Issue - meetings

To consider a joint report of the Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Finance & Resources.

The Leader of the Council (Councillor Mark Hunter) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) which sought approval for the draft Stockport Council Plan 2024 – 2027.

RESOLVED – That the Stockport Council Plan 2024 – 2027 be approved and adopted.

To consider a joint report of the Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Finance & Resources.

The Stockport Council Plan 2024-2027 is our main strategic document for the council. It describes the key role the council plays in supporting the borough, through the provision and delivery of services that are essential to everyday life. The Plan also outlines our four big ambitions for the upcoming years, that will create opportunities for everyone within the borough.

The Council Plan accompanies the budget. It is a public-facing summary document that sits above annual Portfolio Agreements and complements the One Stockport Borough Plan. It is aligned with our medium-term financial plan and incorporates our key transformation activity.

The Cabinet is requested to recommend that the Council Meeting approves and adopts the 2024/25 Council Plan.

Officer contact: Kathryn Rees on 0161 474 3174 or email: kathryn.rees@stockport.gov.uk

The Leader of the Council (Councillor Mark Hunter) submitted the Council Plan 2024-2027 (copies of which had been circulated) that accompanied the budget and set a high-level framework for decision making throughout the financial year.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         The current iteration of the Council Plan worked across a longer timescale to match of the horizon of the Medium Term Financial Plan.

·         The Council continued to provide vital services to residents when they needed it most.

·         Members expressed their thanks to officers for their hard work in producing the plan document.

RESOLVED - That the Council Meeting be recommended to give approval to the draft Council Plan 2024-2027.

To consider a report of the Director of Place Management.

The report sets out the Stockport Council Plan 2024-2027 which is our main strategic document for the council. It describes the key role the council plays in supporting the borough, through the provision and delivery of services that are essential to everyday life. The Plan also outlines our four big ambitions for the upcoming years, that will create opportunities for everyone within the borough.

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to:-

(1)  Consider and comment on the draft Council and Transformation Plan 2024-27, Equality Impact Assessment and Environmental Impact Assessment; and

(2)  Note the key issues and processes outlined above.

Officer contact: Kathryn Rees on 0161 474 3174 or email kathryn.rees@stockport.gov.uk

The Director of Strategy submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) setting out the Stockport Council Plan 2024-2027 which was the main strategic document for the council. It described the key role the council played in supporting the borough, through the provision and delivery of services that were essential to everyday life. The Plan also outlined our four big ambitions for the upcoming years, that would create opportunities for everyone within the borough.

The Cabinet Member for Finance & Resources (Councillor Jilly Julian) attended the meeting to respond to councillor’s questions.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         Members welcomed the draft council plan and commented that it was comprehensive and innovative, with clear detail and ambitions for the council’s work in the coming year. Members also welcomed the opportunity to feed into the plan. Members commented positively on the chart detailing the work carried out by the council in the past 12 months.

·         Members commented that in several areas Stockport was the ‘best’ particularly in terms of its national railway station which provided access to Manchester Airport, the Peak District and to Manchester City Centre.

·         In terms of the council’s ambition to do five ‘big things’ members requested further detail related to Stockport’s ambition to be the ‘best place to grow up’ and to provide the ‘best health and care’.

·         In response it was stated that granularity in terms of how those ambitions would be measured and the expected results were contained within the report.

·         It was further reported that the plan was not only about what the council could deliver, but also a partnership plan with ambitions for the council to work with businesses, the community and health sectors. The plan aimed to demonstrate to partnership organisations that working and investing with the council would deliver results.

·         In terms of delivering the ambitions contained within the plan, the council intended to work with forums such as the Equity Network. The council had scheduled a Teams meeting with 35 local organisations to discuss engagement on a range of events. Targets and ambitions were set for the coming 15 years which included the equality gap, along with improvements to skills and employment.

·         Members queried the how council’s long-term plans related to affordable housing. Whilst housing was being built in the town centre, members commented that in 15 years there would be no more town centre space for new housing.

·         It was acknowledged that the plan around housing was medium-term and did not meet the 15 year horizon. Further details related to the housing plan would be reported to the Economy, Regeneration and Climate Change Scrutiny Committee. 

·         Members referred to the workforce section of the plan and the importance of attracting talent to the council, along with staff retention and progression. Members asked why retention had not been included as a specific aim within the plan. In response it was stated that the council was making huge strides in terms of talent retention and that this would be made more explicit within the plan.

RESOLVED – (1) That the draft Council and Transformation Plan 2024-27, Equality Impact Assessment and Environmental Impact Assessment be noted; and

(2) That the key issues and processes outlined be noted.