Issue - meetings

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

The Stockport Economic Plan has been developed as a partnership plan in support of, and alignment with, the One Stockport Borough Plan. In order to take forward Stockport’s ambition, reflecting the potential for the local economy around the key priorities of:

·         An Enterprising & Productive Stockport

·         A Skilled and Confident Stockport

A brief was developed, to commission consultants to provide the expertise, capacity, and experience required, to work with the Council and local stakeholders to co-design a Stockport Economic Plan through to 2030.

This Plan is crucial to driving forward the local economy to address the challenges of an economic recovery following the impact of Covid, as well as the current rising costs facing businesses. The brief highlighted that the Plan to be developed should be co-designed by a range of local stakeholders, including Stockport Economic Alliance, employers, jobseekers, young people, and partner organisations with strong local engagement in the process as important as the final plan to be produced.

The Cabinet is recommended to note and endorse the Stockport Economic Plan 2022-2030 and initial actions.

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

The Leader of the Council (Councillor Mark Hunter) submitted a report of the Cabinet Member for Economy & Regeneration (copies of which had been circulated) detailing the Stockport Economic Plan 2022 that had been developed as a partnership plan in support of, and alignment with, the One Stockport Borough Plan.

RESOLVED – That the Stockport Economic Plan 2022-2030 and initial actions be noted and endorsed.

To consider a report of the Director of Development and Regeneration.

The report and appendices set out the Final Draft Economic Plan for consideration. The plan details specific actions for both the council and other stakeholders, as well as anticipated timescales for delivery.

The Scrutiny Committee is asked to review, comment on, and endorse the Final Draft Stockport Economic Plan and Action Plan.  

Contact officer: Paul Richards 0161 474 2940 | paul.richards@stockport.gov.uk  

The Director of Development and Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) which set out the final draft Stockport Economic Plan 2022 for consideration. The action plan which accompanied the report, detailed specific actions for both the council and other stakeholders, as well as anticipated timescales for delivery.

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

The following comments were made/ issues raised:

·         A covering report, including an action plan for 2022-23, now accompanied the final draft Stockport Economic Plan 2022.

·         The importance of the Stockport Local Plan underpinning all other plans was stressed.

·         Members were reassured that the Stockport Economic Alliance were committed to delivering the plan’s actions. The alliance were to review and scrutinise actions at each of its meetings.

·         A report on action progress, as well as a summary of the last 12 month period, would be brought back to meetings of the Economy and Regeneration Scrutiny Committee annually.

·         Members were to receive an update on the plan every quarter.

·         It was noted that work on the Stockport Local Plan had been paused in order to seek clarification from central government on their current agenda in relation to planning matters. Further, that a number of other local authorities had paused their plans for the same reason. The Cabinet Member for Economy and Regeneration intended to write to the minister for this clarification; the letter would be drafted in consultation with Group Leaders.

·         It was suggested that other modes of transport be explored within the plan.

·         It was advised that, within the comparative geographies map, the locations were chosen for a number of reasons which included but were not limited to, the fact that they were close to cities and population size.

·         It was suggested that Alexander Hospital, Cheadle, be added to the key employer’s list.

·         One of the intentions of the plan was that it supported business to come to Stockport, survive and thrive.