Agenda and minutes

To receive announcements from the Mayor.

The Mayor announced that he had recently attended the opening of Adswood Library.  He further stated that he had been invited to attend a book reading at the Nunu Nursery, Cheadle at which he had been asked to read his favourite book.

The Mayor advised the Council Meeting that he had participated in a number of events to celebrate the Chinese New Year including an acrobatic show held at Stockport Plaza.

Finally, the Mayor referred to the recent LGiU C’llr Achievement Awards and congratulated Councillor Pantall on being shortlisted for the ‘Judges’ Special Award’.

Councillors and officers to declare any interests which they may have in any of the items on the Summons for the meeting.

Councillors and officers were invited to declare any interests which they had in any of the items on the Summons.

The following interests were declared:-

Personal Interests

Personal and Prejudicial Interests

Disclosable Pecuniary Interests

It was noted that the Standards Committee had approved a wide dispensation to enable any member with a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest or a Personal and Prejudicial interest in any item under consideration as part of the budget setting to take part and vote at the meeting.

To receive any questions from and provide answers to the public in relation to matters relevant to the Council’s activities.

Members of the public were invited to put questions to the Mayor and Councillors on any matters within the powers and duties of the Council.

One public question was submitted relating to support which had been withdrawn by the Council for events which had previously been held at Cale Green Park by the Friends of Cale Green Park including that provided by the Parks Department and coverage by the Council’s public liability insurance.

Councillor David White thanked the Friends of Cale Green Park for their work in holding events at the park.  Councillor White stated that he hoped that the issue of public liability insurance was one which could be discussed further with the Executive Councillor (Economic Development and Regeneration) to ensure that these events could continue to be held in the future.

A further public question had been submitted where the questioner was not present at the meeting and in accordance with the Code of Practice, the Chief Executive was requested to respond to the questioner in writing.

To receive petitions, and by prior arrangement, receive delegations and presentations from members of the public, community groups or partnership organisations.

There were no petitions or presentations.

To consider a report of the Executive Councillors (Communities & Sustainability) and (Corporate, Customer & Community Services).

The Executive Councillor (Communities & Sustainability) (Councillor Stuart Bodsworth) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) requesting the Council Meeting to set the level of rent and service charges in the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) and approve the HRA budget for 2014/15.

RESOLVED – (37 for, 20 abstentions) That approval be given to:-

(i)         An increase in the average rent of 4.9% for dwelling rents;

(ii)        An increase of 3.7% for garage rents;

(iii)       Service charges increasing as outlined in paragraph 3.2;

(iv)       A 3.7% increase in Carecall Charges;

(v)        A 3.7% increase in Warden Charges; and,

(vi)       The Housing Revenue Account Budget for 2014/15 as set out in Appendix 1.

The names of those councillors voting on this resolution were recorded as follows:-

Those councillors who voted for the resolution were:-

The Deputy Mayor (Councillor Mike Wilson); Councillors Ben Alexander, Shan Alexander, Brian Bagnall, Paul Bellis, Andrew Bispham, Stuart Bodsworth, Peter Burns, Martin Candler, Christine Corris, Stuart Corris, Sue Derbyshire, Kevin Dowling, Chris Gordon, Lenny Grice, Daniel Hawthorne, Kevin Hogg, Keith Holloway, Linda Holt, Sylvia Humphreys, Pam King, Mags Kirkham, Bryan Leck, Syd Lloyd, Patrick McAuley, Wendy Meikle, Adrian Nottingham, Anthony O’Neill, Wendy Orrell, John Pantall, Paul Porgess, Iain Roberts, June Somekh, Lisa Walker, Mark Weldon, Craig Wright and Suzanne Wyatt.

Those councillors who abstained were:-

The Mayor (Councillor Chris Murphy); Councillors Sheila Bailey, Laura Booth, Walter Brett, Kate Butler, Richard Coaton, Colin Foster, Dean Fitzpatrick, Alexander Ganotis, Tom Grundy, Philip Harding, Brian Hendley, Tom McGee, Paul Moss, Maureen Rowles, David Sedgwick, Andrew Verdeille, David White, Wendy Wild and David Wilson.

To consider a report of the Executive Councillor (Corporate, Customer and Community Services).

The Executive Councillor (Corporate, Customer & Community Services) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) updating the Council’s Medium Term Financial Strategy to provide the framework for the 2014/15 budget and the Medium Term Financial Plan for 2014-17.

RESOLVED – (58 for) That the Medium Term Financial Strategy as detailed at Appendix One to the report be approved and adopted.

The names of those councillors voting on this resolution were recorded as follows:-

Those councillors who voted for the resolution were:-

The Mayor (Councillor Chris Murphy); The Deputy Mayor; Councillors Ben Alexander, Shan Alexander, Sheila Bailey, Brian Bagnall, Paul Bellis, Andrew Bispham, Stuart Bodsworth, Laura Booth, Walter Brett, Peter Burns, Kate Butler, Martin Candler, Richard Coaton, Christine Corris, Stuart Corris, Sue Derbyshire, Kevin Dowling, Dean Fitzpatrick, Colin Foster, Alexander Ganotis, Chris Gordon, Lenny Grice, Tom Grundy, Philip Harding, Daniel Hawthorne, Brian Hendley, Kevin Hogg, Keith Holloway, Linda Holt, Sylvia Humphreys, Pam King, Mags Kirkham, Bryan Leck, Syd Lloyd, Patrick McAuley, Tom McGee, Wendy Meikle, Paul Moss, Adrian Nottingham, Anthony O’Neill, Wendy Orrell, John Pantall, Paul Porgess, Iain Roberts, Maureen Rowles, David Sedgwick, June Somekh, Andrew Verdeille, Alanna Vine, Lisa Walker, Mark Weldon, David White, Wendy Wild, David Wilson, Craig Wright and Suzanne Wyatt.

To consider a report of the Executive Councillor (Corporate, Customer and Community Services).

The Executive Councillor (Corporate, Customer & Community Services) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) updating the Council’s Capital Strategy to provide a framework within which investment plans and priorities for the remainder of the decade could be established and implemented.

RESOLVED – (58 for) That approval be given to the Capital Strategy 2014 to 2020 as attached at Appendix One to the report.

The names of those councillors voting on this resolution were recorded as follows:-

Those councillors who voted for the resolution were:-

The Mayor (Councillor Chris Murphy); The Deputy Mayor; Councillors Ben Alexander, Shan Alexander, Sheila Bailey, Brian Bagnall, Paul Bellis, Andrew Bispham, Stuart Bodsworth, Laura Booth, Walter Brett, Peter Burns, Kate Butler, Martin Candler, Richard Coaton, Christine Corris, Stuart Corris, Sue Derbyshire, Kevin Dowling, Dean Fitzpatrick, Colin Foster, Alexander Ganotis, Chris Gordon, Lenny Grice, Tom Grundy, Philip Harding, Daniel Hawthorne, Brian Hendley, Kevin Hogg, Keith Holloway, Linda Holt, Sylvia Humphreys, Pam King, Mags Kirkham, Bryan Leck, Syd Lloyd, Patrick McAuley, Tom McGee, Wendy Meikle, Paul Moss, Adrian Nottingham, Anthony O’Neill, Wendy Orrell, John Pantall, Paul Porgess, Iain Roberts, Maureen Rowles, David Sedgwick, June Somekh, Andrew Verdeille, Alanna Vine, Lisa Walker, Mark Weldon, David White, Wendy Wild, David Wilson, Craig Wright and Suzanne Wyatt.

To consider a joint report of the Executive Councillors (Corporate, Customer & Community Services) and (Lifelong Learning & Achievement).

The Executive Councillor (Corporate, Customer & Community Services) (Councillor Mark Weldon) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) outlining key announcements made by the Department for Education on the education funding settlement for 2014/15 and detailing the local formula to be used to determine individual budgets for Stockport schools for 2014/15.

RESOLVED – (58 for) That the Education Funding Settlement and Local Formula for 2014/15 be noted.

To consider a report of the Executive Councillor (Corporate, Customer & Community Services).

The Executive Councillor (Corporate, Customer & Community Services) (Councillor Mark Weldon) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an update on the Medium Term Financial Plan forecasts for the Council’s finances for the period 2014/15 to 2016/17 taking account of the 2014/15 and 2015/16 Local Government Finance settlement published on 5 February 2014 and other information that had become available in previous weeks.

RESOLVED – (58 for) That the updated forecasts for the Council’s finances for the period 2014/15 to 2016/17 taking account of the 2014/15 and 2015/16 Local Government Finance Settlement published on 5 February 2014 be noted.

To consider a report of the Leader of the Council (Policy, Reform & Finance) and the Executive Councillor (Corporate, Customer & Community Services).

The Executive Councillor (Corporate, Customer & Community Services) (Councillor Mark Weldon) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) finalising the Executive’s Revenue Budget Proposals for 2014/15, Fees and Charges for 2014/15 and Capital Programme Investment Plans. The report also outlined the Executive’s approach to dealing with the significant financial challenges still facing the Council, in particular the forecast savings requirement of around £42m relating to 2015/16 and 2016/17. The report further discussed the overarching priorities and desired outcomes upon which the Executive would base future budget proposals, and which would form the basis of a refreshed Council Plan.

RESOLVED – (38 for, 20 abstentions) That:-

(1) approval be given to the Budget for 2014/15 as described in the report and set out in Appendix Three.

(2) the financial forecasts for 2015/16 to 2016/17 (Appendix Four), and the key issues to be addressed in formulating a response to the continuing financial challenges facing the Council be noted.

(3) approval be given to the appropriate Council Tax resolutions which produce a Council Tax Freeze for Stockport Council services as illustrated at Appendix Ten.

(4) approval be given to the new capital scheme for the Highways Investment Programme, including the additional prudential borrowing of £22.619m over the three year capital programme and a borrowing requirement of £75.125m over the full eight-year programme, as set out at Appendix Seven, together with the means of contributing to the capital financing charges.

(5) approval be given to the transfer of the £2m recurrent unsupported borrowing for Invest to Save Footways from Communities and Sustainability Portfolio to Economic Development and Regeneration Portfolio as part of the Highways Investment Programme.

(6) approval be given to additional prudential borrowing of £3.6m in 2014/15 required for the Leisure Strategy to support the new leisure facility at Brinnington.

(7) approval be given to the 2014/15 to 2016/17 capital programme and the funding arrangements set out at Appendix Eight.

(8) approval be given to the prudential indicators set out in Appendix Nine.

(9) approval be given to the work being carried out on the development of capital projects to enable the Executive to be able to review revise and extend its capital programme during 2014/15.

(10) the risk assessment of the budget at Appendix Five and the report of the Corporate Director, Corporate and Support Services on the adequacy of proposed financial reserves and robustness of the estimates included at Appendix Six be noted.

The names of those councillors voting on this resolution were recorded as follows:-

Those councillors who voted for the resolution were:-

The Deputy Mayor (Councillor Mike Wilson); Councillors Ben Alexander, Shan Alexander, Brian Bagnall, Paul Bellis, Andrew Bispham, Stuart Bodsworth, Peter Burns, Martin Candler, Christine Corris, Stuart Corris, Sue Derbyshire, Kevin Dowling, Chris Gordon, Lenny Grice, Daniel Hawthorne, Kevin Hogg, Keith Holloway, Linda Holt, Sylvia Humphreys, Pam King, Mags Kirkham, Bryan Leck, Syd Lloyd, Patrick McAuley, Wendy Meikle, Adrian Nottingham, Anthony O’Neill, Wendy Orrell, John Pantall, Paul Porgess, Iain Roberts, June Somekh, Alanna Vine, Lisa Walker, Mark Weldon, Craig Wright and Suzanne Wyatt.

Those councillors who abstained were:-

The Mayor (Councillor Chris Murphy); Councillors Sheila Bailey, Laura Booth, Walter Brett, Kate Butler, Richard Coaton, Dean Fitzpatrick, Colin Foster, Alexander Ganotis, Tom Grundy, Philip Harding, Brian Hendley, Tom McGee, Paul Moss, Maureen Rowles, David Sedgwick, Andrew Verdeille, David White, Wendy Wild and David Wilson.

To consider a report of the Executive Councillor (Corporate, Customer and Community Services) and to pass the appropriate resolutions setting the Council Tax for 2014/15.     

The Executive Councillor (Corporate, Customer & Community Services) (Councillor Mark Weldon) submitted a report (copies of which were circulated) setting out the Council Tax for 2014/15 and the level of precepts for the Police and Crime Commissioner for Greater Manchester and the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Authority.

RESOLVED – (58 for):-

(1) That it be noted that on 17 December 2013, the following amount was approved by the Executive Committee as the Council's Council Tax Base for the financial year 2014/15:

(a)                      88,533.7 for the whole Council area [Item T in the formula in Section 31B of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, as amended (the "Act")]

(2) That the Council Meeting approve the Council Tax Requirement for the Council’s own purposes for 2014/15 as being £123,686,006.

(3) That the following amounts be calculated by the Council for the year 2014/15 in accordance with sections 31 to 36 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992:

(a)       £598,131,658 being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in section 31A(2) of the Act (Appendix Two).

(b)       £474,445,652 being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in section 31A(3) of the Act (Appendix Two).

(c )       £123,686,006 being the amount by which the aggregate at 3(a) above exceeds the aggregate at 3(b) above, calculated by the Council, in accordance with section 31A(4) of the Act, as its Council Tax Requirement for the year (Item R in the formula in Section 31B of the Act). (Appendix Two).

(d)       £1,397.05 being the amount at 3(c) above, all divided by Item T (1(a) above), calculated by the Council, in accordance with section 31B of the Act, as the basic amount of its Council Tax for the year.

(e)       £0.00 being the aggregate amount of all special items referred to in section 34(1) of the Act.

(f)        £1,397.05 being the amount at 3(d) above less the result given by dividing the amount at 3(e) above by the amount by Item T (1(a) above), calculated by the Council, in accordance with section 34(2) of the Act, as the basic amount of its council tax for the year for dwellings in those parts of its area to which no special item relates.

(4) That it be noted that for the year 2014/15 the Police and Crime Commissioner for Greater Manchester and the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Authority have issued precepts to the Council in accordance with section 40 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, for each category of dwellings in the Council's area as indicated in the table below.

(5) That the Council, in accordance with Sections 30 to 36 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, hereby sets the aggregate amounts shown in the tables below as the amounts of Council Tax for 2014/15 for each part of its area and for each of the categories of dwellings.

(6) That the Council, in accordance with section 52ZB of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 hereby determines that the Council’s relevant basic amount of council tax for 2014/15 is not excessive in accordance with the principles determined by the Secretary of State under section 52ZC of the Act.

The names of those councillors voting on this resolution were recorded as follows:-

Those councillors who voted for the resolution were:-

The Mayor (Councillor Chris Murphy); The Deputy Mayor; Councillors Ben Alexander, Shan Alexander, Sheila Bailey, Brian Bagnall,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

To consider a report of the Executive Councillor (Corporate, Customer & Community Services).

The Executive Councillor (Corporate, Customer & Community Services) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) inviting the Council Meeting to consider the Treasury Management Strategy Statement, the Annual Investment Strategy and the Minimum Revenue Provision Policy 2014/15.

RESOLVED – (58 for) That approval be given to:-

(i)    The Minimum Revenue Provision Policy for 2013/14 and 2014/15;

(ii)  The Capital Expenditure forecasts and Capital Financing Requirement projections;

(iii) The Treasury Management Strategy 2014/15;

(iv) The Treasury and Prudential Indicators and limits 2014/15-2016/17;

(v)  The Annual Investment Strategy 2014/15.

The names of those councillors voting on this resolution were recorded as follows:-

Those councillors who voted for the resolution were:-

The Mayor (Councillor Chris Murphy); The Deputy Mayor; Councillors Ben Alexander, Shan Alexander, Sheila Bailey, Brian Bagnall, Paul Bellis, Andrew Bispham, Stuart Bodsworth, Laura Booth, Walter Brett, Peter Burns, Kate Butler, Martin Candler, Richard Coaton, Christine Corris, Stuart Corris, Sue Derbyshire, Kevin Dowling, Dean Fitzpatrick, Colin Foster, Alexander Ganotis, Chris Gordon, Lenny Grice, Tom Grundy, Philip Harding, Daniel Hawthorne, Brian Hendley, Kevin Hogg, Keith Holloway, Linda Holt, Sylvia Humphreys, Pam King, Mags Kirkham, Bryan Leck, Syd Lloyd, Patrick McAuley, Tom McGee, Wendy Meikle, Paul Moss, Adrian Nottingham, Anthony O’Neill, Wendy Orrell, John Pantall, Paul Porgess, Iain Roberts, Maureen Rowles, David Sedgwick, June Somekh, Andrew Verdeille, Alanna Vine, Lisa Walker, Mark Weldon, David White, Wendy Wild, David Wilson, Craig Wright and Suzanne Wyatt.

To consider a report of the Executive Councillor (Corporate, Customer and Community Services).

(NOTE: The Mayor was of the opinion that this item, although not included on the Summons, should be considered as an item of urgent business in accordance with Section 100B(4)(b) of the Local Government Act 1972 in order to ensure that the Council was able to approve and publish the Annual Pay Policy Statement for 2014/15 in advance of the commencement of the next financial year.)

The Executive Councillor (Corporate, Customer & Community Services) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) setting out the Council’s approach to pay policy in accordance with the requirements of Section 38 of the Localism Act 2011.

RESOLVED – (58 for) That the Annual Pay Policy Statement be confirmed and published in accordance with the Localism Act 2011.