Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meetings held on 25 January and 16 March 2021.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 16 March 2021 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 interests were declared:-

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Agenda Item 11 – ‘MDC Strategic Business Plan 2021-2026 and Annual Action Plan 2021 – 2022’ which contains information ‘not for publication’ in its appendix by virtue of Category 3 ‘Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority)’ as set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RESOLVED - That in order to prevent the disclosure of information which was not for publication, the disclosure of which would not be in the public interest, the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of any of the exempt information in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 11 – ‘MDC Strategic Business Plan 2021-2026 and Annual Action Plan 2021 – 2022’.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director (Corporate & Support Services) & Deputy Chief Executive.

This item will provide the committee with an update on the key achievements of partnership working and across partner organisations against Safer Stockport Partnership’s (SSP) priorities during 2020/21. This is based around the strategic priorities determined in the 2018-21 SSP Plan and priority areas for action in the associated delivery plan, refreshed in October 2019.

The Scrutiny Committee is asked to:

(1)  Consider the SSP Annual Update 2020/21 presentation;

(2)  Note progress made relating to delivery against the priority themes of the SSP Plan;

(3)  Provide any comments or reflections on the issues covered in the presentation.

Officer contact: Katy Forde on 07527 387232 or email: katy.forde@stockport.gov.uk

RESOLVED – That consideration of this item be deferred to the next meeting of the Scrutiny Committee.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director (Place) & Deputy Chief Executive.

The Management Agreement between the Council and Stockport Homes requires Stockport Homes to produce a Delivery Plan every five years, with an interim review at year 3 and annual reports to the Council setting out the progress made against the plan. This new plan will run from 2021-2026, with a review scheduled for 2023/4 to ensure the plan remains relevant and aligned to Council priorities and objectives, and to incorporate any new objectives/actions.

The Delivery Plan sets out the actions Stockport Homes will take to properly and effectively manage and maintain the Council’s housing stock, and how it will work to support and deliver the wider strategic objectives of the Council and the Borough Plan. The Delivery Plan has been developed in close consultation with the Council and provides the basis against which the Council can measure the progress and effectiveness of Stockport Homes.

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

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

The Corporate Director (Place) & Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing a proposed Stockport Homes Delivery Plan for 2021-2026 that sets out the actions Stockport Homes would take to properly and effectively manage and maintain the Council’s housing stock, and how it would work to support and deliver the wider strategic objectives of the Council and the Borough Plan. The Delivery Plan had been developed in close consultation with the Council and provided the basis against which the Council could measure the progress and effectiveness of Stockport Homes.

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

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         Stockport Homes had worked with affected tenants to highlight the impact of Brexit through newsletters and direct support from housing support officers.

·         A discussion took place in relation to the potential for under-utilised office-space to be converted to residential use and whether this was something Stockport Homes was going to consider.  In response, it was stated that there were significant difficulties with converting existing office space into residential use, and some of the conversions undertaken in the private sector had not produced desirable outcomes.  However, consideration would be given to the reuse of land on which vacant office accommodation was stood.

·         Stockport Homes was working closely with the NHS and the Council to reduce health inequalities and worked closely with a number of Stockport schools.

·         It was suggested that a greater emphasis and profile could be given in future reports in relation to social value.

·         A number of members expressed their thanks and gratitude to Stockport Homes and its staff on their work throughout the pandemic.

·         It was noted that there had been a significant level of online engagement from tenants on the customer facing objectives within the Delivery Plan following the circulation of a YouTube video and survey.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director (Place) and Deputy Chief Executive

The report is the first Annual Flood Resilience Plan which will set out the various roles and responsibilities of the council with regard to flooding and flood resilience including its roles as the Lead Local Flood Authority, highway authority and landowner both of greenspace and working with Stockport Homes its significant housing assets. The work in this area supports the council’s overall approach to climate change via Stockport CAN strategy.

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to:-

·         Note that the Cabinet Member has considered that the Storm Christof major incident in January 21 was the third significant flooding episode in 5 years, reflects that flooding is likely to be a regular occurrence in the future and has therefore asked officers to review the service provision and the scale of the borough’s interventions.

·         Note and comment on the progress made with regards to the council’s management of drainage and structural assets, improvements with resident communications and emergency planning activity.

·         Note that further investigation work for those areas most severely affected over the past 5 years will be undertaken over the next 6 months.

·         Note and comment on the draft Highway Gully Cleansing Operation Plan document.

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

The Corporate Director (Place) & Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing the first Annual Flood Resilience Plan which sets out the various roles and responsibilities of the council with regard to flooding and flood resilience including its roles as the Lead Local Flood Authority, highway authority and landowner both of greenspace and working with Stockport Homes its significant housing assets. The work in this area supports the council’s overall approach to climate change via Stockport CAN strategy.

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

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         In response to a question in relation to the impact of flooding on businesses at Welkin Mill, Lower Bredbury it was stated that the Council had spoken with businesses and tried to provide practical support.  Flood warnings were issued on the day which included the area in which Welkin Mill is situated, and investigations were taking place on what additional measures could be taken.

·         Discussions would take place with councillors in relation to the locations for new tree planting.

·         It would be useful for members to have a ward breakdown of gully cleansing and maintenance schedule highlighting the challenges of each area.

·         It was noted that the brook running through Torkington Park currently does so in a concrete channel, and it was stated that prior to this manmade intervention, the brook formed a pond within the park that served to hold water during periods of heavy rainfall.  It was suggested that consideration should be given to reintroducing such natural features as a means of mitigating against floods in the future.

·         Gullies were assessed and graded on the context of where they were located such as hillside locations.  However, the Stockport CAN Strategy aimed to reduce the water flowing downhill in the first place through measures such as tree planting schemes.

·         Parked vehicles could cause obstructions that prevented gullies from being cleaned, and in some circumstances it was necessary to ask residents to move those vehicles or not park on specific days.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director (Place) & Deputy Chief Executive.

The report details the intention to purchase compulsorily long term vacant property, being 2 Woodstock Avenue Reddish Stockport SK5 7HX Stockport (Property). The Property is having a detrimental impact on the environment and amenity of the local area by reason of its dilapidated condition. 

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 (Place) & Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing the intention to purchase compulsorily a  long term vacant property, being 2 Woodstock Avenue Reddish Stockport SK5 7HX.  The Property is having a detrimental impact on the environment and amenity of the local area by reason of its dilapidated condition.

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 thanks of the Committee was extended to those officers who had worked on this proposal for bringing about a resolution to the issues being experienced within the locality.

·         Similar such CPOs had generated a surplus.  Such funds were then recycled to allow for further such schemes to take place.  However, due to the significant work that needed to be undertaken to secure a CPO it was unlikely that there would be any significant increase in the number that would be able to be undertaken.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director (Place) and Deputy Chief Executive.

This report provides an interim update to Scrutiny on the establishment of Stockport Active Community Interest Company (CIC) and progress towards transitioning leisure and active communities services into the new organisation.

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

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

The Corporate Director (Place) & Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an interim update to Scrutiny on the establishment of Stockport Active Community Interest Company (CIC) and progress towards transitioning leisure and active communities services into the new organisation.

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 scrutiny committees were provided with regular updates on the progression of the establishment of the Stockport Active Community Interest Company.

·         It was noted that significant levels of scrutiny had been proposed at the outset, and that this would be kept under review to ensure that this approach remained appropriate.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Strategic Head of Service & Monitoring Officer (Legal & Democratic Governance).

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 Strategic Head of Service & Monitoring Officer (Legal & Democratic Governance) 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.

It was suggested that the Scrutiny Committee should receive a report on EPC ratings and how these stood in new developments being delivered at the moment with those built ten years ago.

It was further suggested that a report be submitted to the Scrutiny Committee with regard to ‘passive houses’ and whether these could be developed ‘as standard’ by Stockport Homes in the future.

RESOLVED –That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director (Place) & Deputy Chief Executive.

The Stockport Town Centre West Mayoral Development Corporation was created in September 2019 to deliver the Council’s ambitious agenda to deliver a new community alongside the existing Town Centre community, 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.

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 plan is the second full year plan following last year’s five year Strategic Business Plan approved by Cabinet on 23rd June 2020 and the interim Strategic Business Plan covering the period from the MDC’s creation to the end of the 2019/20 financial year approved by Cabinet on 12th November 2019.

(NOTE: The report contains 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 (Place) & Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) presenting the second full year plan following last year’s five year Strategic Business Plan approved by Cabinet on 23 June 2020 and the interim Strategic Business Plan covering the period from the MDC’s creation to the end of the 2019/20 financial year approved by Cabinet on 12 November 2019.

To ensure that there was 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.

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 the report omitted reference to an aspiration for 50% of the homes delivered to be affordable which was regrettable.

·         One of the objectives in the Plan was ‘responding too character’  and ti was clarified that this followed the themes set out in the strategic regeneration framework and the character of the whole MDC area and those of each of the neighbourhoods within it.

·         The provision of adequate amenity space was a significant consideration, the importance of which had been highlighted by the coronavirus pandemic.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.