince others that more work was to be done. Further, to take residents on the journey with the council to leading greener lives.

·         It was noted that the byproduct from residual waste produced chemicals needed to clean water; this had been described as ‘green energy’ within the report in error.

·         Members were encouraged to undertake Carbon Literacy training, which could be split into smaller sessions to enable training to be undertaken alongside work and other commitments. The training could not be made mandatory for members.

·         The district heat network project was incredibly exciting and could be a fantastic opportunity for the borough.

The following comments were made/issues raised in relation to the Economy, Regeneration & Housing portfolio:

·         It was advised that the red RAG rating relating to planning breaches was positive as it demonstrated the capture of breaches; more breaches were being resolved than ever before.

·         Higher targets had been set for some of the planning measures to reflect the more ambitious national expectation of the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023.

·         It was queried whether the empty property strategy linked into the work to tackle homelessness, and it was noted that an update report on homelessness and housing need would be brought to the autumn meeting of the Scrutiny Committee.  

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.