Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 27 September 2012.

The Minutes of the Meeting of the Council held on 27 September 2012 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Mayor.

To receive announcements from the Mayor.

The Mayor reminded the Council Meeting that further to the letter that had been distributed in advance of the meeting, she had agreed to take a further item of Urgent Business in relation to the appointment of an Independent Person to the Standards Committee which would be considered as the final item of business for the meeting.

The Mayor then further reported that on 28 September 2012 she had attended an event at St Winifred’s Parish Centre, Heaton Mersey which was being held as part of the ‘World’s Biggest Coffee Morning’ in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support.

On 30 September 2012, the Mayor attended the formal handover by Professor John Hearle of the Mellor Archaeological Iron age ditch and Roman Garden to the Council.

On 5 October 2012, the Mayor attended a number of events including the Heart Shrine Relic tour at the Ghandi Hall; the British Empire Medal presentation at Cheethams School of Music where one of the trustees from the Wellspring Centre, Stockport received a medal; and the Stockport Sports Trust Awards at the new Woodley Sports Centre.

Finally, the Mayor commended the production of Billy Liar by NK Theatre at the Romiley Forum which she attended on 18 October 2012.

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

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

The following interests were declared:-

Personal Interests

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

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

Five public questions were submitted of which three, relating to the cost of producing and distributing the Civic Review; the accuracy of previous statements made in relation to the financial robustness of Solutions SK; and how Councillor Weldon obtained a copy of the 2012 accounts of Solutions SK were not put as the questioners were not present at the meeting.  It was reported that the questioners would receive a written response.

A public question was submitted in relation to the replacement of lighting columns in the Borough, with particular regard to why whole light columns were being replaced rather than just the lanterns.

The Executive Councillor (Economic Development & Regeneration) (Councillor Iain Roberts) responded that visual inspections were being undertaken of the existing concrete and metal columns to determine their current condition.  Where lighting columns remained in a good condition they would be retained and the lanterns replaced.

A further public question was submitted in relation to the reason why payments being made to the owners of the Offerton Precinct come December were being kept secret.

The Leader of the Council (Policy, Reform and Finance) (Councillor Sue Derbyshire) responded that issues of this nature were subject to commercial confidentiality

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

Stockport Homes

To consider a presentation from Helen McHale (Chief Executive, Stockport Homes) to provide an update on the work of Stockport Homes.

(a)  One petition was submitted by Councillor White on behalf of the residents of Woodbine Crescent, Shaw Heath requesting that consideration be given to reducing the speed limit as a result of an increase in the number of vehicles using the road.

(b)       Stockport Homes

Helen McHale (Chief Executive, Stockport Homes) attended the meeting and made a presentation providing an update on the work of Stockport Homes which was followed by questions from Councillors.

At the conclusion of the item, the Mayor expressed thanks to Helen McHale.

(a)       Section 41 Spokespersons

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

(b)       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:-

(a)       Section 41 Spokespersons

There were no questions in relation to the business of the Joint Authorities.

(b)       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 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 (Councillor Sue Derbyshire) reported that consultation on the Executive Savings Proposals was underway which had included the relevant parts of the proposals being submitted to the relevant scrutiny committees in October with further reports being submitted to the November round of scrutiny committees detailing the outcome of the consultations.

The Leader of the Council also reported on the following:-

·         Following the meeting of the Council on 6 November 2012, work was underway to establish an all-party Solutions SK Contributors Committee.

·         Pure Radio’s ‘New Horizons’ programme had been nominated for the ‘Best factual radio programme about older people’s issues’ as The Roses Media Awards 2012.

·         Stockport Council’s annual Extra! Awards event had been held on 1 November 2012 and had recognised the contribution of 32 teams towards the work of the Council, including 12 Extra! Awards winners.

·         Prior to the meeting, she had attended the opening of the ‘The Cockleshell Heroes’ Exhibition at the Stockport Storey Museum which told the story of the Operation Frankton and how John Conway, a local Stockport man, set out in cockle canoes to destroy as many enemy ships as possible in the harbour of Bordeaux during World War 2.

·         Treasury Management training for members was taking place on 3 December 2012, and all members were encouraged to attend.

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 (Governance and Corporate Services) and the Executive Councillors (Adult Care Services), (Children and Young People), (Economic Development and Regeneration), (Lifelong Learning and Achievement), (Public Realm) and (Supporting Communities) answered questions relating to the business of the Executive in accordance with Council Meeting Procedure Rule 11.

To receive the Minutes of the Executive held on 1 October 2012 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 on 1 October 2012 and the record of executive decision taken 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.

The Chair of the Corporate, Resource Management and Governance Scrutiny Committee (Councillor Ben Alexander) reported that a scrutiny review in respect of ‘Preparing for the Introduction of the Universal Credit Regime’ was now underway and further advised the Council Meeting that the Chair of that Scrutiny Review had not attended the inaugural meeting of the Review on 18 October 2012.

The Chair of the Environment and Economy Scrutiny Committee (Councillor Christine Corris) reported that the Scrutiny Committee had agreed to undertake a scrutiny review in respect of ‘Skills and Employment’, however she expressed her regret that the Chair of the Scrutiny Review had not yet set a date for the inaugural meeting of the Review.

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

Councillor John Pantall asked a question of the Chair of the Health Scrutiny Committee in relation to whether he considered that the discussion held at the meeting the Scrutiny Committee on 16 October 2012 in relation to ‘Psychiatry Services for those with Learning Difficulties’ had been fruitful and that it had identified a lot of problems that arose when people had more than one condition. 

The Chair of the Health Scrutiny Committee (Councillor Tom McGee) responded that that was an important area that had an impact not just on those with learning difficulties, but also their families and their quality of life.  It was further commented that the Scrutiny Committee had noted the need to move beyond ‘office- hours’ services to extend into weekends and that there were issues around senior staff availability at these times as there were often matters which arose which could not wait.  The reactive nature of current provision was also noted and that there was a need to work to increase the quality and level of preventative measures rather than waiting until a crisis had developed.

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:-

Adults & Communities – 15 October 2012

Children & Young People – 17 October 2012

Corporate, Resource Management & Governance – 22 October 2012

Environment & Economy  – 6 September and 18 October 2012

Health – 19 September and 16 October 2012

Scrutiny Co-ordination – 23 October 2012

There were no reports from the Chairs of the Planning and Highways Regulation and Licensing, Environment and Safety 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.

Councillor William Wragg asked a question of the Chair of the Stepping Hill Area Committee in relation to the absence of the minutes of the meeting of the Hazel Grove Ward Committee held on 2 October 2012 from the Summons, and whether this had been the result of the failure of Councillors Kevin Hogg and Stuart Corris to attend the meeting which rendered it inquorate.

Councillor Kevin Hogg responded on behalf of the Chair of the Stepping Hill Area Committee and stated that his absence had been the result of an incorrect diarisation of the meeting.

Councillor Bryan Leck asked a question of the Chair of the Bramhall and Chdeadle Hulme South Area Committee in relation to whether he considered that the minutes of the meeting of the Area Committee held on 11 October 2012 accurately represented the strength of hostility of members of the public present in relation to the proposed ‘Woodford Aerodrome Opportunity Site Draft Supplementary Planning Document’.

The Chair of the Bramhall and Cheadle Hulme South Area Committee (Councillor Brian Bagnall) responded that the meeting had been attended by a significant number of members of the public and that while it may not be possible to codify that within a set of minutes, councillors and officers present had been left in doubt as to the strength of feeling of the Woodford community in relation to the proposals.

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

Ordinary Committees

Area Committees

Ward Committees

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

Appeals Panel – 17 September 2012

Appointments – 18 October 2012

Audit – 25 September 2012

Licensing, Environment and Safety – 24 October 2012

Planning and Highways Regulation – 25 October 2012                                                                                                                                   

Area Committees

Bramhall and Cheadle Hulme South – 11 October 2012

Central Stockport – 11 October 2012

Cheadle – 9 October 2012

Heatons and Reddish – 8 October 2012

Marple – 10 October 2012

Stepping Hill – 9 October 2012

Werneth– 8 October 2012

Ward Committee

Brinnington and Reddish Joint Ward – 4 October 2012

This Council welcomes the campaign of Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Authority (GMFRA), in partnership with the other Metropolitan Fire & Rescue Authorities, against the unfairness applied to the Government's Formula for the distribution of Grant.

The distribution of government funding, through the Formula, now favours "Shire Fire & Rescue Authorities" (Combined Fire Authorities), and protects London, at the expense of the urban/regional cities. 

Between 2011 and 2013, GMFRA, West Midlands, Merseyside, South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire and Tyne & Wear Metropolitan Authorities will shoulder around 80% of the cuts compared to the rest of the Fire Services across the Country, Shires, Combined Authorities and London between them will shoulder just short of 20%. 

Indeed - six of these Fire Authorities have - perversely - seen grant increases in the last two years.

GMFRA are certain that, if the Formula Grant is not re-adjusted to ensure greater fairness, Greater Manchester will be faced with further damaging cuts, further significant reduction of Firefighters, further significant fewer fire appliances, and potentially closures of Fire Stations.

This level of cuts will also have serious consequences for the delivery of Fire & Rescue Services for the people of Greater Manchester - and impact on the resilience of the infrastructure of Greater Manchester.

This Council, therefore, calls on the Government to ensure everyone 'shares the pain of austerity' and introduces a fairer Grant Formula model for GMFRA and other Metropolitan Fire & Rescue Authorities elsewhere.

Moved by:                  Councillor Walter Brett

Seconded by:           Councillor David Sedgwick

MOVED AND SECONDED - This Council welcomes the campaign of Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Authority (GMFRA), in partnership with the other Metropolitan Fire & Rescue Authorities, against the unfairness applied to the Government's Formula for the distribution of Grant.

The distribution of government funding, through the Formula, now favours "Shire Fire & Rescue Authorities" (Combined Fire Authorities), and protects London, at the expense of the urban/regional cities. 

Between 2011 and 2013, GMFRA, West Midlands, Merseyside, South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire and Tyne & Wear Metropolitan Authorities will shoulder around 80% of the cuts compared to the rest of the Fire Services across the Country, Shires, Combined Authorities and London between them will shoulder just short of 20%. 

Indeed - six of these Fire Authorities have - perversely - seen grant increases in the last two years.

GMFRA are certain that, if the Formula Grant is not re-adjusted to ensure greater fairness, Greater Manchester will be faced with further damaging cuts, further significant reduction of Firefighters, further significant fewer fire appliances, and potentially closures of Fire Stations.

This level of cuts will also have serious consequences for the delivery of Fire & Rescue Services for the people of Greater Manchester - and impact on the resilience of the infrastructure of Greater Manchester.

This Council, therefore, calls on the Government to ensure everyone 'shares the pain of austerity' and introduces a fairer Grant Formula model for GMFRA and other Metropolitan Fire & Rescue Authorities elsewhere.

In accordance with the provisions of Council Meeting Procedure Rule 14.7 (Alteration of Motion) the mover of the motion altered the motion so as to insert the word “equally” after “shares the pain”.  It was then

RESOLVED - This Council welcomes the campaign of Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Authority (GMFRA), in partnership with the other Metropolitan Fire & Rescue Authorities, against the unfairness applied to the Government's Formula for the distribution of Grant.

The distribution of government funding, through the Formula, now favours "Shire Fire & Rescue Authorities" (Combined Fire Authorities), and protects London, at the expense of the urban/regional cities.

Between 2011 and 2013, GMFRA, West Midlands, Merseyside, South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire and Tyne & Wear Metropolitan Authorities will shoulder around 80% of the cuts compared to the rest of the Fire Services across the Country, Shires, Combined Authorities and London between them will shoulder just short of 20%.

Indeed - six of these Fire Authorities have - perversely - seen grant increases in the last two years.

GMFRA are certain that, if the Formula Grant is not re-adjusted to ensure greater fairness, Greater Manchester will be faced with further damaging cuts, further significant reduction of Firefighters, further significant fewer fire appliances, and potentially closures of Fire Stations.

This level of cuts will also have serious consequences for the delivery of Fire & Rescue Services for the people of Greater Manchester - and impact on the resilience of the infrastructure of Greater Manchester.

This Council, therefore, calls on the Government to ensure everyone 'shares the pain of austerity' equally and introduces a fairer Grant Formula model for GMFRA and other Metropolitan Fire & Rescue Authorities elsewhere.

This Council wishes the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government to note the following:

This council believes that local people, through their democratically elected local authorities, are the most suitable judges of what development is acceptable in an area and the suitable level of contributions that developers need to make;

This council opposes:

·           The Secretary of State's proposals for the Planning Inspectorate to have powers to override agreements between Councils and developers over the number of affordable housing units allocated to planning applications.

·           The Secretary of State’s proposals for planning permission – currently required for extensions of more than three or four metres from the rear wall of any home – to only be needed for those reaching beyond 8m for detached homes and 6m for others

·           The Secretary of State's intention to override Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act of 1990 which will allow developers to immediately appeal to the Planning Inspectorate over the allocation of affordable housing units in any scheme they maybe concerned with.

·           The Secretary of State's proposals for the Planning Inspectorate to take planning powers away from local authorities which he deems to be slow or of making poor quality planning decisions in determining applications.

This Council notes that the current Coalition government did listen earlier in the year over concerns regarding the National Planning Policy Framework and revised its plans accordingly, so urges the Government to listen to the concerns being expressed by the cross-party LGA;

This council however welcomes other parts of the stimulus package including:

·           £300 million to provide 15,000 affordable homes across the country

·           An extension of the refurbishment programme to bring an extra 5,000 empty homes back into use

·           £280m for FirstBuy, the shared equity scheme to give a further 16,500 first time buyers the chance to own their own homes

·           Up to £10bn of guarantees to housing associations, property management companies and developers which will be able to use the guarantees to secure lower borrowing costs. This will lead to hundreds of thousands of extra rental homes being built.

This council resolves to ask the Chief Executive to write to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, outlining this council’s opposition to the plans.

Moved by:                  Councillor Lenny Grice     

Seconded by:           Councillor Iain Roberts

RESOLVED - This Council wishes the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government to note the following:

This council believes that local people, through their democratically elected local authorities, are the most suitable judges of what development is acceptable in an area and the suitable level of contributions that developers need to make;

This council opposes:

·         The Secretary of State's proposals for the Planning Inspectorate to have powers to override agreements between Councils and developers over the number of affordable housing units allocated to planning applications.

·         The Secretary of State’s proposals for planning permission – currently required for extensions of more than three or four metres from the rear wall of any home – to only be needed for those reaching beyond 8m for detached homes and 6m for others

·         The Secretary of State's intention to override Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act of 1990 which will allow developers to immediately appeal to the Planning Inspectorate over the allocation of affordable housing units in any scheme they maybe concerned with.

·         The Secretary of State's proposals for the Planning Inspectorate to take planning powers away from local authorities which he deems to be slow or of making poor quality planning decisions in determining applications.

This Council notes that the current Coalition government did listen earlier in the year over concerns regarding the National Planning Policy Framework and revised its plans accordingly, so urges the Government to listen to the concerns being expressed by the cross-party LGA;

This council however welcomes other parts of the stimulus package including:

·         £300 million to provide 15,000 affordable homes across the country

·         An extension of the refurbishment programme to bring an extra 5,000 empty homes back into use

·         £280m for FirstBuy, the shared equity scheme to give a further 16,500 first time buyers the chance to own their own homes

·         Up to £10bn of guarantees to housing associations, property management companies and developers which will be able to use the guarantees to secure lower borrowing costs. This will lead to hundreds of thousands of extra rental homes being built.

This council resolves to ask the Chief Executive to write to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, outlining this council’s opposition to the plans.

This Council Meeting believes that failures of political governance and political oversight of Solutions SK have continued since the uncovering of the scandalous anomalies in the company in May 2012 and that this meeting has been misled by a member of both the Executive and Contributors Committee. In reply to a Conservative Councillor’s question at the last Council Meeting, Cllr. Kevin Hogg (Executive Member, Public Realm) publicly stated that he was in receipt of (and had read) the monthly information packs that SSK covenants to provide to the Contributors Committee. The monthly information packs were intended to comprise of management accounts including profit and loss accounts, cashflow and balance sheets, each with a comparison to the budget and audited accounts in respect of the financial year.  The Conservative Group have since been provided with written confirmation that no such packs have been sent to Executive Members.

This Council Meeting believes that the Executive Member for the Public Realm misled this meeting.

This Council Meeting further believes that the answer provided by the Executive Member not only calls into question his own political credibility and commitment to openness and transparency, but also brings his office and this authority into disrepute. In view of his behaviour, this Council Meeting therefore calls upon the Executive Member for the Public Realm to resign from his position on the Executive.

This Council Meeting further requests that

·         The Liberal Democrat Group investigate the misleading answer given by the Executive Member for the Public Realm at the last Council Meeting with a view to taking appropriate disciplinary actions; and

·         The Liberal Democrat Group Leader report back to next meeting of the Council on 20th December as to what action has been taken.

Moved by:                  Councillor Syd Lloyd

Seconded by:           Councillor William Wragg

MOVED AND SECONDED - This Council Meeting believes that failures of political governance and political oversight of Solutions SK have continued since the uncovering of the scandalous anomalies in the company in May 2012 and that this meeting has been misled by a member of both the Executive and Contributors Committee. In reply to a Conservative Councillor’s question at the last Council Meeting, Cllr. Kevin Hogg (Executive Member, Public Realm) publicly stated that he was in receipt of (and had read) the monthly information packs that SSK covenants to provide to the Contributors Committee. The monthly information packs were intended to comprise of management accounts including profit and loss accounts, cashflow and balance sheets, each with a comparison to the budget and audited accounts in respect of the financial year.  The Conservative Group have since been provided with written confirmation that no such packs have been sent to Executive Members.

This Council Meeting believes that the Executive Member for the Public Realm misled this meeting.

This Council Meeting further believes that the answer provided by the Executive Member not only calls into question his own political credibility and commitment to openness and transparency, but also brings his office and this authority into disrepute. In view of his behaviour, this Council Meeting therefore calls upon the Executive Member for the Public Realm to resign from his position on the Executive.

This Council Meeting further requests that

·         The Liberal Democrat Group investigate the misleading answer given by the Executive Member for the Public Realm at the last Council Meeting with a view to taking appropriate disciplinary actions; and

·         The Liberal Democrat Group Leader report back to next meeting of the Council on 20th December as to what action has been taken.

For the motion 30, against 30.

Upon there being an equality of votes, the Mayor exercised her casting vote against the motion.

MOTION NOT CARRIED

To appoint Mr Mark Iveson as Independent Person to the Standards Committee.

(NOTE:  The Mayor was of the opinion that this item, although not included on the Summons, should be considered as a matter of urgency in accordance with Section 100 B(4)(b) of the Local Government Act 1972 in order to enable the Council Meeting to give prompt consideration to proposals to appoint an Independent Person to the Standards Committee to fulfil the Council’s obligations under Section 28(7) of the Localism Act 2011).

RESOLVED – That Mr Mark Iveson be appointed as Independent Person to the Standards Committee.