Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Cabinet Member for Reform & Governance.

This report proposes the marketing and potential sale of the former Ritz Cinema car park for residential development.  This approach is expected to bring forward residential development of a quality that could act as a catalyst for further development and would assist with delivering the Town Centre Living and Brownfield First agendas.

The Cabinet is recommended to:

·              Approve the marketing for sale of the former Ritz Cinema site for residential development;

·              Approve the proposed disposal route of agreeing a development lease with a preferred bidder;

·              Delegate authority to the Deputy Chief Executive, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Reform & Governance, to take such actions as are necessary to complete the marketing and disposal of the site for residential development.

Officer contact: Charlotte Cordingley, 0161-474-4240, charlotte.cordingly@stockport.gov.uk

The Cabinet Member for Reform & Governance submitted (copies of which had been circulated) inviting the Cabinet to consider proposals for the marketing and potential sale of the former Ritz Cinema car park for residential development.

RESOLVED – That in relation to the former Ritz Cinema site:

·         approval be given to the marketing for sale of the site for residential development;

·         approval be given to the proposed disposal route of agreeing a development lease with a preferred bidder; and

·         the Deputy Chief Executive, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Reform & Governance, be authorised to take such actions as are necessary to complete the marketing and disposal of the site for residential development.

To consider a joint report of the Deputy Chief Executive and Corporate Director Place Management and Regeneration.

The report details a proposal to market for potential future sale the former Ritz Cinema site between Piccadilly and Fletcher Street for residential development in line with the Council’s Town Centre Living and Brownfield First priorities.

The Area Committee is recommended to comment on the report and recommendations.

Officer contact: Paul Richards on 0161 474 2940 or email:  paul.richards@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing a proposal to market for potential future sale the former Ritz Cinema site between Piccadilly and Fletcher Street for residential development in line with the Council’s Town Centre Living and Brownfield First priorities.

Members requested that the ownership of the pedestrian footway from the existing car park on the former Ritz Cinema site to the casino on Wellington Street be investigated.

RESOLVED – That the proposal be supported.

To consider a joint report of the Deputy Chief Executive and Corporate Director Place Management and Regeneration.

The report details a proposal to market for potential future sale the former Ritz Cinema site between Piccadilly and Fletcher Street for residential development in line with the Council’s Town Centre Living and Brownfield First priorities.

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to comment on the report and recommendations.

Officer contact: Paul Richards on 0161 474 2940 or email:  paul.richards@stockport.gov.uk

A report of the Deputy Chief Executive and Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration was submitted (copies of which had been circulated) detailing a proposal to market for potential future sale the former Ritz Cinema site between Piccadilly and Fletcher Street for residential development in line with the Council’s Town Centre Living and Brownfield First priorities.

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

RESOLVED – That the Cabinet be advised that the Scrutiny Committee supports the proposal.

To consider a joint report of the Deputy Chief Executive and Corporate Director Place Management and Regeneration.

The report details a proposal to market for potential future sale the former Ritz Cinema site between Piccadilly and Fletcher Street for residential development in line with the Council’s Town Centre Living and Brownfield First priorities.

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to comment on the report and recommendations.

Officer contact: Paul Richards on 0161 474 2940 or email:  paul.richards@stockport.gov.uk

The Corporate Director Place Management and Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing a proposal to market for potential future sale the former Ritz Cinema site between Piccadilly and Fletcher Street for residential development in line with the Council’s Town Centre Living and Brownfield First priorities.

The Cabinet Member for Communities and Housing (Councillor Sheila Bailey) attended the meeting to present the report and respond to councillors’ questions.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         It was important that the Council retained control over the site to ensure that any development that took place was appropriately aligned with the Council’s wider interests.

·         Any scheme that was developed on the site would need to fit in with the Council’s emerging Town Centre Living Development Framework.

·         The loss of parking associated with the development of the former Ritz Cinema site could be readily absorbed by unused capacity elsewhere in the Town Centre.  It was stated that average space occupancy in Merseyway was 45%.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a joint report of the Deputy Chief Executive and Corporate Director Place Management & Regeneration

The report seeks authority to market for potential future sale the former Ritz Cinema site between Piccadilly and Fletcher Street for residential development in line with the Council’s Town Centre Living and Brownfield First priorities.

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to comment on the report and recommendations.

Officer contact: Paul Richards, 0161-474-2940, paul.richards@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) inviting the Scrutiny Committee to consider a proposal for the Council to dispose of the former Ritz Cinema site for residential redevelopment.

The Cabinet Member for Reform & Governance attended the meeting to respond to questions from the Scrutiny Committee. 

Councillors welcomed the proposal to bring forward this site for development, and in particular the proposed approach that would allow the Council greater control over its use than simple disposal. 

Concerns were expressed that given there were a number of residential developments proposed or in development in this part of the Town Centre that there may be insufficient parking capacity, particularly as the nearest available provision was not particularly convenient, In response it was commented that this was largely a planning consideration but that the Council had agreed a Town Centre car parking strategy to address some of these concerns.

RESOLVED - That the report be noted.