Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 18 October 2012.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 18 October 2012 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:-

Personal and Prejudicial Interest

Personal Interests

To consider call-in items (if any)

There were no call-in items to consider.

Councillor David White in the Chair

To consider a report of the Service Director (Place Development)

Stockport Hydro is an Industrial and Provident Society for the benefit of the community. Its scheme at Otterspool Weir is Greater Manchester’s first community-owned hydro-electric project. The hydro scheme on the River Goyt is now constructed and capable of generating electricity but there are some outstanding financial issues for which Stockport Hydro is seeking assistance from Stockport Council.

The Scrutiny Committee is invited to comment on the proposed loan offer to Stockport Hydro, as detailed under section 3 of the report.

Officer contact: Darren Pegram on 0161 474 3171, e mail: darren.pegram@stockport.gov.uk.

The Service Director (Place Development) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) in connection with the Otterspool Weir Hydro Scheme. The scheme was Greater Manchester’s first community-owned hydro-electric project. The hydro scheme was now constructed and capable of generating electricity but there were some outstanding financial issues for which Stockport Hydro was seeking assistance from the Council.

The Executive Councillor for Sustainable Future (Councillor Stuart Bodsworth) also attended the meeting to respond to Members’ questions.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

•           The rent charged by the Council as the landowner of the site was a commercial rent.

•           The primary financer of the scheme was the charity bank.

•           The 7% loan over a 10 year period was a good investment rate for the Council and would be reinvested into other schemes through the Green Regeneration Fund.

•           As a commercial interest charge would be made to the proposed loan by the Council, it was not in breach of State Aid requirements.

•           Provided the appropriate checks and balances were in place, this was a worthwhile scheme for the Council to be involved with.

RESOLVED – (1) That the Executive Meeting be advised that this Scrutiny Committee supports the proposed loan to Stockport Hydro.

(2) That an update report be submitted to the Scrutiny Committee in six months’ time and a more detailed update report in twelve months’ time.

Councillor Christine Corris in the Chair

To consider the following presentations:-

(a)  From representatives of Life Leisure with regard to its on-going performance, in particular with regard to progress against the Community Partnership Plan.

Officer contact: Gavin Roberts, e mail: gavin.roberts@lifeleisure.net

(b)  From representatives from Life Leisure and Stockport Council on the legacy to Stockport from the London Olympic Games 2012.

Officer contacts: Gavin Roberts, e mail: gavin.roberts@lifeleisure.net/ Denise Irving on 0161 474 4494 or e mail: denise.irving@stockport.gov.uk

Malcolm McPhail (Managing Director, Life Leisure) and Neil Bardsley (Head of Sports Development, Life Leisure) gave a presentation updating the Scrutiny Committee on developments since the last time the Sports Trust made a presentation to the Committee, detailing progress against the Community Partnership Plan and highlighting the impact of the Community Partnership Plan on Olympic Legacy work in Stockport.

Denise Irving (Active Sport Manager, Stockport Council) gave a presentation on the outcomes of the legacy of the Olympic and Paralympic games.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

•           The investment that Life Leisure had undertaken in a new facility at Broadstone Mill, Reddish and improving facilities, for example at the Avondale Centre.

•           Life Leisure’s role as a charity and its investment back into the community.

•           The work that Life Leisure had carried out with other agencies, for example Services for Young People and the Youth Offending Team.

•           The assistance given to NEETS (young people who are not in education, employment or training).

•           How the Olympic Legacy would be quantified.

•           Attendance at the All Together Active (A2A) child obesity programme.

•           Life Leisure’s reaction to the competition from budget gymnasiums in the form of the establishment of Life Leisure Select.

RESOLVED – That Malcolm McPhail and Neil Bardsley from Life Leisure, and Denise Irving from the Place Directorate be thanked for their attendance and presentation.

To consider a report of the Service Directors (Place Development) and (Place Management)

As part of 2013/14 Medium Term Financial Plan budget savings proposals, consultation has taken place on the following projects:-

·         Public Realm

·         Re-design of Public Protection Functions

·         Economic Development & Regeneration

·         Engineering Services – Joint Working

·         Culture & Leisure – Reconfiguration of Museums, Art Gallery & Tourist Information Services

·         Culture & Leisure – Merger of Venue Management & Community Building Services

This report summarises the responses to the consultation processes which relate to the Public Realm and Economic Development & Regeneration portfolios.

The Scrutiny Committee is invited to consider and comment on the consultation responses.

Officer contact: Claire Grindlay on 0161 474 4191 or e mail: claire.grindlay@stockport.gov.uk

The Service Directors (Place Development) and (Place Management) submitted a joint report (copies of which had been circulated) summarising the results of consultation exercises carried out on those proposals contained within the Executive’s Savings Proposals report considered by the Scrutiny Committees in October 2012 that related to the Scrutiny Committee’s remit.

The Executive Councillors for Economic Development & Regeneration (Councillor Iain Roberts), Public Realm (Councillor Kevin Hogg) and Sustainable Future (Councillor Stuart Bodsworth) attended the meeting to respond to questions on the individual savings proposals in respect of their portfolios as contained in the report.

As part of the 2013/14 Medium Term Financial Plan budget savings proposals, consultation had taken place (or would be taking place) on the following projects:-

•           Public Realm

•           Re-design of Public Protection Functions

•           Economic Development & Regeneration

•           Engineering Services – Joint Working

•           Culture & Leisure – Reconfiguration of Museums, Art Gallery & Tourist Information Services

•           Culture & Leisure – merger of Venue Management & Community Buildings Services.

The following issues were raised/comments made in relation to the specific proposals contained in the report:-

•           With regard to the merger of Venue Management and the Community Buildings Services, if it was felt from the initial consultation processes that there would be a significant impact on access to buildings or the level of service received, then a wider customer consultation process would be initiated. As the saving was scheduled for 2014/15, consultation had not commenced in relation to the proposed changes.

•           The effect on Vernon Park Museum of the proposal to relocate museum exhibits to other sites. Members were advised that the intention was to retain the café on the ground floor of the building.

•           With regard to the proposed reduction in visitor opening hours at Stockport Art Gallery, it was queried whether consideration had been given to transferring the management of the facility to a different organisation. The idea of an organisation managing facilities across Greater Manchester would be explored.

•           What the medium term future for the Art Gallery was following the relocation of the temporary and community exhibitions programme and reduction in visitor opening hours.

•           Clarification was provided regarding the introduction of charges for the disposal of waste to nursing and residential homes.

•           Clarification was provided regarding the re-design of public protection functions involving the ‘up-skilling’ of staff and refinements to the inspection regime.

•           Progress on the pilot joint working scheme whereby the Council was currently managing the workload of Trafford Council’s Building Structures team.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted and the comments of the Scrutiny Committee on the Executive Savings Proposals be forwarded to the Executive for its consideration.

(2) That the Scrutiny Committee be updated on the pilot joint working scheme whereby the Council is managing the workload of Trafford Council’s Building Structures team.

To consider a report of the Service Director (Place Development) and Service Director (Place Management)

The report provides a detailed overview of performance which relates to this Scrutiny Committee.

The information is provided in the form of the Quarter 2 2012/13 Portfolio Performance and Resources Reports for each of the Economic Development and Regeneration, Public Realm and Sustainable Future Portfolios.

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to:-

(1) Review the current levels of performance;

(2) Highlight key areas of, and responsibility for, taking forward corrective action to address any existing or forecast performance issues;

(3) Identify how areas of strong performance and good practice can be shared in other services.

Officer contact: Doug Holland, Tel: 0161 474 2976, email: doug.holland@stockport.gov.uk

The Service Director (Place Development) and the Service Director (Place Management) submitted a joint report (copies of which had been circulated) providing a detailed overview of performance which related to this Scrutiny Committee. The information was provided in the form of the Quarter 2 2012/13 Portfolio Performance and Resources Reports for each of the Economic Development and Regeneration, Public Realm and Sustainable Future Portfolios.

The Executive Councillors for Economic Development & Regeneration (Councillor Iain Roberts), Public Realm (Councillor Kevin Hogg) and Sustainable Communities (Councillor Stuart Bodsworth) attended the meeting to respond to Members’ questions.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

•           With regard to the increase in pay and display income, particularly in the town centre ‘ shopper’ car parks, a Member enquired whether there was comparative figures with other town centre car parks.

•           A Member requested more details when they were available on the proposal from Stockport Homes and B4Box Construction Training for a construction learning centre in Brinnington.

•           The figures for number of new businesses created through programmes and initiatives was skewed by the end of a previous Business Support Programme and the commencement of a new programme.

•           The reduction in the Council’s carbon emissions in 2011/12 from 2010/11.

•           The development of the People, Employers, Education Brokerage Service (PEEBS), an organisation which linked employers with people seeking apprenticeships, work experience, mentoring, school visits etc.

•           The creation of 711 new jobs so far in 2012/13 as a result of investment in Stockport and how the new jobs were identified.

•           Whether any information was available on the success of business start up schemes in Stockport.

•           The reasons for the continued delay in the Greater Manchester Road Activities Programme Scheme (GMRAPS).

•           The current situation with regard to car parking as part of the Grand Central development and the business model for Grand Central.

•           With regard to the 5% increase in waste presented in the black bins in the borough, a Member enquired whether information was available on where in the borough more waste was being presented in the black bins and the financial effect of this increase.

•           The Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority’s successful bid to the European Commission’s Environment LIFE+ funding stream which would examine why people were not recycling, for example in hard to reach areas.

•           Progress on the backlog of maintenance works to try and limit insurance claims and ensure highways were maintained to a consistent standard.

•           The moderate increase in the percentage of the adult population who participated in sport and active recreation at a moderate intensity on a regular basis, in the context of the legacy from the Olympic Games.

•           Whether there had been any prosecutions for dog fouling and whether they could be publicised in the ‘The Stockport Review’.

•           49.2% of all cavity walls in the Borough that could be insulated were now insulated and helping to reduce fuel poverty and carbon emissions. A report was requested to a future meeting of the Scrutiny Committee on extending home insulation throughout the borough in the context of energy companies’ environmental obligations and the Government’s Green Deal.

•           How the companies who carried out the Government’s Work Programme were performing.

•           More information was requested on the amendments to the Economic Development and Regeneration Capital Programme.

•           More jobs were being created in Stockport than elsewhere in Greater Manchester.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted

(2) That a report on the Government’s Green Deal and extending home insulation throughout the borough be submitted to a future meeting of the Scrutiny Committee.

To consider a report of the Service Director (Place Management)

This report considers a revised policy in relation to the Statement of Principles under the Gambling Act 2005.

The Scrutiny Committee is requested to comment on the proposed Statement of Principles, prior to a new policy being adopted by the Council Meeting.

Officer Contact: Ian O’Donnell on 0161 474 4175 or e mail: ian.odonnell@stockport.gov.uk

The Service Director (Place Management) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) requesting the Scrutiny Committee to consider a revised policy in relation to the Statement of Principles under the Gambling Act 2005, prior to its consideration by the Executive.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

The Scrutiny Committee considered a résumé (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting of the Stockport Economic Alliance held on 3 October 2012.

RESOLVED – (1) That the résumé of the meeting held on 3 October 2012 be noted. 

(2)  That a letter be sent to Jacobs Engineering expressing the Committee’s thanks for the number of apprentices which they had taken on locally.

To consider a report of the Democratic Services Manager

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 Tel: 474 3137 email: david.clee@stockport.gov.uk.

A representative of the Democratic Services Manager submitted a report (copies of which have been circulated) setting out the planned agenda items for the Committee’s next meeting and Forward Plan items which fell within the remit of the Scrutiny Committee.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That a report be submitted to the next meeting of the Scrutiny Committee regarding the letter from the Executive Councillor (Public Realm) asking if the Friends of Parks Groups would be willing to take over the management and maintenance of parks.

(3) That the Scrutiny Committee be provided with an updated copy of Life Leisure’s Community Partnership Plan when it is available.