Agenda

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 11 July 2024.

To note that on 29 August 2024, following consultation with the Mayor, the Chief Executive took urgent action under the constitution to make the following amendments to appointments previously made by the Council Meeting to Outside Bodies:-

Greater Manchester Police, Fire & Crime Panel

To replace Cllr Tom Morrison with Cllr Jake Austin

Greater Manchester Pension Fund Management Panel

To replace Cllr Lisa Smart with Cllr Jilly Julian

The decisions were taken as urgent action as meetings of the relevant bodies were due to take place in advance of this meeting of the Council Meeting.

To receive announcements from the Mayor.

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

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

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

Greater Manchester Police

Chief Superintendent John Webster will attend the meeting make a presentation and respond to questions in relation to policing in the Borough of Stockport.

(a)       Greater Manchester Police, Crime & Fire Panel

To appoint Councillor Jake Austin to answer questions in relation to the business of the Greater Manchester Police, Crime & Fire Panel.

Councillor Jake Austin to answer questions, if any, on the business of the Greater Manchester Police, Crime & Fire Panel.

(b)       Greater Manchester Combined Authority

The following councillors to answer questions (if any) on the business of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority:-

To consider a report of the Cabinet Member for Children, Families & Education.

To consider a report of the Cabinet Member for Children, Families & Education.

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

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

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

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

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.

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

To receive the Minutes of the Cabinet held on 19 July and 18 September 2024 (pages) and the record of executive decisions taken since the last Council Meeting, (schedule enclosed, decisions previously circulated) and consider any recommendations they contain.

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

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

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

To receive the Minutes of the following Scrutiny Committees:-

Adult Social Care & Health – 6 August and 5 September 2024

Children & Families – 4 September 2024

Communities & Transport – 2 September 2024

Corporate, Resource Management & Governance – 3 September 2024

Economy, Regeneration & Climate Change – 18 July and 5 September 2024

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

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

Ordinary Committees

Appointments – 10 July 2024

Audit – 17 July 2024

Health & Wellbeing Board – 17 July and 4 September 2024

Licensing, Environment & Safety – 10 July and 14 August 2024

Licensing, Environment & Safety Sub – 19 July, 13 August and 2 September 2024

Member – 1 July 2024

Planning & Highways Regulation – 9 July and 15 August 2024

Standards – 16 September 2024

Area Committees

Bramhall & Cheadle Hulme South – 1 August and 12 September 2024

Central Stockport – 1 August and 12 September 2024

Cheadle – 30 July and 10 September 2024

Heatons & Reddish – 29 July and 9 September 2024

Marple – 31 July and 11 September 2024

Stepping Hill – 30 July and 10 September 2024

Werneth – 29 July and 9 September 2024

Ward Committees and Area Sub-Committees

Brookfield Park Shiers Family Trust Sub-Committee – 25 July 2024

This Council notes that:

The ongoing cost of living crisis continues to impact Stockport residents, particularly those who are most vulnerable. Many of our residents are struggling to afford essential costs, such as food, housing, and energy bills.

This council is pleased to note an extension of The Household Support Scheme, which is a lifeline to many vulnerable Stockport residents. However, we believe more sustainable solutions are needed to tackle the cost of living crisis, including through a fairer, multiple year local government financial settlement within this parliament.

This council notes that the Winter Fuel Allowance is now a means tested allowance, and understands that although the government have upheld the triple lock pension, meaning a real terms uplift in pensioner income, there are still many pensioners who would remain entitled to the winter fuel allowance who are not claiming it. In Stockport it is believed that over 3,300 residents are not claiming this support despite being eligible for it. [Source: Policy in Practice.]

This Council resolves to:

(1) Write to the Chancellor of the Exchequer to call for the Government to identify those pensioners who are eligible for pension credit and make the process easier. The council should then write to those who are eligible to encourage take-up. Council will also take the opportunity to acknowledge the extension of the household support scheme, which gives councils flexibility in terms of how it is spent to support cost of living pressures.

(2) Ensure that while the government makes the necessary changes, the council uses a broad comms strategy to continue to raise awareness of pension credit and encourage greater uptake among eligible residents. This includes involving local elected members, who can support getting this message out to their residents.

(3) Inform the Cabinet that it is the view of this Council Meeting that it amend the Stockport Household Support Fund delivery plan to explicitly protect Stockport’s most vulnerable pensioners through this winter period. This support should be provided in  alignment with our trusted partners to ensure nobody falls through the cracks. It should also build on the work already done to support Pension Credit uptake through the Cost of Living Hub. Support for vulnerable pensioners should be easily accessible for those without computer access.

Moved by:               Councillor David Meller

Seconded by:          Councillor Christine Carrigan

This Council meeting notes the recent announcement by the Labour Government to end universal winter fuel payments and restrict eligibility to only those in receipt of Pension Credits and other benefits.

This Council Meeting is deeply concerned that many pensioners on lower and middle incomes will now not receive the payments:

·         Across England and Wales the number of people eligible for winter fuel payments will fall by 10 million to only 1.5 million.

·         In Stockport,  50,242 pensioners will be affected by the change, meaning 89.80% of Stockport’s pensioners will no longer be able to claim the payment from this winter onwards.

This Council meeting believes that the Labour Government has set the threshold at which pensioners do not qualify for Winter Fuel Payments far too low – only those receiving a pension of less than £218.15 a week (or £332.95 a week for couples) are eligible for pension credits,  significantly below the living wage rate.

This Council meeting is also concerned by the low take up of pension credit, with only 63% of those eligible nationwide receiving them and over 880,000 pensioners not doing so. The Cabinet has already taken active steps to increase pension credit take up in recent years but recognises the role we must play to continue to increase awareness of benefits such as Pension Credit to encourage people to claim the support they are entitled to.

This Council meeting further notes that the Energy Price Cap is due to rise by 10% in October with a further rise forecast for January which, combined by the removal of Winter Fuel Payments, will push thousands of local pensioners into fuel poverty. 

This Council meeting resolves to:

(1) Ask the Chief Executive to:

·         write to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, calling for the policy on linking Winter Fuel Payments to Pension Credit receipt to be immediately paused and introduce a new, more reasonable threshold to determine eligibility for Winter Fuel; Payments.

·         Share this letter with the MPs for Cheadle, Hazel Grove and Stockport, asking them to give their formal support to halting the planned changes to the Winter Fuel Payment eligibility.

(2) Ask the Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources to:

·         Commence a further, significant awareness campaign to maximise uptake of pension credits and ensure residents know about the government’s proposed change to the Winter Fuel Allowance, including the use of council noticeboards, social media, local press and targeted letters to those who may be eligible.

·         Consider whether it will be possible to continue to offer the Warm Spaces scheme again this winter.

Moved by:                Councillor Mike Newman

Seconded by:           Councillor Micheala Meikle

This Council notes the tragic fire at Grenfell Tower on 14th June 2017, which claimed 72 lives and left hundreds more affected, including survivors, families, and members of the wider community.

It acknowledges the findings of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 2 report which revealed serious failings of governance and oversight across multiple organisations, including the government, who were trusted with the responsibility to properly regulate and enforce safety standards, but ultimately failed those they were tasked to protect.

In responding to the tragedy, this Council is grateful to the late Cllr Sheila Bailey for her incredible leadership following the tragic events of the Grenfell Tower Fire. She oversaw the swiftest possible action to ensure the safety of high-rise residents in Stockport, including a comprehensive upgrade to the sprinkler systems.

This Council believes:

·       The tragedy at Grenfell was not just the result of individual mistakes but reflects systemic issues in the governance and regulation of the construction industry.

·       That the introduction of commercial interests into the building control system conflicts with the role of being a trusted regulator that acts in the public interest.

·       That all social housing tenants deserve to live in safe, secure, and dignified conditions, and should have their concerns and requests for improvements listened and responded to in a timely manner.

·       That lessons from Grenfell must be fully acted upon in order to prevent such a disaster from ever happening again.

This Council resolves to:

(1) Urge the government to implement the recommendations of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 2 report, including the proposal to have all regulatory functions in the construction industry be exercised by a single independent body, headed by a Chief Construction Regulator, reporting to a single Secretary of State.

(2) Recommended that the Cabinet agree to review fire safety in all council-owned housing stock and work with housing associations to ensure they are fully compliant with the latest safety regulations set out within the Social Housing (Regulation) Act 2023, the Building Safety Act 2022 and the Fire Safety Act 2021.

(3) Ensure that clear communication is provided to residents living in council-owned housing stock to reassure them of the proactive steps being taken to protect their safety and ensure clear guidance is provided on what to do in case of a fire.

(4) Ensure that clear communication is provided to residents living in council-owned housing stock in relation to their rights, including their right to be heard by their landlord on issues affecting the safety, condition, and management of their housing, as well as their right to make a complaint where there is a cause for concern and for these complaints to be dealt with promptly and respectfully.

Moved by:                   Councillor Joe Barratt

Seconded by:             Councillor Christine Carrigan

This council meeting notes with great regret the poor condition of the building at Stepping Hill Hospital which have led to incidents of collapsing roofs and the need to postpone or move various clinics and other hospital activity, to the inconvenience of staff and patients and reducing the hospital’s ability to serve local residents, following decades of insufficient funding to maintain its estate.

This council meeting further notes the need for additional health care capacity, especially in the town centre, which would require the building of an additional hospital facility.

This council meeting therefore resolves to ask the Chief Executive to write to the Secretary of State for Health, asking him to:

·       Agree to visit Stepping Hill Hospital and the proposed site for an additional hospital facility in the town centre along with the three MPs covering our borough;

·       Agree urgently to fund the repairs needed at Stepping Hill to return the site to full capacity in a safe condition; and

·       Consider funding the building of an additional hospital facility in Stockport town centre to deliver the additional healthcare capacity our residents need.

Moved by:               Councillor Mark Hunter

Seconded by:          Councillor Angie Clark