Agenda and minutes

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.

Three public questions were submitted as follows:-

·         Had Councillor Verdeille or Councillor Harding had or having discussion with Conservative Leader Councillor Lloyd and Deputy Leader Councillor O’Neill with a view to working together after the May elections?

Councillor Verdeille stated that he had arranged no such discussions.

·         Had Councillor Lloyd or Councillor O’Neill had or having discussion with Labour Leader Councillor Verdeille and Deputy Leader Councillor Harding with a view to working together after the May elections?

Councillor Lloyd stated that he met with councillors from all parties on a regular basis and that he would have further such meetings in the future.

·         Was Councillor McAuley aware of any meetings that had taken place between Councillor Verdeille, Harding, Lloyd and O’Neill with a view to the Labour and Conservative Groups working together after the May elections?

Councillor McAuley stated that it was his understanding that such a meeting had taken place.

A further three public questions had been received prior to the meeting from questioners who were not present at the meeting and in accordance with the procedure for asking public questions at the Council Meeting it was stated that a written response would be provided.

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.

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 Interest

To consider a report of the Executive Councillor (Customer Focus).

The Executive Councillor (Customer Focus) (Councillor Martin Candler) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) presenting the Council Plan 2012-2013. The Plan set out the strategic direction for the Council and provided the strategic framework to support the delivery of its key priorities and outcomes.

RESOLVED –   That the Council Plan 2012/13 be adopted.

To consider a joint report of the Executive Councillors (Communities) and (Finance).

The Executive Councillor (Communities) (Councillor Mark Weldon) 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 2012/13.

It was then

MOVED AND SECONDED

That the Council Meeting give approval to:-

(a)       An increase in the average rent of 8.1% for dwelling rents;

(b)       An increase of 6.1% for garage rents;

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

(d)       A 6.1% increase in Carecall Charges;

(e)       A 6.1% increase in Warden charges;

(f)        That void properties are advertised at their target guideline rent from April 2012; and,

(g)       The Housing Revenue Account Budget for 2012/13 as set out in Appendix 1, including the adjustments to the Stockport Homes Management Fee.

AMENDMENT MOVED AND SECONDED

That the Council Meeting:-

(1) Give approval to:-

(a)       An increase in rents and service charges (other than those referred to below or where no increase was proposed) of 2.9% rather than the proposed 8.1% average increase for rents and 6.1% for service charges;

(b)       No increase in Carecall charges;

(c)        No area caretaking service charge, block caretaking will increase by 2.9%;

(d)       Removing the proposal to re-let void properties at target rents; and

(e)       Amendments to the 2012/13 HRA budget to reflect the above changes.

(2) Notes that the above results in the requirement to change the Communities Portfolio capital programme for 2012/13 within the report titled “2012/13 Budget and Medium Term Financial Planning 2013/14 to 2014/15” (Summons Item 3(iv)).

At 6.55 pm it was

RESOLVED – That the meeting be adjourned.

The meeting reconvened at 7.18 pm

The Council then proceeded to debate the amendment.

Upon the amendment being put to the vote:-

For the amendment 18, against 43, abstentions 1.

AMENDMENT NOT CARRIED

A named vote was requested in relation to the voting on this amendment and the voting was recorded as follows:-

The councillors who voted for the amendment were:-

Councillors Sheila Bailey, Walter Brett, Richard Coaton, Dean Fitzpatrick, Colin Foster, Alexander Ganotis, Anne Graham, Tom Grundy, Philip Harding, Brian Hendley, Tom McGee, Paul Moss, Chris Murphy, Maureen Rowles,  Andrew Verdeille, Chris Walker, David White and David Wilson

The councillors who voted against the amendment were:-

The Mayor; Councillors Ben Alexander, Shan Alexander, Brian Bagnall, Paul Bellis, Andrew Bispham, Stuart Bodsworth, Peter Burns, Martin Candler, Stuart Corris, Sue Derbyshire, Kevin Dowling, Dave Goddard, Chris Gordon, Lenny Grice, Daniel Hawthorne, Kevin Hogg, Linda Holt, Sylvia Humphreys, Stella Humphries, Sue Ingham, Mick Jones, Pam King, Mags Kirkham, Bryan Leck, Hazel Lees, Syd Lloyd, Wendy Meikle, Adrian Nottingham, Anthony O’Neill, Wendy Orrell, John Pantall, Paul Porgess, Iain Roberts, Ann Smith, John Smith, June Somekh, Alanna Vine, Lisa Walker, Mark Weldon, William Wragg, Craig Wright and Suzanne Wyatt.

Councillor Patrick McAuley abstained.

The Council then proceeded to debate the substantive motion.

It was then

RESOLVED – (43 for, 18 against, 1 abstention) That the Council Meeting give approval to:-

(a)       An increase in the average rent of 8.1% for dwelling rents;

(b)       An increase of 6.1% for garage rents;

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

(d)       A 6.1% increase in Carecall Charges;

(e)       A 6.1% increase in Warden charges;

(f)        That void properties are advertised at their target guideline rent from April 2012; and,

(g)       The Housing Revenue Account Budget for 2012/13 as set out in Appendix 1, including the adjustments to the Stockport Homes Management Fee.

A named vote was requested in relation to the voting on this resolution and the voting was recorded as follows:-

The councillors who voted for the resolution were:-

The Mayor; Councillors Ben Alexander, Shan Alexander, Brian Bagnall, Paul Bellis, Andrew Bispham, Stuart Bodsworth, Peter Burns, Martin Candler, Stuart Corris, Sue Derbyshire, Kevin Dowling, Dave Goddard, Chris Gordon, Lenny Grice, Daniel Hawthorne, Kevin Hogg, Linda Holt, Sylvia Humphreys, Stella Humphries, Sue Ingham, Mick Jones, Pam King, Mags Kirkham, Bryan Leck, Hazel Lees, Syd Lloyd, Wendy Meikle, Adrian Nottingham, Anthony O’Neill, Wendy Orrell, John Pantall, Paul Porgess, Iain Roberts, Ann Smith, John Smith, June Somekh, Alanna Vine, Lisa Walker, Mark Weldon, William Wragg, Craig Wright and Suzanne Wyatt.

The councillors who voted against the resolution were:-

Councillors Sheila Bailey, Walter Brett, Richard Coaton, Dean Fitzpatrick, Colin Foster, Alexander Ganotis, Anne Graham, Tom Grundy, Philip Harding, Brian Hendley, Tom McGee, Paul Moss, Chris Murphy, Maureen Rowles,  Andrew Verdeille, Chris Walker, David White and David Wilson

Councillor Patrick McAuley abstained.

To consider a report of the Executive Councillor (Children and Young People).

The Executive Councillor (Children and Young People) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an overview of the 2012/13 funding settlement for schools; providing an update on key developments in school funding reforms; outlining the key actions required before individual schools budget shares are released in late March 2012 and outlining consultation activities with the Schools Forum, Head Teacher consortia groups and the Stockport Governors Association (GOVAS).

RESOLVED - The Schools Financial Settlement 2012/13 be noted.

To consider a report of the Executive Councillor (Finance).

The Council Meeting has:-

(1) Approved the Budget for 2012/13 set out in Appendix Four, including the adjustments set out in section five of this report (detailed at Appendix Five);

(2) Noted the financial forecasts for 2013/14 and 2014/15, and the key issues to be addressed in formulating a response to the continuing financial challenges facing the Council;

(3) Approved appropriate Council Tax resolutions which produce a Council Tax freeze for Council services as illustrated at Appendix Eleven;

(4) Approved the 2012/13 to 2014/15 capital programme and the funding arrangements set out at Appendix Nine;

(5) Approved the prudential indicators set out in Appendix Ten;

(6) Approved 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 2012/13; and

(7) Noted the risk assessment of the budget at Appendix Seven and the report of the Corporate Director for Corporate and Support Services on the adequacy of proposed financial reserves and robustness of the estimates included at Appendix Eight.

(8) Noted the amendments in respect of 2012/13 Fees and Charges as set out in Annex One.

At 8.35 pm it was

RESOLVED – That the meeting be adjourned.

The meeting reconvened at 9.01 pm

The Council then proceeded to debate the amendment.

RESOLVED – That notwithstanding the provisions of Council Meeting Procedure Rule 9, the meeting continue to deal with the remaining business on the Summons.

Upon the amendment being put to the vote -

For the amendment 16, against 32, abstentions 13.

AMENDMENT NOT CARRIED

A named vote was requested in relation to the voting on this amendment and the voting was recorded as follows:-

The councillors who voted for the amendment were:-

The Mayor; Councillors Brian Bagnall Paul Bellis, Dean Fitzpatrick, Colin Foster, Alexander Ganotis, Linda Holt, Mick Jones, Bryan Leck, Syd Lloyd, Tom McGee, Anthony O’Neill, John Smith, Alanna Vine, Lisa Walker and William Wragg.

The councillors who voted against the amendment were:-

Councillors Ben Alexander, Shan Alexander, Andrew Bispham, Stuart Bodsworth, Peter Burns, Martin Candler, Stuart Corris, Sue Derbyshire, Kevin Dowling, Dave Goddard, Chris Gordon, Lenny Grice, Daniel Hawthorne, Kevin Hogg, Sylvia Humphreys, Stella Humphries, Sue Ingham, Pam King, Mags Kirkham, Hazel Lees, Patrick McAuley, Wendy Meikle, Adrian Nottingham, Wendy Orrell, John Pantall, Paul Porgess, Iain Roberts, Ann Smith, June Somekh, Mark Weldon, Craig Wright and Suzanne Wyatt.

The councillors who abstained were:-

Councillors Sheila Bailey, Walter Brett, Richard Coaton, Anne Graham, Tom Grundy, Philip Harding, Brian Hendley, Paul Moss, Chris Murphy, Maureen Rowles, Andrew Verdeille, David White and David Wilson.

The Council then proceeded to debate the substantive motion.

It was then

RESOLVED – (32 for, 17 against, 12 abstentions) That the Council Meeting:-

(1) Agrees the Budget for 2012/13 set out in Appendix Four, including the adjustments set out in section five of this report (detailed at Appendix Five);

(2) Notes and comments upon the financial forecasts for 2013/14 and 2014/15, and the key issues to be addressed in formulating a response to the continuing financial challenges facing the Council;

(3) Passes the appropriate Council Tax resolutions which produce a Council Tax freeze for Council services as illustrated at Appendix Eleven;

(4) Approves the 2012/13 to 2014/15 capital programme and the funding arrangements set out at Appendix Nine;

(5) Approves the prudential indicators set out in Appendix Ten;

(6) Approves 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 2012/13;

(7) Notes the risk assessment of the budget at Appendix Seven 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 Eight; and

(8) In respect of 2012/13 Fees and Charges, the Council Meeting is asked to note the amendments set out in Annex One.

A named vote was requested in relation to the voting on this resolution and the voting was recorded as follows:-

The councillors who voted for the resolution were:-

Councillors Ben Alexander, Shan Alexander, Andrew Bispham, Stuart Bodsworth, Peter Burns, Martin Candler, Stuart Corris, Sue Derbyshire, Kevin Dowling, Dave Goddard, Chris Gordon, Lenny Grice, Daniel Hawthorne, Kevin Hogg, Sylvia Humphreys, Stella Humphries, Sue Ingham, Pam King, Mags Kirkham, Hazel Lees, Patrick McAuley, Wendy Meikle, Adrian Nottingham, Wendy Orrell, John Pantall, Paul Porgess, Iain Roberts, Ann Smith, June Somekh, Mark Weldon, Craig Wright and Suzanne Wyatt.

The councillors who voted against the resolution were:-

Councillors Sheila Bailey, Walter Brett, Richard Coaton, Colin Foster, Dean Fitzpatrick, Alexander Ganotis, Anne Graham, Tom Grundy, Philip Harding, Brian Hendley, Tom McGee, Paul Moss, Chris Murphy, Maureen Rowles, Andrew Verdeille, David White and David Wilson.

The councillors who abstained were:-

The Mayor; Councillors Brian Bagnall Paul Bellis, Linda Holt, Mick Jones, Bryan Leck, Syd Lloyd, Anthony O’Neill, John Smith, Alanna Vine, Lisa Walker and William Wragg.

To consider a report of the Executive Councillor (Finance) and to pass the appropriate resolutions setting the Council Tax for 2012/13.

(Draft Report and Resolutions enclosed)

RESOLVED – (61 for) (1) That it be noted that on 16 December 2011, the following amounts were approved by the Executive Meeting as the Council's Council Tax Base for the financial year 2012/13:-

(a)       99,771.73 for the whole Council area [Item T in the formula in Section 31B of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, as amended (the "Act")]

(b)       892.21 for dwellings in the Offerton Park Parish area to which a Parish precept relates.

(2) That the Council Meeting approve the Council Tax Requirement for the Council’s own purposes for 2012/13 (excluding Parish precepts) as being £135,986,873.

(3) That the following amounts be calculated by the Council for the year 2012/13 in accordance with sections 31 to 36 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992:-

(a)       £574,940,544 being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in section 31A(2) of the Act taking into account any Precept for the Offerton Park Parish area (Appendix Two).

(b)       £438,953,671 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)        £135,986,873 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)       £1,362.98 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 (including Parish precepts).

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

(f)         £1,362.98 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.

(g)       £1,362.98 (Offerton Park Parish area) being the amounts given by adding to the amount at 3(f) above the amounts of the special item or items relating to dwellings in those parts of the Council's area mentioned at 3(e) above divided by the amount at 1(b) above, calculated by the Council, in accordance with section 34(3) of the Act, as the basic amounts of its council tax for the year for dwellings in those parts of its area to which one or more special items relate.

(4) That it be noted that for the year 2012/13 the Greater Manchester Police Authority 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.

Valuation Bands

(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 2012/13 for each part of its area and for each of the categories of dwellings.

Aggregate of Council Tax Requirements

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for Corporate and Support Services.         

(NOTE: The minutes of the Executive Meeting on 6 February 2012, setting out recommendations on the Policy Framework & Budget items are circulated separately).

The Executive Councillor (Finance) (Councillor Sue Derbyshire) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) inviting the Council Meeting to consider the Treasury Management Strategy, the Annual Investment Strategy and the Minimum Revenue Provision Policy 2012/13.

RESOLVED – That approval be given to:-

(i)            The Minimum Revenue Provision Policy 2012/13;

(ii)          The Treasury Management Policy Statement and adoption of the four clauses;

(iii)         The Capital Expenditure forecasts and CFR projections;

(iv)         The Treasury Management Strategy 2012/13;

(v)          The Treasury Management and Prudential Indicators and limits 2012/13-2014/15;

(vi)         The Annual Investment Strategy 2012/13 (including the revision to the Council’s creditworthiness policy).