Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Cabinet Member for Economy & Regeneration.

The report provides an update on proposals to develop an Innovation Centre in Stockport town centre.

The Cabinet is recommended to:-

(1) Note the report.

(2) That, if the ERDF funding application is approved, then delegat authority to the Deputy Chief Executive (Place) and the Deputy Chief Executive (Corporate & Support Services), in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Resources, Commissioning & Governance, to source the necessary capital cash match funding of £0.948m for the Merseyway Innovation Centre.

(3) Delegate authority to the Deputy Chief Executive (Place) and the Deputy Chief Executive (Corporate & Support Services), in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Economy & Regeneration, to:

a)    Take all necessary steps to implement the project strategy in this report, reporting back as necessary and appropriate to the Cabinet;

b)   Enter into contracts, procurement and funding agreements, as required, to deliver the Merseyway Innovation Centre;  

c)    Receive and administer European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) monies in respect of Merseyway Innovation Centre.

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

The Cabinet Member for Economy & Regeneration (Councillor David Meller) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an update on proposals to develop an Innovation Centre in Stockport town centre.

Irt was stated that the Centre would be home to a business lounge, co-working space that could accommodate 20 entrepreneurs at any one time; 25 self-contained offices and flexible conference and meeting room facilities. As well as providing flexible workspace offered on an all-inclusive basis all tenants would have access to bespoke on-site business support, workshops and events.

This new Centre would form a key component of the Merseyway redevelopment proposals as it would help re-purpose vacant and hard to let space and create additional footfall and spend thus benefiting existing and new neighbouring retail and leisure uses within the town  centre.

RESOLVED – That:-

(1) The report be noted.

(2) If the ERDF funding application is approved, then authority be delegated to the Deputy Chief Executive (Place) and the Deputy Chief Executive (Corporate & Support Services), in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Resources, Commissioning & Governance, to source the necessary capital cash match funding of £0.948m for the Merseyway Innovation Centre.

(3) Authority be delegted to the Deputy Chief Executive (Place) and the Deputy Chief Executive (Corporate & Support Services), in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Economy & Regeneration, to:

a)    Take all necessary steps to implement the project strategy in this report, reporting back as necessary and appropriate to the Cabinet;

b)    Enter into contracts, procurement and funding agreements, as required, to deliver the Merseyway Innovation Centre; 

c)      Receive and administer European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) monies in respect of Merseyway Innovation Centre.

To consider a report of the Deputy Chief Executive (Place)

The report provides an update on developing an Innovation Centre in Stockport town centre.

The Scrutiny Committee is invited to comment on the report.

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

A representative of the Deputy Chief Executive (Place) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulate) providing an update on developing an Innovation Centre in Stockport town centre. The new centre would form a key component of the Merseyway redevelopment proposals as it would help re-purpose vacant and hard to let space and create additional footfall and spend, therefore benefitting existing and new neighbouring retail and leisure uses within the town centre.

The Cabinet Member for Economy and Regeneration (Councillor David Meller) attended the meeting to respond to questions from the Scrutiny Committee.

The following comment was made/issue raised:-

·         In response to a Member’s question, it was clarified that the proposals were independent of the resumption of maintenance work at the Merseyway shopping centre.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report.

(2) That the Scrutiny Committee be updated on progress on the initiative.