Issue - meetings

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

The report updates the Scrutiny Committee on the Stockport Portas Pilot initiative.

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

Officer Contact; Graeme Vout on 0161 474 4562 or email: graeme.vout@stockport.gov.uk

The Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) updating the Scrutiny Committee on the Portas Pilot initiative.

The Cabinet Member for Economy and Regeneration (Councillor Kate Butler) attended the meeting to present the report and respond to Members’ questions.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         Members requested more detail on the impact of the funding allocated and how it had been monitored and evaluated.

·         It would have been useful to have an assessment of the effectiveness of the funding spent against the original priorities of the Portas Pilot.

·         The Portas Pilot funding was a small amount of money compared to the £7m invested by the Council in the Market Place and Underbanks Regeneration and Investment Programme.

·         Although the Council was a key partner, the Portas Pilot initiative was about stimulating and empowering people within the community, and the creation of a town team run by stakeholders.

·         A Member queried how sustainable some of the projects would be after the funding from the Portas Pilot initiative had ceased.

·         A Member expressed the view that the increased footfall in the market area was skewed by the attendance at events such as Foodie Friday.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.