Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 26 January 2017.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 26 January 2017 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.

No declarations of interest were made.

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 report is a follow up report to the 2016 Road Safety near Schools report presented to the Children and Young Peoples Scrutiny Committee, Environment and Economy Scrutiny Committee and all Area Committees.

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

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

A representative of the Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an update on activities concerning road safety near schools which included Road Safety Education and Training.

The Executive Councillor (Education) (Councillor Dean Fitzpatrick) attended the meeting to respond to Members’ questions.

The report would be considered by the Executive at its meeting to be held on 14 March 2017.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         The Council had no power as the highway authority to write to parents who consistently transgressed traffic measures in the vicinity of a school requesting that they parked more considerately.

·         Support was given to the possibility of using a ‘smart camera car’ and other technological solutions in order to enforce parking restrictions near to schools and there was scope for extending their use, for example with regard to permit parking and bus lane enforcement.

·         Update reports were requested to be submitted to future meetings of the Scrutiny Committee which reviewed the measures in place with an evidence-based approach.

·         All Headteachers at the forty schools with the oldest school travel plans had been contacted with an offer of support to update those plans. Concern was expressed that only five primary schools had currently responded. With regard to School Travel Plans, it was important to find out which measures worked and which did not.

·         A Member felt that those schools in the vicinity of the ‘little Wales’ estate in Cheadle Hulme should be included in the priority list for road safety measures.

·         School crossing patrols were still a very important road safety measure in the vicinity of schools and were valued by parents.

·         Just because the formula for assessing whether a school crossing patrol was not met in a particular location did not mean that a road safety problem did not exist.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That the Executive Meeting be recommended to liaise with Manchester City Council to further research the use of the ‘Smart Camera Car’ particularly with regard to the enforcement of bus lanes.

(2) That update reports be submitted to future meetings of the Scrutiny Committee reviewing the road safety measures in place

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

The report sets out the overall approach the Council wishes to adopt with regard to brownfield sites, the nature of the challenges presented, the current position in relation to brownfield sites and a plan to develop a proactive approach over the coming months that will form the basis for a long term Brownfield First Development Programme.

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to:-

·         endorse a ‘Brownfield First’ approach to the identification of land for residential and employment development, as outlined in the report, subject to ensuring that overdevelopment of existing urban areas is avoided.

·         consider and comment on the issues and actions proposed in the report and endorse the further development of the approach.

·         note the proposal to engage strongly with Area Committees as part of the early stage of the Local Plan process, particularly to undertake a Call for Sites and update of the Council’s Brownfield Site Register.

Officer Contact: Nicola Turner on 0161 218 1635 or email: nicola.turner@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) setting out the overall approach the Council wished to adopt with regard to brownfield sites, the nature of the challenges presented, the current position in relation to brownfield sites and a plan to develop a proactive approach over the coming months that would form the basis for a long term Brownfield First Development Programme.

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

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         Members requested that a briefing note be sent to all councillors on the Government’s proposals to enhance capacity in planning departments by the use of increased planning fees.

·         The proposal to engage strongly with area committees as part of the early stage of the Council’s Local Plan process was welcomed, particularly the intention to undertake a Call for Sites and update of the Council’s Brownfield Site Register.

·         A member felt that a register of brownfield sites should be put on the Council’s website, together with a way for members of the public to suggest additional sites for the register as a means of ensuring that the Council achieved as full a register of brownfield sites as was possible. This could form part of the Council’s Digital by Design initiative, be maintained and upgraded in the future, and widely advertised at minimal cost.

·         The Council was not in a position to adopt a sequential list of sites at this moment in time. The aim of the ‘Brownfield First’ approach was to ensure that the Council was in the best possible situation when deliverable schemes came forward. It did not mean that development would never take place in the Green Belt.

·         There was relatively low density housing in Greater Manchester. The problems occurred, particularly in the Green Belt, where there was higher density housing proposed without the infrastructure to support it.

·         The higher/minimum density requirement for new residential development on brownfield sites based on locational criteria, i.e. the more accessible the location the greater the potential to allow increased densities, was seen as an important requirement as well as the need to strike a careful balance between protecting the quality of the environment and existing amenities and ensuring that the quality of the residential environment was not compromised.

·         The Council had very little leverage to influence developers and leverage methods should be explored. It was acknowledged that local authorities’ compulsory purchase powers were slow and cumbersome.

·         A Member questioned the timing of the report and why the Council was only now putting forward a ‘Brownfield First’ approach. Under the draft Greater Manchester Spatial Framework, Stockport was required to identify sites for 19,300 new homes over the proposed twenty years period of the plan (2015-2035). These sites must be demonstrably deliverable for development within the time period. The Corporate Director agreed to provide Members with a definition of what criteria was used to define ‘demonstrably deliverable’ development.

·         The aim was for the Council to remove as many barriers as possible to development and provide as strong an evidence base as possible on ‘deliverable development’.

·         Residential development in the town centre was more likely to be higher density with more apartments and flats, with greater connectivity to public transport. The report suggested that a more relaxed approach could be applied to car parking in the town centre and district centres, and consideration given to allowing further reductions in on-site parking provision.

·         The Council’s policies would not be able to deliver the number of sites required for new homes required under the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework without greater funding from Central Government. It was suggested that the elected Mayor for Greater Manchester and the Chief Executive of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority  should lobby Central Government for increased funding to increase staff capacity, both planning officers and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

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

The report provides the Scrutiny Committee with the opportunity to review and comment on the various Service Operating Specifications detailing Solution SK Ltd’s delivery of services on behalf of the Council.

The Scrutiny Committee is invited to review and comment on the Service Operating Specifications appended in Annex B to the report.

Officer Contact: Ian O’Donnell on 0161 474 4174 0r email: ian.odonnell@stockport.gov.uk

The Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing the Scrutiny Committee with the opportunity to review and comment on the various Service Operating Specifications detailing Solutions SK Ltd’s delivery of services on behalf of the Council.

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

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         The Performance Indicator for Waste and Recycling had been inadvertently omitted from the report and Members requested that it be forwarded to them.

·         Members welcomed the performance indicators which had been developed and improved in order to monitor the performance of Solutions SK Ltd and demonstrate the lines of responsibility between Solutions SK Ltd and the Council. The Scrutiny Committee further welcomed that the Manager Director of Solutions Ltd would be attending future meetings of the Scrutiny Committee for the performance monitoring reports.

RESOLVED – That the Executive Meeting be recommended to approve the various Service Operating Specifications detailing Solutions SK Ltd’s delivery of services on behalf of the Council, as attached as Annex B to the report.

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

The report sets out a proposal for the completion of the development of Mill Lane Cemetery in Cheadle in order to continue to prepare the remainder of the cemetery for burials.

The Scrutiny Committee is invited to comment on the report.

Officer Contact: Ian O’Donnell on 0161 474 4174 or email: ian.odonnell@stockport.gov.uk

The Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) setting out a proposal for the completion of the development of Mill Cemetery in Cheadle in order to continue to prepare the remainder of the cemetery for burials. The proposed development represented a pulling together of intended developments into one phase which would be more efficient and secure the development of all intended burial space at Mill Lane Cemetery.

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

The report would be considered by the Executive at its meeting to be held on 14 March 2017.

The following issues were raised/comments made:-

·         A request was made for the Council to examine the boundary between the public leisure space and the cemetery, and assist the privacy of those visiting the cemetery by screening the cemetery with bushes/trees etc.

RESOLVED – That the Executive Meeting be recommended to approve the development of Mill Lane Cemetery, Cheadle and the capital expenditure necessary to complete the works, as set out in paragraph 3.5 of the report.

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

The report sets out business case and proposed actions following a review of the street lighting service which has been undertaken to identify opportunities to minimise the future costs of the street lighting service whilst seeking opportunities to improve the service.

The Scrutiny Committee is requested to comment on the business case and support that the two complementary programmes (Streetlighting Improvement Programme and the Highways Electrical Assets Improvement Programme) are undertaken.

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) setting out a business case and proposed actions following a review of the street lighting service which had been undertaken in order to identify opportunities to minimise the future costs of the street lighting service whilst seeking opportunities to improve the service.

The review considered the approach which other local authorities had taken to reduce the costs of the street lighting service by energy saving including trimming, dimming, replacement of columns and lanterns. It also considered opportunities to reduce associated energy and maintenance costs for other highways electrical street furniture including bollards and signs. The report presented the business case for the replacement of the existing lanterns by LED lanterns.

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

The report would be considered by the Executive at its meeting to be held on 14 March 2017.

The following comments were made/issue raised:-

·         There were already quite a lot of LED lights in Stockport and the major complaints about them centred around the glare and their impact on the illumination of residents’ gardens. Attempts would be made to try and address these issues.

·         The effect of the LED lights needed to be monitored and communicated effectively to residents.

·         The Council was proposing to use one type of LED lighting as this was the more cost effective option than using different types.

·         The aim was that the Streetlighting Investment Programme would tie in with the next stage of the Highways Investment Programme so that the installation of the new lanterns and replacement and repositioning of some of the columns did not affect recent highway improvements.

RESOLVED – That the Executive Meeting be recommended to approve that the two years complimentary programmes (Streetlighting Improvement Programme and the Highways Electrical Assets Improvement Programme) are undertaken.

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

The report provides detailed information about the proposed transportation capital programme in 2017/18 and an overview of the indicative programme until 2019/20 and future years. The funding allocations for many elements of this programme are indicative allocations and confirmation is awaited from the Greater Manchester Combined Authority.

The Scrutiny Committee is requested to comment upon and support the proposed transportation capital programme before their approval by the Executive Councillor (Economy and Regeneration).

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 detailed information about the proposed transportation capital programme in 2017/18 and an overview of the indicative programme until 2019/20 and future years. The funding allocations for many elements of the programme were indicative allocations and confirmation was awaited from the Greater Manchester Combined Authority.

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

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         Support was given to the inclusion of improvements to Middlewood Way in the programme.

RESOLVED – That the Executive Councillor (Economy and Regeneration) be recommended to approve the proposed Transportation Capital Programme for 2017/18 and 2018/19.

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

The report presents the amended Highway Safety Inspection And Repairs Plan which had been changed in response to a recommendation in the reactive maintenance review 2016: specifically Finding 7 – Categorising Defects. In addition, it is proposed further amendments will be made to the overall process to Highway Safety Inspection and Repairs in response to the Well-Managed Highways Infrastructure Code of Practice 2016. This code of Practice requires that the Council moves to a detailed risk based approach to highways maintenance which will require a more fundamental review of the policy.

The Scrutiny Committee is invited 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) presenting the amended Highway Safety Inspection and Repairs Plan which had been changed in response to a recommendation in the reactive maintenance review 2016: specifically Finding 7 – Categorising Defects.

The reactive maintenance review final report 2016 recommendation 7 – Categorising Defects proposed the implementation of a new five category system to replace the current categorisations adopted by the Council in 2011. This had been further developed in consultation with Solutions SK and insurers.

It was believed that the new categories would improve claim defensibility because it would improve the efficiency for the client and contractor to deliver a repair within the agreed timeframe. Categories 1,4 and 5 were the same as those identified in the previous categorisation.

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

The report would be considered by the Executive at its meeting to be held on 14 March 2017.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         the ability of temporary repairs to highways had been overstated in the past and the number of permanent repairs should be maximised.

·         now Officers had the use of GPS technology the data on outstanding repairs could be ‘mapped’ on the Council’s website making it easier for people to track individual repairs and receive automatic updates.

·         it made sense to repair highway defects of less severity in an area when, for example, operatives were repairing a severe highway defect.

RESOLVED – That the Executive Meeting be recommended to give approval to undertake a twelve months’ trial (starting June 2017) of the new categories with the aim to review the impact of the changes as part of the final implementation of the reviewed strategy which would be put in place to meet the 2016 Well-Maintained Highway Infrastructure Code of Practice.

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

The report provides an update on the achievements of the A6 Quality Bus Corridor Partnership and recommends to the Executive Meeting that the A6 Quality Bus Partnership Agreement between Manchester City Council, Transport for Greater Manchester, Stagecoach and Stockport Council is extended for two years with the option of extending it another year subject to the agreement of all parties.

The Scrutiny Committee is invited to comment on the proposed extension of the A6 Quality Partnership Scheme and recommend that the Executive Meeting approves the extension of the current Quality Partnership Scheme on the A6 for a period of two years with an optional annual extension for a further year.

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

The Corporate Director for Place Management an Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an update on the achievements of the A6 Quality Bus Corridor and recommending to the Executive Meeting that the A6 Quality Bus Partnership Agreement between Manchester City Council, Transport for Greater Manchester, Stagecoach and Stockport Council was extended for two years with the option of extending it another year subject to the agreement of all parties.

The current A6 Quality Partnership Scheme expired in March 2017 and the parties involved had indicated a willingness for the scheme to be extended.

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

The report would be considered by the Executive at its meeting to be held on 14 March 2017.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         About eighty cars a day were currently using the Park and Ride Car Park in Hazel Grove which was operated by Stagecoach.

·         It would be a commercial whether Stagecoach would run a shuttle bus on the new A6 to Manchester Airport Relief Road.

·         A Member enquired how often the bus lanes were monitored in order to ensure that they were effective.

·         There should be more focussed Member participation in the A6 Quality Partnership Scheme. The possibility of taking the report to all the area committees would be investigated.

·          Buses ran more freely along the A6 through Stockport than, for example, in Levenshulme and Longsight.

·         The bus lanes were only in operation in Stockport for a comparatively small part of each day.

RESOLVED – That the Executive Meeting be recommended to approve the extension of the current A6 Quality Partnership Scheme for a period of two years with an optional annual extension for a further year subject to the agreement of all partners.

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 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 – That the report be noted.