Agenda and minutes

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

The report sets out the response to the engagement on the proposals for Stockroom in Merseyway.

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 (Place) and Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) setting out the response to the engagement on the proposals for Stockroom in Merseyway

The Cabinet Member for Citizen Focus and Engagement (Councillor David Sedgwick) attended the meeting to respond to Members’ questions.

This Extraordinary Meeting had been requested by Members of the Economy and Regeneration Scrutiny Committee but, at the request of the Chair, Members of the Corporate, Resource Management and Governance Scrutiny Committee had also been invited to the meeting to contribute their views and comments.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         It was suggested that as part of the Phase Two Draft Consultation Questionnaire, that Questions 9, 10 & 11 be amended to represent a more fairer open question. In response, it was stated that the Phase Two Consultation Questionnaire was in draft and would be looked at before finalising it.

·         It was requested that there needed a commitment from officers to amend the identified questions accordingly.

·         Clarification was sought regarding the role of the Committee in providing the scrutiny of the documents presented and providing feedback.

·         It was commented that question 10 and 11 of the Draft Consultation Questionnaire refers to building not being used for residential development, but then question 12 asks about residential development, so it was confusing. In response, it was stated that residential development was already ruled out and would be kept under the freehold of the Council.

·         Welcomed the results of the engagement survey and the overall methodology taken with a range of opinions from various groups made in good faith.

·         Concern was expressed relating to the disabled access to the Stockroom site and the 8% of people who have now registered concerns regarding parking and transport issues to the site and another 7% raised concerns relating to access. In response was stated that more work would be done to map it out and address the disability access through engagement that was held with Disability Stockport and across the borough in the libraries and online.

·         Questions in the Phase 2 Draft Consultation needed to be more balanced and neutral.

·         It was noted that the alternative plans referenced in the Cabinet decision of the report (paragraph 5.5, page 6) was not included in the consultation document. In response, it was stated that the alternative plans would be included in the consultation material before it goes live.

·         Clarification was sought regarding the ‘consideration’ the current petition referenced in the report would be given in terms of the consultation. In response, it was stated that the petition would not be ignored and once the consultation goes live, people would have their opportunity to have their say in an official capacity.

·         It was noted that the views and feedback of the Committee would be considered and looked at in advance of the draft consultation being finalised.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.