Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the Annual Meeting of the Council held on 17 May 2022.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the Annual Meeting of the Council held on 17 May 2022 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Mayor.

To report any urgent action taken under the Constitution since the last meeting of the Council.

No urgent decisions were reported.

To receive announcements from the Mayor.

The Mayor provided an overview of the events that he attended since the start of the Municipal Year including a number of celebration events for the Queen’s Jubilee; a community fun day in Cheadle; health information fair at Central Library; Children’s Book Awards at the Town Hall and the Schools Climate Debate which took place in the Council Chamber.

The Mayor also referred to a peace vigil for Ukraine that was held on 29 June 2022 in St Peters Square, Stockport which was lauded as tribute to the sacrifices and fortitude of the people of Ukraine.

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

The Mayor advised the Council Meeting that a personal interest would also be registered with regard to Summons Item 7(i) – ‘Motion – Cost of Living Crisis’ for any member that was in receipt of a state pension.

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

One public question was submitted in relation to the notice provided for meetings of the One Stockport Health & Care Locality Board and why the agendas for these were not being published or proceedings webcast.

The Leader of the Council (Councillor Mark Hunter) responded that the latest reorganisation of health services in the borough had not been at the instigation of the Council or the local health service, however the Council was committed to making the arrangements work for the benefit of residents.  It was stated that at the time of the first meeting of the Locality Board on 1 July, guidance was still being awaited through the Greater Manchester Integrated Care Governance handbook with regard to the regulation of the proceedings of those meetings.  However, the agenda and papers for that meeting had now been made available on the Greater Manchester integrated Care Board website and a commitment was made that for all future meetings these will be published in advance and the meetings themselves webcast.

Five further public questions were submitted where the questioner was not in attendance at the meeting, and in accordance with the Code of Practice, the Chief Executive was requested to respond to the questioners in writing.

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

Presentation - Schools Climate Assembly

The Council Meeting will receive a presentation in relation to the Schools Climate Assembly that took place on 15 June 2022.

No petitions were submitted.

Presentation - Schools Climate Assembly

Nick Leslie (Head of Climate Action Now) and students from Reddish Vale High School, Marple Hall High School and St Winifred’s Primary School attended the meeting and made a presentation and responded to questions in relation to the Schools Climate Assembly that was held on 15 June 2022

At the conclusion of the item, the Mayor expressed thanks to Nick Leslie and all those students who attended the meeting for their attendance and presentation.

(a)       Greater Manchester Police, Fire and Crime Panel

To appoint Councillor Tom Morrison to answer questions in relation to the business of the Greater Manchester Police, Fire and Crime Panel.

Councillor Amanda Peers to answer questions, if any, on the business of the Greater Manchester Police, Fire and Crime Panel.

(b)       Greater Manchester Combined Authority

To appoint the following spokespersons to answer questions in relation to the business of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority:-

The appointed councillors to then answer questions, if any, on the business of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, the Greater Manchester Transport Committee and the Greater Manchester Waste Committee.

(a)       Greater Manchester Police, Fire and Crime Panel

There were no questions in relation to the business of the Greater Manchester Police, Fire and Crime Panel.

(b)       Greater Manchester Combined Authority

Councillor Mark Hunter responded to questions in relation to the business of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority and Councillor Angie Clark responded to questions in relation to the business of the Transport for Greater Manchester Committee.

There were no questions in relation to the business of the Greater Manchester Waste & Recycling Committee.

To consider a report of the Cabinet Member for Finance & Resources.

The Cabinet Member for Finance & Resources (Councillor Malcolm Allan) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing recommendations from the Standards Committee that the Council adopt the LGA Voluntary Code of Conduct subject to the retention of a ‘local code’ in relation to the continued requirement for councillors to disclose personal and prejudicial interests.

RESOLVED – (1) That the proposed Members’ Code of Conduct be approved and adopted.

(2) That authority be delegated to the Monitoring Officer to make the consequential amendments to the Constitution without having to return to a further Council Meeting for such agreement.

To consider a report of the Cabinet Member for Finance & Resources.

The Cabinet Member for Finance & Resources (Councillor Malcolm Allan) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing a composite of all the recommendations for amendments to the Constitution following their consideration at the Constitution Working Party during 2021/22 and thereafter CRMG Scrutiny on 14 June 2022.

RESOLVED – (1) That approved be given to the proposed amendments to the Constitution relating to the officer scheme of delegation; contract procedure rules; financial procedure rules; mayoralty; and the scrutiny procedure rules.

(2) That those amendments relating to the Council Meeting Procedure Rules stand adjourned until the 6 October 2022meeting of the Council in accordance with Council Meeting Procedure Rule 24.2.

To consider a report of the Cabinet Member for Economy & Regeneration.

The Cabinet Member for Economy & Regeneration (Councillor Colin MacAlister) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing detail on the application and consultation for the redesignation of High Lane Village Neighbourhood Forum (HLVNF) as the relevant body for High Lane Village Neighbourhood Area.

RESOLVED – That approval be given to the application of High Lane Village Neighbourhood Forum for redesignation as the relevant body for High Lane Village Neighbourhood Area.

To consider a report of the Leader of the Council.

The Leader of the Council (Councillor Mark Hunter) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) giving notice of amendments made to the Executive Scheme of Delegation as to the appointment of the cabinet, the details of those appointments, the appointment of Deputy Cabinet Leader (Deputy Leader of the Council); and the allocation of responsibilities (portfolios).

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To receive a report from the Leader of the Council and other members of the Cabinet on the conduct of Cabinet business since the last Council Meeting.

The Leader of the Council; the Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Children, Families & Education; and the Cabinet Members for Climate Change & Environment; Communities & Housing; Economy & Regeneration; Finance & Resources; Health & Adult Social Care; and Highways, Parks & Leisure Services made a report on the conduct of Cabinet business since the last Council Meeting.

To answer questions and receive comments from Councillors addressed to the Leader of the Council or other members of the Cabinet, in accordance with Council Meeting Procedure Rule 11.

The Leader of the Council; the Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Children, Families & Education; and the Cabinet Members for Climate Change & Environment; Communities & Housing; Economy & Regeneration; Finance & Resources; and Highways, Parks & Leisure Services answered questions and responded to comments relating to the business of the Cabinet in accordance with Council Meeting Procedure Rule 11.

To receive the Minutes of the Cabinet held on 28 June 2022 (to follow) and the record of executive decisions taken since the last Council Meeting, (schedule enclosed, decisions previously circulated) and consider any recommendations they contain.

The Mayor declared the Minutes of the Cabinet held on 28 June 2022 (copies of which had been circulated) and the record of executive decisions taken (copies of which were circulated) since the last meeting of the Council to be duly received.

To receive a report from the Chairs of the Scrutiny Committees on the conduct of Scrutiny business.

There were no reports from the Chairs of the Scrutiny Committees on the conduct of their business since the last Council Meeting.

To answer questions from Councillors addressed to the Scrutiny Chairs, in accordance with Council Meeting Procedure Rule 11.

There were no questions relating to the business of the Scrutiny Committees in accordance with Council Meeting Procedure Rule 11.

To receive the Minutes of the following Scrutiny Committees:-

Adult Social Care & Health – 16 June 2022

Children & Families – 15 June 2022

Communities & Housing – 13 June 2022

Corporate, Resource Management & Governance – 14 June 2022

Economy & Regeneration – 16 June 2022

Scrutiny Co-ordination – 4 July 2022

The Mayor declared the Minutes of the following Scrutiny Committees (copies of which had been circulated with the Summons) to be duly received:-

Adult Social Care & Health – 16 June 2022

Children & Families – 15 June 2022

Communities & Housing – 13 June 2022

Corporate, Resource Management & Governance – 14 June 2022

Economy & Regeneration – 16 June 2022

Scrutiny Co-ordination – 4 July 2022

To consider a report of the Statutory Scrutiny Officer.

The Chair of the Scrutiny Co-ordination Committee (Councillor Tom McGee) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing scrutiny review topics which had been proposed by scrutiny committees for 2022/23.

RESOLVED – That approval be given to the scrutiny review programme for 2022/23.

To receive a report from the Chairs of the Planning & Highways Regulation; Licensing, Environment & Safety; and Audit Committees on the conduct of their business since the last Council Meeting.

There were no reports from the Chairs of the Planning and Highways Regulation, Licensing, Environment and Safety or Audit Committees on the conduct of their business since the last Council Meeting.

To answer questions from Councillors addressed to the Chairs of Ordinary and Area Committees, in accordance with Council Meeting Procedure Rule 11.

There were no questions relating to the business of the Ordinary, Area and Ward Committees in accordance with Council Meeting Procedure Rule 11.

To receive the minutes of the following Ordinary and Area Committees:-

Ordinary Committees

Appointments – 11 April, 2 April and 23 June 2022

Contributors – 24 March 2022

Licensing, Environment & Safety Sub – 22 March and 11 April 2022

Planning & Highways Regulation – 24 March and 21 April 2022

Standards – 3 March 2022

Area Committees

Bramhall & Cheadle Hulme South – 7 April and 23 June 2022

Central Stockport – 7 April and 23 June 2022

Cheadle – 5 April and 21 June 2022

Heatons & Reddish – 4 April and 20 June 2022

Marple – 6 April and 22 June 2022

Stepping Hill – 5 April and 21 June 2022

Werneth – 20 June 2022

Ward Committees and Area Sub-Committees

Brookfield Park Shiers Family Trust Sub-Committee – 11 May 2022

The Mayor declared the Minutes of the following Ordinary and Area Committees (copies of which had been circulated with the Summons) to be duly received:-

Ordinary Committees

Appointments – 11 April, 2 April and 23 June 2022

Contributors – 24 March 2022

Licensing, Environment & Safety Sub – 22 March and 11 April 2022

Planning & Highways Regulation – 24 March and 21 April 2022

Standards – 3 March 2022

Area Committees

Bramhall & Cheadle Hulme South – 7 April and 23 June 2022

Central Stockport – 7 April and 23 June 2022

Cheadle – 5 April and 21 June 2022

Heatons & Reddish – 4 April and 20 June 2022

Marple – 6 April and 22 June 2022

Stepping Hill – 5 April and 21 June 2022

Werneth – 20 June 2022

Ward Committees and Area Sub-Committees

Brookfield Park Shiers Family Trust Sub-Committee – 11 May 2022

This Council Meeting notes that

·         The Cost of Living crisis has impacted every resident across Stockport and according to the Institute of Government has been caused by a mixture of high inflation and tax rises over the last year.

·         Research from Greater Manchester Poverty Action shows that over 14% of children across Stockport are living in poverty.

·         That 15,665 households in Stockport are living in fuel poverty and over 12% are classed as “food poor”.

·         The Cost of Living crisis will also hit those residents claiming pensions hard. The Government’s broken promise on protecting the “triple lock” will have a total annual cost to pensioners in each constituency of:

·         Cheadle                           £3,472,669

·         Hazel Grove                    £3,193,476

·         Stockport                         £2,129,899

·         Denton & Reddish         £2,530,070

This Council Meeting further notes that

·         According to research from the IPPR, the Government is still spending £12,147 per London resident compared to £8,125 for those living in the North.

·         The Government’s levelling up agenda needs to be ambitious. Research from Bloomberg shows that salaries and transport spend in Stockport’s four constituencies were all behind London, whilst home affordability was falling at a faster rate than in the capital.

·         Despite promising to deliver a ‘windfall tax’ on electricity generators to support residents, reports are now coming out of Whitehall that this proposal could be scrapped.

This Council Meeting therefore resolves to ask the Leader of the Council to

·         Call on the UK Government to reinstate the pension triple lock;

·         Call on the Chancellor to honour his promise to deliver a windfall tax on electricity generators which would raise between £4 - £5bn;

·         Seek to freeze council tax in the next budget to help residents across Stockport; and

·         Investigate with the relevant Cabinet Members setting up a virtual “one stop shop” of financial support and advice on the Council’s website, along with any enhancements needed to our advice services in physical locations, to help residents access services they may need over the next few years.

Moved by:                  Councillor Tom Morrison

Seconded by:           Councillor Lisa Smart

MOVED AND SECONDED - This Council Meeting notes that

·         The Cost of Living crisis has impacted every resident across Stockport and according to the Institute of Government has been caused by a mixture of high inflation and tax rises over the last year.

·         Research from Greater Manchester Poverty Action shows that over 14% of children across Stockport are living in poverty.

·         That 15,665 households in Stockport are living in fuel poverty and over 12% are classed as “food poor”.

·         The Cost of Living crisis will also hit those residents claiming pensions hard. The Government’s broken promise on protecting the “triple lock” will have a total annual cost to pensioners in each constituency of:

·         Cheadle                           £3,472,669

·         Hazel Grove                    £3,193,476

·         Stockport                         £2,129,899

·         Denton & Reddish         £2,530,070

This Council Meeting further notes that

·         According to research from the IPPR, the Government is still spending £12,147 per London resident compared to £8,125 for those living in the North.

·         The Government’s levelling up agenda needs to be ambitious. Research from Bloomberg shows that salaries and transport spend in Stockport’s four constituencies were all behind London, whilst home affordability was falling at a faster rate than in the capital.

·         Despite promising to deliver a ‘windfall tax’ on electricity generators to support residents, reports are now coming out of Whitehall that this proposal could be scrapped.

This Council Meeting therefore resolves to ask the Leader of the Council to

·         Call on the UK Government to reinstate the pension triple lock;

·         Call on the Chancellor to honour his promise to deliver a windfall tax on electricity generators which would raise between £4 - £5bn;

·         Seek to freeze council tax in the next budget to help residents across Stockport; and

·         Investigate with the relevant Cabinet Members setting up a virtual “one stop shop” of financial support and advice on the Council’s website, along with any enhancements needed to our advice services in physical locations, to help residents access services they may need over the next few years.

AMENDMENT MOVED AND SECONDED - This Council Meeting notes that

·         The Cost of Living crisis has impacted every resident across Stockport and according to the Institute of Government has been caused by a mixture of high inflation and tax rises over the last year.

·         As noted by the US Federal Reserve on 27th May 2022, the war in Ukraine will “reduce GDP and boost inflation significantly” across the globe.

·         Research from Greater Manchester Poverty Action shows that over 14% of children across Stockport are living in poverty.

·         That 15,665 households in Stockport are living in fuel poverty and over 12% are classed as “food poor”.

·         The Cost of Living crisis will also hit those residents claiming pensions hard. As per a written answer from the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 22 June 2022, the Government has committed to reinstate the Triple Lock on pensions from next year and is providing further support for pensioners through local authorities via the Household Support Fund, available until April 2023.

·         Stockport Council voted to increase Council Tax by 3.5% for the 2022/23 municipal year, costing an average Band D household an extra £61.25 per year.

·         The Mayor of Greater Manchester raised the Mayoral Precept by £12 per household for the 2022/23 municipal year.

·         According to the latest available figures, Stockport Council’s reserves stood at £92m.

·         According to the latest available figures, a 3.5% reduction in Council Tax would represent a figure of £4.24m, approximate to 1.5% of the Council’s total revenue budget.

This Council Meeting further notes that

·      According to research from the IPPR, the Government is still spending £12,147 per London resident compared to £8,125 for those living in the North.

·      The Government’s levelling up agenda needs to be ambitious. Research from Bloomberg shows that salaries and transport spend in Stockport’s four constituencies were all behind London, whilst home affordability was falling at a faster rate than in the capital.

·      The Government introduced the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.(i)

At 9.45 pm it was

RESOLVED – That the meeting be adjourned.

The meeting reconvened at 9.50 pm.

AMENDMENT CARRIED

It was then

RESOLVED – (58 for) This Council Meeting notes that

·         The Cost of Living crisis has impacted every resident across Stockport and according to the Institute of Government has been caused by a mixture of high inflation and tax rises over the last year.

·         Research from Greater Manchester Poverty Action shows that over 14% of children across Stockport are living in poverty.

·         That 15,665 households in Stockport are living in fuel poverty and over 12% are classed as “food poor”.

·         The Cost of Living crisis will also hit those residents claiming pensions hard. The Government’s broken promise on protecting the “triple lock” will have a total annual cost to pensioners in each constituency of:

·         Cheadle                        £3,472,669

·         Hazel Grove                              £3,193,476

·         Stockport                                  £2,129,899

·         Denton & Reddish                     £2,530,070

This Council Meeting further notes that

·         According to research from the IPPR, the Government is still spending £12,147 per London resident compared to £8,125 for those living in the North.

·         The Government’s levelling up agenda needs to be ambitious. Research from Bloomberg shows that salaries and transport spend in Stockport’s four constituencies were all behind London, whilst home affordability was falling at a faster rate than in the capital.

·         Despite promising to deliver a ‘windfall tax’ on electricity generators to support residents, reports are now coming out of Whitehall that this proposal could be scrapped.

This Council Meeting therefore resolves to ask the Leader of the Council to

·         Call on the UK Government to reinstate the pension triple lock;

·         Call on the Chancellor to honour his promise to deliver a windfall tax on electricity generators which would raise between £4 - £5bn;

·         Appraise the financial resources of the Council and produce a report for the next scrutiny round on revenue raised and services required by those most vulnerable to the impact of the cost-of-living crisis.

·         With particular reference to how a reduction in council tax revenue could impact services that assist the 1 in 6 households in Stockport - or 20,733 households – who are facing serious financial difficulties.

·         Investigate with the relevant Cabinet Members setting up a virtual “one stop shop” of financial support and advice on the Council’s website, along with any enhancements needed to our advice services in physical locations, to help residents access services they may need over the next few years.

A named vote was requested in relation to the voting on this resolution and the voting was recorded as follows:-

The councillors who voted in favour of the motion were:-

The Mayor (Councillor David Wilson); the Deputy Mayor (Councillor Linda Holt); Councillors Shan Alexander, Malcolm Allan, Paul Ankers, Brian Bagnall, Sheila Bailey, Grace Baynham, Kate Butler, Christine Carrigan, Anna Charles-Jones, Angie Clark, Laura Clingan, Stuart Corris, Liz Crix, Dickie Davies, Will Dawson, Roy Driver, Dean Fitzpatrick, Colin Foster, Helen Foster-Grime, Sue Glithero, Graham Greenhalgh, Steve Gribbon, Oliver Harrison, Louise Heywood, Keith Holloway, Ian Hunter, Mark Hunter, Mike Hurleston, Oliver Johnstone, Jilly Julian, Gary Lawson, Rory Leonard, Colin MacAlister, Tom McGee, Wendy Meikle, David Meller, Janet Mobbs, Tom Morrison, Amanda Peers, Ian Powney, Mark Roberts, Dena Ryness, David Sedgwick, Becky Senior, Vince Shaw, Frankie Singleton, Lisa Smart, Charlie Stewart, Catherine Stuart, John Taylor, Aron Thornley, Sue Thorpe, Kerry Waters, Wendy Wild, Suzanne Wyatt and Matt Wynne.

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.

This Council meeting notes:

·         The Sunday Times recommendation of Stockport after naming the Borough in its ‘best and up and coming areas to invest in’ list for 2022 on Sunday June 19th.

·         The creation of Class C4 in 2010 by the Coalition Government, as part of the deregulatory ‘Red Tape Challenge for Planning’, creating increased permitted development rights for landlords and speculative developers. This currently allows landlords to convert and to let a family home (C3) as a small House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) (C4) for up to six unrelated occupants without planning permission.

·         The increasing threat to this Borough’s inner town residential areas from speculator developers purchasing, and outbidding with ease, domestic dwellings designed for housing young families, further pricing them out of the Borough.

This Council meeting recognises that:

·         There is growing concern from local residents about the increasing harm the conversion of domestic dwellings designed for family housing are having on the fabric of residential streets and the overall neighbourhood.

·         Clusters of HMO premises that are emerging in inner town neighbourhoods within the Borough due to the utilisation of permitted development rights.

·         The resolution passed at Central Area Committee on 5th August 2021 that the Council investigates the feasibility of introducing an Article 4 Direction with regard to increasing concentrations of Houses in Multiple Occupation in Central Stockport as a matter of urgency.

·         The existence of Article 4 Directions in other local authorities, introduced in the 2010s.

·         The need for the Borough to perform a more regulatory role in protecting its existing housing stock from speculators to reflect the positive investment Stockport is receiving.

This Council resolves to:

·         As a matter of urgency ensure an Article 4 Direction is considered within the Borough as part of the draft Local Plan framework which will ensure local residents and Members have democratic oversight of whether all residential-to-HMO conversions are suitable in neighbourhoods affected.

Moved by:                  Councillor Matt Wynne

Seconded by:           Councillor David Meller

RESOLVED - This Council meeting notes:

·         The Sunday Times recommendation of Stockport after naming the Borough in its ‘best and up and coming areas to invest in’ list for 2022 on Sunday June 19th.

·         The creation of Class C4 in 2010 by the Coalition Government, as part of the deregulatory ‘Red Tape Challenge for Planning’, creating increased permitted development rights for landlords and speculative developers. This currently allows landlords to convert and to let a family home (C3) as a small House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) (C4) for up to six unrelated occupants without planning permission.

·         The increasing threat to this Borough’s inner town residential areas from speculator developers purchasing, and outbidding with ease, domestic dwellings designed for housing young families, further pricing them out of the Borough.

This Council meeting recognises that:

·         There is growing concern from local residents about the increasing harm the conversion of domestic dwellings designed for family housing are having on the fabric of residential streets and the overall neighbourhood.

·         Clusters of HMO premises that are emerging in inner town neighbourhoods within the Borough due to the utilisation of permitted development rights.

·         The resolution passed at Central Area Committee on 5th August 2021 that the Council investigates the feasibility of introducing an Article 4 Direction with regard to increasing concentrations of Houses in Multiple Occupation in Central Stockport as a matter of urgency.

·         The existence of Article 4 Directions in other local authorities, introduced in the 2010s.

·         The need for the Borough to perform a more regulatory role in protecting its existing housing stock from speculators to reflect the positive investment Stockport is receiving.

This Council resolves to:

·         As a matter of urgency ensure an Article 4 Direction is considered within the Borough as part of the draft Local Plan framework which will ensure local residents and Members have democratic oversight of whether all residential-to-HMO conversions are suitable in neighbourhoods affected.

This Council Meeting notes that SMBC is responsible for the drainage of all adopted highways in the Borough and that as the Lead Local Flood Authority gully cleansing plays a critical part in the Local Flood Management Strategy.

This Council Meeting further notes with concern

·         widespread issues across the Borough with blocked grids and gullies;

·         ongoing delays to the publication of the full maintenance plan, which was due some time ago, with Councillors assured it would appear by April, but which is still outstanding and unacceptably late;

·         residents report difficulty in reporting drain, grids and gullies issues to the Council and a lack of adequate response from the Council when they do; and

·         that the threshold and criteria for reporting a blocked drain are set extremely high with subsequent site visits made at officers’ discretion.

This Council Meeting recognises that blocked drains, grids and gullies can;

·         cause real and serious inconvenience to residents, including vulnerable footpath and highways users;

·         worsen over time, potentially further damaging the existing infrastructure and becoming more expensive to repair in the long term;

·         exacerbate flooding, including flash flooding, and pooling.

This Council meeting further recognises that extreme weather and rainfall events are predicted to become more common and the impacts of climate change to be increasing. In order to create sustainable and resilient communities and infrastructure in response to and living with the impacts of climate change, our drainage systems will need to be well maintained, resilient and fit for purpose.

This Council Meeting therefore resolves to;

·         Request the Cabinet Member publish the full maintenance plan as soon as possible and no later than the commencement of the next scrutiny cycle;

·         Request the Cabinet Member include the specific topic of sustainable drainage systems for the Borough be at a future meeting of the Climate Action Now working party;

·         Request the Cabinet Member launch a proactive programme of work to clear, repair and update our drains, grids and gullies following two years of pandemic neglect and identify the resources to do so.

·         Request the criteria and threshold for reporting are reviewed and sent back to scrutiny for further consideration with a view to improving reactive maintenance and the Council’s response to members of the public reporting issues with grids and gullies.

Moved by:                  Councillor Oliver Johnstone

Seconded by:           Councillor Mike Hurleston

RESOLVED - This Council Meeting notes that SMBC is responsible for the drainage of all adopted highways in the Borough and that as the Lead Local Flood Authority gully cleansing plays a critical part in the Local Flood Management Strategy.

This Council Meeting further notes with concern

·         widespread issues across the Borough with blocked grids and gullies;

·         ongoing delays to the publication of the full maintenance plan, which was due some time ago, with Councillors assured it would appear by April, but which is still outstanding and unacceptably late;

·         residents report difficulty in reporting drain, grids and gullies issues to the Council and a lack of adequate response from the Council when they do; and

·         that the threshold and criteria for reporting a blocked drain are set extremely high with subsequent site visits made at officers’ discretion.

This Council Meeting recognises that blocked drains, grids and gullies can;

·         cause real and serious inconvenience to residents, including vulnerable footpath and highways users;

·         worsen over time, potentially further damaging the existing infrastructure and becoming more expensive to repair in the long term;

·         exacerbate flooding, including flash flooding, and pooling.

This Council meeting further recognises that extreme weather and rainfall events are predicted to become more common and the impacts of climate change to be increasing. In order to create sustainable and resilient communities and infrastructure in response to and living with the impacts of climate change, our drainage systems will need to be well maintained, resilient and fit for purpose.

This Council Meeting therefore resolves to;

·         Request the Cabinet Member publish the full maintenance plan as soon as possible and no later than the commencement of the next scrutiny cycle;

·         Request the Cabinet Member include the specific topic of sustainable drainage systems for the Borough be at a future meeting of the Climate Action Now working party;

·         Request the Cabinet Member launch a proactive programme of work to clear, repair and update our drains, grids and gullies following two years of pandemic neglect and identify the resources to do so.

·         Request the criteria and threshold for reporting are reviewed and sent back to scrutiny for further consideration with a view to improving reactive maintenance and the Council’s response to members of the public reporting issues with grids and gullies.