Agenda and minutes

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 agenda items for this meeting.

No declarations of interest were made.

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

The report sets out the scrutiny review panel procedure rules and suggests that the panel should adopt them for the purpose of conducting the review.

The panel are requested to formally adopt the scrutiny review panel procedure rules.

Officer contact: Charlotte Griffin 0161 474 3235 | charlotte.griffin@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Strategic Head of Service (Legal & Democratic Governance and Monitoring Officer) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) which set out the proposed scrutiny review panel procedure rules for the purpose of conducting the review.

RESOLVED – That the Scrutiny Review Procedure Rules be adopted for the review.

To consider a report of the Director of Development and Regeneration.

The report outlines the proposed scope and brief for the review District Centres post Covid-19 Pandemic.

The panel is requested to:

1.    determine the scope of the review, and outline any areas which they wish to scrutinise further; and

2.    to consider and agree future meeting dates.

Officer contacts:

Helen Walters, Town Centre Manager, tel. 07800 618140 email helen.walters@stockport.gov.uk 

Richard Mortimer, Head of Economy Work & Skills, tel. 07800 617932 email richard.mortimer@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Director of Development and Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) outlining the proposed scope and brief for the review of district centres post covid-19 pandemic.

The Director of Development and Regeneration (Paul Richards), attended the meeting to respond to member questions.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:

·         It was noted that a review of Stockport’s District Centres had been undertaken between 2018 and 2019, and that the historic report could help to inform the current review with regards to assessing any changes that district centres may have experienced pre-pandemic to post-pandemic.

·         Members stressed the importance of obtaining external funding for the purpose of improving district centres. It was requested that options for obtaining funding for this purpose, external or otherwise, be incorporated into the review. 

·         It was suggested that business that have closed or, for instance, moved online due to the pandemic, be contacted so that the council can gain an understanding of the pressures faced by businesses, and to inform the council’s work in supporting the business community going forward.

·         Two new District Centre Manager posts had recently been recruited to, specifically to support Stockport’s district Centres.

·         Reviewing data from footfall cameras that were in place in each of the district centres would support the council in analysing any change in patterns of use, specifically with regards to footfall and hours of use.

·         The council worked with an external data company that were able to provide the council with data on vacancies and usages. This data would enable the council to understand what changes have occurred in the wider makeup in the use of district centres in the last 2 years.

·         The panel were keen to visit a select number of district centres to speak to local businesses.

RESOLVED – (1) That the scope of the review be agreed; and

(2) That the review be conducted through a series of meetings, and that the Strategic Head of Service (Legal & Democratic Governance and Monitoring Officer) be authorised to determine the dates for those meetings in consultation with the Chair and members of the Scrutiny Review Panel.