Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 20 January 2020.

The Minutes of the meeting held on 20 January 2020 (copies of which had been circulated) 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 declaration was made:-

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. 

The report provides an update on implementation of the Active Communities Strategy which was approved by Cabinet in June 2019.

This report also seeks approval for a new approach to a delivery partnership within the Active Communities Strategy following the end of current arrangements with Life Leisure in March 2022 and authorisation to commence the pre-procurement process.

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to comment on the update and approach proposed above.

Officer contact: Jennifer Connolly on 0161 474 2442 or Paul Richards on 0161 474 2940 or by email on jennifer.connolly@stockport.gov.uk or  paul.richards@stockport.gov.uk

The Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an update on the implementation of the Active Communities Strategy which had previously been approved by Cabinet in June 2019.  The report also detailed a proposed new approach to a delivery partnership within the Active Communities Strategy following the end of current arrangements with Life Leisure in March 2022 and requests authorisation to commence the pre-procurement process.

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 stated that the report identified that there was a funding gap with respect to the development of a new leisure facility in Marple, and it was queried what was being done to address that.  In response it was stated that the site of the existing facility would be disposed of which would generate a capital receipt and work was taking place to explore the potential for grant funding from Sport England in addition to the additional forecast revenue that might be generated from operating a new facility.

·         It was noted that while there had been improvements in levels of inactivity across most age ranges, a problem remained within the over 75 demographic.

·         It was important to remember that there was a significant level of work that was taking place in communities outside of Life Leisure’s activity.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

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

The report provides a summary of the progress made against the Living Well at Home work stream of the Happy, Healthy Homes to Age Well Prospectus launched in February 2019.

The report outlines what we have learnt so far with a particular focus around the findings of the Housing Needs Assessment (HNA) which was completed in December 2019 and the mapping exercises that were undertaken to identify existing and future housing need for Older People in the Borough.

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to comment on and note the progress made against the Ageing Well agenda and the findings of the HNA 2019.

Officer contact: Andy Kippax on 0161 474 4319 or email: andy.kippax@stockport.gov.uk

The Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing a summary of the progress made against the Living Well at Home work stream of the Happy, Healthy Homes to Age Well Prospectus that was launched in February 2019.  The report outlined what head been learnt so far with a particular focus around the findings of the Housing Needs Assessment which was completed in December 2019 and the mapping exercises that were undertaken to identify existing and future housing need for Older People in the Borough.

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 important that new homes were built in places that had ready access to local amenities and facilities in order that they remained sustainable for future occupants into older age.

·         The pricing of new units was a key consideration to ensure that quality homes were available for all regardless of income.

·         It was noted that there were a large number of over-65s who struggled to afford to downsize their property.  It was suggested that consideration should be given by the government to removing the requirement to pay stamp duty for those in such circumstances.

·         The proposed development of 53 self-contained apartments providing a mixture of high quality affordable/ social rent and shared ownership units that would be designed to meet the needs of older people, and in accordance with extra care principles at Edinburgh Close, Cheadle was welcomed.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

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

The Council declared a Climate Emergency in March 2019 and agreed that the impacts of global temperature rises above 1.5°C are so severe that governments at all levels must work together and make combating climate change their top priority. To do its part, it was agreed that Council would develop a Climate Action Plan. This report provides an overview of a proposed strategy for Stockport to meet its climate obligations, covering all aspects of the Council and Borough, as well as making it clear that tackling climate change will require every stakeholder in Stockport to play their part: Council, residents, businesses and communities.

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

Officer contact: Mark Glynn on 0161 474 3700 or email mark.glynn@stockport.gov.uk

The Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an overview of a proposed strategy for Stockport to meet its climate obligations, covering all aspects of the Council and Borough, as well as making it clear that tackling climate change will require every stakeholder in Stockport to play their part, including the Council, residents, businesses and communities.

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

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         Concern was expressed in relation to a perceived lack of ambition within the report.

·         It was commented that the report did not provide an existing baseline against which progress and objectives could be measured.

·         The Council had been working to reduce its CO2 emissions for some time through initiatives such as the transition to LED street lighting, the provision of biomass boilers and the installation of photovoltaic panels across the corporate estate.

·         It was commented that some strategic aims of the Council, such as the progression of the M60 to A6 section of bypass through the Borough, conflicted with the ambition in the proposed Strategy document.

·         Work was taking place to make carbon literacy training a mandatory requirement for all members of staff.

·         There was a scheme being operated on behalf of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority that allowed people to purchase photovoltaic panels at a reduced cost though collective purchasing.

·         The ongoing impact of Manchester Airport needed to be given greater focus and further challenge needed to be provided to its model of operation.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

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

The report provides members with an overview of issues regarding empty properties and outline the work being undertaken and the interventions being put in place by the Housing Standards Team to reduce numbers of empty properties that are having a negative effect on the borough. 

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

Officer contact: Mark Glynn on 0161 474 3700 or email mark.glynn@stockport.gov.uk

The Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an overview of issues regarding empty properties and outlining the work being undertaken and the interventions being put in place by the Housing Standards Team to reduce numbers of empty properties that are having a negative effect on the borough.

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

RESOLVED – That the report be noted and the ongoing work of the Housing Standards Team to reduce the number of empty properties be acknowledged.

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.