Agenda and minutes

To receive announcements from the Mayor.

The Mayor reported that since the last meeting of the Council he had attended an event to commemorate Holocaust Memorial Day on Wednesday, 27 January 2021 and he expressed his thanks to Councillor Ryness and Democratic Services for organising the event.

It was then reported that he had chaired a meeting of the Armed Forces Covenant Group on Monday, 25 January 2021 where the Group had heard some of the issues facing those who had served in the armed forces.  The Mayor noted that for the first time, the census would contain a question that asked whether the respondent had previously served in the armed forces which would provide local authorities with the necessary information that would assist them in keeping the promise represented by the covenant.

The Mayor reported that it had been a difficult year to raise funds for the Mayor’s Charity, however he still had ambitions to raise the profile of Beacon Counselling and to raise further funds.  The Mayor stated that on Thursday, 25 February 2021 Beacon Counselling would be holding an online quiz hosted by the High Sheriff of Greater Manchester.  It was also hoped to hold the annual abseil down the side of Stopford House to raise funds for the charity.

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 interests were declared:-

Personal Interest

Personal and Prejudicial Interests

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.

Six public questions were submitted as follows:-

·         Relating to what action was being taken to communicate important information about the EU Settlement Scheme to residents and what resources had been allocated to contacting EU citizens.

The Cabinet Member for Citizen Focus & Engagement (Councillor Kate Butler) responded that awareness raising and support on the EU Settlement Scheme had been part of a key area of preparation in Stockport as part of the local action plan overseen by the Brexit Advisory Group which was established in 2019.  Leading up to the end of the transition period and in recent months communication and engagement had been aimed at all Stockport residents as well as targeting some of the most vulnerable residents encouraging EU citizens to apply for settled status.

Councillor Booth further replied that she would provider her additional response to the questioner in writing.

·         Relating to whether Councillors Smart and Clark still approved of the extension to the A6 to Manchester Airport Relief Road through flood plains above the River Mersey in Stockport.

Councillor Lisa Smart responded that she was in favour of taking traffic away from residential roads and away from children walking to school, but was also in favour of encouraging people out of their cars by investments made in public transport a further focus on active travel.  Councillor Smart stated that until such a time that a viable alternative was proposed, she was firmly in favour of the A6 to M60 road as the missing link in the local highway network.

Councillor Angie Clark stated that she agreed with the statement made by Councillor Smart and further stated that while the area she represented continued to suffer from serious traffic congestion and accompanying poor air quality, a bypass offered the least worse outcome.

·         Relating to the development of a multi-storey car park at the Stockport Exchange development and whether a record of discussion around the environment impact of the car park were available alongside figures to show the emissions from its construction and how annual reductions in carbon emissions in Stockport were progressing to the 13% outlined in the Climate Action Now document.

The Cabinet Member for Economy & Regeneration (Councillor David Meller) responded that the car park had been granted outline planning consent in 2014 to provide additional car parking capacity needed to support the development of Stockport Exchange.  Councillor Meller stated that it would not be commercially deliverable to provide this level of employment space without any car parking and the amount provided through this development was well below the Council's maximum parking standard which reflected its accessible location and connections to public transport.

The new car park had been designed to be as sustainable as possible and the designs incorporated electric vehicle charging, future-proofing further EV provision where possible and the provision of solar PV cells on the rooftop was also being investigated.

Councillor Meller stated that the original submission contained a detailed transport assessment and air quality assessment and it was confirmed that these would be refreshed as part of any future reserved matters application.  Councillor Meller added that with regard to active travel, the Council had been allocated over £20 million from Transport for Greater Manchester through the Mayoral Challenge Fund for the development of active travel schemes.  Finally, it was stated that an equalities impact assessment was not necessary because of the outline consent that had already been approved.

·         Relating to why the Cabinet was proposing to spend public money to move the library service back and forth from the Central Library building when the government’s roadmap suggests that social distancing would no longer be required from 21 June 2021 meaning the library may only be operational in Merseyway for a matter of weeks.

The Leader of the Council  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.(i)

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.

There were no petitions or presentations.

To consider a report of the Leader of the Council and the 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 2021/22 Council Plan.

RESOLVED – That the Council Plan 2021/22 be approved and adopted.

To consider a report of the Cabinet Member for Sustainable Stockport.

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 2021/22.

RESOLVED - That approved be given to:-

(a)       An increase of 1.5% for social rent;

(b)       An increase of 1.1% for rent of shared ownership properties;

(c)        Service charge increases as outlined in section 3;

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

To consider a joint report of the Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Devolution and 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 2021/22 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 2021/22 to 2022/23 be noted.

To consider a joint report of the Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Devolution and 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) detailing the Cabinet’s Revenue Budget Proposals for 2021/22 and outlining the Council’s financial outlook and challenges across the medium term period 2021/22 to 2022/23.

MOVED AND SECONDED – That:-

(1) approval be given the 2021/22 Budget described in this report and set out in Appendix 2 and 3.

(2) the risk assessment of the 2021/22 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) approval be given to the required increase to the Council’s General Fund Balance to reflect the Section 151 Officer assessment of risks

(4) approval be given to the financial forecasts and assumptions for 2021/22 to 2022/23 at Appendix 6, and the key issues to be addressed in formulating a response to the future financial challenges facing the Council.

(5) the appropriate Council Tax resolutions be passed which produce a Council Tax increase of 3.5% in 2021/22 (2% General increase and 1.5% Adult Social Care Precept increase) as illustrated in Appendix 7.

(6) approval be given to the commitment to increase the Adult Social Care Precept by a further 1.5% in 2022/23 by taking up the option to defer an element of the allowable increase in 2021/22 smoothed by the use of available one-off resources held in earmarked reserves.

AMENDMENT MOVED AND SECONDED - That the Council Meeting gives approval to the proposed amendments to the 2021/22 Cabinet Revenue Budget put forward by the Conservative Group and as set out in its proposals and summarised in the document entitled “Conservative Group Budget Amendment 2021/22” which had been circulated at the meeting.

At 7.14 pm it was

RESOLVED – That the meeting be adjourned.

The meeting reconvened at 7.35 pm.

The Council Meeting then proceeded to debate the amendment.

Upon the amendment being put to the vote:-

For the amendment 62.

AMENDMENT CARRIED

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

The Mayor (Councillor Dean Fitzpatrick) in the chair; Deputy Mayor (Councillor Chris Gordon); Councillors Malcolm Allan, Lou Ankers, Paul Ankers, Brian Bagnall, Sheila Bailey, Grace Baynham, Laura Booth, Kate Butler, Anna Charles-Jones, Angie Clark, Laura Clingan, Christine Corris, Stuart Corris, Becky Crawford, Dickie Davies, Will Dawson, Tom Dowse, Roy Driver, Colin Foster, Helen Foster-Grime, Charles Gibson, Graham Greenhalgh, Steve Gribbon, 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, 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, John Wright, Suzanne Wyatt and Matt Wynne.

FURTHER AMENDMENT MOVED AND SECONDED - That the Council Meeting gives approval to the proposed amendments to the 2021/22 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 2021/22 – Putting Power in the Hands of Local People” which had been circulated at the meeting.

At 8.16 pm it was

RESOLVED – That the meeting be adjourned.

The meeting reconvened at 8.35 pm.

The Council Meeting then proceeded to debate the amendment.

Upon the amendment being put to the vote:-

For the amendment 26, against 33, abstentions 3.

AMENDMENT NOT CARRIED

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

Those councillors who voted for the amendment were:-

The Deputy Mayor (Councillor Chris Gordon); Councillors Malcolm Allan, Lou Ankers, Paul Ankers, Grace Baynham, Angie Clark, Christine Corris, Stuart Corris, Will Dawson, Tom Dowse, Helen Foster-Grime, Charles Gibson, Graham Greenhalgh, Steve Gribbon, Keith Holloway, Mark Hunter, Colin MacAlister, Wendy Meikle, 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 Dean Fitzpatrick); Councillors Brian Bagnall, Sheila Bailey, Laura Booth, Kate Butler, Laura Clingan, Becky Crawford, Dickie Davies, Roy Driver, Colin Foster, Yvonne Guariento, Philip Harding, Linda Holt, Mike Hurleston, John McGahan, Tom McGee, David Meller, Janet Mobbs, 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, John Wright and Matt Wynne.

The councillors who abstained were:-

Councillors Anna Charles-Jones, Carole McCann and Adrian Nottingham.

At this stage in the proceedings the Mayor informed the Council Meeting that the provisions of Council Meeting Procedure Rule 9.1 (Duration of Meeting) would be invoked unless the Council Meeting wished the meeting to continue.

RESOLVED – That the provisions of Council Meeting Procedure Rule 9.1 relating to the duration of (Council) meetings be duly invoked.

The original motion, as amended, was then put as the substantive motion and it was

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

(1) approval be given the 2021/22 Budget described in this report and set out in Appendix 2 and 3.

(2) the risk assessment of the 2021/22 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) approval be given to the required increase to the Council’s General Fund Balance to reflect the Section 151 Officer assessment of risks

(4) approval be given to the financial forecasts and assumptions for 2021/22 to 2022/23 at Appendix 6, and the key issues to be addressed in formulating a response to the future financial challenges facing the Council.

(5) the appropriate Council Tax resolutions be passed which produce a Council Tax increase of 3.5% in 2021/22 (2% General increase and 1.5% Adult Social Care Precept increase) as illustrated in Appendix 7.

(6) approval be given to the commitment to increase the Adult Social Care Precept by a further 1.5% in 2022/23 by taking up the option to defer an element of the allowable increase in 2021/22 smoothed by the use of available one-off resources held in earmarked reserves.

Subject to:-

·         Free parking to be supported from a one-off contribution of £0.486m from reserves via a reallocation of the Brexit preparation and contingency reserve. This reserve was originally set up to support any costs resulting from preparations in the run-up to Brexit and any local impacts and has not been called upon to date. We therefore propose reallocating a proportion of this fund to deal with the priority of supporting the local economy to reopen in the wake of Covid19, with the remaining Government funding for Brexit to remain in reserve; and

·         One off spend of £300K to be allocated to parks conditions and investment to be used during 2021/22 in consultation with ward Councillors and  supported by a further £300k being released from one-off resources held in reserves.

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

Those councillors who voted for the resolution were:-

The Mayor (Councillor Dean Fitzpatrick); Councillors Brian Bagnall, Sheila Bailey, Laura Booth, Kate Butler, Anna Charles-Jones, Laura Clingan, Becky Crawford, Dickie Davies, Roy Driver, 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, John Wright and Matt Wynne.

The councillor who voted against the resolution was Councillor Helen Foster-Grime.

The councillors who abstained were:-

The Deputy Mayor (Councillor Chris Gordon); Councillors Malcolm Allan, Lou Ankers, Paul Ankers, Grace Baynham, Angie Clark, Christine Corris, Stuart Corris, Will Dawson, Charles Gibson, Graham Greenhalgh, Steve Gribbon, Keith Holloway, Mark Hunter, Colin MacAlister, Wendy Meikle, John Pantall, Iain Roberts, Mark Roberts, Becky Senior, Lisa Smart, Aron Thornley, Mark Weldon and Suzanne Wyatt.

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 2021/22.

(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 2021/22 and the level of precepts for the Mayoral Police and Crime Commissioner Precept and Mayoral General Precept.

RESOLVED – (37 for, 25 abstentions) (1) That it be noted that on 21 January 2021, the Council has calculated the Council Tax Base for the financial year 2021/22 as:-

·         95,945.1 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 2021/22 as being £167,894,330.

(3) That the following amounts be calculated by the Council for the year 2021/22 in accordance with sections 31 to 36 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992:

(a) £696,815,351 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) £528,921,021 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) £167,894,330 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) £1,749.90  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) £1,749.90 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 2021/22 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 2021/22 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 2021/22 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 Dean Fitzpatrick); Councillors Brian Bagnall, Sheila Bailey, Laura Booth, Kate Butler, Anna Charles-Jones, Laura Clingan, Becky Crawford,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.(ii)

To consider a report of 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) detailing the 2021/22 Capital Strategy and Capital Programme has been set to support the delivery of outcomes and outputs associated with the priorities of the Council.

RESOLVED – (62 for) That approval be given to:-

·         The Capital Strategy at Appendix One;

·         The 2021/22 to 2023/24 Capital Programme and the funding arrangements as described in the report and set out at Appendix Two; and,

·         The prudential indicators set out in Appendix Three.

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

Those councillors who voted for the resolution were:-

The Mayor (Councillor Dean Fitzpatrick) in the chair; Deputy Mayor (Councillor Chris Gordon); Councillors Malcolm Allan, Lou Ankers, Paul Ankers, Brian Bagnall, Sheila Bailey, Grace Baynham, Laura Booth, Kate Butler, Anna Charles-Jones, Angie Clark, Laura Clingan, Christine Corris, Stuart Corris, Becky Crawford, Dickie Davies, Will Dawson, Tom Dowse, Roy Driver, Colin Foster, Helen Foster-Grime, Charles Gibson, Graham Greenhalgh, Steve Gribbon, 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, 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, John Wright, Suzanne Wyatt and Matt Wynne.

To consider a report of 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 2021/22.

RESOLVED – That approval be given to:-

·         The Minimum Revenue Provision Policy for 2021/22;

·         The Capital Expenditure forecasts and Capital Financing Requirement projections;

·         The Treasury Management Strategy 2021/22;

·         The Treasury and Prudential Indicators and limits 2021/22-2023/24;

·         The Annual Investment Strategy 2021/22.

To consider a joint report of the Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Devolution and 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) seeking approval for the One Stockport Borough Plan.

RESOLVED – (54 for, 8 against) That the One Stockport Borough Plan be approved and adopted.