I am pleased to inform you that that the Stockport Liberal Democrat Annual General Meeting will take place on the 12th of November, 2014 at Stockport Town Hall. The meeting starts promptly at 7.30pm and finishes at approximately 9.00pm. If you require access to the meeting rooms please meet in the Town Hall foyer at 7.25pm.
All party members are very welcome to attend. Please let me know if you can attend
Best regards, J.C. Reid
A development agreement has been reached for Stockport’s new ‘Office Quarter’.
Stockport Council and Muse Developments have signed and sealed a Development Agreement, marking an important milestone in the development of a high-specification office quarter, next to the train station in the town centre.
The Council bought the Grand Central site last year to bring forward the office-led development, including hotel and improved car parking, as well as an attractive new gateway to the town centre.
National development and regeneration specialist Muse Developments were appointed by the Council as development partner to deliver the project.
Phase One consists of a new 1,000 space multi-story car park and a range of highway improvements, due to be completed at the beginning of 2014.
The new car park will meet increasing demand for parking next to the railway station and encourage more people to take the train. A temporary parking solution for commuters will be provided during its construction.
Phase Two has been masterplanned for the first commercial office building, new public space, a hotel and highway improvements by 2015.
Phase Three will include further office buildings, extension of the open space and further improved accessibility for pedestrians on a phased basis up to 2020.
Councillor Iain Roberts, Executive Member for Economic Development and Regeneration at Stockport Council, said: “The signing of the Development Agreement confirms both parties’ commitment to delivering a cutting-edge new office quarter and commuter destination for Stockport. It is a crucial part of our overall vision for the town centre – attracting jobs, investment and footfall. We’ve worked hard to make sure that it’s self-financing and at no extra cost to the Council-tax payer.”
Ann Smith has been awarded a ‘Community Champion Award’, presented by the local neighbourhood team “in recognition of an invaluable contribution to the community.”
Ann was “enormously grateful” to even be nominated. In all, 22 local champions of the community were recognised for their contribution to the area at the event at St Ambrose Church in Adswood.
Many congratulations to Ann and all our local community champions!
Councillor Ann Smith has welcomed the Council decision that means businesses in Stockport are set to benefit from changes to the Small Business Rate Relief Scheme.
As of this month businesses with a rateable value below £6,000 will pay no Business Rates for the 2012/2013 financial year.
“The Council knows that every little helps in the current climate,” said Ann, who praised local residents Vicky and Angela from Davenport who opened their new business in Shaw Heath recently.
Their family pottery painting café ‘Brooklyn Pottery’ is just across from Harry Bates. Residents can enjoy a cup of tea while a little one creates something unique!
Information regarding criteria for the changes to the new Small Business Rate Relief Scheme can be found at the Council’s website at www.stockport.gov.uk/businessrates.
Twitter users can use and follow the hashtag #SKbusiness for the latest business news in Stockport.
Merseyway Shopping Centre in Stockport is celebrating a prestige award for the best property re-branding campaign in Europe.
Judges for the Transform awards handed victory to Merseyway’s marketing campaign, which together with pro-active management and financial investment, has turned around the fortunes of the shopping centre.
In 2011 footfall hit the 10m mark thanks to an increase of 670,000 from 2010; and high profile retailers have opened new units including Primark, Virgin Media and Costa Coffee.
Unique visitors to the website increased by 113% whilst 100% of current tenants renewed their leases such as Superdrug, Clarks and WH Smith.
Solar panels are helping to power almost 2,000 homes in Stockport and nearly 30 Stockport Council buildings to help the environment and save money.
As part of a multi-million pound investment to provide low carbon improvements including solar energy, wood chip fuel, thermal cladding and updated boilers, Stockport is the only Greater Manchester borough to deliver a solar panel programme on this scale.
It is estimated that the installations, which began in autumn 2011, cut energy bills by £130 and reduce CO2 emissions by approximately 600kg per home.
The residential programme has seen residents living in Stockport Homes’ managed properties across the borough benefit from roof installed solar photovoltaics which capture the sun’s energy and generate electricity – even on one of Stockport’s cloudy days!
Other Council-owned properties such as Stopford House, Romiley Forum, libraries and the borough’s Target Life and Fitness Centres have also benefitted from the investment, saving money and carbon and putting Stockport at the forefront of sustainable change in Greater Manchester.
“The investment not only saves local residents money on their bills, but brings income back to Stockport Homes from the government’s feed in tarrif,” said Cllr Ann Smith. “The panels will last for 25 years, but will have paid for themselves after ten.”
