Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 14 April 2016.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 14 April 2016 were approved as a correct record.

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 interest was declared:-

Personal Interest

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

The Annual Portfolio Performance and Resource Reports (PPRR) for the Supporting Places and Thriving Economy Portfolios are presented for consideration by the Committee. These provide an update on key activity during the fourth and final quarter of the year, with a summary of progress in delivering the portfolio priority outcomes through the Investing in Stockport programme and other key projects since the mid-year project. They include out-turn performance and financial data for the Portfolios, along with an update on the portfolio savings programmes.

The Scrutiny Committee is requested to:-

(a)  consider the Annual Portfolio Performance and Resource Reports;

 (b)  review the progress against delivering key projects, priority outcomes, targets and budgets for 2015/16;

(c)  highlight key areas of and responsibility for taking forward corrective action to address any performance or resource issues.

 (d)  highlight any significant issues or changes to be fed back to the Executive alongside the Corporate Performance and Resource Report; and

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

Officer Contacts Joe Conmee/Michael Cullen on 0161 474 5396/4361 or email: joseph.conmee@stockport.gov.uk/michael.cullen@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing the Annual Portfolio Performance and Resource Reports for the Supporting Places and Thriving Economy Portfolios. The report provided an update on key activity during the fourth and final quarter of the year, with a summary of progress in delivering the portfolio priority outcomes through the Investing in Stockport programme and other key projects since the mid-year project. The report included out-turn performance and financial data for the Portfolios, along with an update on the portfolio savings programmes.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         A report would be submitted to the next meeting of the Scrutiny Committee detailing how those leisure facilities which had transferred to schools would be maintained.

·         In response to a Member’s question, a representative of the Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration outlined the projects to promote more active forms of transport such as walking routes and a cycling hub in the town centre.

·         The Council would be undertaking a full review of the position with regard to reserves.

·         The phases of work being undertaken on St. Mary’s Way as part of the Town Centre Access Plan were provided to the Scrutiny Committee.

·         A number of the Performance Indicators were very broad with no tolerance ranges or comparative figures, and they needed to be re-examined.

·         The study which was proposed to be carried out for Marple to determine what improvements to the public realm may be appropriate in Marple Centre would include an examination of traffic issues around Marple including access to the railway station and parking, and movements of traffic in the town centre.

·         The pressures within the car parking service and the under-recovery of income were highlighted.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

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

The report outlines the suggested resilient network for the Borough and asks for comment on the proposed network.

The Scrutiny Committee is requested to consider and comment on the proposed resilient network and related actions to reduce the effects of extreme weather.

Officer Contacts: Pete Price/Sue Stevenson on 0161 474 4901 or email: pete.price@stockport.gov.uk/sue.stevenson@stockport.gov.uk

The Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) outlining a suggested resilient network for the Borough.

Following the severe weather in 2013/14, the Secretary of State for Transport had commissioned an independent review into the effects of severe weather on the transport network. The subsequent report identified that episodes of severe weather would become more frequent and transport authorities should plan how to manage the impact of them and identify and develop a resilient network for their highway network which would be prioritised for repair and maintenance in extreme weather.

The Executive Councillor (Communities and Housing) (Councillor Sheila Bailey) attended the meeting to respond to Members’ questions.

RESOLVED – That the Executive Meeting be advised that this Scrutiny Committee supports the proposals in the report and recommends their approval.

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

The report provides an update on the progress on developing the Poynton Relief Road and the results of the pre-planning application consultation.

The Scrutiny Committee is requested to comment on the report.

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 the development of the Poynton Relief Road scheme, including the outcome of a recent consultation on the pre-planning application. The report recommended that the Council continued to work with Cheshire East Council to develop the scheme and that the Council would be a joint applicant for the planning application for the scheme.

The Poynton Relief Road scheme had been identified as a priority for funding within the Warrington and Cheshire Local Enterprise Partnership Growth Deal with a funding allocation for the delivery of the scheme commencing in early 2017/18 with an expectation that the scheme would open in 2019, subject to it obtaining the various permissions and powers required.

The Executive Councillor (Economy and Regeneration) (Councillor Kate Butler) attended the meeting to respond to Members’ questions.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         The consultation had shown significant public support for the proposed scheme.

·         Work had been commissioned on the preparation of the Phase 1 study and modelling for the scheme.

·         There were various mitigation and complementary measures proposed for the scheme.

RESOLVED – That the Executive Meeting be advised that the Scrutiny Committee supports the proposed scheme in general terms, but wishes to consider the Phase 1 study and modelling for the scheme after they have been completed.

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

The report seeks the views of the Scrutiny Committee on the application submitted by Marple Civic Society seeking to establish a Marple Neighbourhood Area under the provisions of the Localism Act 2011.

The Scrutiny Committee is requested to comment on the report.

Officer Contact: Richard Wood on 0161 474 4386 or email: richard.wood@stockport.gov.uk

The Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) seeking the views of the Scrutiny Committee on the application submitted by Marple Civic Society seeking to establish a Marple Neighbourhood Area under the provisions of the Localism Act 2011.

In order to take advantage of Neighbourhood Planning powers in non-parished areas under the provision of the Localism Act 2011, it was necessary to formally establish a Neighbourhood Area within which the powers apply and a Neighbourhood Forum (no more than one per Neighbourhood area) which was empowered to undertake Neighbourhood Planning activities. It was the responsibility of the Council to determine applications which sought to establish Neighbourhood Areas or Forums.

The Executive Councillor (Economy and Regeneration) (Councillor Kate Butler) attended the meeting to respond to Members’ questions.

It was confirmed that the boundary for the Neighbourhood Area could be extended in the future, but it would necessitate a similar process to that currently being used to establish the Neighbourhood Area.

RESOLVED – That the Executive Meeting and Council Meeting be advised that the Scrutiny Committee supports the area as submitted by the Marple Civic Society being designated as the Marple Neighbourhood Area.

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.