Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 17 September 2015.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting of the Council held on 17 September 2015 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Mayor.

To report that the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Mayor, has appointed Eloise Scroggie and David Smith to the Transport Appeal Panel.  The urgent action was taken in advance of the next meeting of the Council Meeting in order to ensure that the specified panel members were appointed to determine appeals from parents for Special Education Needs Transport Appeals.

The Mayor reported that the Chief Executive, in consultation with him, had appointed Eloise Scroggie and David Smith to the Transport Appeal Panel.  The Mayor stated that the urgent action was taken in advance of this meeting of the Council Meeting in order to ensure that the specified panel members were duly appointed to determine appeals from parents for Special Education Needs Transport which were due to take place before the meeting.

RESOLVED – That the urgent action be noted.

To receive announcements from the Mayor.

With regret, the Mayor referred to the recent death of Firefighter Lee Gaunt who had died at Stalybridge Fire Station on 18 October 2015.  The Mayor invited all those present to stand in silence as a mark of respect to the memory of Firefighter Gaunt.

The Mayor then reported that he intended to follow the example of his immediate Mayoral predecessors by increasing the number of events that he would attend across the Borough in remembrance of those who had given their lives in the service of their country.

The Mayor concluded his announcements by advising the Council Meeting that he had agreed to take as urgent business the appointment of a co-opted member of the Children & Young People Scrutiny Committee on the basis that the appointment could then take effect in advance of the next meeting of the Scrutiny Committee.

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 for the meeting.

The following interests were declared:-

Personal Interests

Personal and Prejudicial Interests

Disclosable Pecuniary Interests

It was noted that those members declaring a personal and prejudicial interest or a disclosable pecuniary interest in respect of Summons Item 7(i) – ‘Trade Union Bill’ by virtue of their membership or sponsorship by a trade union had received a dispensation from the Standards Committee on 28 October 2015 to speak and vote on this motion.

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 matters within the powers and duties of the Council.

Seven public questions were submitted as follows:-

·         Relating to whether the Council planned to promote the development of co-operative business models in the Borough as Preston and Oldham councils have done.

The Leader of the Council (Councillor Sue Derbyshire) responded that the Council was not actively looking to externalise services which are currently delivered by the Council.  However the Council did try to be co-operative and work with businesses in the Borough who create jobs and wealth within the local economy.

Councillor Wendy Wild responded that Stockport Council had a Liberal Democrat administration and that it was for the Executive to make any decisions in relation to this matter.  It was stated that there some very good examples of Labour councils, of which Oldham and Preston were two, doing some great work using co-operative models which Stockport could learn from.

·         Relating to how the Council would provide equal access to safe and effective treatments and care in the community in the light of proposed cuts of £140,000 from the mental health support work service.

The Executive Councillor (Supporting Adults) (Councillor Keith Holloway) responded that he had attended the launch of the Parity of Esteem initiative two years and fully sported its objectives.  It was further stated that the Council’s budget for mental health had increased over the last five years from circa £5m in 2011 to £6m in the current year.

The Executive Councillor (Independence & Wellbeing) (Councillor John Pantall) further responded that the approach of NHS England this far had not really tackled the need for parity, but that the work being undertaken through Stockport Together and the integration of services provided for some degree of optimism.

·         Relating to whether the Leader of the Council was concerned about the lack of information and a democratically accountable process in relation to the devolution deal for Greater Manchester.

The Leader of the Council (Councillor Sue Derbyshire) responded that the changes that have been seen over the last 12 months had been quick and rapid, and that communication of those changes had not been as high a priority during this period as it should have been.  However, some positive steps were now being taken to make improvements which included the launch of a new website for the Greater Manchester Combined Authority and that there had been agreement that meetings of the Authority would now also be webcast.

·         Relating to the impact of a reduction in the out of hours mental health support work service.

The Executive Councillor (Supporting Adults) (Councillor Keith Holloway) responded that there was not a proposal to ‘cut’ totally the out of hours service, rather the proposal was to make savings in that service through reductions in staffing levels, but to provide an increase in the hours the out of hours service would be available from 5pm Monday to Friday and all day Saturday and Sunday. 

·         Relating to whether an impact assessment had been undertaken regarding the risk of homelessness for vulnerable mental health service users in the light of proposed reductions in the budget for the mental health support service.

The Executive Councillor (Supporting Adults) (Councillor Keith Holloway) responded that there were no proposal to remove the out of hours service, but rather to change the way in which it was delivered to increase the hours it would operate.  There would be a reduction in the numbers of staff in the immediate service, but a strengthening of the professional mental health support to that service.

·         Relating to whether a costing had been undertaken for the anticipated rise in the care management budget as a consequence of cuts to the out of hours service for the supported living team.

The Executive Councillor (Supporting Adults) (Councillor Keith Holloway) responded that with the totality of Adult Social Care  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.(i)

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

No such arrangements have been made for this meeting.

There were no presentations.

Councillor Wendy Wild submitted a petition on behalf of Davenport Methodist Church, Tiviot Dale Methodist Church and Trinity Methodist Church relating to proposals to devolve powers in relation to Sunday Trading to local authorities.

RESOLVED – That the petition be referred to the Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration for his consideration.

(a)       Section 41 Spokespersons

The following councillors to answer questions (if any) on the business of the joint authorities:-

(b)       Greater Manchester Police and Crime Panel

Councillor Sue Derbyshire to answer questions (if any) on the business of the Greater Manchester Police and Crime Panel.

(c)        Greater Manchester Combined Authority

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

At this stage in the proceedings, the Mayor invited the Council’s representative on the Greater Manchester Pension Fund (Councillor John Pantall) to respond to a question put to him by Councillor Dickie Davies in accordance with the provisions of Council Meeting Procedure Rule 11.2.

(a)       Section 41 Spokespersons

There were no questions in relation to the business of the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Authority or the Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority.

(b)       Greater Manchester Police and Crime Panel

There were no questions in relation to the business of the Greater Manchester Police and Crime Panel.

(c)        Greater Manchester Combined Authority

There were no questions in relation to the business of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority or the Transport for Greater Manchester Committee.

To consider a report of the Executive Councillor (Thriving Economy).

The Executive Councillor (Thriving Economy) (Councillor Patrick McAuley) submitted the proposed revised Statement of Community Involvement (copies of which had been circulated).

RESOLVED – That the revised Statement of Community Involvement be approved and adopted as set out in Appendix 1 to the report, subject to the amendments set out in Appendix 2 and paragraph 2.8 of the report.

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

The Leader of the Council (Policy, Reform & Finance) (Councillor Sue Derbyshire) reported that as part of the forthcoming Comprehensive Spending Review there was a series of requests that the Combined Authority had made the outcome of which will be known by the next Council Meeting.  It was stated that the recent announcement by the Government of its intention to devolve responsibility for the regulation of Sunday Trading  had not been part of that submission. 

It was further reported that there was a consultation taking place with regard to the Low Carbon Implementation Plan with related to how Greater Manchester would meet its target to reduce carbon emissions by 48% by 2020.  Councillor Derbyshire also referred to the forthcoming publication of a consultation on the second stage of the Greater Manchester Strategic Framework .

Finally, Councillor Derbyshire reported that this would be the last meeting of the Council Meeting to be attended by Paul Lawrence (Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration) as he was due to take up a new post as the Corporate Director – Place at Edinburgh City Council.  Councillor Derbyshire thanked Mr Lawrence on behalf of the Council for his work during his time with the Authority.

The Executive Councillor (Adult Care Services) (Councillor Keith Holloway) reported that he had previously reported that the Stockport Together initiative had been awarded national ‘Vanguard ‘status as a multi-speciality community service which  recognising that what the Council was doing was exceptional in the national context .  It was further reported that Stockport Together had now been awarded £3.98m through the Stockport Clinical Commissioning Group.

The Executive Councillor (Economic Development & Regeneration) (Councillor Patrick McAuley) also referred the forthcoming departure of Mr Lawrence from the Council and commented that it had been a pleasure to work with closely Mr Lawrence in his capacity as Executive Councillor.  Councillor McAuley stated that Mr Lawrence had been a champion for regeneration within the Borough and steadfast in his determination to ensure that Stockport became a better place.

Councillor McAuley then referred to recent employment statistics which showed an upward trend in unemployment nationally and stated that Stockport had bucked that trend by showing significant reductions in the number of those claiming the Jobseekers’ Allowance.

The Executive Councillor (Independence and Wellbeing) (Councillor John Pantall) reported that a consultation was ongoing on the calculation of the Public Health Formula for 2016/17. 

Cllr Pantall then reported on the launch of the ‘Stockport String Test’ which had taken place at Stockport County v Bradford City match on 24 October 2015.  The test aimed to provide an indication that a person was at higher risk of developing certain illnesses, such as high blood pressure, cancers and diabetes through  the simple use of a piece of string.

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

The Leader of the Council (Policy, Reform and Finance); the Deputy Leader of the Council (Support & Governance) and the Executive Councillors), (Independence and Wellbeing), (Supporting Adults), (Safe and Resilient Communities), (Supporting Children), (Supporting Places) and (Thriving Economy) answered questions and responded to comments relating to the business of the Executive in accordance with Council Meeting Procedure Rule 11.

To receive the Minutes of the Executive held on 6 October 2015 and the record of executive decisions taken since the last Council Meeting, (schedule enclosed, decisions previously circulated) and consider any recommendations they contain.

The Mayor declared the Minutes of the Executive Meeting held on 6 October 2015 (copies of which had been circulated) and the record of executive decision taken (copies of which were circulated) since the last meeting of the Council to be duly received.

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.

There were no reports from the Chairs of the Scrutiny Committees on the conduct of their business since the last Council Meeting.

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

There were no questions relating to the business of the Scrutiny Committees in accordance with Council Meeting Procedure Rule 11.

To receive the Minutes of the following Scrutiny Committees:-

The Mayor declared the Minutes of the following Scrutiny Committees (copies of which had been circulated with the Summons) to be duly received:-

Adult Care Services & Housing – 21 September 2015

Children & Young People – 23 September 2015

Corporate, Resource Management & Governance – 22 September 2015

Environment & Economy  – 24 September 2015

Health & Wellbeing – 15 September 2015

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.

There were no reports from the Chairs of the Planning and Highways Regulation; Licensing, Environment and 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, Area and Ward Committees, in accordance with Council Meeting Procedure Rule 11.

The Vice-Chair of the Central Stockport Area Committee responded to a question relating to the business of the Area Committee in accordance with Council Meeting Procedure Rule 11.

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

Ordinary Committees

Area Committees

Ward Committee

Brinnington & Reddish Joint– 21 September 2015

The Mayor declared the Minutes of the following Ordinary, Area and Ward Committees (copies of which had been circulated with the Summons) to be duly received:-

Ordinary Committees

Licensing, Environment & Safety – 9 September and 14 October 2015

Licensing, Environment & Safety Sub-Committee – 30 September 2015

Planning & Highways Regulation – 10 September and 15 October 2015

Stockport Homes Member – 14 September 2015

Area Committees

Bramhall& Cheadle Hulme South – 1 October 2015

Central Stockport – 1 October 2015

Cheadle – 29 September 2015

Heatons& Reddish – 28 September 2015

Marple– 30 September 2015

Stepping Hill – 29 September 2015

Werneth– 28 September 2015

Ward Committee

Brinnington & Reddish Joint– 21 September 2015

This Council recognises the positive contribution that trade unions and trade union members make in our workplaces. This Council values the constructive relationship that we have with our trade unions and we recognise their commitment, and the commitment of all our staff, to the delivery of good quality public services.

This Council notes with concern the Trade Union Bill which is currently being proposed by the Government and which would affect this Council’s relationship with our trade unions and our workforce as a whole. This Council rejects this Bill’s attack on local democracy and the attack on our right to manage our own affairs.

This Council further notes that Conservative proposals for a similar Bill were blocked by Liberal Democrats during the Coalition Government.

This Council is clear that facility time, negotiated and agreed by us and our trade unions to suit our own specific needs, has a valuable role to play in the creation of good quality and responsive local services. Facility time should not be determined or controlled by Government in London.

This Council is happy with the arrangements we currently have in place for deducting trade union membership subscriptions through our payroll. We see this as an important part of our positive industrial relations and a cheap and easy to administer system that supports our staff. This system is an administrative matter for the Council and should not be interfered with by the UK Government.  

This Council resolves to support the campaign against the unnecessary, anti-democratic and bureaucratic Trade Union Bill.

This Council further resolves to seek to continue its own locally agreed industrial relations strategy and will take every measure possible to maintain its autonomy with regard to facility time and the continuing use of check-off.

Moved by:                  Councillor Sue Derbyshire

Seconded by:           Councillor Iain Roberts

MOVED AND SECONDED - This Council recognises the positive contribution that trade unions and trade union members make in our workplaces. This Council values the constructive relationship that we have with our trade unions and we recognise their commitment, and the commitment of all our staff, to the delivery of good quality public services.

This Council notes with concern the Trade Union Bill which is currently being proposed by the Government and which would affect this Council’s relationship with our trade unions and our workforce as a whole. This Council rejects this Bill’s attack on local democracy and the attack on our right to manage our own affairs.

This Council further notes that Conservative proposals for a similar Bill were blocked by Liberal Democrats during the Coalition Government.

This Council is clear that facility time, negotiated and agreed by us and our trade unions to suit our own specific needs, has a valuable role to play in the creation of good quality and responsive local services. Facility time should not be determined or controlled by Government in London.

This Council is happy with the arrangements we currently have in place for deducting trade union membership subscriptions through our payroll. We see this as an important part of our positive industrial relations and a cheap and easy to administer system that supports our staff. This system is an administrative matter for the Council and should not be interfered with by the UK Government. 

This Council resolves to support the campaign against the unnecessary, anti-democratic and bureaucratic Trade Union Bill.

This Council further resolves to seek to continue its own locally agreed industrial relations strategy and will take every measure possible to maintain its autonomy with regard to facility time and the continuing use of check-off.

AMENDMENT MOVED AND SECONDED - This Council recognises the positive contribution that trade unions and trade union members make in our workplaces. This Council values the constructive relationship that we have with our trade unions and we recognise their commitment, and the commitment of all our staff, to the delivery of good quality public services.

This Council notes the Trade Union Bill which is currently being proposed by the Government and this Council is clear that facility time, negotiated and agreed by us and our trade unions to suit our own specific needs, has a valuable role to play in the creation of good quality and responsive local services.

This Council believes that trade Union membership and payment of subscriptions is a personal matter for its employees.  This Council further believes that public resources should not be used in administering Union membership fees.

This Council resolves to seek to continue its own locally agreed industrial relations strategy and will take reasonable measures within the law to maintain its autonomy with regard to facility time.

At this stage in the proceedings (10.00 pm) the Mayor informed the Council Meeting that the provisions of Council Meeting Procedure Rule 9.1 (Duration of Meeting) would be invoked unless the Council Meeting wished the meeting to continue.

MOVED AND SECONDED - That, notwithstanding the provisions of Council Meeting Procedure Rule 9, the meeting continue to deal with the remaining business on the Summons.

For the motion 12,  against 48.

MOTION NOT CARRIED

The provisions of Council Meeting Procedure Rule 9.1 relating to the duration of (Council) meetings were then duly invoked.

For the amendment 12, against 48.

AMENDMENT NOT CARRIED

It was then

RESOLVED – (48 for, 12 against) This Council recognises the positive contribution that trade unions and trade union members make in our workplaces. This Council values the constructive relationship that we have with our trade unions and we recognise their commitment, and the commitment of all our staff, to the delivery of good quality public services.

This Council notes with concern the Trade Union Bill which is currently being proposed by the Government and which would affect this Council’s relationship with our trade unions and our workforce as a whole. This Council rejects this Bill’s attack on local democracy and the attack on our right to manage our own affairs.

This Council further notes that Conservative proposals for a similar Bill were blocked by Liberal Democrats during the Coalition Government.

This Council is clear that facility time, negotiated and agreed by us and our trade unions to suit our own specific needs, has a valuable role to play in the creation of good quality and responsive local services. Facility time should not be determined or controlled by Government in London.

This Council is happy with the arrangements we currently have in place for deducting trade union membership subscriptions through our payroll. We see this as an important part of our positive industrial relations and a cheap and easy to administer system that supports our staff. This system is an administrative matter for the Council and should not be interfered with by the UK Government. 

This Council resolves to support the campaign against the unnecessary, anti-democratic and bureaucratic Trade Union Bill.

This Council further resolves to seek to continue its own locally agreed industrial relations strategy and will take every measure possible to maintain its autonomy with regard to facility time and the continuing use of check-off.

This Council notes

·         That registering to vote has historically been the responsibility of one person in every household for everybody who lives at a given address.

·         Individual Electoral Registration (IER) changes this, with each person in a household now being individually required to register to vote, and needing to provide 'identifying information', such as their date of birth and national insurance number, when applying to be added to the electoral roll.

·         Under the Electoral Registration and Administration Act 2013 the transition to IER was due to end in December 2016. At that stage any entries for electors not registered individually, and who are currently being retained on registers under the IER transitional arrangements, were to be removed.

·         The Cabinet Office have announced that the Government now want to end the transitional arrangements, and are now planning full implementation of IER 12 months early.

·         A June 2015 report by the Electoral Commission found that 1.9 million current entries on the electoral register are only being retained under transitional arrangements from the previous household registration system. As of July 2015 some 5,340 entries fell into this category in Stockport.

·         The Electoral Commission has also previously estimated that the number of people not correctly registered at their current address is around 7.5million across the UK.

·         The Electoral Commission has warned that there is ‘a risk that a considerable number of eligible voters could be removed from the registers before the significant set of polls scheduled for May 2016 if the transition to IER is brought forward’.

This Council believes

·         That the Government’s proposals for the introduction of IER remain poorly thought out and, when fully implemented, run the risk of voters in Stockport being disenfranchised.

·         That the end of the transitional arrangements before IER is fully implemented should remain December 2016, as stated in law, and should not be brought forward to December 2015.

·         That being on the electoral register has wider positive benefits for residents, including improved credit ratings.

This Council resolves

·         To take every practicable step ahead of the proposed end of the transitional arrangements on 1st December 2015 to ensure that as many residents in Stockport are registered to vote as possible.

·         For the Chief Executive to write to the Minister for Constitutional Reform to express the concerns of members of Stockport Council regarding IER, and to ask for additional resources to ensure that local residents are not disenfranchised from the democratic process.

Proposed by:             Councillor Colin Foster

Seconded by:           Councillor Iain Roberts

RESOLVED – (48 for, 12 against) This Council notes

·         That registering to vote has historically been the responsibility of one person in every household for everybody who lives at a given address.

·         Individual Electoral Registration (IER) changes this, with each person in a household now being individually required to register to vote, and needing to provide 'identifying information', such as their date of birth and national insurance number, when applying to be added to the electoral roll.

·         Under the Electoral Registration and Administration Act 2013 the transition to IER was due to end in December 2016. At that stage any entries for electors not registered individually, and who are currently being retained on registers under the IER transitional arrangements, were to be removed.

·         The Cabinet Office have announced that the Government now want to end the transitional arrangements, and are now planning full implementation of IER 12 months early.

·         A June 2015 report by the Electoral Commission found that 1.9 million current entries on the electoral register are only being retained under transitional arrangements from the previous household registration system. As of July 2015 some 5,340 entries fell into this category in Stockport.

·         The Electoral Commission has also previously estimated that the number of people not correctly registered at their current address is around 7.5million across the UK.

·         The Electoral Commission has warned that there is ‘a risk that a considerable number of eligible voters could be removed from the registers before the significant set of polls scheduled for May 2016 if the transition to IER is brought forward’.

This Council believes

·         That the Government’s proposals for the introduction of IER remain poorly thought out and, when fully implemented, run the risk of voters in Stockport being disenfranchised.

·         That the end of the transitional arrangements before IER is fully implemented should remain December 2016, as stated in law, and should not be brought forward to December 2015.

·         That being on the electoral register has wider positive benefits for residents, including improved credit ratings.

This Council resolves

·         To take every practicable step ahead of the proposed end of the transitional arrangements on 1st December 2015 to ensure that as many residents in Stockport are registered to vote as possible.

·         For the Chief Executive to write to the Minister for Constitutional Reform to express the concerns of members of Stockport Council regarding IER, and to ask for additional resources to ensure that local residents are not disenfranchised from the democratic process.

To consider a report of the Independent Remuneration Panel.

A report of the Independent Remuneration panel was submitted (copies of which had been circulated) detailing proposed amendments to the provisions for a Dependants’ Carers’ Allowance within the Members’ Allowances Scheme.

RESOLVED – That approval be given to the amendments to the Members’ Allowances Scheme as detailed in Section 3 of the report.

To consider a report of the Chief Executive.

A report of the Chief Executive was submitted (copies of which had been circulated) giving notice of amendments made to the Executive Scheme of Delegation to delegate to the Corporate Director for Corporate and Support Services the responsibility to review determinations made by area committees in respect of Assets of Community Value in the event that an asset owner requested that the Council reviews its decision.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To approve the following additions to the list of members appointed to serve on Education Appeals and Transport Appeals Panels:-

Education Appeals Panel

Ken Bailey (lay member)

Ian Clarke (education member)

Ray Sweeney (lay member)

Transport Appeals Panel

Alf Clark

Jill Jones

Susan Palmer

Margaret Parker

Andy Sokill

Ian Tunnard

RESOLVED – That approval be given to the following additions to the list of members appointed to serve on Education Appeals and Transport Appeals Panels:-

Education Appeals Panel

Ken Bailey (lay member)

Ian Clarke (education member)

Ray Sweeney (lay member)

Transport Appeals Panel

Alf Clark

Jill Jones

Susan Palmer

Margaret Parker

Andy Sokill

Ian Tunnard

To appoint Ian Roberts to replace Lucy Brewster who has resigned as the Church of England Diocesan representative on the Children & Young People Scrutiny Committee.

(NOTE: The Mayor was of the opinion that this item, although not included on the Summons for the meeting, should be considered as a matter of urgency in accordance with Section 100B(4)(b) of the Local Government Act 1972 in order that the appointment could then take effect in advance of the next meeting of the Scrutiny Committee).

RESOLVED – That Ian Roberts be appointed to replace Lucy Brewster as the Church of England Diocesan representative on the Children & Young People Scrutiny Committee.