Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Corporate Director (Corporate and Support Services) and Deputy Chief Executive.

This report builds on the One Stockport update presented to Area Committees in November 2020 where there was discussion about the shape of One Stockport to outline our approach to developing a shared One Stockport borough plan. This report covers how we are progressing the borough plan, our approach to capturing the views of our residents, businesses and workforce, the data and insight we are considering - and how this will inform our priorities for the future

We previously presented to Area Committees in November 2020 to outline our approach to One Stockport and our emerging borough plan. We committed to bringing an update on the progress of the borough plan and as such this report sets out our approach to engagement, data and insight that will inform our priorities for the future.

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

Officer contact: Holly Rae on 0161 474 3014 or email: holly.rae@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Corporate Director (Corporate and Support Services) and Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing how the Council was proposing to progress the development of the borough plan; the approach to capturing the views of residents, businesses and the workforce; the data and insight that would be considered, and how this would inform the priorities for the future.

Kathryn Rees (Service Director Strategy and Commissioning, Stockport Council) attended the meeting to present the item and to respond to questions from councillors.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         Members queried the criteria by which the success of the borough plan would be judged. It was commented that the borough plan did inform the annual Council Plan which had specific measurements of success, but that developing a set of outcome measures specific to the borough plan was a helpful suggestion.

·         Members requested a list of forums that had been engaged with during the development of the borough plan so that they would be able to suggest groups and forums that had not yet been approached for their views. Councillors suggested groups such as the Woodford Neighbourhood Forum and High Lane Village Neighbourhood Forum as ones that may be able to provide useful feedback.

·         Members raised green issues and the climate emergency as something that should be central to the One Stockport Borough Plan, as the Council had already made commitments to mitigating climate change. It was commented that green issues had similarly been raised through community engagement during the development of the plan and that this would inform the plan’s continued development.

·         Councillors expressed concern that Bramhall and Cheadle Hulme were still not featured heavily on the One Stockport social media pages, after having raised this issue at the previous area committee. It was commented that these concerns would be fed back to the relevant officers.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director (Corporate and Support Services) and Deputy Chief Executive.

This report builds on the One Stockport update presented to Area Committees in November 2020 where there was discussion about the shape of One Stockport to outline our approach to developing a shared One Stockport borough plan. This report covers how we are progressing the borough plan, our approach to capturing the views of our residents, businesses and workforce, the data and insight we are considering - and how this will inform our priorities for the future

We previously presented to Area Committees in November 2020 to outline our approach to One Stockport and our emerging borough plan. We committed to bringing an update on the progress of the borough plan and as such this report sets out our approach to engagement, data and insight that will inform our priorities for the future.

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

Officer contact: Holly Rae on 0161 474 3014 or email: holly.rae@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Corporate Director (Corporate and Support Services) and Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing how the the Council was proposing to progress the development of the Borough Plan; the approach to capturing the views of residents, businesses and the workforce; the data and insight that would be considered, and how this would inform the proproties for the future.

Kirsteen Roe (Service Director – Citizen Focus) attended the meeting to present the item and to respond to questions from Councillors.

The following comments were made/issues raised:

·         Members raised the issue of the rise of unemployment particularly among young people, and how the Borough Plan intended to address this.  Members noted that there had been a shift in consumer behaviour towards online shopping and away from shopping in town and district centres.  This meant that businesses had to adapt.  The growing areas for business were technology, digital and logistics and the plan aimed to assist young people with obtaining jobs in these types of areas.  There were a number of challenges remaining, but some businesses had managed to adapt well to current circumstances and there were lessons to be learnt from this.

·         Members stated that there had been a widening of the equality gap in terms of income during the Covid-19 pandemic.  This impacted on the health, wellbeing and life expectancy of Stockport’s citizens.  Getting people into work was vital in trying to address this issue.

·         The issue of climate change was felt to be crucial and any decisions should be taken in the light of the Council’s recent commitment to become a carbon neutral Borough by 2038.  Members considered it vital to encourage ‘green’ industries into Stockport.  Members were advised that this issue formed one of the pillars of the Borough Plan and was being discussed widely across different sectors.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director (Corporate and Support Services) and Deputy Chief Executive.

This report builds on the One Stockport update presented to Area Committees in November 2020 where there was discussion about the shape of One Stockport to outline our approach to developing a shared One Stockport borough plan. This report covers how we are progressing the borough plan, our approach to capturing the views of our residents, businesses and workforce, the data and insight we are considering - and how this will inform our priorities for the future

We previously presented to Area Committees in November 2020 to outline our approach to One Stockport and our emerging borough plan. We committed to bringing an update on the progress of the borough plan and as such this report sets out our approach to engagement, data and insight that will inform our priorities for the future.

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

Officer contact: Holly Rae on 0161 474 3014 or email: holly.rae@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Corporate Director (Corporate and Support Services) and Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing how the Council was proposing to progress the development of the borough plan; the approach to capturing the views of residents, businesses and the workforce; the data and insight that would be considered, and how this would inform the priorities for the future.

Kathryn Rees (Service Director Strategy and Commissioning, Stockport Council) attended the meeting to present the item and to respond to questions from councillors.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         Members questioned whether the borough plan was already in development before the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. It was commented that the plan was already in development as the previous five year plan had been due to expire in 2020.

·         Geographical data was requested in relation to the 1,,200 people who had been involved in the engagement activities so far and how local Stepping Hill residents had been targeted. It was commented that the engagement had been spread evenly across the borough as much as possible and that this this had involved the use of social media and an online video booth as well as existing community and business forums.

·         Members highlighted the importance of reducing polarisation between Stockport’s communities and questioned whether an over-arching plan for the entire borough was the best method to address concerns around health and inequality in the poorest areas.  It was commented that a strength of the borough plan was to address issues like health and education in a collective way rather than having a disjointed approach across different areas.

·         The necessity of engaging with historically marginalised groups was emphasised by members. In response, it was noted that officers had endeavoured to achieve this through local groups such as Nexus Equality and Disability Stockport. Members were encouraged to suggest any further methods by which the borough plan could be more inclusive.

·         As officers had only been able to visit three schools in the borough during the engagement process, members questioned whether there had been enough meaningful engagement with young people in the borough. It was commented that, while the pandemic had limited opportunities to visit schools, young people had been engaged through care-leavers forums and youth groups as well as by talking to head teachers.

·         Whilst members expressed broad support for the borough, they expressed concern that the plan had been brought forward under the ‘One Stockport’ brand.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director (Corporate and Support Services) and Deputy Chief Executive.

This report builds on the One Stockport update presented to Area Committees in November 2020 where there was discussion about the shape of One Stockport to outline our approach to developing a shared One Stockport borough plan. This report covers how we are progressing the borough plan, our approach to capturing the views of our residents, businesses and workforce, the data and insight we are considering - and how this will inform our priorities for the future

We previously presented to Area Committees in November 2020 to outline our approach to One Stockport and our emerging borough plan. We committed to bringing an update on the progress of the borough plan and as such this report sets out our approach to engagement, data and insight that will inform our priorities for the future.

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

Officer contact: Holly Rae on 0161 474 3014 or email: holly.rae@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Corporate Director (Corporate and Support Services) and Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing how the Council was proposing to progress the development of the borough plan; the approach to capturing the views of residents, businesses and the workforce; the data and insight that would be considered, and how this would inform the priorities for the future.

Kirsteen Roe (Service Director – Citizen Focus) attended the meeting to present the item and to respond to questions from councillors.

The following comments were made/issues raised:

·         A Members expressed disappointment at the lack of engagement with local cultural groups.

·         In terms of wellbeing, it was stressed that activity of any kind, not just physical activity, was important.

·         Members felt that it was important to emphasise individual behaviour as well of that of big corporations in relation to climate change and to discuss the use of public transport in addition to cycling and walking.

·         Members were pleased to note that the report mentioned the diverse nature of Stockport and its residents.

·         Members felt that it was important to consider what it was that the plan aimed to achieve.

·         It was acknowledged by Members that some areas of Stockport had less favourable chances in terms of health, education and employment outcomes.  The plan provides an opportunity to support those who needed it most.

·         Members queried how the framework of social values would be approached in the plan.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director (Corporate and Support Services) and Deputy Chief Executive.

This report builds on the One Stockport update presented to Area Committees in November 2020 where there was discussion about the shape of One Stockport to outline our approach to developing a shared One Stockport borough plan. This report covers how we are progressing the borough plan, our approach to capturing the views of our residents, businesses and workforce, the data and insight we are considering - and how this will inform our priorities for the future

We previously presented to Area Committees in November 2020 to outline our approach to One Stockport and our emerging borough plan. We committed to bringing an update on the progress of the borough plan and as such this report sets out our approach to engagement, data and insight that will inform our priorities for the future.

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

Officer contact: Holly Rae on 0161 474 3014 or email: holly.rae@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Corporate Director (Corporate and Support Services) and Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing how the Council was proposing to progress the development of the borough plan; the approach to capturing the views of residents, businesses and the workforce; the data and insight that would be considered, and how this would inform the priorities for the future.

Holly Rae (Head of Service, Strategy and Commissioning, Stockport Council) attended the meeting to present the item and to respond to questions from councillors.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         In response to question from a councillors, it was stated that following the last round of area committees in November at which members commented on the One Stockport campaign, particular note had been taken of the strong sense of local identity that residents felt towards their specific community within the borough.

·         Members expressed support for the development of a borough plan that reflected on and supported some of the good work that had taken place in response to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

·         Concern was expressed that the continued use and application of the ’One Stockport’ brand did not reflect local identity and may not solicit the right level of engagement or response.

·         Clarification was requested on the level of engagement in specific areas of the borough received through the consultations already undertaken to ensure that there were no areas that were geographically underrepresented.

·         It was highlighted that through the work undertaken so far ‘looking after the environment, climate change and having access to parks and open spaces’ had been identified as being an important issue for children and young people across the borough.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.