Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 28 November 2013.

The Minutes of the Meeting of the Council held on 28 November 2014 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 announced that in the lead-up to Christmas he had attended 16 carol services including those held by The Wellspring, the Together Trust and St Ann’s Hospice.

The Mayor reported that the Himalayan Tea Café in Mersey Square had recently expanded their operations as had the Ivy Dental Practice on Wellington Road South.

The Mayor also referred to the recent activities of the Mayor’s Charity which included tombolas, and a forthcoming casino night and race night.

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

No declarations of interest were made.

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.

Two public questions were submitted as follows:-

(a)       Relating to whether there had been any progress with regard to the establishment of a regular passenger railway service through Reddish South Railway Station and whether there was anything that the Friends of South Reddish Station could do to assist.

The Executive Councillor (Economic Development & Regeneration) (Councillor Iain Roberts) responded that a meeting had been arranged to discuss this matter further with officers from Transport for Greater Manchester.  Councillor Roberts stated that he considered that the ambition of rail services through the station would be most likely to be achieved as part of the forthcoming refranchising of the Northern Rail and Transpennine Express rail franchises.  The Friends of South Reddish Station were encouraged to maintain their efforts to increase awareness around their efforts to secure a regular passenger service.

(b)       Relating to the proposed sale of part of Reddish Vale Country Park and whether it was considered that the consultation process had been open, honest and in accordance with the Countryside Act 1972.

Councillor Wendy Wild responded that the original consultation process for the Brinnington Regeneration Plan could have been carried out more thoroughly and that certain issues could have been made clearer to the public and councillors.  In relation to the reference to the Countryside Act 1972, Councillor Wild suggested that as there was no such piece of legislation, the reference should have been to Section 123 of the Local Government Act 1972 that allowed the Council to dispose of land held by them in any manner they wished.  However, the Council must post a notice of the intention to dispose of land classified as Open Space to allow for the receipt of objections at the point at which the intention to dispose of the land occurred.  Councillor Wild stated the Council’s view was that as this point had not yet been reached, this provision of the Act did not yet apply.

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.

(a)       Section 41 Spokespersons

The following councillors to answer questions (if any) on the business of the joint authorities:-

(b)       Greater Manchester Police and Crime Panel

Councillor Sue Derbyshire to answer questions (if any) on the business of the Greater Manchester Police and Crime Panel.

(c)     Greater Manchester Combined Authority

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

(a)       Section 41 Spokespersons

Councillor Syd Lloyd asked Councillor Walter Brett (Section 41 Spokesperson for the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Authority) for his view on recent comments made at a meeting of the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Authority that if there were to be another fire in the Borough similar to that experienced recently at the Junction 25 Recycling facility in Bredbury, the Fire Service would not seek to extinguish the fire but rather contain it within the premises and allow it to burn itself out.  Councillor Lloyd further enquired about which authority would fund the evacuation of residents in such a situation over an extended period of time; and the insurance liabilities and the associated rebuilding costs incurred as a result of a decision to allow a fire to burn for longer than otherwise need be the case.

Councillor Brett responded that the Borough Fire Commander had stated that such a tactic would not be employed at a site such as the Junction 25 Recycling facility where considerations such as residential and commercial evacuations would need to be taken into account.  It was commented that work was being undertaken with Salford University in relation to the implications of allowing a fire to burn itself out which would include giving consideration to the proximity of the site to water courses, however the Junction 25 Recycling facility would not meet the criteria for the use of this initiative.

(b)       Greater Manchester Police and Crime Panel

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

(c)        Greater Manchester Combined Authority

There were no questions in relation to the business of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority or the Transport for Greater Manchester Committee.

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

The Leader of the Council (Policy, Reform & Finance) (Councillor Sue Derbyshire) commented on the value that Stockport County Football Club brought to Stockport and the loyalty of its fan base.  It was further stated that any support that the Council could provide to Stockport County would be based on the regeneration value that such an investment would bring, in addition to the development of a sound business case.  Councillor Derbyshire noted that there had been a report in a recent edition of the Stockport Express that Life Leisure had applied to the Football Association to create a new football team to play in division one of the North West Counties Football League.  Councillor Derbyshire confirmed that this approach had not been discussed to the Council in advance and further that she would not agree with the use of any Council resources, either directly or indirectly, to commence a commercial business venture in the form of a new football club.

Councillor Derbyshire also referred to the recently announced unemployment rate for Stockport of 2.7% and further that the number of those claiming jobseekers allowance in December 2013 had dropped by 4.7% against a national figure of 1.7%.  It was stated that reduction in claimants amongst young people aged between 18-24 was more pronounced at 7.4% against a national figure of 4.5%.  

At this stage in the proceedings, the Mayor invited the Group Leaders to comment on the matter relating to the proposed creation of a new football team.

The Leader of the Labour Group (Councillor Andrew Verdeille) commented that he shared the view of the Leader of the Council with regard to this matter.  He further stated that he would be prepared to consider any proposal with regard to the future of Stockport County Football Club provided this was supported by a robust business plan and that there was a clear exit policy for the Council.  With reference to the creation of a further football club in Stockport, Councillor Verdeille stated that this ought not, in his view, to be the focus for an organisation that had been created to manage the Council’s leisure facilities.  Finally, Councillor Verdeille requested clarity on the legality of the purchase by Life Leisure of shares in the value of £50,000 in Stockport County Football Club and further the suggestion that this may be disposed of by way of a transaction in the value of £1.

The Leader of the Conservative Group (Councillor Syd Lloyd) stated that he concurred with the views of both the Leader of the Council and the Leader of the Labour Group with regard to this matter.

The Leader of the Independent Ratepayers (Councillor Peter Burns) expressed his concern that as the Council was the primary funder of Life Leisure, it should be informed of proposed new initiatives in advance of their announcement in the press.  Councillor Burns welcomed the forthcoming first meeting of the Funders Committee which he hoped would help bring further transparency with regard to the use of Council resources relating Life Leisure and the management of the Council’s leisure facilities. 

The Executive Councillor (Lifelong Learning & Achievement) (Councillor Shan Alexander) reported that Stockport Council had been commended in Her Majesty’s Inspectors Annual Report for the North West for its secondary, primary, nursery and special schools which were all performing above the national average and that secondary school performance had improved significantly.

Councillor Shan Alexander stated that there had been particular improvements in outcomes in Stockport’s designated ‘priority areas’ with 88.4% of children in those areas attending a school which had been inspected as being ‘good’ or better.

The recent opening of Stockport’s Apprenticeship Store in Stockport Exchange was welcomed.  The Store allowed young people to register with the National Apprenticeship Service and gain valuable skills to help them gain a placement and could be used by employers to conduct interviews for local apprenticeship opportunities.

The Executive Councillor (Communities & Sustainability)  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.(i)

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

The Leader of the Council (Policy, Reform & Finance) and the Executive Councillors (Adult Care Services) and (Lifelong Learning & Achievement) answered questions relating to the business of the Executive in accordance with Council Meeting Procedure Rule 11.

To receive the Minutes of the Executive held on 17 December 2013 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 Executive Meeting held on 17 December 2013 (copies of which had been circulated) and the record of executive decision 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.

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:-

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

Adult Care Services & Housing – 2 December 2013

Children & Young People – 4 December 2013

Corporate, Resource Management & Governance – 3 December 2013

Environment & Economy  – 5 December 2013

Health & Wellbeing – 18 and 26 November 2013

There were no reports from the Chairs of the Planning and Highways Regulation and Licensing, Environment and Safety 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, Area and Ward Committees:-

Ordinary Committees

Area Committees

Ward Committee

Brinnington and Reddish Joint – 7 October 2013

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

Ordinary Committees

Audit – 18 December 2013

Employment Appeals – 19 November 2013

Licensing, Environment & Safety – 20 November 2013 and 8 January 2014

Licensing, Environment & Safety Sub – 4 December 2013

Planning & Highways Regulation – 21 November and 17 December 2013

Area Committees

Bramhall & Cheadle Hulme South – 12 December 2013

Central Stockport – 12 December 2013

Cheadle – 10 December 2013

Heatons& Reddish – 9 December 2013

Marple– 11 December 2013

Stepping Hill – 10 December 2013

Werneth– 9 December 2013

Ward Committee

Brinnington and Reddish Joint – 7 October 2013

This Council Meeting believes:

·      That high-quality apprenticeships are an excellent way of providing an opportunity for young people to gain skills and to improve their chances of securing employment;

·      That the Council’s recent 100:100 apprenticeship challenge has been so successful that Stockport employers have now pledged to employ 203 apprentices within 100 days, more than doubling the original target.

This Council meeting notes the work in progress and that:

·         The Executive decided that the new unit Stockport, Trafford and Rochdale (STaR) created and approved by the Executive in November 2013 must consider the Social Value Act 2012.  This was endorsed by the Council’s Corporate Resource Management and Governance (CRMG) Scrutiny Committee;

·         On the 3rd December 2013 CRMG considered a report covering progress on creating the Stockport Strategic Property Partnership (SSPP) through which a number of Key Performance Indicators will be delivered. These will include targets for employing Apprentices either directly or in the supply chain. This report went forward to the Executive on the 17th December;

·         The Council is already committed to promoting apprentices and determining the most effective method for this through the various procurement routes and policy options at its disposal.

This Council Meeting further notes that the Coalition Government:

·           is taking forward the Richard Review which will drive forward reforms to apprenticeships which will raise standards and produce a more rigorous system, responsive to the needs of employers and ensuring apprenticeships are increasingly seen as a first-choice career move;

·           has overseen the biggest ever increase in apprenticeships, with more than 860,000 apprentices in place during the year 2012/13;

·           has already surpassed the goals outlined in Labour’s Skills Strategy, published in November 2009, which adopted a target from the Leitch review of 250,000 apprenticeship starts per year by 2020;.

·           is set to significantly exceed this, with official data showing 457,200 Apprenticeship starts in 2010/11.

This Council meeting believes that the Council’s procurement policy should be amended to require officers to ask contractors to offer high quality apprenticeships, a proportion of which should be Higher or Advanced status, and they must be advertised locally. 

This Council meeting resolves that officers should prepare a report on the feasibility of this to be submitted to the Executive at its meeting in March 2014, to enable the final Full Council meeting of this Civic Year to ratify any decisions if necessary.

Moved by:                  Councillor Shan Alexander (Liberal Democrat Group)

Seconded by:           Councillor David Sedgwick (Labour Group)

                                    Councillor Syd Lloyd (Conservative Group)

                                    Councillor Peter Burns (Independent Ratepayers Group)

RESOLVED - This Council Meeting believes:

·         That high-quality apprenticeships are an excellent way of providing an opportunity for young people to gain skills and to improve their chances of securing employment;

·         That the Council’s recent 100:100 apprenticeship challenge has been so successful that Stockport employers have now pledged to employ 203 apprentices within 100 days, more than doubling the original target.

This Council meeting notes the work in progress and that:

·         The Executive decided that the new unit Stockport, Trafford and Rochdale (STaR) created and approved by the Executive in November 2013 must consider the Social Value Act 2012.  This was endorsed by the Council’s Corporate Resource Management and Governance (CRMG) Scrutiny Committee;

·         On the 3rd December 2013 CRMG considered a report covering progress on creating the Stockport Strategic Property Partnership (SSPP) through which a number of Key Performance Indicators will be delivered. These will include targets for employing Apprentices either directly or in the supply chain. This report went forward to the Executive on the 17th December;

·         The Council is already committed to promoting apprentices and determining the most effective method for this through the various procurement routes and policy options at its disposal.

This Council Meeting further notes that the Coalition Government:

·         is taking forward the Richard Review which will drive forward reforms to apprenticeships which will raise standards and produce a more rigorous system, responsive to the needs of employers and ensuring apprenticeships are increasingly seen as a first-choice career move;

·         has overseen the biggest ever increase in apprenticeships, with more than 860,000 apprentices in place during the year 2012/13;

·         has already surpassed the goals outlined in Labour’s Skills Strategy, published in November 2009, which adopted a target from the Leitch review of 250,000 apprenticeship starts per year by 2020;.

·         is set to significantly exceed this, with official data showing 457,200 Apprenticeship starts in 2010/11.

This Council meeting believes that the Council’s procurement policy should be amended to require officers to ask contractors to offer high quality apprenticeships, a proportion of which should be Higher or Advanced status, and they must be advertised locally. 

This Council Meeting resolves that officers should prepare a report on the feasibility of this to be submitted to the Executive at its meeting in March 2014, to enable the final Full Council meeting of this Civic Year to ratify any decisions if necessary.

To consider a report of the Deputy Leader of the Council (Corporate, Customer and Community Services).

The Deputy Leader of the Council (Corporate, Customer & Community Services) (Councillor Mark Weldon) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing proposals for changes to polling arrangements for Stockport as a result of a review of Polling Districts, Polling Places and Polling Stations.

RESOLVED – That approval be given to the changes to Polling Districts and Polling Places as detailed in the report.

The Leader of the Council (Policy, Reform and Finance) to report.

RESOLVED – (1) That Councillor Kevin Hogg be invited to allow his name to be submitted to the Annual Council Meeting for election to the Office of Mayor for the Metropolitan Borough of Stockport for the year 2014/2015.

(2) That Councillor Linda Holt be invited to allow her name to be submitted to the Annual Council meeting for the appointment to the Office of Deputy Mayor for the Metropolitan Borough of Stockport for the year 2014/2015.

To appoint Bernadette Holgate to the current vacancy on the Independent Remuneration Panel.

RESOLVED – That Bernadette Holgate be appointed to fill the current vacancy on the Stockport Independent Remuneration Panel.

To appoint Mark Baxter as the representative of the Church of England Chester Diocesan Board of Education on the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee.

RESOLVED – That Mark Baxter be appointed as the representative of the Church of England Chester Diocesan Board of Education on the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee.

To approve the following additions to the list of lay members appointed to serve on Education Appeals Panel:-

RESOLVED – That the following be added to the list of lay members appointed to serve on the Education Appeals Panel:-

Jennie Sugden

David Mullin

Janet Sewart

Shirley Rea

Howard Beaven