Agenda and minutes

To approve as correct record minutes of the meeting held on 17 September 2024.

The minutes of the meeting held on 17 September 2024 were agreed 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.

No declarations of interest were made.

To receive updates from members who carried out visits to district centres.

The aim of the questionnaire was to seek the views of local business owners to inform the review on best practice, and whether work could be replicated to support the vibrancy of other district or local centres.

For members taking part in these visits, it was suggested that possible questions be provided to support members with their conversations with business owners (appendix A).

The Panel received updates from members who carried out visits to district centres. The aim of the questionnaire was to seek the views of local business owners to inform the review on best practice, and whether work could be replicated to support the vibrancy of other district or local centres.

The following feedback was given in relation to each of the questions put to local business owners in several district centre locations:

1.    a) Have you noticed any positive changes or improvements to this district centre over the past couple of years?

·         It was reported that in Houldsworth Square (Reddish district centre) that the responses to this question were ‘yes’, given the noticeable increase in events in the district centre. It was felt that business owners had great pride in their shopfronts, and were making them bright, attractive and colourful. Shutter Art had brightened up the centre, making it livelier. Planters were well-received and occupancy rates appeared to be good.

·         Positive news was reported from Cheadle district centre, although this did not seem to be linked to changes being made. It was noted that local events and markets helped with footfall and presentation of the area.

·         There was a strong feeling that the holding of events helped district centres a great deal.

·         Similar findings had been reported for Hazel Grove in relation to events and markets having a positive impact on the district centre. However, it was felt that heavy traffic impacted the district centre given the A6 running directly through the centre. When Commercial Road was turned into an event space, this had a positive effect on the district centre and further increased footfall. However, footfall was not always translated further along the district centre, given the nature of its geography. Larger events like the Hazel Grove Festival was an exception to this, and the whole district centre appeared to be lively on this occasion. It was noted that some vacant properties were derelict.

b) What could be better?

·         In one district centre, mixed views were reported in response to this question, with no consistency in responses. A concern was raised in relation to anti-social behaviour, although this appeared to be as a result of a specific issue and impacted how safe the business owner felt being in the shop. A further concern was raised in relation to vandalism and the cost of repairs via service charge. It was felt that there could be a larger variety of businesses in the centre, including a gym, a bank, somewhere to buy vegetables and a halal meat shop. Some restaurants had closed, whilst others had opened. It was also felt that things were expensive, and rents were high; landlords had recently raised rent and electricity costs.

·         There were further reports about a lack of variety in type of shops e.g., too many nail bars. In some areas, low rents enabled an influx of shops able to take advantage of these lower rents, even though the shops generally had a lower footfall. It was noted that another local authority in the south of England wanted to increase rent to enable a larger variety of shops within an area.

·         It was felt that spaces could be cleaner, so that businesses on corners could make better use of the spaces outside their shops.

·         It was felt that more regular events could take place in Reddish district centre e.g., a monthly market, a Saturday market, or a smaller version of ‘Foodie Friday’. A 20mph limit was established in the district centre and it was felt that signage for the speed limit could be clearer and more priority could be given to pedestrians e.g., less waiting for pedestrians at traffic lights. It was also felt that more parking provision should be available, but no suggestion was given as to where this could be located. Further, that communication from the council to business owners could be improved.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

As part of the evidence-gathering phase of the review, it is suggested that members speak to local centre business owners between 4 November 2024 and 11 December 2024 meetings of the Panel. The aim of these visits is to find out what support local centres could benefit from, using feedback from the district centre visits to inform the questions to local centre business owners.

The Panel is requested to suggest ideas for questions to local centre business owners, using feedback from the district centre visits to inform these questions.

Officer contact: Charlotte Douglass 0161 474 3235 | charlotte.douglass@stockport.gov.uk

As part of the evidence-gathering phase of the review, members planned to speak to local centre business owners between the 4 November 2024 and 11 December 2024 meetings of the Panel.

The suggested questions contained in the supplementary agenda were noted.

To consider a report of the Director of Place Management.

The report outlines an approach to collating best practice from other areas.

The Panel is requested to:

a)    agree which Members would like to be involved in the best practice meetings with other Local Authority areas; and

b)   put forward names of other areas they are aware of which they feel may have attractive and well supported District and Local Centres so they can be reviewed.

Officer contact: Helen Walters 07800 618140 | helen.walters@stockport.gov.uk 

The report outlined an approach to collating best practice from other local authority areas.

The following comments were made/issues raised:

·         It was reported that the Institute of Place Management used Stockport as a best practice example to other local authorities, namely, its use of District Centre Managers.

·         It was noted that Whitby was a vibrant town that held many events throughout the year and had thriving independent businesses. It was suggested that Whitby be reviewed as an example of best practice.

·         The topic of district centres was a regular focus of the Scrutiny Committee, demonstrating its importance. Good work was going on to support the vibrancy of Stockport’s district centres, but it was felt that perhaps the recurring nature of the topic indicated that there was more work to be done. It was felt that the speed of changes to district centre improvements was frustrating. Having the District Centre Managers in post, and their role as medium between the council, members, members of the public and important stakeholders, was reportedly the best decision made by the council thus far in its work to support district centres. It was felt that the District Centre Managers had a small budget of £5,000 per annum to support the work in district centres, which hindered their progress. It was reported the Edgeley district centre was quite ‘hemmed in’ by virtue of its location, and there wasn’t much outside space for local business owners to utilise. It was felt that a joined-up strategy for Edgeley would attract more businesses and further support the district centre as a whole. Further, that collaborative working between council departments would relieve the pressure on local ward councillors to progress priorities and work important to the district centre. It was reported that Withington, Manchester, had received UK Shared Prosperity Funding as a result of the council’s strategy for the area. Members agreed that further funding was needed to support the vibrancy of district centres, and that strategies would support bids for funding.  

·         Members agreed that the district centre visits had helped them to build important connections with local businesses owners.

The Panel agreed that:

a)    Councillors James Frizzell, Jake Austin, and Micheala Meikle be involved in best practice meetings with other Local Authority areas; and

b)    that Whitby local authority area be explored as an example of best practice.