Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 16 February 2022.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 16 February 2022 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:-

Personal and Prejudicial Interests

Councillor                              Interest

Mark Hunter                          Agenda Item 4 ‘Our Town Centre’ and Agenda Item 5 ‘Supporting our Businesses and Centres’ as a member of the Board of the Stockport Town Centre West Mayoral Development Corporation.

Anna Charles-Jones           Agenda Item 4 ‘Our Town Centre’ and Agenda Item 5 ‘Supporting our Businesses and Centres’ as a member of the Board of the Stockport Town Centre West Mayoral Development Corporation.

It was noted that the Standards Committee had approved a dispensation to

enable Councillors Hunter and Charles-Jones as members of the Board of

Stockport Town Centre West Mayoral Development Corporation and who

would otherwise have had a personal and prejudicial interest in the matter

being discussed to take part in the debate and vote at the meeting.

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

The report sets out the existing engagement which has been undertaken to help develop the draft plan to date, and the proposed approach to further engagement going forward.

The Working Party is invited to comment and provide feedback on the engagement undertaken to date and the proposed approach going forward.

Officer contact: Amy Beasley on 0161 474 4596 or email: amy.beasley@stockport.gov.uk

The Strategic Head of Place Making and Planning submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) which set out the existing engagement which had been undertaken to help develop the draft plan to date, and the proposed approach to further engagement going forward.

The following comments were made/issues raised:

·         Members welcomed the engagement approaches that were being taken including podcasts and videos which were helping to increase visibility.

·         Members also noted that the Council was successful in gaining funding from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) PropTech Engagement Fund and this was welcomed also.

·         Members did raise concerns that businesses were not being reached.

·         It was felt that a public meeting such as those which took place in relation to the GMSF would be very well received by residents, especially if they could take place in the evening.

·         Members also commented that they particularly liked the mention of activity packs for school.

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 fifth topic-based policy chapter of the draft plan, titled "Our Town Centre."

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 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7 and 9 (see report titled ‘Strategic Policies’ considered at the Development Plan Working Party meeting on 18th January 2022).

The Working Party is invited to comment and provide feedback on the draft Our Town Centre policies.

Officer contact: Richard Wood on 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) which detailed what is currently the fifth topic-based policy chapter of the draft plan, titled "Our Town Centre."

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 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7 and 9 (see report titled ‘Strategic Policies’ considered at the Development Plan Working Party meeting on 18th January 2022).

The following comments were made/issues raised:

·         Members commented that independent retailers have a vital role to play but there would also be the need to attract national retailers, how would this be achieved?

·         Infrastructure relating to nursery places, doctors and dentists would also be required.

·         People need to feel comfortable and safe in the town centre, good lighting would be paramount.  How would this dovetail with the police and how they manage the town centre?

·         Members raised concerns regarding accessibility and stated that there did not appear to be any specifics relating to disabled people particularly given the topography of the town centre.  In response, Members were advised that this issue would be revisited.

·         The issue of affordable housing was raised, and Members stressed that it was important to be honest with people about what they could expect in terms of affordability.  It was important to find a balance and if there is no affordable housing in the town centre then it would put a strain on other areas of the Borough. This issue would be picked up in future meetings of the Development Plan Working Party.

·         A short discussion took place relating to the disbanding of the CCG in June and the possible implications of this.

·         Members asked about the shortage of school places and how this was going to be tackled in the Local Plan.

·         In response to a Member question regarding transport connectivity, the Working Party was advised that officers were currently looking at connectivity and how this would be delivered.  It was important that areas worked together and did not operate as silos.

·         With regard to the opening up of the Mersey, the Working Party was advised that this was a frequently discussed option but that there were a number of hurdles that needed to be overcome.

·         Members commented that more pedestrianisation and walking and cycling options would be vital in the town centre.

·         Members felt that the potential in the town centre had not been realised and the Local Plan provided an opportunity to highlight this.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

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

This report details what is currently the sixth topic-based policy chapter of the draft plan, titled "Supporting Our Businesses and Centres."

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 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7 and 9 (see report titled ‘Strategic Policies’ considered at the Development Plan Working Party meeting on 18th January 2022).

The Working Party is invited to comment and provide feedback on the draft Supporting Our Businesses and Centres policies.

Officer contact: Richard Wood on 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 which detailed what is currently the sixth topic-based policy chapter of the draft plan, titled "Supporting Our Businesses and Centres."

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 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7 and 9 (see report titled ‘Strategic Policies’ considered at the Development Plan Working Party meeting on 18th January 2022).

The following comments were made/issues raised:

·         Good quality public realm needed to be an aspiration of the Local Plan.

·         Members commented that Licensing Policy needed to be joined up with planning policy.

·         Members raised the issue of different ownerships in district centres.  Shopping centres owned by different people meant differing attitudes towards supporting and investing in district centres.  Members would like to see a point in the plan relating to how relationships with these owners could be built upon.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.