The Housing, Economy & Environment Scrutiny Committee met on Thursday 16 October 2025 to discuss the allocation of UKSPF funding, the council's progress on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, the use of compulsory purchase powers for long-term empty properties, and the process of Section 106 agreements in planning. The committee also reviewed its work programme.

UKSPF Allocations 2025 Update

The committee received an update on Stockport's allocation of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), now referred to as the Local Growth and Place Flexible Grants programme. A total of £1.38 million has been allocated for a fourth year, with £826,283 designated for community projects, £100,000 for the Stockport War Memorial Art Gallery, £80,000 for district centres, £300,000 for new business workspaces, and £20,000 for the Stockport Business Innovation Centre. Eighty bids were received for the community projects, with 22 being funded. A significant portion of the funding, £300,000, was awarded to Cityheart Homes for the creation of workspace in the Cheers and Smith building on Greek Street. Councillors raised concerns about the impact of funded projects and the feedback provided to unsuccessful bidders. In response, officers outlined plans for bid writing workshops and a commitment to review the impact of UKSPF funding over the past four years.

Climate and Nature (CAN) Annual Greenhouse Gas Emissions Report 2024/25

The committee reviewed Stockport Council's third annual greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions report, covering April 2024 to March 2025. The report indicated a 30% reduction in operational emissions since the 2018/19 baseline year, although a 7% increase was noted in the last year due to the inclusion of new data sources such as employee commuting and homeworking. Scope 1 emissions (primarily from heating council buildings) increased by 7% in the last year, while Scope 2 emissions (from electricity) decreased by 8%. Scope 3 emissions, which constitute the largest portion of the council's emissions, saw a 13% increase due to new data. The primary sources of operational emissions remain council-owned buildings (63%) and fleet vehicles (14%). The report highlighted the importance of the district heat network and tree planting initiatives in achieving the 2030 net-zero target. Councillors expressed support for the council's transparency and efforts to tackle climate change, while also acknowledging the significant challenges ahead, particularly regarding funding and the need for behavioural change.

Use of Compulsory Purchase Powers - Long Term Empty Properties

The committee was presented with a report detailing the request to Cabinet to approve, in principle, the use of compulsory purchase powers to acquire six long-term vacant properties. These properties, located at 34 Bodmin Drive, 48 The Broadway, 1 Deniston Road, 39 Geneva Road, 177 Hyde Road, and 73 Crossefield Road, have been identified as having a detrimental impact on their local environments due to their dilapidated condition and prolonged vacancy. Despite extensive efforts to engage with owners, no satisfactory improvements have been made. The report outlined the legal framework for compulsory purchase orders (CPOs) and the justification for their use, emphasizing that it is a last resort measure. The acquisition and subsequent repair of these properties are intended to bring them back into use as much-needed housing stock and to improve the amenity of the local areas. Councillors welcomed the report and the proactive approach to addressing empty properties, acknowledging the significant work undertaken by officers.

Use of Section 106 Agreements in the Planning Process

The committee received a report detailing the current process of using Section 106 (S106) planning obligations to secure developer contributions. The report explained how S106 agreements are used to mitigate the impacts of development, outlining the legal tests that must be met, including that obligations must be necessary, directly related to the development, and fairly and reasonably related in scale and kind. The report detailed the types of contributions sought, such as financial contributions for highways, open space, and education, as well as on-site provisions like affordable housing. It also covered the processes for preparing and negotiating S106 agreements, including financial viability assessments and monitoring mechanisms. The report highlighted that over the past 12 months, the council received £2,035,889.58 from developers in compliance with their obligations. Councillors discussed the distribution of S106 funds, particularly in relation to addressing inequalities across the borough and the potential for pooling contributions. The report was noted as being informative for upcoming discussions on the local plan.

Scrutiny Work Programme

The committee reviewed its work programme for future meetings. An omission regarding weed spraying and leaf fall management was noted and will be included. Concerns were raised about the scheduling of the District Centre update, with a request for it to be confirmed for an upcoming meeting. The committee also discussed the timeline for future scrutiny of the local plan following an extraordinary meeting. A timetable for future local plan-related scrutiny items will be circulated.