Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 10 March 2016.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 10 March 2016 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 Interests

To consider call-in items (if any).

There were no call-in items to consider.

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

The report relates to the proposed compulsory acquisition of those land interests required to facilitate the Stockport Exchange development scheme. It primarily affects the land between Railway Road and Station Road on the Wellington Road South frontage, as shown on Plan 1 attached as Appendix 1 to the report, and involves freehold and leasehold interests, third party rights and landowners impacted by the creation of new rights.   A Compulsory Purchase Order is proposed to achieve the acquisitions.

The Scrutiny Committee is invited to comment on the report, prior to its consideration by the Executive Meeting.

Officer Contacts: George Perrin/Michael Bownes on 0161 474 4510/3212 or email: george.perrin@stockport.gov.uk/michael/bownes@stockport.gov.uk

The Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) relating to the proposed compulsory acquisition of those land interests required to facilitate the Stockport Exchange development scheme. It primarily affected the land between Railway Road and Station Road on the Wellington Road South frontage, as shown on Plan 1 attached as Appendix 1 to the report, and involved freehold and leasehold interests, third party rights and landowners impacted by the creation of new rights.

Negotiations for the relevant acquisitions had progressed with the majority of the owners and occupiers involved in the subject properties, but it was clear that all the acquisitions necessary could not be achieved by agreement. If acquisitions could be agreed and completed in due course, the relevant land/interest would be withdrawn from the Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO). Inclusion of land or rights in a CPO did not involve a commitment to purchase come what may.

The Deputy Leader of the Council (Councillor Iain Roberts) attended the meeting to respond to Members’ questions. The report would be submitted to the Executive Meeting on 26 April 2016.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         Every effort would be made to find an alternative location for the proprietor of Turner’s art shop, should he wish to continue in business.

·         The environmental reasons for the CPO needed to be significantly strengthened.

·         There was the possibility that following the making of the CPO the Council would receive blight notices from affected parties giving rise to liabilities.

·         It would be some years before some of the properties would be the subject of a CPO.

·         Support was given for that part of the guidance which stated ‘bodies possessing Compulsory Purchase powers are encouraged to consider using them proactively wherever appropriate to ensure real gains are brought to residents and the business community without delay’.

RESOLVED – That the Executive Meeting be advised that this Scrutiny Committee supports the Wellington Road South Compulsory Purchase Order as part of the Stockport Exchange Redevelopment Scheme.

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

The report considers the issues relating to the management and provision of parking in Stockport, outlines the position of other AGMA Councils and considers the procurement opportunities offered by an AGMA procurement framework.

The Scrutiny Committee is requested to comment on the report, prior to its consideration by the Executive Meeting.

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

The Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration submitted a report (copiers of which had been circulated) regarding the issues relating to the management and provision of parking in Stockport, outlining the position of other Greater Manchester Councils and examining the procurement opportunities offered by an AGMA procurement framework. The report proposed utilising the AGMA framework for Parking Enforcement Services and cash collection, as was currently used by Salford and Trafford Councils for their parking enforcement operations. Indigo (formerly Vinci Park) was the incumbent supplier.

The Executive Councillor (Supporting Places) (Councillor Martin Candler) attended the meeting to respond to Members’ questions.

With the agreement of the Chair, Melvyn Matier, UNISON Shop Steward, addressed the meeting.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         It was clarified that new members of staff would be employed on different terms and conditions by Indigo. The terms and conditions of existing employees would not be affected by the TUPE transfer. In response to a Member’s question, it was confirmed that the service had recently recruited a member of staff.

·         More information was required on the maintenance costs of the current pay and display machines.

·         If the Council did not use the framework for enforcement, a separate procurement exercise would be necessary for cash collection.

·         If the Council used the framework for the enforcement service it would enter into a two year contract (extendable by one year plus one) and achieve increased deployment (or see a reduction in costs). This in turn would lead to an increase in enforcement activity and penalty charge notices.

·         The Council would maintain control of setting the specification for the service. Local accountability for the deployment of patrols would be maintained and the contractor would be instructed to monitor areas/streets by the Council as necessary.

·         A Member expressed concern that savings would be achieved by paying staff less in the longer term and issuing more tickets, particularly in the town centre where the Council was trying to attract people to visit.

·         Civil Enforcement Officers would remain in Stockport and be dedicated to working in Stockport. There would be no compulsory relocation of staff. However, supervisory staff would not necessarily be based in Stockport and cash collection would take place at Salford.

·         The provision of hand held computers was necessary to issue Penalty Charge Notices and enable it to be monitored where every Civil Enforcement Officer was and how many Fixed Penalty Notices they had issued.

·         The budget for the service was now operating in deficit due to the loss of car parks such as that at Great Egerton Street to facilitate the Redrock development.

·         There would be break clauses in the contractor with the operator for poor performance.

·         Concern was expressed that training was included with sickness in an analysis of non-productive time by the Civil Enforcement Officers.

RESOLVED – (Eight for, one against) That the Executive Councillor (Communities and Sustainability) be requested to reconsider the proposals in the light of the concerns expressed by Members of the Scrutiny Committee.

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

The report provides an update on progress with the Stockport Town Centre Transport Interchange and the ongoing discussions with Transport for Greater Manchester regarding the redevelopment of the site.

The Scrutiny Committee is requested to comment on the report, prior to its consideration by the Executive Meeting.

Officer Contact: Sue Stevenson on 0161 474 4351 or email: sue.stevenson@stockport.gov.uk

The Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an update on progress with the Stockport Town Centre Transport Interchange and the ongoing discussions with Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) regarding the redevelopment of the site. The report would be submitted to the Executive at its meeting on 26 April 2016.

The Executive Councillor (Supporting Places) (Councillor Martin Candler) attended the meeting to respond to Members’ questions.

In response to a Member’s question, it was confirmed that the hydro scheme in the River Mersey which had originally been proposed by TfGM as part of the scheme had now been deleted from the proposals.

RESOLVED – That the Executive Meeting be advised that this Scrutiny Committee supports the detailed recommendations which the Executive will be requested to approve.

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

This report provides details of the proposed Greater Manchester Low Emission Strategy and Air Quality Action Plan consultation.

The Scrutiny Committee is requested to comment on the report, prior to its consideration by the Executive Meeting.

Officer contact: Sue Stevenson on 0161 474 4351 or email: sue.stevenson@stockport.gov.uk

The Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing details of the proposed Greater Manchester Low Emission Strategy and Air Quality Action Plan which were currently subject to consultation. The report identified issues which were specific to Stockport such as those arising from the A6 to Manchester Airport Relief Road and the Stockport Town Centre Access Package and Interchange. The report would be submitted to the Executive Meeting on 26 April 2016 and had previously been considered by the Health and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee at its meeting held on 5 April 2016.

The local authorities in Greater Manchester were responsible for maintaining good air quality or improving air quality where required so as to meet mandatory limits. The two pollutants of most concern for the majority of areas of the United Kingdom where air quality was a problem were NO2 and PM, derived from gasoline. Transport was by far the largest source of N02 and PM emissions and was a major contributor to carbon emissions. Goods vehicles and buses made a disproportionate contribution to NO2.

The Executive Councillor (Supporting Places) (Councillor Martin Candler) attended the meeting to respond to Members’ questions.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         The difficult balance to consider was between maintaining economic growth, protecting the environment and the effect on people’s health, in particular elderly people, of poor air quality.

·          It was important that every effort was made to reduce the amount of freight being transported on the country’s roads, and reduce congestion and improve the reliability of journey times on the motorway network.

·         The effect on the A34 of an increase in cars caused by the housing development at Handforth was considered and the fact that slowing the speed of vehicles increased emissions.

·         The procurement of vehicles was a very important issue. Diesel fleets needed to be replaced as they produced higher particulate matter and the use of hybrid vehicles should be encouraged.

·         People should be encouraged to use buses, particularly hybrid buses with very low emissions such as the town centre shuttle bus.

·         The Council was trying to persuade taxi operators to use hybrid vehicles, through the licensing system or other systems.

·         There were environmental benefits to having a large air quality management area, although it might affect the local economy.

·         The Scrutiny Committee debated whether a congestion charge for Greater Manchester should again be considered as the Council’s objection when it was last considered in 2008 was to the proposed scheme, not the principle of a congestion charge.

·         The problems of poor air quality would only be compounded by the significant increases in population which were projected in the Greater Manchester Spatial Strategy.

·         Electric vehicles were currently prohibitively expensive for a lot of people.

RESOLVED – That the comments of the Scrutiny Committee be forwarded to the Executive Meeting on 26 April 2016.

To consider the final report of the Scrutiny Review Panel: Repairing Potholes and Other Defects – Process and Quality

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to comment upon the draft Final Report prior to its submission to the Executive.

Officer contact: David Clee on 0161 474 3137 or email: david.clee@stockport.gov.uk

Councillor Philip Harding (Scrutiny Review Panel Lead Councillor) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing for comment the recommendations of the Scrutiny Review Panel following the review into Repairing Potholes and Other Defects – Process and Quality.

 RESOVLED – (1) That the final recommendations of the Review Panel be forwarded to the Executive Meeting for consideration.

(2) That the representatives of the Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration and the Democratic Services Manager be thanked for the support provided to Councillors during the course of the review.

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 email: david.clee@stockport.gov.uk

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

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.