Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 22 September 2021.

The minutes (copies of which had been circulated of the meeting held on 22 September 2021 were approved as a correct record.

Councillors and Officers to be invited to declare any interests which they may have in any of the items on the agenda for the meeting.

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

No interests were declared.

To consider a report of the Strategic Head of Place Making and Planning.

As part of the Planning and Compulsory Act 2004 (as amended) each Local Planning Authority must prepare a Local Development Scheme (LDS).  The LDS is effectively a high level project management document for the production of the Local Plan, which identifies and describes the documents that the Council intends to produce to make up the Local Plan. It provides an overview of the process of drafting them and identifies key milestones and timescales for their preparation.

The Working Party is requested to note and comment on the content of the report.

Officer contact: Richard Wood Tel 07800617505 or email Richard.wood@stockport.gov.uk

The Strategic Head of Place Making and Planning submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated.  As part of the Planning and Compulsory Act 2004 (as amended) each Local Planning Authority must prepare a Local Development Scheme (LDS).  The LDS is effectively a high-level project management document for the production of the Local Plan, which identifies and describes the documents that the Council intends to produce to make up the Local Plan. The report provided an overview of the process of drafting these and identified key milestones and timescales for their preparation.

The following comments were made/issues raised:

·         Members commented that some residents had raised concerns about the reasons for the delay and  it was noted that there were limitations in what could be said publicly.  In response, Members were advised that the evidence base that sits behind the plan needed to be strengthened and in addition work needed to be done to build upon the positive engagement that had taken place with local communities and other stakeholders over the summer.

·         A further reason for the delay was the strength of the legal advice that had been received.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Strategic Head of Place Making and Planning.

The report seeks the views of the DPWP on the way in which the Local Plan will assist in the delivery of the One Stockport Borough Plan.  The formation of Strategic objectives in Local Plan key element of framing the plan, which also allows for the impact of the Local Plan can be measured.

The Working Party is asked to note and endorse the strategic objectives, as set out in Section 2 of the report.

Officer Contact: Steve Johnson on 0161 474 3509, or by email to steven.johnson@stockport.gov.uk.

The Strategic Head of Place Making and Planning submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) which sought the views of the DPWP on the way in which the Local Plan would assist in the delivery of the One Stockport Borough Plan.  The formation of Strategic objectives in the Local Plan was a key element of framing the plan, which also allowed for the impact of the Local Plan to be measured.

The following comments were made/issues raised:

·         Members commented that the report needs to be readable and accessible to the public.

·         Housing is the number one issue that needs to be designed with climate change in mind.  This link needs to be clearly made.

·         A climate friendly economy should also be mentioned as part of the thread.

·         Members were advised that the report that will be published for the public will look very different to the draft version that was currently before the Working Party.  It was vital that people understand what was being proposed.

·         Members felt that it was important to get existing Stockport residents into a home of their choice and also to be welcoming to those people coming into the Borough.  At the moment, there was a hugely significant number of people on the waiting list for a home.

·         Employment, infrastructure, health and schools are not covered strongly enough and people need to know what the proposals are and how this will affect their lives.  How does the Brownfield First policy underpin this?  These matters need to be expressed clearly and succinctly.

·         Members questioned whether thirteen objectives was too many and whether concentration needs to be placed on the vital few.

·         Life expectancy and educational attainment are very different in different parts of the Borough and these inequalities should form part of the wording of the plan.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.