Agenda

To approve as a correct record and order that the Minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 22 October and 17 November 2020 be signed.

To receive announcements from the Mayor.

To report any urgent action taken under the Constitution since the last meeting of the Council.

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

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

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

(a)       Greater Manchester Police and Crime Panel

Councillor Amanda Peers to answer questions, if any, on the business of the Greater Manchester Police and Crime Panel.

(b)       Greater Manchester Combined Authority

The following councillors to answer questions (if any) on the business of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority:-

Greater Manchester Combined Authority          - Councillor Elise Wilson

Greater Manchester Transport Committee          - Councillor David Meller

Greater Manchester Waste Committee                - Councillor Roy Driver

To consider a report of the Cabinet Member for Resources, Commissioning & Governance.

To consider a report of the Cabinet Member for Resources, Commissioning & Governance.

To consider a report of the Cabinet Member for Sustainable Stockport.

To consider a report of the Cabinet Member for Resources, Commissioning & Governance.

To consider a report of the Cabinet Member for Resources, Commissioning & Governance.

To consider a report of the Strategic Head of Service & Monitoring Officer (Legal & Democratic Governance).

The Leader of the Council to report at the meeting.

To receive a report from the Leader of the Council and other members of the Cabinet on the conduct of Cabinet business since the last Council Meeting.

To answer questions and receive comments from Councillors addressed to the Leader of the Council or other members of the Cabinet, in accordance with Council Meeting Procedure Rule 11.

To receive the Minutes of the Cabinet held on 4 and 22 December 2021 and the record of executive decisions taken since the last Council Meeting, (schedule enclosed, decisions previously circulated) and consider any recommendations they contain.

To receive a report from the Chairs of the Scrutiny Committees on the conduct of Scrutiny business.

To receive a report from the Chairs of the Scrutiny Committees on the conduct of Scrutiny business.

To answer questions from Councillors addressed to the Scrutiny Chairs, in accordance with Council Meeting Procedure Rule 11.

To receive the Minutes of the following Scrutiny Committees:-

Adult Social Care & Health – 10 December 2020

Children & Families – 9 December 2020

Communities & Housing – 7 December 2020

Corporate, Resource Management & Governance – 8 December 2020

Economy & Regeneration – 5 November and 2 and 10 December 2020

To receive a report from the Chairs of the Planning & Highways Regulation; Licensing, Environment & Safety; and Audit Committees on the conduct of their business since the last Council Meeting.

To answer questions from Councillors addressed to the Chairs of Ordinary and Area Committees, in accordance with Council Meeting Procedure Rule 11.

To receive the minutes of the following Ordinary and Area Committees:-

Ordinary Committees

Audit – 9 December 2020

Contributors – 26 November 2020

Funding – 18 November 2020

Health & Wellbeing Board – 4 November 2020

Licensing, Environment & Safety – 14 October and 25 November 2020

Licensing, Environment & Safety Sub – 30 November and 8, 16 and 21 December 2020.

Member – 12 October 2020

Planning & Highways Regulation – 15 October and 26 November 2020

Area Committees

Bramhall & Cheadle Hulme South – 12 November and 17 December 2020

Central Stockport – 12 November and 17 December 2020

Cheadle – 10 November and 15 December 2020

Heatons & Reddish – 9 November and 14 December 2020

Marple – 11 November and 16 December 2020

Stepping Hill – 10 November and 15 December 2020

Werneth – 9 November and 14 December 2020

This Council Meeting welcomes the Governments proposed ban on live animal exports for slaughter and fattening and consultation on how to better protect animal welfare during transport.

This Council Meeting recognises that the UK is a world leader on animal welfare and these proposals to prevent unnecessary suffering of animals during transport and ban live animal export for slaughter and fattening will see the UK become the first country in Europe to end this practice.

This Council Meeting there resolves to;

·           Request that Stockport Council responds to the Government’s consultation to animal welfare in transport in support of ending live export of animals for slaughter and fattening and improvement of welfare in transport prior to the 28 January 2021 closure date;

·           Publish this Council’s consultation response on the Council website; and

·           Promote the consultation and encourage public participation via the Council’s social media channels and website.

Moved by:                 Councillor Linda Holt

Seconded by:           Councillor Alanna Vine

This council meeting notes that:

·           Carers – paid and unpaid, young and old – do a remarkable and important job. They are an integral part of our Stockport community. They deserve our support, but are far too often forgotten and ignored;

·           Carers in Stockport and across the country face big challenges every single day; challenges that have been made even harder by the Covid-19 pandemic. Most are having to spend more time looking after loved ones during the pandemic; most haven’t been able to take a single break since it started; and most are simply exhausted;

·           Situations provoking care interventions can happen with little warning. Often those giving care have to reduce their working hours or give up work to juggle competing demands;

·           The pressures on young carers can negatively impact on their experiences and outcomes in education, having a lasting effect on their life chances; and

·           Many carers are unaware of their entitlement to financial support, a carers’ assessment or break, and the support services available.

This council meeting further notes that:

·           A significant number of full-time unpaid carers in Stockport rely on Carer’s Allowance, with over 5,500 residents entitled to carer’s allowance but almost 2,000 of those receiving no payment (at May 2020).

·           At just £67.25 a week, Carer’s Allowance is the lowest benefit of its kind.In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Government increased the Universal Credit standard allowance and the Working Tax Credit basic element by £20 a week above the planned uprating in April 2020, but it has not increased Carer’s Allowance.

·           Many unpaid carers are facing extreme financial hardship. A recent survey by Carers UK found that more than a third of those on Carer’s Allowance are struggling to make ends meet. Many have been struggling for months, often relying on foodbanks to feed themselves and the people they care for.

·           The Carers UK survey found that “43% of carers felt that a rise in Carer’s Allowance would help them, given the financial pressures they are facing.”

·           The importance of schemes such as Carer’s Passports and Carer’s ID cards in recognising caring as a valued undertaking as well as offering access to discounts and support to holders.

This council meeting recognises the important work of many organisations who provide support to carers in Stockport, including Signpost Stockport for Carers, Mind and Age UK as well as the umbrella organisation, Carers UK.

This council meeting further recognises the importance of Stockport becoming a Carer Friendly Borough, and undertakes urgently to work toward this, for example using NHS guidance on building carer friendly communities.

This council meeting resolves that:

·           We must stand up for carers, do more to support them, and build a more caring society as we emerge from the Covid-19 pandemic;

·           Asks Cabinet to review how carers in Stockport are made aware of existing support that is available including improving the information available through the council’s own website and other resources; what further actions the council could take to support and promote the Carer’s passport and Carer’s ID card schemes and to expand the support and discounts available to holders; how Stockport could take steps towards formally becoming a Carer Friendly Community; and to report back to the CRMG and ASC&H Scrutiny Committees in the April scrutiny cycle;

·           The council should promote Young Carers Action Day on March 16th 2021 as widely as possible and on an annual basis, particularly to young carers and their families; and

·           Asks the Chief Executive to write to the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, making them aware of this motion and urging them to raise Carer’s Allowance by £20 a week immediately, in line with the increase in Universal Credit.

Moved by:                  Cllr Lisa Smart 

Seconded by:           Cllr Keith Hollowa