Issue - meetings

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

Part B outlines the Cabinet’s response to addressing the uncertainty, volatility and risk outlined within the review of the MTFP.

The Cabinet’s focus is on delivering outcomes-focused transformational change for communities and businesses across Stockport. A resilient and robust budget is key to this.

Our evolving strategy to address the medium-term budget challenges are focused around budget adjustments, local taxation considerations, the use of reserves and change proposals.

A key area of focus remains on our neighbourhood and prevention programme, proactively working together with partners to address growing areas of spend and increasing need for support, working intensively with vulnerable families and young people, enabling us to reduce our longer term spend and enable better outcomes for families in Stockport.

We recognise that alongside our longer-term ambitions, we must deliver good quality services for the people of Stockport. We need to push further on delivering services that the most efficient and effective way possible, focusing on the right things, maximising the benefit of the Stockport pound for our residents.

The report provides an overview of the approach the Cabinet will be taking to respond to the financial impact identified in the Part A report. This will involve careful consideration of a series of budget options and some difficult decisions to ensure that the council continues to have a balanced budget. Delivering a longer-term transformation programme alongside more immediate financial decisions will be key to its success.

The Cabinet is recommended to:-

(1) Note the approach and endorse the next steps, including agreeing to share with scrutiny, for comment, the proposals which support a resilient and sustainable MTFP;

(2) Support the ongoing development of our MTFP response and transformation programme

Officer contact: Jonathan Davies on 0161 218 1025 or email:  jonathan.davies@stockport.gov.uk

The Leader of the Council (Councillor Mark Hutner) and the Cabinet Member for Finance & Resources (Councillor Jilly Julian) submitted a joint report (copies of which had been circulated) outlining the Cabinet’s proposed response to addressing the uncertainty, volatility and risk outlined within the review of the medium-term financial plan (MTFP) with a focus on delivering outcomes-focused transformational change for communities and businesses across Stockport. 

RESOLVED - (1) That the approach be noted, and the next steps endorsed including agreeing to share with scrutiny, for comment, the proposals which support a resilient and sustainable MTFP.

(2) That the ongoing development of our MTFP response and transformation programme be supported.