Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 28 February 2019.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 28 February 2019 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

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

The following interest was declared:-

Personal Interest

There were no call-in items to consider.

To consider whether it is in the public interest to exclude the public during that party of agenda item 11 – ‘Town Centre Regeneration – Merseyway Redevelopment’ which contains information ‘not for publication’ in appendices 2-7 inclusive by virtue of Category 3 ‘Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the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 it is in the public interest to exclude the public during that part of the consideration of agenda item 11 – ‘Town Centre Regeneration – Merseyway Redevelopment’ which contains information ‘not for publication’ in Appendices 2-7 by virtue of Category 3 ‘Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority)’ as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.

To consider a report of the Borough Treasurer

The report provides information on the Local Full fibre Networks funding programme for which Greater Manchester successfully bid to the Government’s Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport in March 2018. The report also includes recommendations to support agreements on both financial investment from the Council and the provision of project management, technical, legal and procurement support.

The Scrutiny Committee is requested to comment on the report.

Officer Contact: Michael Cullen on 0161 474 4631 or email: michael.cullen@stockport.gov.uk

The Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration submitted a report of the Borough Treasurer and Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration (copies of which had been circulated) providing information on the successful Greater Manchester bid to the Government’s Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport for £23.8m Local Full Fibre Networks funding (LFFN) and proposals for additional support agreements on both financial investment from the Council and the provision of project management, technical, legal and procurement support to implement the programme.

The programme was public sector led, with the ownership of the infrastructure remaining with the local authorities. It would provide state of the art connections to over 1,300 public sector sites across Greater Manchester through the provision of an optical ‘dark’ full fibre network.

The Cabinet Member for Economy and Regeneration (Councillor Kate Butler) attended the meeting to respond to Members’ questions.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

• The Scrutiny Committee generally welcomed the proposals.
• There were many benefits to using ‘dark’ fibre over traditional networks. These included higher capacity and superfast speeds, Dark power also required less power, was more secure and was more immune to interference than traditional networks.
• A Member enquired whether the Council was working in conjunction with the current providers.
• The involvement of Totally Local Company and Life Leisure in the programme was not currently determined.
• The investment in sites in Stockport was broadly in  line with other local authorities in Greater Manchester.
• All of the teams in the Place Directorate were looking to minimise disruption to residents whilst the works took place to install the network.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

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

The report provides an update on the performance and activity of Stockport

Continuing Education Service over the academic year August 2017 to July

2018, including an update on the outcome of the OfSTED inspection of the

Service.

The Scrutiny Committee is invited to consider and comment on the

report.

Officer Contact: Richard Mortimer on Tel: 0161 474 3864 or email: richard.mortimer@stockport.gov.uk

The Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an update on the performance and activity of Stockport Continuing Education Service over the academic year August  2017 to July 2018, including an update on the outcome of the OFSTED inspection of the Service. OFSTED had confirmed that the Service had been rated good in all aspects, compared to the judgement of ‘requires improvement’ in May 2016.

The Cabinet Member for Economy and Regeneration (Councillor Kate Butler) attended the meeting to respond to Members’ questions.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

• The percentage pass rate for the whole service was identical in 2016/17 and 2017/18. Partly through the work of the Improvement Board, the aim had been to assist more disadvantaged learners.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

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

The report provides an update on the work of the Stockport Work and Skills Board, initiatives to support employment, skills and apprenticeships, and support for businesses.

The Scrutiny Committee is invited to note and comment on the contents of the report, and to endorse the council’s approaches to contributing to inclusive growth in Stockport.

Officer Contact: Richard Mortimer on 0161 474 3864 or email: richard.mortimer@stockport.gov.uk

The Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an update on the work of the Stockport Work and Skills Board, initiatives to support employment, skills and apprenticeships, and support for businesses.

The Cabinet Member for Economy and Regeneration (Councillor Kate Butler) attended the meeting to respond to Members’ questions.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

• The work experience placements would be linked to young people at schools and colleges. Whether any of the placements led to work outcomes was voluntary from the employer’s standpoint.
• The start of the second phase of the Working Well initiative to support the long term unemployed was January 2017. Sixty five of those people had entered sustainable employment.
• The Work and Health Programme, which was the main Department for Work and Pensions funded employment support programme for individuals who were long-term unemployed in particular those with a health condition, had resulted in little sustainable employment.
• A Member requested more information in future reports with regard to which part of Stockport people came from who benefited from the initiatives, in particular whether they came from areas of deprivation.
• With regard to the ‘Digital Her’ event which was an all-day, free event aimed at Year 8 girls from across Stockport’s secondary schools, 108 girls had attended from across the borough.
• Concern was expressed at the increase in the number of unpaid internships.
• The work to assist looked after children was very important and welcomed.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted and the Council’s approaches to contributing to Inclusive Growth in Stockport be endorsed.

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

This report provides an update on the outcome of the GM Mayor’s consultation on creating a Mayoral Development Corporation in Stockport and the GM Mayor’s intention to formally resolve at the March 29th GMCA to notify the Secretary of State of his intention to establish the Mayoral Development Corporation.

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

Officer Contact: Joe Conmee on 0161 474 5396 or email: joseph.conmee@stockport.gov.uk

The Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an update on the outcome of the Greater Manchester’s Mayor’s consultation on creating a Mayoral Development Corporation in Stockport and the Greater Manchester Mayor’s intention to formally resolve at the meeting of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority on 29 March 2019 to notify the Secretary of State of his intention to establish the Mayoral Development Corporation.

The Cabinet Member for Economy and Regeneration (Councillor Kate Butler) attended the meeting to respond to Members’ questions.

RESOLVED – (1) That the outcome of the consultation be noted.

(2) That the Greater Manchester (GM) Mayor’s intention to notify the Secretary of State of his decision to designate the Stockport Town Centre West area be noted.

(3) That the GM Mayor’s intention to notify the Secretary of State of his decision to create a Mayoral Development Corporation (to be renamed the “Stockport Town Centre West Mayoral Development Corporation”) to lead the regeneration of Stockport’s Town Centre West area be noted.

(4) That the GM Mayor’s intention to initiate the process to recruit and appoint Board members (with relevant appointments made by Stockport Council in agreement with the Mayor) be noted.

(5) That the GM Mayor’s intention to instruct the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) and Stockport Council Officers to work with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government on the development of the necessary legislation, and to delegate approval of the draft constitution for the proposed Corporation to the GMCA’s Chief Legal Officer, in consultation with the GM Mayor, be noted.

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

The report provides a brief update on recent funding activity that supports the Council’s regeneration and town centre objectives. Excluded from this summary is allocated funding from Government such as Local Growth Deal monies for the Town Centre Access Package.

The Scrutiny Committee is requested to note the report.

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

The Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing a brief update on recent funding activity that supported the Council’s regeneration and town centre objectives. Excluded from this summary was allocated funding from Government such as Local Growth Deal monies for the Town Centre Access Package. The report also provided a historical overview of lottery funding awarded in the borough and known funding from the European Union.

The Cabinet Member for Economy and Regeneration (Councillor Kate Butler) attended the meeting to respond to Members’ questions.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

• A Member highlighted that over the last ten years, assuming a standardised exchange rate, the Council had managed in the region of £31m of European Union funding.
• It had to be borne in mind that sometimes the bids had to be submitted at short notice and it was felt that the Council should support Officers in writing the bids.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That a further report be submitted to the Scrutiny Committee in twelve months’ time.

To consider a report of the Scrutiny Co-ordination Committee.

The report sets outs the findings and recommendations of the Scrutiny Co-ordination Committee following their review of scrutiny activity in Stockport. It draws on good practice from elsewhere in the country and makes a series of recommendations for consideration by each of Stockport’s scrutiny committees.

The Scrutiny Committee is invited to consider the report and recommendations.

Officer contact: Stephen Fox on 0161 474 3206 or email: stephen.fox@stockport.gov.uk

Consideration was given to a report of the Scrutiny Co-ordination Committee (copies of which had been circulated) setting out the findings and recommendations of the Scrutiny Co-ordination Committee following its review of scrutiny activity in Stockport. It drew on good practice from elsewhere in the country and made a series of recommendations for consideration by each of Stockport’s scrutiny committees.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Borough Treasurer and the Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration

The report seeks approval to the acquisition of the former BHS store in the Merseyway precinct, identified as a key strategic asset by the Cabinet in December 2017.

(NOTE: Appendices 2-7 inclusive contain information ‘not for publication’ by virtue of Category 3 ‘Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority)’ that has been circulated to Members of the Scrutiny Committee only).

The Scrutiny Committee is invited to comment on the report.

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

The Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration submitted a report of the Borough Treasurer and the Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration (copies of which had been circulated) regarding a report which sought the approval of the Cabinet to acquire the former BHS store in the Merseyway precinct, identified as a key strategic asset by the Cabinet in December 2017.

(Note: the report contained information ‘not for publication’ in its appendices that had been circulated to Members of the Scrutiny Committee only).

In addition, the Director of Development and Regeneration made a presentation regarding a proposal for the Council to support the acquisition and redevelopment of another key property in the Merseyway precinct as part of the Council’s overall strategic approach agreed in November 2018.

The Cabinet Member for Economy and Regeneration (Councillor Kate Butler) attended the meeting to respond to Members’ questions.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That the Cabinet be requested to approve delegated authority to the Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration and the Borough Treasurer, in consultation with the Leader of the Council and the Cabinet Member for Economy and Regeneration, to:-

• acquire the former BHS store at a price up to the valuation set out in Appendix 5 to the report which contains exempt information.
• agree the optimum means to hold and manage the asset (together as appropriate with other Council assets)
• authorise the Strategic Head of Legal, Democratic Governance and Estate & Asset Management to take such other steps as are appropriate and necessary to secure the acquisition and ongoing management and regeneration of the asset.

(3) That the presentation on the proposal for the Council to support the acquisition and redevelopment of another key property in the Merseyway precinct 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: David Clee on 0161 474 3137 or email: david.clee@stockport.gov.uk

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

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.