Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 7 September 2012.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 7 September 2012 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

No declarations of interest were made.

To report any urgent action taken under the Constitution since the last meeting of the Executive.

Members of the public are invited to put questions to the Chair and Executive Councillors on any matters within the powers and duties of the Executive, subject to the exclusions set out in the Code of Practice.  (Questions must be submitted no later than 30 minutes prior to the commencement of the meeting on the card provided.  These are available at the meeting and at local libraries and information centres. You can also submit via the Council’s website at www.stockport.gov.uk/publicquestions)

Members of the public were invited to put questions to the Executive on any matters within its powers and duties subject to the exclusions set out in the Code of Practice.

One question was submitted by a member of the public who was not present at the meeting. It was stated that in accordance with the Code of Practice a written response would be provided.

To consider whether it is in the public to exclude the public during consideration of agenda item 6 (Bradshaw Hall Phase 5, Cheadle Hulme) which contains information “not for publication by virtue of Category 3 ‘Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority)’ as set out in the Local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RESOLVED – That in order to prevent the disclosure of information which was not for publication relating to the financial or business affairs of the any particular person (including the authority), the disclosure of which would not be in the public interest, would not be fair and would be in breach of Data Protection principles, the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the ‘not for publication’ appendix to agenda item 6 (Bradshaw Hall Phase 5, Cheadle Hulme) should the content of the appendix need to be discussed.

To consider a report of the Executive Councillor (Governance & Corporate Services)

(Note: this report includes information ‘Not for Publication’ contained within its appendix which has been circulated to executive councillors only)

The report seeks authority to enter into a contract with the highest bidder that will lead to the disposal of the Bradshaw Hall site (phase 5), subject to the grant of planning permission for a suitable residential scheme.  The sale will be subject to the provision of affordable housing.

The Executive is recommended to

(i)        Approve the disposal of the site to the highest bidder identified in the confidential appendix, subject to the provision of affordable housing.

(ii)       In the event that the highest bidder fails to sign up or withdraws to approve proceeding with the second highest bidder also identified.

Officer contact: Murray Carr, 0161 474 3649, murray.carr@stockport.gov.uk

The Executive Councillor (Governance & Corporate Services) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) inviting the Executive Meeting to consider a proposal to dispose of three acres of land at Bradshaw Hall, Cheadle Hulme, known as Phase 5, following the remarketing of the site in 2011.

(Note: the report included information ‘Not for publication’ contained within its appendix that had been circulated to executive councillors only).

RESOLVED – That

·         approval be given to the disposal of the Bradshaw Hall Phase 5 site to the highest bidder identified in the confidential appendix, subject to the developer agreeing to the provision of affordable housing on the site;

·         in the event that the highest bidder fails to sign a contract or withdraws that approval be given to proceeding to the second highest bidder identified in the confidential appendix.

To consider a report of the Leader of the Council (Policy, Reform & Finance)

The Community Right to Bid comes into force on 12 October 2012, after which time the Council must consider nominations from the community to list assets they believe are of community value. The Council must maintain a list of successfully listed assets as well as those nominations which were unsuccessful.

The report outlines the proposed policy to implementing the Community Right to Bid in Stockport.

The Executive is recommended to note the report and approve the draft Community Right to Bid policy as set out in Appendix 1 of the report.

Officer contact: Holly Rae/ Annalie Burns, 0161 474 3167, holly.rae@stockport.gov.uk / Annalie.burns@stockport.gov.uk

The Leader of the Council (Policy, Reform & Finance) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) inviting the Executive Meeting to consider the draft Community Right to Bid Policy, developed in response to the Right introduced as part of the Localism Act 2011, the provisions of which would come into force on 12 October 2012. The Right gave local communities the opportunity to bid to buy community assets were these to be put up for sale.

RESOLVED – That the Community Right to Bid policy outlined at Appendix 1 of the report be approved.

To consider a report of the Executive Councillor (Supporting Communities)

The Council has a new duty under the Localism Act 2011 to produce a Tenancy Strategy before the 1 January 2013.  The Council has prepared a draft Strategy for consideration by the Executive.

The Executive is recommended to approve the Stockport Council Tenancy Strategy as detailed in the report.

Officer contact: Andy Kippax, 0161 474 4319, andy.kippax@stockport.gov.uk

The Executive Councillor (Supporting Communities) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) inviting the Executive Meeting to consider the draft Tenancy Strategy developed in response to the requirements of the Localism Act 2011. The Strategy set out the principals that should be considered by Registered Housing Providers operating in Stockport in determining their own Tenancy Policies. In particular the Strategy would set our principles in relation to fixed term tenancies and ‘affordable rent’.

RESOLVED – That the Stockport Council Tenancy Strategy be approved.

To consider a report of the Executive Councillor (Economic Development & Regeneration)

The report has been produced following a decision of the Council Meeting on 5 July 2012 requesting a report to be prepared on measures to re-open the Peel Moat Leisure Centre that had been closed in April 2012. The report sets out Options for the reuse of the centre/site as a community facility or for redevelopment.  A hybrid option, combining community use and redevelopment is proposed.

The Executive is invited to consider the options set out in the report.

Officer contact: Paul Lawrence, 0161 474 4515, paul.lawrence@stockport.gov.uk

The Executive Councillor (Economic Development & Regeneration) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) inviting the Executive Meeting to consider options for the future use of the site of the former Peel Moat Leisure Centre following its closure in April 2012. The options included the reuse of the centre and/or site as a community facility or releasing the site for redevelopment, as well as a mixture of the two.

The Executive Councillor reported that the report and proposals had been considered by the Environment & Economy Scrutiny Committee and local councillors had also been consulted.

The Leader of the Council reported she had received a letter from the Friends of Heatons Park in relation to this item and that this would be passed to officers for further consideration.

RESOLVED – That the ‘hybrid’ option for the future use of the site of the former Peel Moat Leisure Centre be approved, for the Council to seek a suitable community organisation with whom to enter into a partnership arrangement in order to market the site for a mixed use of community facilities and residential housing that would allow new affordable housing to be delivered and a capital receipt from the sale of the land to be invested in alternative leisure facilities in accordance with the original decision of the Executive.

To consider a report of the Executive Councillor (Economic Development & Regeneration)

The report outlines the proposals to delegate authority for spending the funding gained from the Government’s High Street Innovation Fund and from the ‘Portas Pilot’ scheme to the new ‘Town Team’ Committee, subject to putting in place procedures consistent with the Council’s role as accountable body.

The Executive is recommended to approve the transfer of responsibility for £100,000 Portas Pilot funding, £100,000 Council capital match funding and £100,000 High Street Innovation Funding to the Town Team, subject to meeting the Council’s responsibilities as accountable body and adhering to the Council’s policies and procedures for procurement and monitoring of spend and performance.

Officer contact: Nicola Turner, 0161 218 1635, nicola.turner@stockport.gov.uk.

The Executive Councillor (Economic Development & Regeneration) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) inviting the Executive Meeting to consider a proposal to delegate authority for the use of funding obtained by the Council from the Government’s High Street Innovation Fund and the ‘Portas Pilot’ scheme to the new ‘Town Team’ Committee, subject to the appropriate procedures being put in place consistent with the Council’s role as accountable body for the funding.

RESOLVED – That approval be given to the transfer of responsibility for £100,000 Portas Pilot funding, £100,000 Council capital funding and £100,000 High Street Innovation Funding to the Portas Pilot Town Team Committee (subject to meeting the Council’s responsibilities as accountable body and adhering to the Council’s policies and procedures for procurement and monitoring of spend and performance).

To consider a joint report of the Leader of the Council (Policy, Reform & Finance) and the Executive Councillor for (Supporting Communities)

The report provides details of a number of properties with outstanding Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) resolutions against them. All the properties have recently been inspected and are now occupied and fit for habitation and there is clearly not a need to maintain the threat of CPO action.

The Executive is recommended to agree that the previous Executive resolutions authorising the making of compulsory purchase orders in respect of all the individual properties detailed in the report be rescinded.

Officer contact: Sam McNichol, 0161 474 4242, sam.mcnichol@stockport.gov.uk

A joint report of the Leader of the Council (Policy, Reform & Finance) and the Executive Councillor (Supporting Communities) was submitted (copies of which had been circulated) inviting the Executive Meeting to consider rescinding previous resolutions passed by the Executive in respect of Compulsory Purchase Orders on residential properties. Since the resolutions had been made the properties had been inspected and were now occupied and fit for habitation.

RESOLVED – That, in view of the following properties listed below now being considered fit for habitation, the previous resolutions authorising the making of Compulsory Purchase Orders in respect of these individual properties be rescinded:-

·         218 Gorton Road, Reddish

·         70 Ladysmith Street, Shaw Heath

·         41 Menai Road, Shaw Heath

·         10-12 Greenbank Road, Gatley

·         13 Bankhall Road, Heaton Mersey

·         45 Berwick Avenue, Heaton Mersey

·         25 Douglas Road, Hazel Grove

·         61 Freemantle Street, Edgeley

·         2 Granby Road, Great Moor

·         36 Lime Grove, Cheadle

·         90 Stockport Road, Cheadle Heath

·         163 Stockport Road, Marple

·         Flats 1 to 4, 1 New Moor Lane, Hazel Grove

·         2 Butterfield Close, Cheadle Hulme

·         54 Great Moor Street, Great Moor

·         4 Upper Brook Street, Stockport

·         23 Vicarage Road Cale Green

To consider a report of the Executive Councillor (Governance & Support Services)

The report summarises the key issues arising from the recently published Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012 which were laid before Parliament on 15 August and came into effect on 10 September 2012. These regulations clarify and extend the circumstances in which local authority executive decision making processes are to be open to the public. The proposed changes to the Constitution are set out in the appendices to the report.

The Executive is invited to:

·         support the principal of the publication of Key Decisions in a Forward Plan and agree that the Plan be published on or around the first of the month covering a period beginning two months following the date of publication, to ensure compliance with the 28 clear days’ notice requirement for both Key Decisions and the intention to hold a meeting of the Executive in private;

·         agree  to delegate authority to the Monitoring Officer to prepare, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, a response to any representations received to a notice of the intention to hold a meeting of the Executive in private; and

·         recommend that the Council Meeting adopt the amendments to the Constitution as detailed in the appendices.

Officer Contact: Craig Ainsworth, 0161 474 3204, Craig.ainsworth@stockport.gov.uk

The Executive Councillor (Governance & Corporate Services) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) inviting the Executive Meeting to consider proposed changes to the Council’s Constitution arising from the requirements of the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012.

RESOLVED – That

·         the principal of the publication of notice to take Key Decisions in a Forward Plan be supported and that the plan be published on or around the first of the month to cover a period beginning two months following the date of publication to ensure compliance with the 28 clear days’ notice requirement for both Key Decisions and the intention to hold a meeting of the Executive in the private;

·         authority to prepare a response to any representations received to a notice of the intention to hold a meeting of the Executive in private be delegated to the Monitoring Officer in consultation with the Leader of the Council; and

·         the Council Meeting be recommended to adopt the amendments to the Constitution as detailed in the appendices to the report.

To consider a report of the Leader of the Council (Policy, Reform & Finance)

The Executive is invited to nominate Councillor Kate Butler to replace Councillor David Sedgwick on the Board of Borough Care Ltd.

Officer contact: Jonathan Vali, 0161 474 3201, jonathan.vali@stockport.gov.uk

The Leader of the Council (Policy, Reform & Finance) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) inviting the Executive Meeting to nomiate a replacement representative of the Council on the Board of Borough Care Ltd following the resignation of Councillor David Sedgwick.

RESOLVED – That Councillor Kate Butler be nominated as the Council’s representative on the Board of Borough Care Ltd.