Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 8 July 2019.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 8 July 2019 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

Councillors and officers to declare any interests which they have in any of the items on the agenda for the meeting.

Councillors and officers were invited to declare any interests which they had in any of the items on the agenda for the meeting.

The following interest was declared.

Personal Interest

To consider call-in items (if any).

There were no call-in items to consider.

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

Under the long term Management Agreement with Stockport Council, Stockport Homes is required to provide it with a five yearly Delivery Plan.  The Delivery Plan for the 2016 – 2021 was approved in 2016.  This is the third annual report of the Delivery Plan 2016-2021. The Delivery Plan and the annual outcomes report ensures that there is continuous improvement in the services to tenants and the delivery of decent, modern homes that meet the needs and aspirations of the communities in Stockport.

The Scrutiny Committee is invited to comment and note the report.

Officer contact: Andy Kippax, telephone:  0161-474-4319; email: andy.kippax@stockport.gov.uk

The Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing the third annual report of the Delivery Plan 2016-2021.  The Delivery Plan and the annual outcomes report aimed to ensure that there was continuous improvement in the services to tenants and the delivery of decent, modern homes that met the needs and aspirations of the communities in Stockport.

The Cabinet Member for Sustainable Stockport (Councillor Sheila Bailey) attended the meeting to respond to councillors’ questions.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         Further information was requested in relation to the proportion of those housing fraud investigations that did not result in further action being taken.

·         The management fee received by Stockport Homes had reduced year-on-year which contributed to the overall savings that the Council had been required to make.

·         It was suggested that consideration should be given to the format of future Delivery Plan Outcome reports.  In response it was stated that a more ‘user-friendly’ version of the report was produced for customers of Stockport Homes.

·         Further information was requested on the number of voids and the trend of these throughout the year.  It was stated that the number was generally stable and was lower than comparator housing providers.

·         There had been a significant number of mutual exchanges agreed following the introduction of the bedroom tax, however while numbers had now reduced, Stockport Homes remained proactive in this area.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

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

The aim of the HRA Rent Strategy 2020-25 is to set a clear framework for rent setting over the next five years. It will highlight the key drivers that are intrinsic to decision making, and it will ensure that residents are consulted in a transparent manner which will enable them to influence this Strategy and understand the value-for-money and key investment that they can expect from their rent.

The Scrutiny Committee is asked to consider and note the HRA Rent Strategy 2020 -2025.

Officer contact: Andy Kippax, telephone: 0161 474 4319; email: andy.kippax@stockport.gov.uk

The Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing a clear framework for rent setting over the next five years. The HRA Rent Strategy 2020-25 highlighted the key drivers that were intrinsic to decision making, and it would ensure that residents were consulted in a transparent manner which would enable them to influence the Strategy and understand the value-for-money and key investment that they could expect from their rent.

The Cabinet Member for Sustainable Stockport (Councillor Sheila Bailey) attended the meeting to respond to councillors’ questions.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         It was noted that rent levels in Stockport were significantly lower than those elsewhere in Greater Manchester.  It was stated that this was a legacy of historic rent policies and that it was now very difficult to raise rent levels to a point where they would be commensurate with those levied elsewhere.

·         It was queried whether the low rent levels in Stockport encouraged tenants from outside the Borough to apply.  However, it was stated that Stockport had a robust Housing Allocations Policy that included criteria relating to a ‘local connection’.

·         It was stated that as a result of the high market rent prices and private sale prices in the Borough, Stockport now qualified for grants from Home England to allow the building of new homes for social rent.

·         The level of engagement by tenants in the consultation events held on the proposed Rent Strategy was disappointing.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

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

The Council has established a long-term ambition for the future of Town Centre West which it is delivering through a number of development schemes, policies, and initiatives which will collectively help maximise the area’s potential.  Over recent months the Council has been working with specialist regeneration, urban design, and transport planning consultants to develop a Strategic Regeneration Framework (SRF) for Town Centre West which articulates a comprehensive overall vision and ambition for the area. 

The draft Strategic Regeneration Framework is intended to inspire, excite and engage with existing and future residents and businesses as well as with developers and investors.  It sets out a vision, masterplan, and delivery strategy for how Town Centre West could be reshaped over the next ten to fifteen years as Greater Manchester’s newest, greenest, and coolest affordable urban neighbourhood.

The Scrutiny Committee is invited to:

·         note the timescales of the consultation on the draft Strategic Regeneration Framework;

·         comment on the draft Strategic Regeneration Framework as part of the formal consultation process;

·         note that a the final Strategic Regeneration Framework document will be submitted to Communities & Housing Scrutiny Committee Members for comment in October before being submitted to Cabinet in November for approval;

·         note that the final Strategic Regeneration Framework will inform the annual business plan of the Mayoral Development Corporation;

·         note that the final Strategic Regeneration Framework will form the basis of a Supplementary Planning Document to be produced over winter 2019/20.

Officer cotnact: Paul Richards, telephone 0161-474-2940; email: paul.richards@stockport.gov.uk

The Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing the draft Strategic Regeneration Framework that was intended to inspire, excite and engage with existing and future residents and businesses as well as with developers and investors.  It also set out a vision, masterplan, and delivery strategy for how Town Centre West could be reshaped over the next ten to fifteen years as Greater Manchester’s newest, greenest, and coolest affordable urban neighbourhood.

The Cabinet Member for Sustainable Stockport (Councillor Sheila Bailey) attended the meeting to respond to councillors’ questions.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         The introduction of Metrolink would be a crucial component in the success of the strategy for the redevelopment of the Town Centre West area.

·         The sustainability credentials of the proposed redevelopment was welcomed, and it was further suggested that consideration should be given to the implementation of additional measures such as shared heating and laundry systems and grey water recycling.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

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

The Council consulted on a Draft Open Space Provision and Commuted Payments SPD between February 2019 and March 2019, and again between May 2019 and June 2019, as part of its review of the approach to securing planning obligations in relation to delivering open space assets in the borough. The details of the consultation responses and the Council’s feedback are provided in Appendix 3, in accordance with Regulation 12 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012.

The Scrutiny Committee is invited to comment on the report.

Officer contact: Sally Maguire, 0161-474-2738, sally.maguire@stockport.gov.uk

The Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing the outcome of a consultation in relation to a Draft Open Space Provision and Commuted Payments SPD that was undertaken between February 2019 and March 2019, and again between May 2019 and June 2019, as part of its review of the approach to securing planning obligations in relation to delivering open space assets in the borough.

The Council consulted on a Draft Open Space Provision and Commuted Payments SPD between February 2019 and March 2019, and again between May 2019 and June 2019, as part of its review of the approach to securing planning obligations in relation to delivering open space assets in the borough. The details of the consultation responses and the Council’s feedback are provided in Appendix 3, in accordance with Regulation 12 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012.

The Cabinet Member for Sustainable Stockport (Councillor Sheila Bailey) attended the meeting to respond to councillors’ questions.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Deputy Chief Executive.                                                       

The report sets out planned agenda items for the Scrutiny Committee’s next meeting and Forward Plan items that fall within the remit of the Scrutiny Committee.

The Scrutiny Committee is invited to consider the information in the report and put forward any agenda items for future meetings of the Committee.

Officer contact: Damian Eaton on 0161 474 3207 or email: damian.eaton@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) setting out the planned agenda items for the Scrutiny Committee’s next meeting and any relevant Forward Plan items.

The representative of the Deputy Chief Executive reported that since the publication of the report a further two items had been scheduled for consideration at the next meeting of the Scrutiny Committee:-

·         Housing Needs Assessment

·         Safer Stockport Partnership – Annual Update

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.