Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 16 September 2019.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 16 September 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 they had in any of the items on the agenda for the meeting.

No declarations of interest were made.

To consider whether it is in the public interest to exclude the press and public from the meeting during consideration of the following item:

RESOLVED – That in order to prevent the disclosure of information which was not for publication, the disclosure of which would not be in the public interest, the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of any of the exemption information in the following item in event that it needed to be discussed:-

To consider call-in items (if any).

There were no call-ins to consider.

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

The Mid-Year Portfolio Performance and Resource Reports (PPRRs) for the Sustainable Stockport and Inclusive Neighbourhoods Portfolios are presented for consideration by the Committee. These provide a summary of progress in delivering the portfolio priorities, reform programmes and other key projects in the first half of the year, with a particular focus on the second quarter (July to September). These include forecast performance and financial data (where this is available) for the Portfolios, along with an update on the portfolio savings programmes.

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to:

(i)        Consider the Mid-Year Portfolio Performance and Resource Reports;  

(ii)      Review the progress against delivering key projects, priority outcomes, targets and budgets for 2019/20;

(iii)     Highlight key areas of and responsibility for taking forward corrective action to address any performance or resource issues;

(iv)     Highlight any significant issues or changes to be fed back to the Cabinet alongside the Corporate Performance and Resource Report;

(v)      Identify how areas of strong performance and good practice can be shared in other services.

Officer contacts:

Sustainable Stockport Alan Lawson on 474 5397 or email:

alan.lawson@stockport.gov.uk or Lisa Joy on 474 4044 or email:

lisa.joy@stockport.gov.uk

Inclusive Neighbourhoods Gaynor Ward on 474 3186 or email: gaynor.ward@stockport.gov.uk or Stephen Pate on 218 1086 or email:

stephen.pate@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing the Mid-Year Portfolio Performance and Resource Report (PPRR) for the Inclusive Communities and Sustainable Stockport Portfolio. The report provided a summary of progress in delivering the portfolio priorities, reform programme and other key projects in the first half of the year, with a particular focus on the second quarter (July to September). The report also included a forecast on performance and financial data (where this was available) for the Portfolio, along with an update on the portfolio savings programme.

The Cabinet Members for Inclusive Communities (Councillor Amanda Peers) and Sustainable Stockport (Councillor Sheila Bailey) attended the meeting to respond to questions from the Scrutiny Committee.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

Sustainable Stockport Portfolio

·         There was discussion about the recent closure of the A555 due to flooding. Further information was sought on contingency plans to mitigate against further flooding, and details of when and by whom promised reports to area committees would be submitted. In response it was stated that officers had done all they could to minimise disruption caused by the recent sustained rainfall, but that no guarantee of a recurrence could be given. It was confirmed that a flood consultant had been recruited to scope the work for the investigation of the recent flooding, during which area committees and local councillors would be engaged. Specifically in relation to the recent A555 closure, the road was closed at 11.30am on Saturday after persistent rain and the road becoming impassable. After the closure, a car became stranded, but by 10.30am on Sunday the road was opened (having first removed the stranded vehicle). The pumps and tanks on the A555 had been cleaned but there was insufficient capacity for the level of rain. A consultant engineer had been appointed to report back to the Council on possible additional mitigation measures. Further comment was made that other sections of the A555 in Cheshire East remained open for longer and there was a need for greater coordination between the affected local authorities. In response it was stated that the aspiration was to coordinate the production of the Section 19 reports into the flooding and to develop solutions ‘up stream’ that provided for greater capacity in the river network to cope with persistent and heavy rainfall.

·         Further information was requested on the planned IT solution for fly-tipping. In response, it was confirmed that the intention was to collate information and intelligence on instances of fly tipping to allow the Council to take a more proportionate response to target investigatory capacity at hotspots where there was a prospect of convictions.

·         Clarification was sought on why the waste collection trial in Brinnington did not proceed. In response it was stated that there had been agreed that in light of the scrutiny review into domestic waste collection it was appropriate to await the outcome of that process before proceeding with any other trial. It was also commented that the Brinnington & Central Ward was somewhat atypical for domestic waste collection rounds in Stockport.

·         Comment was made about the levels of sickness absence at TLC and the significant proportion due to home-related stress. In response it was stated that conversations had taken place with who had acknowledged these challenges and were supporting staff where there could.

·         Work to respond to the Council Meeting’s Climate Change Emergency motion was welcomed.

The Chair highlighted the serious concerns and difficulties for communities in Bramhall and Heald Green being created by the repeated flooding of the A555 and she emphasised the need to expedite investigatory efforts.

Inclusive Communities

·         Councillors welcomed the positive work done in relation to Continuing Education, in particular the recent Jobs Fair.

·         It was commented that there were a number of performance measures that were process focussed, rather than outcome focussed, that lead to perverse outcomes. The example of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

To consider a report of the Democratic Services Manager.                                                       

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.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

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

The Council’s long-term ambition for the future of Town Centre West as a location for new housing and the social infrastructure and amenity needed to support a growing community has been the subject of a number of reports over recent years.  The publication of the draft Strategic Regeneration Framework for the area in July 2019 marked a significant step forward in defining and articulating the Council’s overall vision for the area.

This report provides a comprehensive summary of the responses to the consultation (Appendix A) and an updated Strategic Regeneration Framework document (Appendix B) for Members’ consideration.  Subject to Members’ views it will be submitted to Cabinet for approval on 12 November 2019.

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to note and comment on this report and the full updated Strategic Regeneration Framework at Appendix B prior to its submission to Cabinet on 12 November 2019.

Officer contact: Caroline Simpson on 0161 474 5000 or email: caroline.simpson@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing the Scrutiny Committee with a comprehensive summary of the responses to the consultation on the draft Strategic Regeneration Framework (SRF) document for Town Centre West. A finalised copy of the SRF was also submitted for consideration prior to a decision by the Cabinet.

The Cabinet Member for Sustainable Stockport (Councillor Sheila Bailey) attended the meeting to respond to questions from the Scrutiny Committee.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         Councillors welcomed the aspiration for 50% affordable housing across the Town Centre West area. Further comment was made about the need for family properties and social rental provision. Assurance was sought on the phasing of such provision, what constituted ‘affordable’ and on design guidelines. In response it was stated that the MDC was still in its infancy and the details of future provision had not yet been fully considered, but the SRF did reflect the NPPF’s position on viability of developments. Specifically in relation to design guidelines, these were currently in the process of being drafted.

·         The need to for usable greenspace was emphasised, particularly as the population grew. It was acknowledged that the SRP made provision for sustainability but it was important to ensure this was considered and built into developments.

·         Stockport Homes was also a key partner in delivering future social housing in the Borough and should be part of the discussions about Town Centre West. The Council’s positive record on affordable housing provision in Town Centre was acknowledged, particularly working with Registered Social Landlords and Homes England on schemes that were less viable for commercial developers. Homes England was a partner with the MDC.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

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

The Council’s ambition to deliver new homes, increase the long-term viability of the town centre, and regenerate Stockport’s Town Centre West area has led to the creation of a comprehensive Strategic Regeneration Framework for the area which will be delivered by the newly formed Stockport Mayoral Development Corporation.

To ensure that there is appropriate democratically accountable oversight and influence over the MDC, the Council and Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) have both formally agreed that the MDC will produce a Strategic Business Plan that specifies what activity the MDC will undertake and that that business plan will be submitted to the Council and GMCA for approval.

This report recommends that Cabinet approve the MDC’s Strategic Business Plan which will then formally guide the MDC’s activity and act as the document against which the MDC’s effectiveness can be measured.

(NOTE: This item includes an appendix which is ‘not for publication’ and has been circulated to members of the Scrutiny Committee only)

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

Officer contact: Caroline Simpson on 0161 474 5000 or email: caroline.simpson@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) setting out the first Strategic Business Plan for the Town Centre West Mayoral Development Corporation (MDC), as required by the Council and the GMCA as part of the governance arrangements for the MDC. The plan would guide the MDC’s activity and provide a document against which the MDC’s effectiveness could be measured. The plan would cover the period up to the start of the next financial year.

The Cabinet Member for Sustainable Stockport (Councillor Sheila Bailey) attended the meeting to respond to questions from the Scrutiny Committee.

(Note: the report contained information ‘not for publication’ in its appendix that had been circulated to committee members only).

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.