Decisions

The Deputy Chief Executive has given authority to regear the lease for 92-94 Merseyway to Yours Clothing.

(Note: the report contained information ‘not for publication’ that was circulated to the decision maker only)

The Deputy Chief Executive has given authority to grant a lease for 25-29 Merseyway to JD Sports Ltd.

(Note: the report contained information ‘not for publication’ that was circulated to the decision maker only)

The Deputy Chief Executive has given authority to the request of erect fencing at a site leased as a football ground.

(Note: the report contained information ‘not for publication’ that was circulated to the decision maker only)

The Deputy Chief Executive has given authority for the payment of compensation to a property owner for the acquisition of their interest in property, which was acquired to implement the A6 MARR highway scheme.

(Note: the report contained information ‘not for publication’ that was circulated to the decision maker only)

The Deputy Chief Executive has given authority to issue consent to the disposal of a small parcel of garden land at 36 Ernest Street, Cheadle.

(Note: the report contained information ‘not for publication’ that was circulated to the decision maker only)

The Deputy Chief Executive has given authority to the appointment of a main contractor to undertake remodelling and refurbishment works at the Learning Support Service, adjoining the Pendlebury Centre, Edgeley Road, Stockport, to deliver 12 additional SEND places, which will form part of a satellite site for Heaton School, St James Road, Stockport.

(Note: the report contained information ‘not for publication’ that was circulated to the decision maker only)

The Deputy Chief Executive has given authority to Progressive Living Developments Ltd (“the Purchaser”) and their appointed contractors to access Council land for the purposes of carrying out a ground investigation survey and retaining wall survey.

(Note: the report contained information ‘not for publication’ that was circulated to the decision maker only)

The Deputy Chief Executive has given authority for the payment of compensation to a property owner for the acquisition of their interest in property, which was acquired to implement the A6 MARR highway scheme.

(Note: the report contained information ‘not for publication’ that was circulated to the decision maker only)

The Cabinet Member for Resources, Commissioning and Governance has noted that as part of its response to COVID-19 the Government provided Local Authorities with £500m of new grant funding in 2020-21, to support economically vulnerable people and households in their local area.  Stockport Council was allocated £2,462,460 of this grant funding.

The expectation was that most of the hardship fund would be used to provide council tax relief using discretionary powers under s13A(1)(c) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992.

The Government also recognised that some Councils would want to use some of the funding to deliver increased financial assistance outside the council tax system through Local Welfare or similar schemes. 

Details of how the grant funding was allocated and spent during 2020-21 is set out at paragraph 1.6 and 4.1 of the attached report.  The eligibility criteria for both the Council Tax Discretionary Hardship Scheme and Humanitarian Aid Grant are described at paragraphs 2.1 and 3.3.

Plans for allocating the funding underspend during 2021/22 are covered at paragraph 5.1 along with recommendations for changes to the current eligibility criteria for the Council Tax Hardship Scheme 2021-22.

The Cabinet Member for Resources, Commissioning and Governance has then:-

·         Approved the plans for allocating the balance of 2020-21 COVID-19 Hardship Funding during 2021-22 as described at paragraph 5.1 of the attached report

·         Noted the changes to the Council Tax Discretionary Hardship Fund set out in paragraph 5.4.

·         Noted the need for funding allocations to remain fluid so that balances can be moved to support demand where appropriate, subject to close monitoring.

The Deputy Chief Executive has given approval to the appointment of the selected contractor to undertake emergency repair works to the roof at Castle Hill School.

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

The Deputy Chief Executive has given approval to the appointment of a contractor to undertake works at Gatley Hill House.

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

The Deputy Chief Executive has given approval to the appointment of the selected contractor to undertake electrical rewiring works at Great Moor Infants School.

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

The Deputy Chief executive has given authority to issue consent to the disposal of a parcel of land at Shawcross Street.

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

The Deputy Chief executive has given authority to grant a lease for 16 Merseyway to Ruby Friel t/a Still Life Story.

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

The deputy Chief Executive has given authority for the payment of compensation to a property owner for the acquisition of their interest in property, which was acquired to implement the A6 MARR highway scheme.

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

The Deputy Chief Executive has given authority to issue consent to the sub-under letting of land at Bredbury Park.

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

The Deputy Chief Executive has given authority to the issuing of consent to enable Mr Taylor’s Estate TO assign the ground lease.

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

The Deputy Chief Executive has given authority for the payment of compensation to a property owner for the acquisition of their interest in property, which was acquired to implement the A6 MARR highway scheme.

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

The Deputy Chief executive has given authority for Transport for Greater Manchester to access Council land for the purposes of carrying out a ground survey.

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

The Deputy Chief Executive has given authority to grant a licence for a subletting in respect of land at Unit 3, Greyhound Industrial Estate, Melford Road, Hazel Grove, Stockport.

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

From 28 September 2020, a new legal duty was placed on all those who test positive for COVID19 or are identified by NHS Test and Trace as a close contact, requiring them to self-isolate.

Alongside this requirement, the Government provided funding for a Test and Trace Support Payment (TTSP) scheme for people on a low income who are unable to work while they are self-isolating because they cannot work from home. This is a £500 lump sum payment. 

The scheme has been administered by the Revenues and Benefits Service since 05 October 2020 and will run until 30 June 2021. 

In addition to the Main Scheme, Government require a Discretionary Payment Scheme to be made available to those applicants who are not in receipt of a qualifying means tested benefit but meet all the other main scheme conditions, along with any additional localised criteria.  Eligibility criteria for a discretionary payment was developed alongside other Greater Manchester Authorities to ensure the support was targeted at those individuals who need it and that sufficient funding would be available to cover demand. 

Details of current eligibility criteria for both the main and discretionary schemes are set out in the attached report at paragraphs 2.1, 3.2 and 3.3 along with mandatory changes made to the existing schemes from 08 March 2021 at paragraphs 7.2 and 7.3.

7.1 Following an increase in Government grant funding for local discretionary schemes, advice from the DHSC and analysis of take up, changes to eligibility criteria in Stockport’s discretionary Test and Trace Support Payment scheme are recommended from 01 April 2021.

Following consideration of the report, the Cabinet Member for Resources, Commissioning and Governance has: -

·         Noted the eligibility to be made in line with the Government’s mandatory criteria set out in paragraph 2.1.

·         Noted the inclusion of the Government changes to the main scheme set out in paragraph 7.2 and 7.3.

·         Approved the removal of the requirement to evidence property related costs as part of the eligibility criteria for the Council’s discretionary scheme from 01 April 2021.

·         Noted the eligibility for support payments from the Council’s discretionary scheme to be made in line with the following criteria which removes the requirement to evidence property related costs: -

-       Have been told to stay home and self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace, either because they have tested positive for coronavirus or have recently been in close contact with someone who has tested positive;

-       Are employed or self-employed;

-       Are unable to work from home and will lose income as a result;

-       Who are not currently receiving Universal Credit, Working Tax Credit, income-based Employment and Support Allowance, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, Income Support, Housing Benefit and/or Pension Credit;

-       Who are on a low income and will face financial hardship as a result of not being able to work while they are self-isolating; and

-       Who have no recourse to public funds if they meet criteria above

The COVID Local Support Grant is the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) scheme that succeeds the COVID Winter Package Grant Scheme.

It will allow local authorities to directly help those households who have been financially impacted by COVID with the cost of food, fuel and other household essentials over the 2 months from 17 April to 20 June 21.

Stockport’s funding allocation is £0.204m.

The grant will be allocated in accordance with considerations and approach set out in the attached report at sect 5.3, balancing the needs to provide support to recipients of means tested Free School Meals (FSM) whilst also minimising dependency and providing support to a ‘broad cross section’ of vulnerable families/households including:

• Families with Children – children eligible for FSM Families with Children – pre-school children
• Families with Children – those families identified as vulnerable but outside of the FSM eligibility

• Families with Children – 16-19 year olds receiving further education FSM equivalent
• Other Families – Care Leavers
• Other Families – Vulnerable Adults

The Cabinet Member for Resources, Commissioning & Governance has considered the investment proposals outlined in section 5 of the report and has given approval to the proposal to proceed with a hybrid approach to COVID Local Support Grant allocation outlined in section 5.3 of the report.