Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 21 June 2017.

The Minutes of the meeting held on 21 June 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 they had in any of the items on the agenda for the meeting.

The following interests were declared.

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.

NOTE: Consideration of this item was deferred from the last meeting of the Working Party pending the circulation of Annex 1 and Annex 2 which are enclosed with the report.

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 report had been deferred from the previous meeting to allow for circulation of omitted annexes to the report.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         Much of the document was information that members would already been familiar with, although the assessment would not necessarily accord with councillor or public views of the value of these sites. In some cases the open space may not be of the best quality but had particular value to local residents.

·         Further mention was needed of Friends Groups and it was important they formed part of the consultation.

·         Clarification was needed in the consultation that the study was a snapshot in time, and need not necessarily reflect newer provision agreed as part of planning consents. These sites would be accounted for as part of annual monitoring.

·         The consultation needed to be phrased so as not to raise expectations the Council was be able to address all public concerns about the quality of open space. This included ensuring that it was clear that although the assessment provided data by area committee, it was not proposed to seek to provide equitable levels of provision by each area. Often deficiencies were due to lack of developable space

·         Open space provided for in residential developments were often the source of nuisance for neighbours and more careful consideration was needed as to their location and design and the target age of the provision. Where provided by the developer there needed to be greater emphasis on quality and sustainability.

·         Often insufficient weight was given to the consultation feedback on teenage facilities because of the relatively low response rate, although ward councillors were often aware of stronger local feelings about such issues.

Councillors were supportive of the typography contained in the assessment as the basis of the consultation documentation.

RESOLVED – That the report and Open Space Study be noted.

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

At the meeting of the Working Party on 21 June 2017 it was agreed that future meetings of the Working Party should be programmed on a monthly basis.

It is proposed that the next meeting be convened on Wednesday, 9 August 2017.

RESOLVED – That the date of the next meeting be provisionally agreed to take place on 9 August 2017.