Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 30 June 2016.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting of the Council held on 30 June 2016 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Mayor.

To receive announcements from the Mayor.

The Mayor reported that it would be necessary to amend the order in which motions (Summons Item 7) would be considered to reflect the Constitutional requirement that motions be placed on the Summons in the order in which they were received such that Summons Item 7(ii) ‘Recognition of Stockport Homes Top Landlord’ be considered prior to Summons Item 7(i) ‘Congratulating our Olympians and Paralympians’.

The Mayor then announced that both he and the Leader of the Council had requested that Democratic Services make arrangements for a civic reception to be held on 27 September 2016 to recognise the success of local Olympic and Paralympic athletes.

The Mayor further announced that he had attended a number of events throughout July to commemorate the 100^th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme and thanked those members of the Council who had supported these events.

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

Disclosable Pecuniary Interest

Those members declaring a disclosable pecuniary interest left the meeting during the consideration of the item and took no part in the discussion or vote.

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.

Eight public questions were submitted as follows:-

·         Relating to whether there would be consultation with residents over any proposed A6 to M60 relief road through the Poise Brook and Lower Goyt Valleys.

The Executive Councillor (Economy & Regeneration) (Councillor Kate Butler) responded that the Greater Manchester Combined Authority had been awarded funding for a feasibility study in respect of the proposed A6 to M60 relief road and that it was anticipated that this would be completed by Spring 2017.  It was further stated that no decision had yet been made on the progression of the scheme and that the Council was committed to a full and open consultation with residents.

·         Relating to what the Council’s contribution had been to ongoing consultation on rail services for the period to 2020 with the new operators of the Northern Rail franchise in relation to the campaign by the Friends of Reddish South Station for a regular passenger service from Stockport to Manchester Victoria.

Councillor John Taylor responded that Stockport Council would continue to support and promote the position it adopted in 2013 when it passed a motion to support a regular passenger service through Reddish South Station and that it would continue to support the Friends of Reddish South Station to achieve this. 

·         Relating to the impact of additional traffic that would be generated by the proposed A6 to M60 relief road.

The Executive Councillor (Economy & Regeneration) (Councillor Kate Butler) responded that the current feasibility study was part of an open process and that no decision had yet been made and that the Council was keen to hear from all local stakeholders.

·         Relating to the safeguards that would be put in place to protect healthcare in Stockport from private companies; when residents would be consulted on the Stockport Together proposals; and why the Council had not opposed the plans for healthcare that are based on cuts to Council funding and the NHS.

The Leader of the Council (Policy, Finance & Devolution) (Councillor Alex Ganotis) responded that a logical conclusion of the current path being followed by the government on public spending on healthcare was an increase in the growth of private healthcare providers.  It was commented that Stockport Together had been developed over the past two years and predated the government’s most recent initiatives and was a response to pressures in the local area.  In relation to Stockport Together it was stated that this was the coming together of existing providers and that consideration of its future organisational form would take into account the associated risk of opening up the service to the private sector.  Although he was unable to commit to no future private sector involvement in services, the new organisation would allow the Council to exert more control over the future form and provision of services.

·         Relating to whether the Council would seek to find a greater proportion of its budgetary reductions from sources other than frontline services.

The Leader of the Council (Policy, Finance & Devolution) (Councillor Alex Ganotis) stated that he considered that central government’s austerity drive was politically driven, was unnecessary and had gone too far.  Councillor Ganotis commented that proposals would be brought forward within the next few months in relation to proposed savings that would drive down costs within the Council but which would not impact frontline services. 

·         Relating to whether being Leader of the Council was a full-time job.

The Leader of the Council (Policy, Finance & Devolution) (Councillor Alex Ganotis) responded that he considered the role to be the equivalent of a full-time job.

·         Relating to a whether the Bredbury Household Waste Recycling Centre was proposed for closure.

The Leader of the Conservative Group (Councillor Syd Lloyd) responded that the Bredbury Household Waste Recycling Centre was not proposed for closure.

·         Relating to why information  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.(i)

Greater Manchester Police

Representatives from Greater Manchester Police will attend the meeting to address the Council Meeting to provide an update on proposed changes to local policing.

There were no petitions presented to the meeting.

Greater Manchester Police

Superintendent Jo Rogerson (Greater Manchester Police) attended the meeting to address the Council and make a presentation on proposed changes to local policing which was followed by questions from Councillors.

At the conclusion of the item, the Mayor expressed thanks to Superintendent Rogerson for her attendance and presentation.

(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 Alex Ganotis 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:-

 (d)      GMCA/AGMA Scrutiny Pool

The following councillors to answer questions (if any) on the business of the GMCA/AGMA Scrutiny Pool:-

(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.

(d)       GMCA/AGMA Scrutiny Pool

There were no questions on the business of the GMCA/AGMA Scrutiny Pool.

To consider a report of the Leader of the Council (Policy, Finance & Devolution).

The Leader of the Council (Policy, Finance & Devolution) (Councillor Alex Ganotis) submitted the annual treasury report (copies of which had been circulated) reviewing treasury management activities and the actual prudential and treasury indicators for 2015/16.

RESOLVED - (1) That approval be given to the actual 2015/16 prudential and treasury indicators as detailed in the report.

(2) That the Annual Treasury Management report for 2015/16 be noted.

(3) That it be noted that no fundamental changes have been made during 2015/16 to the Treasury Management Policy Statement and Practices approved at the Council Meeting on 17 September 2015.

To consider a joint report of the Leader of the Council (Policy, Finance & Devolution) and the Executive Councillor (Communities & Housing).

The Executive Councillor (Communities & Housing) (Councillor Sheila Bailey) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing the draft Safer Stockport Partnership Plan for 2016/17.

RESOLVED - That the Safer Stockport Partnership Plan 2016/17 be approved and adopted.

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, Finance & Devolution) (Councillor Alex Ganotis) extended the sympathy of the Council to those who were affected by recent flooding around the Borough. 

It was then stated that the consultation process on a two year budget had now commenced with reports being submitted to the next round of scrutiny committees for their consideration which would include proposals on how the Council could make its required £30m of savings.  This would include consideration of how the Council could best use its area committees to consult with the public.

Councillor Ganotis commented that he had requested that the Corporate, Resource Management & Governance Scrutiny Committee receive a report on the rate of business rate appeals which would increase in importance as the Council moved towards the retention of business rates.

Finally, Councillor Ganotis referred to the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework which would shortly be released for consultation and detailed his view that this would allow the Council the opportunity to plan for sustainable growth in Stockport.

The Executive Councillor (Communities & Housing) (Councillor Sheila Bailey) referred to the recent flooding in the borough and stated that an update on the Council’s response to this was circulated to all members the day after the incident with further updates being sent subsequently.  Councillor Bailey paid tribute to Council officers and the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service for their work in assisting and supporting residents. 

Councillor Bailey then reported on progress towards the establishment of a Stockport Housing Delivery Company which would be subject to scrutiny by the Adult Care Services & Housing Scrutiny Committee and Corporate, Resource Management & Governance Scrutiny Committee prior to approval by the Executive.

The Executive Councillor (Education) (Councillor Dean Fitzpatrick) reported that recent excellent provisional results across all phases of education indicated that Stockport was a local authority where pupil attainment and outcomes across a wide range of measures was significantly above the national average. 

The Executive Councillor (Children & Family Services) (Councillor Colin Foster) reported that at the last Council Meeting a resolution was passed in relation to alcohol advertising near schools and colleges which was derived from a presentation made to the Children & Young People Scrutiny Committee by members of the Stockport Youth Council.  It was stated that this was indicative of young people wanting to engage with the Council on key issues and it was highlighted that an event was due to take place on 29 September 2016 when representatives of various youth organisations and schools would come together and discuss various issues and approaches. 

It was further reported that Stockport currently had 168 foster care families, but that there was a need to recruit more and that he hoped that members would encourage people to become foster carers.

The Executive Councillor (Health) (Councillor Tom McGee) reported that on 14 September 2016 a presentation was provided to members in relation to Stockport Together and that a report would be submitted to forthcoming meetings of scrutiny meetings in relation to the organisational form of the multispecialty community provider that would be responsible for the delivery of health and social care in the Borough. 

The Deputy Leader of the Council (Adult Social Care) (Councillor Wendy Wild) reported that she had attended the opening of Stockport’s new Wellbeing Centre on 2 August 2016 which was operated by Disability Stockport.  It was further reported that Stockport Together would receive £19m from the GM Transformation Fund to assist with the integration of health and social care providers.

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, Finance & Devolution) and the Executive Councillors (Communities & Housing), (Education), (Health) and (Reform & Governance) 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 19 July and 16 August  2016 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 Meetings held on 19 July and 16 August 2016 (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:-

Adult Care Services & Housing – 4 July and 1 August 2016

Children & Young People – 6 July and 3 August 2016

Corporate, Resource Management & Governance – 5 July and 2 August 2016

Environment & Economy – 7 July and 4 August 2016

Health & Wellbeing – 28 June and 26 July 2016

Scrutiny Co-ordination – 18 July 2016

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 – 4 July and 1 August 2016

Children & Young People – 6 July and 3 August 2016

Corporate, Resource Management & Governance – 5 July and 2 August 2016

Environment & Economy – 7 July and 4 August 2016

Health & Wellbeing – 28 June and 26 July 2016

Scrutiny Co-ordination – 18 July 2016

To consider the Scrutiny Review Programme 2016/17.

A report (copies of which had been circulated) of the Deputy Chief Executive was submitted outlining the development of work programmes for scrutiny committees in 2016/17 to ensure that scrutiny worked alongside and supported the decision making process and could fully contribute to the policy review and policy development facets of scrutiny. The report provided details of a proposed programme of reviews to be carried out by Scrutiny Committees in 2016/17.

RESOLVED – That approval be given to the Scrutiny Review Work Programme for 2016/17.

The Chair of the Planning & Highways Regulation Committee (Councillor Philip Harding) reported that the Annual Review of Outcomes Tour was due to take place on Friday, 7 October the object of which was to enable members to scrutinise the outcomes of decisions made by both officers and committees of the Council.

Councillor Harding also referred to the proliferation of unauthorised street advertising around the Borough and encouraged members to report such incidents.

The Chair of the Licensing, Environment & Safety Committee (Councillor Chris Murphy) reported that the Committee had welcomed that measures could now be implemented by the Council to more readily regulate hackney car drivers from outside the Borough who operated as private hire car drivers in Stockport.  It was further stated that the Licensing, Environment & Safety Sub-Committee had taken action to review a premises licence of a public house in Stockport town centre which had been associated with serious disorder.

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

There were no questions relating to the business of the Ordinary, Area and Ward Committees in accordance with Council Meeting Procedure Rule 11.

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

Ordinary Committees

Area Committees

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

Ordinary Committees

Audit – 20 July 2016

Contributors – 25 July 2016

Employment Appeals – 27 July 2016

Health & Wellbeing Board – 16 August 2016

Licensing, Environment & Safety – 22 June 2016

Licensing, Environment & Safety Sub-Committee – 19 July 2016

Planning & Highways Regulation – 21 June and 28 July 2016

Town Centre – 20 June 2016

Standards – 20 June and 5 September 2016

Area Committees

Bramhall & Cheadle Hulme South – 14 July and 11 August 2016

Central Stockport – 14 July and 11 August 2016

Cheadle – 12 July and 9 August 2016

Heatons & Reddish – 11 July and 8 August 2016

Marple – 13 July and 10 August 2016

Stepping Hill – 12 July and 9 August 2016

Werneth – 11 July and 8 August 2016

To consider the Annual Report of the Chair of the Audit Committee 2015/16.

The Chair of the Audit Committee (Councillor Stuart Corris) submitted the Audit Committee Annual Report for 2015/16 (copies of which had been circulated) summarising the work of the Audit Committee during the 2015/16 Municipal Year.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

This Council notes that:-

·         Stockport Homes was formed in 2005 to manage the housing stock across Stockport on behalf of the Council.

·         As an Arm’s Length Management Organisation (ALMO) the company is owned by Stockport Council but operates independently on day-to-day matters and when delivering services to local people.

·         Stockport Homes doesn’t only provide housing and build new homes in Stockport, it works to transform the lives of tenants by offering a range of services which support our communities.

·         On 15^th July 2016 it was announced that Stockport Homes has been named the UK’s top landlord by 24Housing magazine following a successful ‘Put Stockport on the Map’ campaign.

·         This award is an example of a pattern of excellent performance from Stockport Homes, beating 10 other shortlisted, high-performing organisations to a prestigious prize, after claiming second place in the same competition for the last two years.

This Council believes that:-

·         Stockport Homes has achieved excellence which goes far beyond the provision of housing, consistently meeting a mission statement of ‘delivering the best services to customers by being a great place to work’.

·         The work Stockport Homes does helps to demonstrate the potential, true value and importance of residents living in social housing.

·         Being recognised as the number one landlord in the country will enable Stockport Homes to do even more to improve the lives of tenants, customers and staff.

This Council resolves:-

·         To publicly recognise what Stockport Homes has achieved and continue to highlight the excellent services which it delivers.

·         For the congratulations of Stockport Council to be extended to the staff at Stockport Homes on achieving this prestigious and well-deserved award.

Moved by:                  Councillor Sheila Bailey

Seconded by:           Councillor Julian Lewis-Booth

RESOLVED - This Council notes that:-

·         Stockport Homes was formed in 2005 to manage the housing stock across Stockport on behalf of the Council.

·         As an Arm’s Length Management Organisation (ALMO) the company is owned by Stockport Council but operates independently on day-to-day matters and when delivering services to local people.

·         Stockport Homes doesn’t only provide housing and build new homes in Stockport, it works to transform the lives of tenants by offering a range of services which support our communities.

·         On 15^th July 2016 it was announced that Stockport Homes has been named the UK’s top landlord by 24Housing magazine following a successful ‘Put Stockport on the Map’ campaign.

·         This award is an example of a pattern of excellent performance from Stockport Homes, beating 10 other shortlisted, high-performing organisations to a prestigious prize, after claiming second place in the same competition for the last two years.

This Council believes that:-

·         Stockport Homes has achieved excellence which goes far beyond the provision of housing, consistently meeting a mission statement of ‘delivering the best services to customers by being a great place to work’.

·         The work Stockport Homes does helps to demonstrate the potential, true value and importance of residents living in social housing.

·         Being recognised as the number one landlord in the country will enable Stockport Homes to do even more to improve the lives of tenants, customers and staff.

This Council resolves:-

·         To publicly recognise what Stockport Homes has achieved and continue to highlight the excellent services which it delivers.

·         For the congratulations of Stockport Council to be extended to the staff at Stockport Homes on achieving this prestigious and well-deserved award.

This Council Meeting notes with pride

·         the excellent achievement of Team GB in the Rio Olympic Games, coming second with a record haul of 67 medals, including 27 Golds;

·         that Team GB won Gold medals across more sports than any other nation – 15 – and improved on their medal haul for the fifth consecutive Olympics;

·         the Rio Paralympic Games currently underway, in which we anticipate further medal success; and

·         the large number of Olympic and Paralympic athletes and their support teams who live, work or train in and around the borough of Stockport.

This Council Meeting believes that the efforts and example set by these athletes and their support teams are an inspiration to all residents, especially our young people.

This Council Meeting therefore resolves to congratulate all Olympians and Paralympians and invite those who live, work or train in Stockport to a special civic reception with the Mayor to mark their achievements.

Moved by:                  Councillor Mark Hunter

Seconded by:           Councillor Lisa Smart

RESOLVED - This Council Meeting notes with pride:-

·         the excellent achievement of Team GB in the Rio Olympic Games, coming second with a record haul of 67 medals, including 27 Golds;

·         that Team GB won Gold medals across more sports than any other nation – 15 – and improved on their medal haul for the fifth consecutive Olympics;

·         the Rio Paralympic Games currently underway, in which we anticipate further medal success; and

·         the large number of Olympic and Paralympic athletes and their support teams who live, work or train in and around the borough of Stockport.

This Council Meeting believes that the efforts and example set by these athletes and their support teams are an inspiration to all residents, especially our young people.

This Council Meeting therefore resolves to congratulate all Olympians and Paralympians and invite those who live, work or train in Stockport to a special civic reception with the Mayor to mark their achievements.

This Council notes that:-

·         The dedicated staff working at Stepping Hill Hospital provide vital, life-saving care for residents across Stockport all year round.

·         On 28^th July 2016 a Stockport NHS Foundation Trust ‘Financial Improvement Plan’ was made public which stated that Stepping Hill Hospital is currently losing £75 every minute and will have a £40.1 million deficit during the 2016-17 financial year.

·         The plan proposes significant cuts at Stepping Hill, including the closure of a 22-bed surgical ward, the loss of a further 8 trauma and orthopaedic beds, increased parking charges for staff and patients, and voluntary redundancy for up to 410 staff.

·         The Chief Executive and Director of Operations of Stockport NHS Foundation Trust attended a meeting of the Executive on 16^th August to answer questions and were asked to provide assurances to the Council that local patient safety and outcomes will not be compromised by these plans.

·         That the plan was not subject to any formal consultative process with Councillors, patients or the wider public by the NHS Foundation Trust before implementation of it began.

·         Severe pressure is being placed on our local NHS by long-term challenges from the rising costs of treatment and medicines and an increasingly ageing population.

·         The impact of these trends has been greatly exacerbated by tight national funding settlements which don’t reflect increased demands on the NHS or the true level of cost inflation in health, unnecessary and unwanted top-down health reforms, increasing privatisation, and damaging cuts to Local Government which provides community-based adult social care services.

·         Stockport Together is a major transformation programme bringing together Stockport NHS Foundation Trust, NHS Stockport Clinical Commissioning Group, Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust, Stockport Council and Stockport’s GP federation, Viaduct Health, to improve how care is provided in our borough.

·         On 19^th July 2016 the Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership announced that Stockport Together will receive £19 million from the GM Transformation Fund over 3 years in order to progress innovative joint-working between the NHS, Stockport Council and other health partners.

This Council believes that:-

·         The current NHS funding model leads to a system of perverse incentives which sees health and care services forced to compete for finite resources or re-charge each other for their activities.

·         The financial crisis at Stepping Hill cannot be seen in isolation and is indicative of a national picture of under-funding which is in stark contrast to the publically-run, properly-funded NHS which patients want to see.

·         The scale of the financial challenge being imposed on the local health economy in Stockport means that integration of health and social care through the Stockport Together Programme is the only way to continue to provide the standard of care which local residents expect and deserve.

This Council resolves:-

·         To work constructively with Stockport NHS Foundation Trust, and support hard-working staff at Stepping Hill Hospital, in providing the highest possible standard of care to local people in very difficult circumstances.

·         To welcome the announcement that Stockport has been allocated £19 million from the GM Transformation Fund and work with healthcare partners in supporting the borough to better integrate health and social care services.

·         For the Chief Executive to write to the Secretary of State for Health outlining our deep concerns at Stepping Hill’s Financial Improvement Plan and outline why it is vital that Stockport has a properly funded NHS and Local Authority working together to deliver the best quality of care to residents.

Moved by:                  Councillor Tom McGee                             

Seconded by:           Councillor Wendy Wild

In accordance with the provisions of Council Meeting Procedure Rule 14.7 (Alteration of Motion) at the request of the mover of the motion the Council Meeting gave its consent to the alteration of the motion as tabled to incorporate an alteration proposed by the Liberal Democrat Group which had been published and circulated in advance of the meeting.

MOVED AND SECONDED - This Council notes that:-

·         The dedicated staff working at Stepping Hill Hospital provide vital, life-saving care for residents across Stockport all year round.

·         On 28^th July 2016 a Stockport NHS Foundation Trust ‘Financial Improvement Plan’ was made public which stated that Stepping Hill Hospital is currently losing £75 every minute and will have a £40.1 million deficit during the 2016-17 financial year

·         The plan proposes significant cuts at Stepping Hill, including the closure of a 22-bed surgical ward, the loss of a further 8 trauma and orthopaedic beds, increased parking charges for staff and patients, and voluntary redundancy for up to 410 staff.

·         The Chief Executive and Director of Operations of Stockport NHS Foundation Trust attended a meeting of the Executive on 16^th August to answer questions and were asked to provide assurances to the Council that local patient safety and outcomes will not be compromised by these plans.

·         That the plan was not subject to any formal consultative process with Councillors, patients or the wider public by the NHS Foundation Trust before implementation of it began.

·         Severe pressure is being placed on our local NHS by long-term challenges from the rising costs of treatment and medicines and an increasingly ageing population

·         The impact of these trends has been greatly exacerbated by tight national funding settlements which don’t reflect increased demands on the NHS or the true level of cost inflation in health, unnecessary and unwanted top-down health reforms, increasing privatisation, and damaging cuts to Local Government which provides community-based adult social care services.

·         The Conservative government is cutting the vital preventative work which our Public Health Budget supports. This makes little sense. Preventing an illness in the first place is always better than curing it once it occurs. Recent in-year government cuts represent a massive backward step with less proactive health services leading to a rise in expensive hospital admissions. They are the falsest of false economies and misguided short-termism that will only cost us more down the line. They are to be followed by a further 2.5% cut next year.

·         Stockport Together is a major transformation programme bringing together Stockport NHS Foundation Trust, NHS Stockport Clinical Commissioning Group, Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust, Stockport Council and Stockport’s GP federation, Viaduct Health, to improve how care is provided in our borough.

·         On 19^th July 2016 the Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership announced that Stockport Together will receive £19 million from the GM Transformation Fund over 3 years in order to progress innovative joint-working between the NHS, Stockport Council and other health partners.

This Council believes that:-

·         The current NHS funding model leads to a system of perverse incentives which sees health and care services forced to compete for finite resources or re-charge each other for their activities.

·         The financial crisis at Stepping Hill cannot be seen in isolation and is indicative of a national picture of under-funding which is in stark contrast to the publically-run, properly-funded NHS which patients want to see.

·         The scale of the financial challenge being imposed on the local health economy in Stockport means that integration of health and social care through the Stockport Together Programme is the only way to continue to provide the standard of care which local residents expect and deserve.

This Council resolves:-

·         To work constructively with Stockport NHS Foundation Trust, and support hard-working staff at Stepping Hill Hospital, in providing the highest possible standard of care to local people in very difficult circumstances.

·         To welcome the announcement that Stockport has been allocated £19  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.(iii)

This Council Meeting notes with grave concern:

·         Stepping Hill Hospital’s budget deficit, which has led to proposals to close a ward, to lose 350 full-time equivalent staff, to increase parking charges for staff, patients and visitors and to sell off part of the hospital site;

·         The £30bn black hole in NHS funding, acknowledged by all parties in the run up to the last election;

·         That £22bn of this funding gap is to be tackled through spending cuts in the NHS;

·         That KPMG have been brought in to Stepping Hill Hospital and University Hospital of South Manchester Foundation Trusts under the NHS Improvement Programme to support local managers to find savings, at a reported cost of £2m per hospital;

·         The draft Sustainability and Transformation Plans (STPs), which are likely to result in further cuts to services in hospitals; and

·         The Conservative government’s cuts to the local public health budget, including in-year cuts totalling well over £2m for the current and previous financial years, with a further 2.5% cut announced for next year.

This Council Meeting believes:

·         The medium-term solution to these issues is the Stockport Together approach of local services delivering preventative health care and avoiding unnecessary hospital admissions;

·         To achieve this, it is imperative that in the short-term we have sufficient investment for both the hospitals and the local provision; and

·         That under-investment by the Conservative government in both NHS and non-NHS Health Spending such as Public Health makes it less likely that the Stockport Together-style approach will work and makes it more likely that the NHS will face a major crisis in the near future.

This Council Meeting resolves:

·         To reaffirm its commitment to Stockport Together and the use of pooled budgets with the Clinical Commissioning Group; and

·         To ask the Chief Executive to write to the Health Secretary, calling for fair and transparent funding for our NHS and non-NHS Health Spending.

Moved by:                  Councillor Iain Roberts

Seconded by:           Councillor Keith Holloway

In accordance with the provisions of Council Meeting Procedure Rule 14.8 (Withdrawal of motion) with the consent of the Council Meeting and seconder, the mover of the motion withdrew the motion from consideration by the Council Meeting.