Decisions

The Deputy Chief Executive has given approval to acquire land from the Diocese of Shrewsbury at St James RC High School to implement works associated with the mayors Challenge Fund Stockport A6 MARR Links.

(Note: the report contained information ‘not for publication’ that was circulated to the decision maker only)

The Cabinet considered the forecast Collection Fund outturn position for 2020/21, the setting of the Council Tax Taxbase for 2021/22 and a forecast for Business Rates income for 2021/22 and agreed:-

(1) That the Cabinet:

·         Declare a provisional forecast outturn Collection Fund deficit of £48.543m in 2020/21 relating to a Council Tax deficit of £5.603m and Business Rates deficit of £42.940m;

·         Declare a provisional forecast outturn Collection Fund deficit to be reimbursed to the Council’s General Fund in 2021/22 of £47.271m relating to a Council Tax deficit of £4.760m and Business Rates deficit of £42.511m;

·         Note the 2021/22 Council Tax Taxbase for budget setting purposes of 95,945.1 Band D equivalent dwellings. The Council’s final 2021/22 Council Tax Taxbase will be presented for approval to the Council meeting on 21 January 2021;

·         Provisionally approve the 2021/22 forecast for Business Rates income of £77.055m; and

·         Note the forecast 100% Pilot benefit from the 2020/21 Pilot of £2.966m.

(2) That the following decisions be delegated to the Corporate Director (Corporate and Support Services) and Deputy Chief Executive in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Resources, Commissioning and Governance:-

·         the decision to change the in-year provisional forecast outturn Collection Fund position in 2020/21 prior to declaring the position by 31 January 2021;

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

·         the decision to vary the Business Rates forecast presented in Table 7 and Table 8.

The Cabinet considered a report outlining the latest update on its approach to responding to the unprecedented uncertainty outlined within the medium-term financial plan (MTFP) update presented to the Cabinet meeting in October, and detailing a series of proposals outlined in Section 5 of the report to support the balancing of the Council’s 2021/22 Budget.

The Cabinet then agreed to:-

·         Note the details of the report including the announcements made by Government since October and in the 2020 Spending Review;

·         Approve the update to the MTFP savings requirement following the 2020 Spending Review;

·         Approve the saving proposals set out in Appendix 1 to support the balancing of the Council’s 2021/22 Budget to provide a stable financial platform for the transformation programme linked to One Stockport needed to support the Council’s recovery and address the medium term financial challenge;

·         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 that the forecasts and assumptions underpinning the MTFP will continue to be reviewed to ensure they remain robust and resilient as part of the Council’s 2021/22 budget setting process. A further update of the Council’s MTFP will be presented to Cabinet in February prior to the Budget Council meeting;    

·         Note the MTFP revised forecast cumulative savings requirement of £8.115m in 2021/22 rising to £26.802m in 2022/23; and

·         Take the final steps necessary to propose a balanced budget for 2021/22 to the Budget Council meeting on 25 February 2021.

·         Receive a further report to a future meeting of the Cabinet examining whether it was necessary or appropriate to move earmarked reserves into general balances.

The Cabinet considered the Corporate Performance and Resources Mid-Year Reports 2020/21 and has:-

Review progress against delivering Council priorities and capital schemes alongside budget and performance forecasts contained within the report;

·         noted the key achievements against Shared Priorities (Section 1) and analysis of corporate performance for 2020/21 (Section 2);

·         approved the virements to the Revenue Budget set out in section 3.2;

·         noted the Cash Limit and Non-Cash Limit forecast positions for 2020/21 as set out in section 3.3;

·         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;

·         noted the appropriations to/from reserves and balances as set out in section 3.7 and noted the resulting reserves and balances position as at 31 October 2020;

·         noted the financial impact of the Covid-19 pandemic set out in section 3.8;

·         noted the position for the 2020/21 Capital Programme as set out in section 4.1;

·         noted the changes and re-phasing of capital schemes during the quarter as set out in 4.2 to 4.4;

·         approved the resourcing of the capital programme as set out in section 4.5;

·         approved the 2020/21 prudential indicators as set out in section 4.6; and

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

The Cabinet has considered the Treasury Management Strategy and Annual Investment Strategy Mid-Year Review Report 2020/21 and has agreed to recommended that the Council Meeting:-

·         Notes the report and the treasury activity in the first half of the financial year;

·         Notes the revised interest rate forecasts for Bank rate and PWLB rates over the short and medium-term, which will drive the Council’s long-term borrowing strategies going forward.

The Cabinet has considered a proposal for the extension of the contract between the Council and Tameside Hospital NHS Foundation Trust in relation to the provision of Public Mortuary and Autopsy Related Post Mortem Services and has given. approval to the extension of the contract on the terms identified in the report

To approve the annual pay policy statement for 2020/21 for publication.

The Cabinet considered the Council’s Annual Pay Policy Statement and Gender Pay Gap figures for 2020 and recommended the Council Meeting adopt the Statement and agree to publish the Council’s Gender Pay Gap information.

The Cabinet has considered a report detailing the progress of the ongoing electoral review being undertaken in Stockport by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England and detailing a proposed draft Council Size Submission Report.

The Cabinet then recommended that the Council Meeting gives approval to the Council Size Submission Report.

The Cabinet considered a report detailing a proposed scheme for the widening of Railway Road, the reconfiguration of the junction, including improved cycle crossing facilities, and tie in with parallel zebra crossing with improved public realm and cycle route at the Wellington Road South and Railway Road junction that would require the acquisition of the land edged red on the plan attached to the report at Appendix 1. 

The Cabinet noted that attempts had been made by officers to acquire the land through agreement,  however these have been unsuccessful to date due to a sizeable difference in values between the parties.

Consequently, the Cabinet has:-

(1) Agreed in principle to the use of CPO powers, if necessary, to acquire land and property and existing rights and interests in the proposed order land, where acquisition by agreement is not possible;

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

(3) Noted that a further report will be presented to the Cabinet to approve the making of a CPO and to confirm the extent of the order land to be acquired following the finalisation of the necessary preparatory work.

The Cabinet has considered a report detailing a proposed approach to residents parking in Stockport town centre and the rest of borough and outlining the comments of the area committees and the Communities & Housing Scrutiny Committee on the proposal.

The Cabinet Member for Sustainable Stockport provided a further update to the meeting in relation to those comments made by the Stepping Hill Area Committee and providing responses to the comments made by the Communities & Housing Scrutiny Committee.

The Cabinet then gave approval to:-

·         the revised principles to guide future parking policy decisions

·         the proposed methods for demand management for parking schemes.

·         the proposal to move all free schemes to paid for schemes as and when maintenance work takes place, but this approach will be kept under review with the Cabinet Member.

·         the proposal to charge for a permit as identified in paragraphs 6.2 and 6.3 of the report and to review the costs annually as part of the Council Fees and Charges Report.

·         That the proposed charges start to be applied from the 1st April   2021 and increase annually by inflationary costs

·         the proposed changes to residents parking policy (Appendix 2) to reflect the revised principle

·         the proposed changes to town centre parking policy (Appendix 3) to reflect the revised principles.

The Cabinet considered a report presenting the various aspects of the flood events in July 2019 when areas across Northern England were hit by a low-pressure weather system and experienced periods of intense and significant rainfall that also incorporated the Final Independent Section 19 Investigation Report in accordance with the Flood & Water Management Act (FWMA) 2010 on the investigation into the flooding events undertaken independently by Mott MacDonald Consulting Engineers.

The Cabinet has:-

(1) Approved the final section 19 report.

(2) Approved the proposed response in this report and requested an annual Flood Resilience Plan is brought to Communities and Housing Scrutiny each year.

The report seeks approval to enter into the Getting Building Fund agreement.

The Cabinet received an update on the Getting Building Fund and a summary of Stockport’s successful projects. It also contained a request for authority to enter into contracts and agreements to draw down the funding and to progress the design on Stockport Exchange Phase 4 in advance of the Cabinet decision in February 2021.

The Cabinet then agreed:-

(1) That the contents of this report be noted.

(2) That delegated authority be given to the Corporate Director (Place) and Deputy Chief Executive and the Corporate Director (Corporate & Support Services) and Deputy Chief Executive, in consultation with the Cabinet Members for Economy & Regeneration and for Resources, Commissioning & Governance to:

(a)  take all necessary steps to bring forward eligible projects for the Getting Building Fund and to report back as necessary and appropriate to the Cabinet;

(b)  enter into contracts, procurement and funding agreements, as required, to support the delivery of Getting Building Fund supported projects; 

(c)  authorise £0.235M to further develop proposals for Stockport Exchange Phase 4; and

(d)   to receive and administer from the grant provider Getting Building Fund monies, and enter into reciprocal agreements, as required, with the grant recipients.   

To authorise the disposal of those sites in principal to the preferred bidder(s) with heads of terms.

The Cabinet has considered a report setting out and summarises the marketing campaigns that have recently concluded on two key town centre development sites and seeking approval for the disposal of the former Ritz Cinema car park (also known as ‘land at Piccadilly’ and ‘Fletcher Street’) and the former Greenhale House site.

The Cabinet has then:-

(1) Approved the proposal to dispose of the former Ritz Cinema car park in line with the recommendation report in Confidential Appendix 2 and the Heads of Terms as detailed in Confidential Appendix 4.

(2) Approved the proposal to dispose of the former Greenhale House in line with the recommendation report in Confidential Appendix 2 and the Heads of Terms as detailed in Confidential Appendix 5.

(3) Delegated authority to the Corporate Director (Place) & Deputy Chief Executive and Corporate Director (Corporate and Support Services) & Deputy Chief Executive in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Economy and Regeneration and the Cabinet Member for Resources, Commissioning and Governance to negotiate and agree the detailed final terms relating to the disposal of the interests in the two subject sites.

(4) Delegated authority to the Strategic Head of Service (Legal & Democratic Governance) to do all things necessary or incidental to the implementation of the above-mentioned resolutions.

(NOTE: The report contained a ‘not for publication’ appendix that was circulated to members of the Cabinet only).

The Cabinet considered a report outlining the Council’s statutory duty under the Education and Inspections Act 2006 to promote sustainable travel to school; detailing a review of the existing strategy, and outlining a proposed Sustainable Modes of School Travel Strategy for 2020 to 2025.

The Cabinet has then given approval to the adoption of the proposed Sustainable Modes of School Travel Strategy as the Council’s Strategy for sustainable school travel promotion until 2025.

The Cabinet has considered a report detailing proposals to move to new delivery arrangements for Council-owned leisure facilities and Active Communities programmes and has:-

(1) Authorised the establishment of a Community Interest Company to deliver active communities programmes on behalf of the Council and to operate Council owned leisure centres, subject to:

(i)         the development of a detailed business case and benefit rationalisation for moving to a Community Interest Company with advice on the optimum timescale and scope of services to minimise overall Council spend on active communities/leisure whilst maximising the impact of interventions to improve levels of physical activity in the Borough.

(ii)       the development of a detailed implementation and transition plan to move from current arrangements to a Community Interest Company at an appropriate time which minimises overall Council spend on active communities/leisure whilst maximising the impact of interventions to improve levels of physical activity in the Borough.

(2) Delegated authority to the Corporate Director (Place) & Deputy Chief Executive and Corporate Director (Corporate & Support Services) & Deputy Chief Executive, in consultation with the Cabinet Members for Sustainable Stockport and Resources, Commissioning & Governance to take all action necessary to establish the Community Interest Company and transfer services to the new organisation.

(NOTE: The report contained a ‘not for publication’ appendix that was circulated to members of the Cabinet only).

The Cabinet considered a report detailing the proposed Asset Management Plan to carry out upgrade work and improvements to buildings within the Councils operational estate and schools estate and setting out the capital programme for 20219/22 and the indicative programmes to be delivered through to 2023/2024.

The Cabinet then:-

(1) Approved the programme for 2021/22 and the financing thereof, and the Indicative AMP programme for up to 2023/24, as set out in the report;

(2) Approved the application of corporate resources to fund the AMP programme 2021/22 to 2023/24; with the application of funding types (capital receipts and borrowing) being delegated to the Deputy Chief Executive (Place) in conjunction with the Estates Capital Board (ECB);

(3) Authorised the Deputy Chief Executive (Place) to award construction contracts as required to deliver the works programme.

(4) Noted that a mid year review of the AMP Programme will be conducted.

The Cabinet has considered proposed changes to the scheme of local discounts and exemptions against liability for Business Rates and Council Tax and has agreed:-

·         That the Community Amateur Sports Club (CASC) Top-up scheme be continued for the year 2021/22, enabling CASCs to achieve 100% relief from Non-Domestic Rates, provided they meet the qualifying criteria at Appendix 2.

·         That Charity Relief remains limited to the 80% Mandatory Relief for the year 2021/22.

·         That Rural Rate Relief continues to be limited to 50% Mandatory Relief for the year 2021/22 and should any village shops be established in the future then additional discretionary relief should be awarded up to 100%.

·         That the 50% discount and qualifying criteria for Not for Profit organisations be maintained for the year 2021/22.That the local scheme for large businesses which are new to the Borough or those undergoing significant expansion in the Borough be continued for 2021/22.

·         That the continuation of a case by case approach for Business Rates discounts where exceptional circumstances exist be continued for 2021/22. It is unlikely that Exceptional Circumstances Relief would be awarded to an organisation which was in receipt of support from the Council, either grant funded or commissioned.

·         That the Council continues to no longer offer a Council Tax discount in respect of unoccupied and unfurnished properties from 2021/22.

·         That the maximum Council Tax premium charge levels in respect of unoccupied and unfurnished properties are implemented in accordance with those shown at para 4.4.3 from 2021/22.

·         That any Council Tax liability for care leavers up to the age of 25 be reduced to zero for 2021/22.

·         That Stockport’s Council Tax Support scheme is maintained for 2021/22 as detailed at Appendix 5.

·         That in the absence of a government funded grant, the existing Council Tax discretionary fund is refreshed to £25k for 2021/22, supporting customers facing financial difficulty, with no alternative means.

·         That the Revenues & Benefits Discretionary Support Policy at Appendix 6 is endorsed for 2021/22.

The Cabinet noted that in September 2018, the Council Meeting approved a motion condemning the practice of modern slavery and the Council has subsequently signed a Modern Slavery Charter.

One of the Charter’s commitments was to publish a Modern Slavery Statement that sets out the measures the council has implemented to ensure its supply chains are not linked to modern slavery, as well as further measures it intends to implement.

The Cabinet has therefore given approval to the adoption of the second iteration of the Stockport Council Modern Slavery Statement for the period up to 31 March 2022 as detailed in the report.

To agree, adopt and publish the revised Statement of Licensing Policy for Stockport, as the Licensing Authority under the Licensing Act 2003.

In line with the Licensing Act 2003 the Council is required to review the statement of licensing policy every 5 years and consult with responsible persons.

The Cabinet has recommended that the Council Meeting approves and adopts the Statement of Licensing Policy.

The Cabinet has considered a proposal for the redevelopment of the former BHS store, acquired by the Council in July 2019, into three units, with new public realm to provide grade level access to the front of the store, a rear access leading to a first floor unit and a new shopfront and has agreed:-

(1) That approval be given to the redevelopment of the former BHS store as outlined in the report.

(2) That authority be delegated to the Corporate Director (Place) and Deputy Chief Executive, and the Corporate Director (Corporate and Support Services) and Deputy Chief Executive, in consultation with the Leader of the Council and the Cabinet Member for Economy & Regeneration to:

·         Appoint a contractor to deliver the refurbishment works and execute any necessary letter of intent or other agreement, pending resolution of the final contract, to maintain progress.

·         Take any action needed to resolve issues that may hinder the delivery of this project within the planned programme and budget.

·         Agree the final terms of the occupational interests with the proposed tenants.

(3) That authority be delegated to the Strategic Head of Service (Legal & Democratic Governance) to do all things necessary or incidental to the implementation of the above-mentioned resolutions.

(NOTE: The report contained a ‘not for publication’ appendix that

was circulated to members of the Cabinet only).