Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 10 May 2017.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 10 May 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.

Councillors and officers were invited to declare any interests which they had in any of the items on the agenda for the meeting.

No declarations were made.

To consider whether it is in the public interest to exclude the public during consideration of agenda item 6 which contains information ‘not for publication’ by virtue of Category 3 ‘Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority)’ as set out in the Local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).

RESOLVED – That in order to prevent the disclosure of information which was not for publication relating to the financial or business affairs of the any particular person (including the authority), the disclosure of which would not be in the public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 Agenda Item 6 – ‘Local Plan Issues and Options’.

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

Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council has been in the process of reviewing and updating the suite of evidence which will underpin the emerging Local Plan. The Open Space Assessment and accompanying Standards paper will form part of this evidence base.

The Working Party is recommended to comment on and note the report.

Officer contact: Sally Maguire on 0161-474-2738 or email: sally.maguire@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing details of the Open Space Assessment and accompanying Standards Paper that would form part of the evidence base which would underpin the emerging Local Plan.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         Education sites had not been included within the open space assessment and would be assessed separately against the needs of the educational establishment.

·         Natural and semi-natural spaces included any site which had an ecological value with public access.

·         Members requested that the accuracy of the data contained within Table 2 which assessed current provision against the recommended Stockport quality standard be clarified.

·         In response to a question about the definition of ‘Stockport Quantity Standard’ it was stated that where provision exceeded the national standard, then this should be considered the Stockport standard and should not be reduced below this point.

·         Concern was expressed that quantity standards were being expressed against population data which was figure which would shift over time. 

·         It was commented that office developments could be converted to residential use without the need for any planning consent and as such there could be no requirement for such conversions to make provision for open space.

It was commented that the associated Open Space Assessment Report and Standards Paper had not been enclosed with the agenda for the meeting, and that members needed to have the opportunity to review this information prior to its submission to the Communities & Housing Scrutiny Committee.

RESOLVED – That consideration of this item be deferred to a future meeting of the Working Party pending the Open Space Assessment Report and Standards Paper being circulated to members of the Working Party.

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

The report provides an update on the work programme considered by the Working Party at its meeting on 13 March 2017.

The Working Party is recommended to note the report.

Officer contact: Darren Pegram on 0161-474-3171 or email darren.pegram@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an update on the work programme considered by the Working Party at its meeting on 13 March 2017.

It was commented that in the light of the fast pace of developments regarding the Local Plan, it may be useful to for future meetings of the Working Party to be programmed on a monthly basis.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

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

A representative of the Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing detail on the progression of the Local Plan and seeking members comments on the current iteration of the document.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To approve the date of the next meeting of the Working Party.

RESOLVED – That the Democratic Services Manager be requested to make arrangements for the next meeting of the Working Party.