Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and order that the Minutes of the meeting held on 2 March 2020 be signed.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 2 March 2020 were approved as a correct record.

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 interest which they had in any of the items on the agenda for the meeting.

No declarations were made.

To consider call-in items (if any).

There were no call-in items to consider.

To consider whether it is in the public interest to exclude the public during consideration of Agenda Item 7 – ‘MDC Strategic Business Plan 2020-2025’ and Agenda Item 8 – ‘Land at London Road, Hazel Grove’ which contain information ‘not for publication’ in their appendices by virtue of Category 3 ‘Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority)’ as set out in the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).

RESOLVED – That in order to prevent the disclosure of information which was not for publication, the disclosure of which would not be in the public interest, the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of any of the exempt information in Agenda Item 7 – ‘MDC Strategic Business Plan 2020-2025’ and Agenda Item 8 – ‘Land at London Road, Hazel Grove’ should it be necessary for the Scrutiny Committee to consider and comment on these aspects of the report.

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

The report provides a summary of progress in delivering the portfolio priorities, reform programme and other key projects since the final update report, with a focus on the fourth quarter of the year (January to March). It includes out-turn performance and financial data (where this is available) for the Portfolio, along with updates on the portfolio savings programme

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to:-

·         Consider the Annual Portfolio Performance and Resource Report;

·         Review the progress against delivering key projects, priority outcomes, targets and budgets for 2017/18;

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

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

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

Sustainable Stockport

Alan Lawson, Strategy and Performance Manager at alan.lawson@stockport.gov.uk  (474 5397) or Lisa Joy, CSS Manager (Specialist) Finance at lisa.joy@stockport.gov.uk   (474 4044)

Inclusive Neighbourhoods

Gaynor Ward, Strategy and Performance Manager at gaynor.ward@stockport.gov.uk (474 3186) or Stephen Pate, CSS Manager (Specialist) Finance at stephen.pate@stockport.gov.uk (218 1086)

The Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing a summary of progress in delivering the portfolio priorities, reform programme and other key projects since the final update report, with a focus on the fourth quarter of the year (January to March).  The report included out-turn performance and financial data (where this was available) for the Portfolio, along with updates on the portfolio savings programme.

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

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

Sustainable Stockport Portfolio

·         It was noted that there had been a 10% increase in fly tipping and it was queried whether this could be attributed to the changes made by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority to the number of trips that could be made to Household Waste Recycling Centres.  It was suggested that the short term closure of the Centres and changes made to the waste collection service during the early weeks of the coronavirus pandemic may have also had an impact on these figures.

·         It was confirmed that the aim was that once staffing levels had stabilised, the collection of blue bins would return to fortnightly from the current four weekly collection.

·         It was suggested that consideration should be given to extending the current suspension of parking charges in the town and district centres to aid the recovery of the high street.

·         Further information was requested on the percentage of new residential development in the Borough that had been built on brownfield sites.

·         Further clarity was requested on sickness levels at TLC, and it was suggested that this measure could be better expressed as the average number of days lost per employee. 

·         Members expressed their thanks and gratitude to those Council staff and those working on behalf of the Council who continued to undertake their duties efficiently and effectively during the coronavirus pandemic.

·         Social media had been used particularly well by the Council to communicate service changes to residents which was then disseminated widely by local community groups.

Inclusive Communities Portfolio

·         The work of voluntary, community and social enterprise sector during the coronavirus pandemic was acknowledged and welcomed.

·         Traffic levels had recently been significantly reduced, and children and young people may have become acclimatised to cycling and walking in these conditions.  It was suggested that additional communications should be provided to alert families to the increased danger posed as traffic returns to more normal levels over the coming weeks.

·         Further information was requested on the incidence of domestic violence and whether this had been affected by the current ‘lockdown’.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a joint report of the Cabinet Members for Sustainable Stockport and Inclusive Neighbourhoods.

This report provides an overview of the Council’s response to date, building on regular updates received directly by members and including detail relating to the remit of this committee, and a view of how this response will be developing over the coming weeks and months.

The Scrutiny Committee are invited to:-

·         Discuss and note this report and the response to date;

·         Note the commitment to return to Scrutiny with information about future phases of response.

Officer contact: Kathryn Rees on 07989208640 or email: kathryn.rees@stockport.gov.uk

The Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an overview of the Council’s response to date to the Covid-19 pandemic, building on regular updates received directly by members and including detail relating to the remit of this committee, and a view of how this response would be developed over the coming weeks and months.

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

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         Financial support, advice and guidance was available to local businesses including how businesses could reopen safely.

·         The speed with which the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector had provided support was commended and it was noted that there was now a new generation of volunteers that had needed to be recruited as many existing volunteers had been required to shield under government guidance.

·         While communications with councillors had been effective and frequent, there remained scope for more localised information particular to specific wards.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That it be noted that further reports on this issue would be submitted to future meetings of the Scrutiny Committee.

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

The Stockport Town Centre West Mayoral Development Corporation has been created to deliver the Council’s ambitious agenda to deliver new homes, increase the long-term viability of the whole town centre, and regenerate Stockport’s Town Centre West.  It will deliver the long-term vision for the area as set out in the Strategic Regeneration Framework for Town Centre West which the Council approved in November 2019.

This report recommends that Cabinet approve the MDC’s Strategic Business Plan which will formally guide the MDC’s activity and act as the document against which the MDC’s effectiveness can be assessed. The Strategic Business Plan is included in Appendix A of this report.

(NOTE: This item includes a ‘not for publication’ appendix that 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 0161-218-1940 or email: caroline.simpson@stockport.gov.uk

The Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing the Stockport Town Centre West Mayoral Development Corporation’s (MDC) Strategic Business Plan which would formally guide the MDC’s activity and act as the document against which the MDC’s effectiveness could be assessed.

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:-

·         There was an opportunity to generate energy from the River Mersey that flowed through the Town Centre.

·         It was important that explicit reference to the value and opportunities that might be afforded to the voluntary, community and faith based sectors as part of the future development of Stockport Town Centre West was enshrined in the Strategic Business Plan.

(NOTE: This item included a ‘not for publication’ appendix that had been circulated to members of the Scrutiny Committee only).

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a joint report of the Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration, Deputy Chief Executive and Deputy Director of Public Health.

Stockport Homes have identified a privately owned site at the above location for the development of social housing comprising 34 units all for social rent. Funding for the scheme is to be sourced from Homes England Grant and a loan from the Councils Housing Revenue Account.  The completed units will be owned by the Council and managed by Stockport Homes.

(NOTE: This item includes a ‘not for publication’ appendix that has been circulated to members of the Scrutiny Committee only).

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

Officer contact: Ian Keyte on 0161 217 6907 or email: Ian.Keyte@stockport.gov.uk

The Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration submitted a joint report of the Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration, Deputy Chief Executive and Deputy Director of Public Health (copies of which had been circulated) detailing a proposal for release of funding for the sum identified in the appendix from the Housing Revenue account to enable the acquisition and development of the site at London Road, Hazel Grove for social housing comprising 34 units all for social rent.

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

(NOTE: This item included a ‘not for publication’ appendix that had been circulated to members of the Scrutiny Committee only).

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         It was commented that the proposed development fell within the proposed Stepping Hill Parking Zone and consideration needed to be given as part of the development of the site to make sufficient provision for parking on site.

·         There was a lack of affordable housing in the Hazel Grove and this development would provide welcome additional social housing in this area.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Statutory Scrutiny Officer.                                                       

The Scrutiny Committee is invited to give consideration to possible topics for further consideration during the 2020/21 municipal year. Suggestions will be considered and subject to a further decision at the next meeting in July 2020 when the Scrutiny Committee will be invited to make a formal recommendation to the Scrutiny Co-ordination Committee as part of the Scrutiny Work Programme.

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 – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That the Deputy Chief Executive be recommended to programme the following items into the Scrutiny Committee’s work programme for the 2020/21 Municipal Year:-

·         Update on Homelessness in the Borough.

·         The outcome of investigations into recent incidents of flooding in the Borough.

·         Update on the work of the Council’s Climate Change Task Force.