Decisions

The Deputy Chief Executive has given approval to temporarily release the public open space outlined red on the attached plan (“the Site”) to a developer for the purpose of a site compound in order to enable the redevelopment of the land at 2-8 Churchgate.

(Note: the report contained information ‘not for the public’ that was circulated to the decision maker only)

The Deputy Chief Executive has given authority to grant a new lease to BG Innovations Ltd at the Councils industrial site at Vaughan Road Stockport.

(Note: the report contained information ‘not for the public’ that was circulated to the decision maker only)

The Cabinet Member for Economy & Regeneration approved the amended programme set out in the report.

The Cabinet considered the Council’s Annual Pay Policy Statement and Gender Pay Gap figures for 2019 and recommended the Council Meeting adopt the Statement and agree to publish the Council’s Gender Pay Gap information.

The Cabinet considered an update on the Cabinet’s budget proposals and choices for 2020/21, including information on further engagement that has occurred since the Cabinet meeting and agreed that:-

·         The Cabinet’s position in relation to the MTFP and Budget (Section 2 of the report) be noted.

·         The considerations outlined in relation to consultation, equality implications and workforce implications outlined in Section 4 of the report be noted.

·         Approval be given to the implementation of the updated proposals detailed in Appendices 4-14 of the report.

The Cabinet considered an update to the Council’s 2020/21 to 2022/23 Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP) forecasts and assumptions taking account of local and national changes including the 2019 Spending Review and Technical Consultation on the Local Government Finance Settlement announcements since the completion of the MTFP Summer Review and has agreed to

·         Note the details of the report including the announcements made by Government since September impacting on the 2020/21 Local Government Finance Settlement and Local Government funding beyond 2020/21;

·         Note the details of the 2020/21 Provisional Local Government Finance Settlement and the changes made to the Council’s revised MTFP as a result; 

·         Note and comment upon as appropriate, the financial forecasts for 2020/21 to 2022/23, and the key issues to be addressed in formulating a response to the financial challenges facing the Council;

·         Note the £2.950m MTFP resource and the recommended options for use of the resource for consideration in the Cabinet Response to the MTFP;

·         Approve £3.032m use of the unallocated one-off resources to support the funding of the priorities set out in paragraph 7.4; 

·         Note the £3.416m unallocated one-off resources identified and the recommended options for the use of the resource for consideration in the Cabinet Response to the MTFP;      

·         Note the budget reduction requirement for 2021/22 of £10.390m and £18.984m in 2022/23; and

·         Take the final steps necessary to propose a balanced budget for 2020/21 to the Budget Council meeting on 27 February 2020.

The Cabinet has considered a schedule of proposed amendments to the Council Meeting Procedure Rules at Part 5 of the Constitution and has recommended that the Council Meeting gives approval to the those amendments.

The Cabinet has considered the proposed amendments to the Business Programme for 2020/21 and the proposed Business Programme for 2021/22 and has recommended that the Council Meeting gives approval to the proposed schedule of meetings.

Approval is sought ‘in principle’ from the Cabinet for the Council to acquire compulsorily land and existing rights and interests where agreement cannot be reached to implement a scheme to create an important pedestrian access between the Interchange building and Stockport Railway Station consisting of a bridge over Daw Bank and associated pedestrian/cycle route to Station Road.

The Cabinet has considered a proposal to acquire compulsorily, pursuant to and in accordance with the “Guidance on Compulsory purchase process and The Crichel Down Rules” issued by the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government in 2019, land and existing rights and interests where agreement cannot be reached to implement a scheme to create an important pedestrian access between the Interchange building and Stockport Railway Station consisting of a bridge over Daw Bank and associated pedestrian / cycle route to Station Road; and has:-

(i) agreed in principle to the use of Compulsory Purchase Powers, if necessary, to acquire land and existing rights and interests in the proposed order land, where acquisition by agreement is not possible;

(ii) agreed to authorise officers to take all necessary steps to commence the process for the making, confirmation and implementation of a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO), including securing the appointment of suitable external advisors and preparing all necessary CPO documentation;

(iii) noted that  further report will be presented to the Cabinet to approve the making of a CPO and to confirm the extend of the order land to be acquired following the finalisation of the necessary preparation work; and

(iv) agreed that any trees removed as part of the implementation scheme shall be replaced in accordance with the Council’s approved Tree Management Policy.

The Cabinet approves the award of a 5 year contract (plus one optional 3 year extensions) to the supplier identified in the confidential appendix to the report for the provision of both Facilities and Asset Management Services.

The Cabinet has noted and given approval to the updated Greater Manchester Strategy (GMS) Implementation Plan and Performance Dashboard, considering overall progress towards the achievement of the GMS ambitions and targets, including the specific actions, updates and measures relating to Stockport.

In June 2017 the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) instructed Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) to prepare an assessment for a proposed bus franchising scheme for Greater Manchester. Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council (SMBC), as a statutory consultee. The report will outline the proposal and ask for comments for the consultation response from the Council.

The Cabinet has considered the Environment and Economy Scrutiny Committee’s response to the Proposed Bus Franchising Scheme consultation questionnaire and the proposed response to be submitted on behalf of the Council, and has given approval to the delegation of the submission of the final Council response, to the Corporate Director, Place Management and Regeneration in consultation with the Cabinet Member Economy and Regeneration.

The Cabinet considered proposed changes to the scheme of local discounts and exemptions against liability for Business Rates and Council Tax and recommended that the Council Meeting note the Council Tax and Business Rates Discount Annual Review and approve the changes to the Business Rates and Council Tax Support and Discounts and Exemptions schemes.

The report details the forecast Collection Fund outturn position for 2019/20 and the setting of the Council Tax Taxbase and forecast Business Rates income for 2020/21. These items form an integral part of the Council's 2020/21 budget setting process.

The Cabinet considered the forecast Collection Fund outturn position for 2019/20, the setting of the Council Tax Taxbase for 2019/20 and a forecast for Business Rates income for  2020/21 and agreed that in relation to the Stockport Billing Area - 2020/21 Council Tax Taxbase and Non Domestic Rates forecast, to:

·         Declare a forecast Collection Fund surplus of £1.194m in 2019/20 relating to a Council Tax surplus of £0.547m and Business Rates surplus of £0.647m;

·         Declare a forecast Collection Fund surplus to be distributed to the Council’s General Fund in 2020/21 of £1.109m relating to a Council Tax surplus of £0.468m and Business Rates surplus of £0.641m;

·         Note the 2020/21 Council Tax Taxbase for budget setting purposes of 96,241.2 Band D equivalent dwellings. The Council’s final 2020/21 Council Tax Taxbase will be presented for approval to the Council meeting on 16 January 2020;

·         Provisionally approve the 2020/21 forecast for Business Rates income of £80.730m;

·         Note the forecast benefit from the 2019/20 Pilot of £1.748m;

·         Note the available one-off resources to support the Council’s 2020/21 Budget, MTFP and investment decisions; and  

·         Approve the transfer of the 2019/20 100% Business Rates Retention Pilot benefit to Collection Fund Reserves as part of the 2019/20 financial year end process.

The Cabinet has also agreed to delegate the following decisions to the Corporate Director for Corporate and Support Services in consultation with the Deputy Leader of the Council:

·         The decision to vary the Business Rates forecast presented in Table 5 and Table 6; and

·         The decision to continue in the Greater Manchester and Cheshire Business Rates pooling arrangement.

The Mid-Year Corporate Performance and Resource Report (CPRR) provides a summary of progress in delivering the Council’s priority outcomes and budget over the first half of 2019/20, with a particular focus on the second quarter (July to September).

As previously agreed with Cabinet and Scrutiny Chairs, these reports are focused around highlights and exceptions. This ‘light touch’ approach is being used across all Portfolio and Corporate Reports in 2019/20.

The Cabinet is asked to:  

Review progress against delivering Council priorities and capital schemes alongside budget and performance forecasts contained within the report;  Approve the virements to the Revenue Budget set out in Section 3.2;  Note the Cash Limit and Non-Cash Limit forecast positions for 2019/20 as set out in Section 3.3;  Note the Dedicated Schools Grant, Housing Revenue Account and collection Fund forecast positions as set out in Sections 3.4, 3.5 and 3.6;  Note the appropriations to/from reserves and balances as set out in Section 3.7 and note the resulting reserves and balances position as at 30 September 2019;  Note the position for the 2019/20 Capital Programme as set out in Section 4;  Note the re-phasing of capital schemes during the quarter as set out in Section 4.4;  Approve the proposals for resourcing and additional resources required for the Capital Programme as set out in Section 4.6;  Approve the 2019/20 forecast prudential indicators as set out in Section 4.7; and  Identify key areas for further investigation and responsibility for taking forward corrective action to address any existing or outturn issues or risks.

Officer Contacts: Peter Owston on 0151 474 3274 or email: peter.owston@stockport.gov.uk; or Jonathan Davies on 0161 218 1025 or email: jonathan.davies@stockport.gov.uk

The Cabinet considered the Corporate Performance and Resources Mid-Year Reports 2019/20 and has:-

(a)   reviewed progress against delivering Council priorities and capital schemes alongside budget and performance forecasts contained within the report;

(b)   approved the virements to the Revenue Budget set out in section 3.2 of the report ;

(c)   noted the Cash Limit and Non-Cash Limit forecast positions for 2019/20 as set out in section 3.3 of the report

(d)   noted the Dedicated Schools Grant, Housing Revenue Account and Collection Fund forecast positions as set out in sections 3.4, 3.5 and 3.6 of the report;

(e)   noted the appropriations to/from reserves and balances as set out in section 3.7 and note the resulting reserves and balances position as at 30 September 2019;

(f)     noted the position for the 2019/20 Capital Programme as set out in section 4 of the report; 

(g)   noted the re-phasing of capital schemes during the quarter as set out in section 4.4 of the report;

(h)   approved the proposals for resourcing and additional resources required for the Capital Programme as set out in paragraph 4.6 of the report; 

(i)     approved the 2019/20 forecast prudential indicators as set out in section 4.7 of the report; and 

(j)     identified key areas for further investigation and responsibility for taking forward corrective action to address any existing or outturn issues or risks.

The proposals contained in the Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP) for 2019/20 will set out the Cabinet’s response to the financial challenges facing the Council and also how the Cabinet intended to support its ambitions for growth and reform.