Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 23 November 2021.

The Minutes (copies of which were circulated) of the meeting held on 23 November 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.

With meetings of the Development Plan Working Party scheduled to consider different topic areas covered within the emerging draft Stockport Local Plan over the coming months, it is thought more than likely that questions may arise where the answer is ‘this will be covered elsewhere in the plan’.

The report provides, for information, an outline of the overall draft Local Plan document structure and of the content of each chapter.  This will hopefully help members to see each policy area being discussed in the context of the wider plan.

The Working Party is requested to note the report.

Officer contact: Richard Wood on 07800617505 or by email to richard.wood@stockport.gov.uk

The Strategic Head of Place Making and Planning submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) which explained that with meetings of the Development Plan Working Party scheduled to consider different topic areas covered within the emerging draft Stockport Local Plan over the coming months, it was thought more than likely that questions may arise where the answer is ‘this will be covered elsewhere in the plan’.

The report provided, for information, an outline of the overall draft Local Plan document structure and of the content of each chapter.  It was hoped that this would help members to see each policy area being discussed in the context of the wider plan.

The following comments were made/issues raised:

·         Members commented that there appeared to be nothing mentioned with regard to safety, that is safety in town centres, safety of the public and where they live and how they go about their business.  In response, Members were advised that this was covered in the built environment and design policies.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

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

The report details the Local Plan's Strategic Policies – see Appendix 1.  These provide a bridge from the Stockport Local Plan Objectives (revised following discussion at 23^rd November Development Plan Working Party meeting, see Appendix 2) and through them the priorities and ambitions of the One Stockport Borough Plan, to the topic-based policies which follow on from them and which will contain detailed considerations to be used in the determination of planning applications.  The Strategic Policies might be described as providing the 'strategy hook' from which the detailed, topic-based policies hang.

The Working Party is requested to comment and provide feedback on the draft Local Plan Strategic Policies.

Officer contact: Richard Wood on 07800617505 or by email to richard.wood@stockport.gov.uk

The Strategic Head of Place Making and Planning submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) which provided details of the Local Plan's Strategic Policies – covered in Appendix 1.  This provided a bridge from the Stockport Local Plan Objectives (revised following discussion at 23^rd November Development Plan Working Party meeting, covered in Appendix 2) and through them the priorities and ambitions of the One Stockport Borough Plan, to the topic-based policies which follow on from them and which will contain detailed considerations to be used in the determination of planning applications. 

The following comments were made/issues raised;

·         Members were keen to ensure that the objectives were finessed but acknowledged that this was a work in progress and that the policies were broadly on the right track.

·         On the issue of planning, some concerns were raised that in relation to the very ambitious plans, does the planning department have the capacity to deal with all the competing demands?  In response, Members were advised that a number of members of staff had been recruited into the local plan teams, and there was only one vacancy currently.  The planning team was felt to be adequately resourced at the present.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

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

The report details what is currently the first topic-based policy chapter of the draft plan, titled "Providing for Our Communities."

Our local communities have been the lifeblood of Stockport as we have come through the Covid-19 crisis together.  Active and vibrant communities and social infrastructure are a vital part of the future of Stockport in which everyone can lead healthy and happy lives.  The policies in this chapter will allow the Council to manage development so that it supports or contributes, in particular, to achieving Stockport Local Plan objectives 2, 3, 4 and 8 (see report titled ‘Strategic Policies’, on this agenda).

The Working Party is requested to comment and provide feedback on the draft ‘providing for our communities’ policies.

Officer contact: Richard Wood on 07800617505 or by email to richard.wood@stockport.gov.uk

The Strategic Head of Place Making and Planning submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated which detailed what is currently the first topic-based policy chapter of the draft plan, titled "Providing for Our Communities."

Our local communities have been the lifeblood of Stockport as we have come through the Covid-19 crisis together.  Active and vibrant communities and social infrastructure are a vital part of the future of Stockport in which everyone can lead healthy and happy lives.  The policies in this chapter would allow the Council to manage development so that it supports or contributes, in particular, to achieving Stockport Local Plan objectives 2, 3, 4 and 8 (see report titled ‘Strategic Policies’, on this agenda).

The following comments were made/issues raised:

·         The key to delivery of the draft plan is in engagement, especially with other services, for example the Woodford Garden Village.  In response, Members were advised that officers were not as well placed as they would like to be on this issue but there was ongoing engagement.  The CCG were directly involved and were being asked to shape and provide information.

·         In response to a Member question, the Working Party was advised that the Green Belt was covered in the environment section.

·         Members raised concerns that there was no point to the plans if the infrastructure was not in place to support them.  This exercise provided the opportunity to look at the town centre and empty retail space for example.  Members asked whether it was worth having another look at medical facilities and whether they were placed where needed.  It was vital to assess the risk of creating isolated communities where people have to use a car, this was not sustainable with the green agenda.

·         A short discussion took place in relation to education, the role of academies and school place provision.

·         Members raised concerns that a large number of people never engage with the local plan and it was felt that the Council needed to be more visionary in its approach.  As some people do not use social media, it was important to think about how those individuals could be reached.

·         Members raised the issue of protecting golf courses as some were now up for sale and possible planning applications may come forward.  In response, Members were advised that there was nothing to prevent someone putting in an application but they would need to put forward a very strong case.

RESOLVED – that the report be noted.

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

The report details what is currently the third topic-based policy chapter of the draft plan, titled ‘Our Zero Carbon Stockport’.

The Working Party is requested to comment and provide feedback on the draft ‘Our Zero Carbon Stockport’ policies.

Officer contact: Richard Wood on 07800617505 or by email to richard.wood@stockport.gov.uk

The Strategic Head of Place Making and Planning submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) which detailed what is currently the third topic-based policy chapter of the draft plan, titled ‘Our Zero Carbon Stockport’

The following comments were made/issues raised:

·         Members commented that there was a lot of detail contained within the report. It was felt that all Members agreed with the vision but that the technology needed to be in place to support that.

·         A short discussion took place in relation to the passive house and whether there was any evidence that this had proved successful.

·         Members felt that issues in relation to zero carbon needed to run as a golden thread throughout the plan.

·         In response to a Member question regarding heat pumps, Members were advised that they do work but they may lead to an increase in electricity bills. 

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.