Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 31 October 2013.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 31 October 2013 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.

No declarations of interest were made.

To consider call-in items (if any).

There were no call-in items to consider.

To consider whether it is in the public interest to exclude the public during part of the consideration of the following agenda items which contain information “not for publication” by virtue of the appropriate category set out in the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).

RESOLVED – That in order to prevent the disclosure of information which was not for publication by virtue of Category 3 ‘Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority)’ as set out in the Local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), 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would be in breach of Data Protection principles, the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the ‘not for publication’ appendices to agenda items 7 ‘Covent Garden Village Developer Selection’ and 8 ‘Town Centre Regeneration – Bridgefield Development Scheme’should the content of these appendices need to be discussed.

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

The report provides a detailed overview of performance which relates to this Scrutiny Committee. The information is provided in the form of the mid-year Portfolio Performance and Resources Reports for the Economic Development & Regeneration and Communities & Sustainability Portfolios. These provide an update on progress in delivering the portfolio priorities, budgets and capital programmes during 2013/14, and include performance and financial projections for the year.

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to:-

·       Consider the mid-year Portfolio Performance and Resource Reports;

·       Review the progress against priorities, performance and budgets for 2013/14;

·       Highlight key areas of and responsibility for taking forward corrective action to address any performance or resource issues; and

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

Officer contacts: Gill Lawton/Michael Cullen on 0161 474 3686/4631 or e mail: gill.lawton@stockport.gov.uk/michael.cullen@stockport.gov.uk

The Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration submitted a 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 mid-year Portfolio Performance and Resources Reports for the Communities & Sustainability and Economic Development & Regeneration Portfolios. These provided an update on progress in delivering the portfolio priorities, budgets and capital programmes during 2013/14, and included performance and financial projections for the year.

The Executive Councillor (Communities & Sustainability) (Councillor Stuart Bodsworth) and Executive Councillor (Economic Development & Regeneration) (Councillor Iain Roberts) attended the meeting to respond to Members’ questions.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

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

The report considers a proposal for a three years’ extension of the Alliance Partnering Contract from 1 April 2014.

The Scrutiny Committee are requested to comment and give their views prior to consideration of the report by the Executive Meeting.

Officer Contact: Megan Black on 0161 218 1410 or e mail: megan.black@stockport.gov.uk

The Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) regarding a proposal for a three years’ extension of the Alliance Partnering Contract from 1 April 2014.

In 2009 Stockport and Trafford Councils had launched a Strategic Alliance known as the ‘Stockport Trafford Alliance Framework’ to maintain and improve roads and highway structures within the boroughs. This was a long term partnering arrangement with specialist contractors based on the NEC3 contract, procured collaboratively by the two Councils. The arrangement was completed on the basis of an agreed five years’ period with the option to extend for a further five years based on the contractors providing value for money and efficiencies of service as established by benchmarking and set key performance indicators.

The report would be considered by the Executive at its meeting on 17 December 2013.

The Executive Councillor (Economic Development and Regeneration) (Councillor Iain Roberts) attended the meeting to respond to Members’ questions.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·        Why it was proposed to extend the contract by three years and not five years as had been the original intention when the Strategic Alliance had been established in 2009.

·        Whether consideration had been given to extending the Strategic Alliance to other areas. The Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration advised that there were already a number of collaborative working arrangements with other local authorities in Greater Manchester and future collaborations would continue to be explored.

RESOLVED – That the comments of the Scrutiny Committee be reported to the Executive Meeting on 17 December 2013 for consideration.

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

The report advises the outcome of the procurement process to identify a preferred developer partner to work with the Council to bring forward phases 3 and 4 of the Covent Garden Village Master Plan.

The Scrutiny Committee are requested to comment and give their views prior to consideration of the report by the Executive Meeting.

Officer Contact: Andy Kippax on 0161 474 4319 or e mail: andy.kippax@stockport.gov.uk

The Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) advising the Scrutiny Committee of the outcome of the procurement process to identify a preferred developer partner to work with the Council to bring forward phases 3 and 4 of the Covent Garden Village Master Plan.

The report concluded that the proposal from Eric Wright was felt to be in line with the objectives of the Covent Garden Village Master Plan in that it would contribute towards achieving a more mixed and balanced housing offer in the town centre which would attract economically active households and therefore help to stimulate the town centre economy. The Executive at its meeting on 17 December 2013 would be recommended to approve the appointment of Eric Wright/Your Housing as the preferred developer for Covent Garden Phases 3 and 4, and to agree that work be undertaken to enter into a development agreement with them to deliver the new housing proposals.

(Note: the report included information ‘not for publication’ contained in Appendices 1 and 2 that had been circulated to Members of the Scrutiny Committee only).

The Executive Councillor (Economic Development & Regeneration) (Councillor Iain Roberts) attended the meeting to respond to Members’ questions).

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a joint report of the Corporate Director for Place Management and the Corporate Director for Corporate and Support Services

The report sets out the strategic importance of a leisure led development to support the regeneration of the town centre. It details progress on negotiations with occupiers and operators for the scheme and the re-gearing of the terms of the lease with Debenhams. It also explains the importance and urgency of making a commitment to delivering the scheme in order to secure these investments and occupiers.

The Scrutiny Committee are requested to comment and give their views prior to consideration of the report by the Executive Meeting.

Officer Contact: George Perrin on 0161 474 4510 or e mail: george.perrin@stockport.gov.uk

The Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) in connection with the Bridgefield Development Scheme. The report set out the strategic importance of a leisure led development to support the regeneration of the town centre. It detailed progress on negotiations with occupiers and operators for the scheme, and the re-gearing of the terms of the lease with Debenhams. It also explained the importance and urgency of making a commitment to delivering the scheme in order to secure these investments and occupiers.

(Note: the report included information ‘not for publication’ contained in Appendices 2 and 3 that had been circulated to Members of the Scrutiny Committee only).

The report would be considered by the Executive at its meeting on 17 December 2013.

The Executive Councillor (Economic Development & Regeneration) (Councillor Iain Roberts) attended the meeting to respond to Members’ questions).

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         Whether the residual values at Years 25/30 in the Financial Appraisal Summary would be adjusted for inflation.

·         What was being proposed for nearby sites, in particular the proposed improvement or compulsory purchase of properties on Princes Street and nearby roads, and how this fitted into the Bridgefield Scheme.

·         The re-routing buses of buses which currently travelled on Bridgefield Street.

·         The anticipated effect of the Bridgefield Scheme on Stockport’s night time economy.

RESOLVED – That the comments of the Scrutiny Committee be reported to the Executive Meeting on 17 December 2013 for consideration.

To note the resume of the meeting held on 31 October 2013.

Officer Contact: Charlotte Forrest on 0161 474 3208 or e mail: charlotte.forrest@stockport.gov.uk

The Scrutiny Committee considered a resume (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting of Adult Education, Skills and Employability Partnership held on 31 October 2013.

RESOLVED – That the resume of the meeting held on 31 October 2013 be noted.

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 on 0161 474 3137 or e mail: david.clee@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Democratic Services Manager submitted a report (copies of which had 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.

The Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration advised the meeting that he had asked Officers in his directorate to prepare an updated strategy for Light Rail in Stockport. He asked the Scrutiny Committee whether each political group would wish to nominate a councillor to be involved in the preparation of this strategy.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That the issue of whether councillors are involved in the preparation of the Stockport Light Rail Strategy be referred to the Group Leaders for consideration.