Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor L Braithwaite.

To give consideration to the minutes of the meeting held on 20 January 2020.

RESOLVED

That the minutes of the meeting held on 20 January 2020 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman subject to point (v) under agenda item 6 Economic Strategy being amended to read as follows:-

‘It was queried how, when the local plan strategy focused on numbers of dwellings rather than type of tenure, how the Council would influence tenure types as suggested in the economic strategy.’

And subject to the inclusion of the following point:-

‘The theme 12 objective was to deliver the Visitor Economic Strategy.  However, the current Visitor Economic Strategy covered the period 2016 - 2020 and therefore expired this year.  It was queried as to whether or not an update to the Visitor Economic Strategy was scheduled to be completed this year?’

(During consideration of the item, Councillor J Buckley arrived to the meeting).

To provide an opportunity for Members and Officers to declare any disclosable pecuniary and non-pecuniary interests in any item on the agenda.

There were no declarations of interest.

To provide an opportunity for Members to declare the existence of a party whip in relation to any item on the agenda.

No declarations of a party whip were received.

A total period of 15 minutes is allocated for members of the public to make a statement(s) on any matter that falls within the remit of the Committee.

Individual members of the public may speak for up to 5 minutes, but the Chairman will decide how the period of time allocated for public speaking will be apportioned, where there are a number of speakers.

Note: In order for officers to undertake any background research, it would be helpful if members of the public contacted the Scrutiny officer listed at the foot of the agenda, at least one working day before the meeting to provide brief details of the matter to be covered. 

Carol Jones attended the meeting and spoke in respect of matters relating to the health and safety of Crewe bus station.

In response the Director of Growth & Enterprise stated that he would address a number of issues raised by the speaker under item 6 on the agenda.

To receive a presentation updating Members on town centre plans.

The Director of Growth & Enterprise attended the meeting and gave a presentation on Crewe and Macclesfield town centres and the market towns.

In respect of Crewe town centre there were concerns that the redevelopment of the bus station was not being undertaken at the same time as the Royal arcade development.  It was felt critical that given the current state of the bus station this was developed prior to work being undertaken on the town centre in order to encourage people into the town.  Members felt strongly that the work on the bus station should take priority or at least be undertaken in conjunction with the redevelopment of the town centre and not after as was being proposed.  Further questions were asked in respect of whether or not Arriva had a responsibility to maintain the station to an acceptable level, when was the Development Agreement due to be signed, how the community and Town Council would be involved in the development of ideas to make of the towns fund or other grants/funding and lack of a twilight economy and what was being done to address this and what provision was being made for people to cycle into the new development.

In respect of Macclesfield town centre Members asked questions in respect of the revitalisation of the butter market, old police station and Lower Chestergate, the situation regarding Commercial Road depot, how the divide between Churchill Way and Lower Chestergate would be addressed, plans for cycling connectivity between the town centre and Alderley park and the funding situation regarding Macclesfield.

The reference to cycling within the development was welcomed but clarification was also sought as to whether or not the Travel Model Plan would be revisited as part of the process.

In respect of the market towns Members felt there had been considerable focus on the towns of Crewe and Macclesfield and that it was important for the Council to address the notion of other market towns ‘feeling left behind’ with specific references being made to the towns of Congleton, Knutsford, Nantwich and Wilmslow.  Members outlined a number of issues which market towns were currently suffering from including problems with parking, the public realm, the condition of pavements and the number of vacant businesses.  In addition to this it was felt that Neighbourhood Plans should be taken into account when deciding which towns would be included within the first phase of the production of the town centre vitality plans as they provided in-depth detailed information and therefore should be used as a starting point. 

RESOLVED

That the update be noted.

(Prior to consideration of the following item, the meeting was adjourned for a short break).

To receive a presentation updating Members in respect of the Crewe Hub station.

The Head of High Growth City attended the meeting and gave a presentation updating Members on the Crewe Hub.

Included within the presentation was information on the opportunities, the essential components, the hub station scheme, the business case, the funding and financial proposition and the next steps.

Members raised matters relating to the funding of the project, involvement of local MP’s, the design of the Crewe hub plaza, the Access Strategy, the linkages between the station and the town centre, anticipated numbers of jobs to be provided, the resources in place to deliver the project and whether or not there would be representations from Active Travel on the Integrated Programme Board and Sponsor Board.

RESOLVED

That the update be noted.

(During consideration of the item Councillors S Brookfield and K Parkinson left the meeting and did not return).

To give consideration to the areas of the forward plan which fall within the remit of the Committee.

Consideration was given to the areas of the Forward Plan which fell within the remit of the Committee.

RESOLVED

That the Forward Plan be noted.

To give consideration to the work programme.

Consideration was given to the work programme.

It was agreed that a report on the Vulnerable and Older Persons Housing Strategy 2020-2023 be included in the work programme for June.

RESOLVED

That the work programme be approved subject to the addition of the Vulnerable and Older Persons Housing Strategy 2020-2023.