Agenda and minutes

To receive announcements from the Mayor.

The Mayor reported that a ‘Question Time’ event had been held on Friday, 17 January 2020 attended by Angela Rayner MP, Sir Graham Brady MP and Councillor Charles Gibson with questions posed by students and apprentices from Stockport and Trafford College.

The Mayor then announced that on 27 January 2020 she had attended three events to commemorate Holocaust Memorial Day.  The Mayor extended her thanks to Councillor Dena Ryness for her work in making the arrangements for Stockport’s civic ceremony.

The Mayor reported that on 28 January, she had attended the Cheshire Best Kept Stations Awards with Councillors Allan and Clarke and confirmed that Rose Hill Station, Marple, had won the prestigious “Best Kept Station’ Award”, which represented the first time the award had gone to a station in the metropolitan area of the county.

Finally, the Mayor reported that she had been invited to visit Bangladesh to talk about disability inclusion, the cost of which would be borne by sponsorship.

Councillors and officers to declare any interests which they may have in any of the items on the Summons for the meeting.

Councillors and officers were invited to declare any interests which they had in any of the items on the Summons for the meeting.

The following interest was declared:-

Personal Interest

Personal and Prejudicial Interests

Those councillors who were property owners or eligible to pay Council Tax also declared a disclosable pecuniary interest in Summons Item 3(v) – ‘Council Tax 2020/21’ for which a dispensation in respect of this matter had been granted by the Standards Committee.

It was noted that the Standards Committee had approved a wide dispensation to enable any member with a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest or a Personal and Prejudicial interest in any item under consideration as part of the budget setting to take part and vote at the meeting.

To receive any questions from and provide answers to the public in relation to matters relevant to the Council’s activities.

Members of the public were invited to put questions to the Mayor and councillors on matters within the powers and duties of the Council.

Three public questions were submitted as follows:-

·         Relating to a statement made by the Joe Anderson, Mayor of Liverpool, on 31 January 2020 to the Liverpool Echo that he refused to carry out any further cuts to the Council's budget and whether the Leader of Stockport Council would make a similar pledge.

The Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Devolution (Councillor Elise Wilson) responded that she had great sympathy with Liverpool’s situation as it had been one of the hardest hit councils in the country, however she was committed to delivering a balanced budget for Stockport as the authority was legally required to do, and that a failure to do so would result in the government assuming control and taking those decisions instead.

·         Relating to why the Council was not proposing to utilise the opportunity to increase Council Tax by the maximum permitted level of 3.99%

The Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Devolution (Councillor Elise Wilson) responded that there was a need to fund the increased demand on social care services, but that this needed to be counterbalanced by the fact that council tax was a regressive form of taxation and that Stockport Council taxpayers had seen a year-on-year increase to their Council Tax bill which had, in general, been higher than inflation. 

The Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group (Councillor Mark Hunter) also responded that there was a statutory requirement for councils to deliver a balanced budget, but that he did not consider that the cost of funding social care should be met by council tax.  Councillor Hunter further stated that the Liberal Democrat Group would be putting forward its position on the proposed budget as part of the discussion on items later on the Summons for the meeting.

·         Relating to the Stockport Climate Emergency Strategy and the omission from the Strategy on how the Council intended to meet its Paris agreement carbon budget commitment at the same time as investing in the expansion of Manchester Airport.

The Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Devolution (Councillor Elise Wilson) responded that there needed to be a clear national and local approach to the climate agenda and that it would be difficult to balance complex transport, economic and social change against the carbon targets.

To receive petitions, and by prior arrangement, receive delegations and presentations from members of the public, community groups or partnership organisations.

No such arrangements have been made for this meeting.

Petitions

One petition was submitted relating to a request to withdraw proposal to make cuts to the Stockport Local Assistance Scheme.

RESOLVED – That the petition be formally received and that it be noted during the consideration and deliberation of the budget proposals submitted for the Council Meeting’s determination.

Presentations

There were no presentations.

To consider a report of the Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Devolution.

The Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Devolution (Councillor Elise Wilson) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) seeking approval for the draft 2020/21 Council Plan.

RESOLVED – (59 for) That the Council Plan 2020/21 be approved and adopted.

To consider a joint report of the Cabinet Member for Sustainable Stockport and the Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Resources, Commissioning & Governance.

The Cabinet Member for Sustainable Stockport (Councillor Sheila Bailey) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) requesting the Council Meeting to set the level of rent and service charges in the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) and approve the HRA budget for 2020/21.

RESOLVED - (61 for) That approved be given to:-

(i)         average social rent to increase by 2.7% (CPI + 1%) in 2020/21;

(ii)        services charge increases as outlined in Section 3;

(iii)       the Housing Revenue Account Budget for 2020/21 as set out in Appendix 1.

(iv)       rents and service charge increases to Temporary accommodation as set out in Appendix 3.

The names of those councillors voting on this resolution were recorded as follows:-

Those councillors who voted for the resolution were:-

The Mayor (Councillor Laura Booth); the Deputy Mayor (Councillor John Wright); Councillors Malcolm Allan, Lou Ankers, Paul Ankers, Brian Bagnall, Sheila Bailey, Grace Baynham, Kate Butler, Anna Charles-Jones, Angie Clark, Laura Clingan, Stuart Corris, Becky Crawford, Dickie Davies, Will Dawson, Tom Dowse, Roy Driver, Dean Fitzpatrick, Colin Foster, Helen Foster-Grime, Charles Gibson, Chris Gordon, Graham Greenhalgh, Yvonne Guariento, Philip Harding, Keith Holloway, Linda Holt, Mark Hunter, Mike Hurleston, Colin MacAlister, Carole McCann, John McGahan, Tom McGee, Wendy Meikle, David Meller, Janet Mobbs, Tom Morrison, Adrian Nottingham, John Pantall, Amanda Peers, Iain Roberts, Mark Roberts, Dena Ryness, David Sedgwick, Becky Senior, Lisa Smart, Andy Sorton, Charlie Stewart, John Taylor, Aron Thornley, Alanna Vine, Lisa Walker, Kerry Waters, Mark Weldon, Jude Wells, Wendy Wild, David Wilson, Elise Wilson, Suzanne Wyatt and Matt Wynne.

To consider a report of the Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Resources, Commissioning & Governance.

The Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Devolution (Councillor Elise Wilson) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an update the Council’s 2020/21 to 2022/23 Medium Term Financial Plan forecasts and assumptions taking account of local and national changes.

RESOLVED - That the Medium Term Financial Plan forecasts for the Council’s finances for the period 2020/21 to 2022/23 be noted.

To consider a joint report of the Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Devolution and the Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Resources, Commissioning and Governance.

The Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Devolution (Councillor Elise Wilson) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing the Cabinet’s Revenue Budget Proposals for 2020/21 and Capital Programme Investment Plans and outlining the Council’s financial outlook and challenges across the medium term period 2020/21 to 2022/23.

MOVED AND SECONDED – That:-

(1) approval be given to the Budget for 2020/21 described in the report (subject to the consideration and allocation of the one-off available resources identified) and set out in Appendix 2 and 3.

(2) the risk assessment of the Budget at Appendix 5 and the report of the Section 151 Officer on the adequacy of proposed financial reserves and robustness of the estimates included at Appendix 5 be noted.

(3) the financial forecasts for 2020/21 to 2022/23 (Appendix 6), and the key issues to be addressed in formulating a response to the future financial challenges facing the Council be noted.

(4) approval be given to the 2020/21 to 2022/23 Capital Programme and the funding arrangements as described in the report and set out at Appendix 7.

(5) approval be given to the prudential indicators set out in Appendix 8.

(6) the appropriate Council Tax resolutions bee passed which produce a Council Tax increase of 2.99% (0.99% General increase and 2% Adult Social Care Precept increase) as illustrated in Appendix 9.

AMENDMENT MOVED AND SECONDED - That the Council Meeting gives approval to the proposed amendments to the 2020/21 Cabinet Revenue Budget and Capital Programme put forward by the Liberal Democrat Group and as set out in its proposals and summarised in the document entitled “Liberal Democrat Budget Amendment 2020/21” which had been circulated at the meeting.

At 6.50 pm it was

RESOLVED – That the meeting be adjourned.

The meeting reconvened at 7.21 pm.

The Council Meeting then proceeded to debate the amendment.

Upon the amendment being put to the vote:-

For the amendment 26, against 35.

AMENDMENT NOT CARRIED

The names of those councillors voting on this amendment were recorded as follows:-

Those councillors who voted for the amendment were:-

Councillors Malcolm Allan, Lou Ankers, Paul Ankers, Grace Baynham, Angie Clark, Stuart Corris, Will Dawson, Tom Dowse, Helen Foster-Grime, Charles Gibson, Chris Gordon, Graham Greenhalgh, Keith Holloway, Mark Hunter, Colin MacAlister, Carole McCann, Wendy Meikle, Tom Morison, John Pantall, Iain Roberts, Mark Roberts, Becky Senior, Lisa Smart, Aron Thornley, Mark Weldon and Suzanne Wyatt.

Those councillors who voted against the amendment were:-

The Mayor (Councillor Laura Booth); the Deputy Mayor (Councillor John Wright); Councillors Brian Bagnall, Sheila Bailey, Kate Butler, Anna Charles-Jones, Laura Clingan, Becky Crawford, Dickie Davies, Roy Driver, Dean Fitzpatrick, Colin Foster, Yvonne Guariento, Philip Harding, Linda Holt, Mike Hurleston, John McGahan, Tom McGee, David Meller, Janet Mobbs, Adrian Nottingham, Amanda Peers, Dena Ryness, David Sedgwick, Andy Sorton, Charlie Stewart, John Taylor, Alanna Vine, Lisa Walker, Kerry Waters, Jude Wells, Wendy Wild, David Wilson, Elise Wilson and Matt Wynne.

The Council Meeting then proceeded to debate the original motion.

It was then

RESOLVED – (36 for, 24 against, 1 abstention) That:-

(1) approval be given to the Budget for 2020/21 described in the report (subject to the consideration and allocation of the one-off available resources identified) and set out in Appendix 2 and 3.

(2) the risk assessment of the Budget at Appendix 5 and the report of the Section 151 Officer on the adequacy of proposed financial reserves and robustness of the estimates included at Appendix 5 be noted.

(3) the financial forecasts for 2020/21 to 2022/23 (Appendix 6), and the key issues to be addressed in formulating a response to the future financial challenges facing the Council be noted.

(4) approval be given to the 2020/21 to 2022/23 Capital Programme and the funding arrangements as described in the report and set out at Appendix 7.

(5) approval be given to the prudential indicators set out in Appendix 8.

(6) the appropriate Council Tax resolutions bee passed which produce a Council Tax increase of 2.99% (0.99% General increase and 2% Adult Social Care Precept increase) as illustrated in Appendix 9.

The names of those councillors voting on this resolution were recorded as follows:-

Those councillors who voted for the resolution were:-

The Mayor (Councillor Laura Booth); the Deputy Mayor (Councillor John Wright); Councillors Brian Bagnall, Sheila Bailey, Kate Butler, Anna Charles-Jones, Laura Clingan, Becky Crawford, Dickie Davies, Roy Driver, Dean Fitzpatrick, Colin Foster, Yvonne Guariento, Philip Harding, Linda Holt, Mike Hurleston, Carole McCann, John McGahan, Tom McGee, David Meller, Janet Mobbs, Adrian Nottingham, Amanda Peers, Dena Ryness, David Sedgwick, Andy Sorton, Charlie Stewart, John Taylor, Alanna Vine, Lisa Walker, Kerry Waters, Jude Wells, Wendy Wild, David Wilson, Elise Wilson and Matt Wynne.

Those councillors who voted against the resolution were:-

Councillors Malcolm Allan, Lou Ankers, Paul Ankers, Grace Baynham, Angie Clark, Stuart Corris, Will Dawson, Helen Foster-Grime, Charles Gibson, Chris Gordon, Graham Greenhalgh, Keith Holloway, Mark Hunter, Colin MacAlister, Wendy Meikle, Tom Morison, John Pantall, Iain Roberts, Mark Roberts, Becky Senior, Lisa Smart, Aron Thornley, Mark Weldon and Suzanne Wyatt.

The councillor who abstained was Councillor Tom Dowse.

To consider a joint report of the Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Devolution and the Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Resources, Commissioning and Governance and to pass the appropriate resolutions setting the Council Tax for 2020/21.

(Draft report and resolutions enclosed)

The Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member Devolution (Councillor Elise Wilson) submitted a report (copies of which were circulated) setting out the Council Tax for 2020/21 and the level of precepts for the Mayoral Police and Crime Commissioner Precept and Mayoral General Precept.

RESOLVED – (36 for, 24 against) (1) That it be noted that on 16 January 2020, the Council has calculated the Council Tax base for 2020/21 as:

·         96,241.2 for the whole Council area [Item T in the formula in Section 31B of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, as amended (the "Act")]

(2) That the Council Meeting approve the Council Tax Requirement for the Council’s own purposes for 2020/21 as being £162,717,884.

(3) That the following amounts be calculated by the Council for the year 2020/21 in accordance with sections 31 to 36 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992:

(a) £680,972,627 being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in section 31A(2) of the Act (Appendix Two).

(b) £518,254,743 being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in section  31A(3) of the Act (Appendix Two).

(c) £162,717,884 being the amount by which the aggregate at 3(a) above exceeds the aggregate at 3(b) above, calculated by the Council, in accordance with section 31A(4) of the Act, as its Council Tax Requirement for the year (Item R in the formula in Section 31B of the Act). (Appendix Two).

(d) £1,690.73 being the amount at 3(c) above, all divided by Item T (1(a) above), calculated by the Council, in accordance with section 31B of the Act, as the basic amount of its Council Tax for the year.

(e) £0.00 being the aggregate amount of all special items referred to in section 34(1) of the Act

(f) £1,690.73 being the amount at 3(d) above less the result given by dividing the amount at 3(e) above by the amount by Item T (1(a) above), calculated by the Council, in accordance with section 34(2) of the Act, as the basic amount of its council tax for the year for dwellings in those parts of its area to which no special item relates.

(4) That it be noted that for the year 2020/21 the Mayoral Police and Crime Commissioner precept for Greater Manchester and the Mayoral General precept (including Fire Services) have been issued to the Council in accordance with section 40 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, for each category of dwellings in the Council's area as indicated in the table below.

(5) That the Council, in accordance with Sections 30 to 36 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, hereby sets the aggregate amounts shown in the tables below as the amounts of Council Tax for 2020/21 for each part of its area and for each of the categories of dwellings.

(6) That the Council, in accordance with section 52ZB of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 hereby determines that the Council’s relevant basic amount of council tax for 2020/21 is not excessive in accordance with the principles determined by the Secretary of State under section 52ZC of the Act.

The names of those councillors voting on this resolution were recorded as follows:-

Those councillors who voted for the resolution were:-

The Mayor (Councillor Laura Booth); the Deputy Mayor (Councillor John Wright); Councillors Brian Bagnall, Sheila Bailey, Kate Butler, Anna Charles-Jones, Laura Clingan, Becky  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.(ii)

To consider a joint report of the Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Devolution and the Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Resources, Commissioning & Governance.

The Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Resources, Commissioning & Governance (Councillor Tom McGee) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing a high-level overview of how capital investment decisions contributed towards the provision of services. It also set out the long-term context in which capital expenditure and investment decisions were made, giving due consideration to both risk and reward and impact on the achievement of priority outcomes.

RESOLVED – (61 for) That approval be given to:-

·         The Capital Strategy 2020/21; and,

·         Capital Prudential Indicators:

o   Capital expenditure forecasts;

o   Capital Financing Requirement projections; and

o   Ratio of financing costs to net revenue stream.

To consider a joint report of the Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Devolution and the Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Resources, Commissioning & Governance.

The Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Resources, Commissioning & Governance (Councillor Tom McGee) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) inviting the Council Meeting to consider the Treasury Management Strategy Statement, the Annual Investment Strategy and the Minimum Revenue Provision Policy 2020/21.

RESOLVED – (61 for) That approval be given to:-

·         The Minimum Revenue Provision Policy for 2020/21;

·         The Capital Expenditure forecasts and Capital Financing Requirement projections;

·         The Treasury Management Strategy 2020/21;

·         The Treasury and Prudential Indicators and limits 2020/21-2022/23;

·         The Annual Investment Strategy 2020/21.