Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 16 October 2014.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting of the Council held on 16 October 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

The Mayor reported that the Chief Executive had, in consultation with him, taken urgent action under the Constitution to appoint Mr John Thompson to the Transport Appeal Panel to ensure that specific panels could be appointed to determine appeals by parents of pupils for free school travel.

RESOLVED – That the urgent action be noted.

To receive announcements from the Mayor.

The Mayor welcomed Councillor John McGahan to his first Council Meeting following his election to the Council on 20 November 2014 following a by-election in the Bramhall South & Woodford ward.

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 interest which they had in any of the items on the Summons for the meeting.

The following interests were declared:-

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.

Eight public questions were submitted as follows:-

·         Relating to the current status of Penny Lane Fields.

The Executive Councillor (Economic Development and Regeneration) (Councillor Iain Roberts) responded that the land was designated as greenbelt.

·         Relating to how the removal of public open space in Brinningnton would contribute to the health and mental wellbeing of residents in that area.

Councillor Chris Murphy responded that it would be inappropriate to comment specifically on any current planning application, however in general terms he stated that open space was valuable to residents, as was affordable housing and local services and that all of these factors needed to be considered in determining whether development should take place.

·         Relating to how the proposed Brinnington Leisure Centre would be financed.

Councillor Maureen Rowles responded that the proposed Brinnington Leisure Centre would be funded from a combination of capital funding approved by the Executive and supplemented by improved trading income from the new facility.

·         Relating to how many full-time union representatives were paid from within Council funds.

The Executive Councillor (Economic Development and Regeneration) (Councillor Iain Roberts) responded that there were three full-time union representatives that were funded from facility time and a further person working one day a week.

·         Relating to the level of investment in highway repairs within the Hazel Grove constituency.

The Executive Councillor (Communities & Sustainability) (Councillor Martin Candler) responded that the £100 million investment programme would be allocated following a needs-based assessment of the condition of all the roads in the borough.

·         Relating to how the Council could justify the salary of its Chief Executive when compared to that of the Prime Minister.

The Leader of the Council (Policy, Reform & Finance) (Councillor Sue Derbyshire) responded that the comparison between a Chief Executive and the Prime Minister was misleading and that a more appropriate analogy would be between the Chief Executive and the Head of the Civil Service.

Two further public questions had been submitted where the questioner was not present at the meeting and in accordance with the Code of Practice, the Chief Executive was requested to respond to the questioner in writing.

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

There were no questions in relation to the business of the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Authority or the Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority.

(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 Executive Councillor (Children & Young People) (Councillor Wendy Meikle) reported that councillors had welcomed a recent presentation on the work of the Council in relation to child sexual exploitation.  Councillor Meikle further reported that the co-located multi-agency safeguarding hub was having an impact on the effectiveness of agencies helping young people who are at risk of being victims of child sexual exploitation.  Councillor Meikle confirmed that all councillors were committed to exposing child sexual exploitation, being open about its prevalence and being transparent in reporting such activity.

It was further confirmed that safeguarding young people in the borough remained the highest priority of elected members as corporate parents.

Representatives of the Labour Group (Councillor Dean Fitzpatrick); Conservative Group (Councillor Linda Holt); and the Independent Ratepayers (Councillor Peter Burns) spoke in support of the statement of the Executive Councillor (Children & Young People).

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 (Children & Young People), (Communities & Sustainability) 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 11 November 2014 (pages) and the record of executive decisions taken since the last Council Meeting, (schedule enclosed, decisions previously circulated) (pages) and consider any recommendations they contain.

The Mayor declared the Minutes of the Executive Meeting held on 11 November 2014 (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:-

Adult Care Services & Housing – 27 October 2014

Children & Young People – 29 October 2014

Corporate, Resource Management & Governance – 28 October 2014

Environment & Economy – 30 October 2014

Health & Wellbeing – 29 September, 8 October, 21 October, 6 November 2014

Scrutiny Co-ordination – 10 November 2014

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 – 27 October 2014

Children & Young People – 29 October 2014

Corporate, Resource Management & Governance – 28 October 2014

Environment & Economy – 30 October 2014

Health & Wellbeing – 29 September, 8 October, 21 October, 6 November 2014

Scrutiny Co-ordination – 10 November 2014

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 and Area Committees in accordance with Council Meeting Procedure Rule 11.

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

Ordinary Committees

Contributors – 29 October 2014

Employment Appeals – 22 October 2014

Funding – 23 October 2014

Health & Wellbeing Board – 5 November 2014

Licensing, Environment & Safety – 8 October 2014  

Licensing, Environment & Safety Sub-Committee – 2 September and 20 October 2014 

Planning & Highways Regulation – 9 October 2014

Stockport Homes Member – 13 October 2014

Town Centre – 20 October 2014

Area Committees

Bramhall & Cheadle Hulme South – 6 November 2014

Central Stockport – 6 November 2014

Cheadle – 4 November 2014

Heatons & Reddish – 3 November 2014

Marple – 5 November 2014

Stepping Hill - 4 November 2014

Werneth – 3 November 2014

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

Contributors – 29 October 2014

Employment Appeals – 22 October 2014

Funding – 23 October 2014

Health & Wellbeing Board – 5 November 2014

Licensing, Environment & Safety – 8 October 2014 

Licensing, Environment & Safety Sub-Committee – 2 September and 20 October 2014

Planning & Highways Regulation – 9 October 2014

Stockport Homes Member – 13 October 2014

Town Centre – 20 October 2014

Area Committees

Bramhall & Cheadle Hulme South – 6 November 2014

Central Stockport – 6 November 2014

Cheadle – 4 November 2014

Heatons & Reddish – 3 November 2014

Marple – 5 November 2014

Stepping Hill - 4 November 2014

Werneth – 3 November 2014

To consider a report of the Chief Executive.

The Leader of the Council (Policy, Reform and Finance) (Councillor Sue Derbyshire) submitted a report (copies of which had bene circulated) setting out the background and implication for Stockport of the recent Agreement with Government to devolve functional and fiscal responsibilities alongside a staged approach to changes to Greater Manchester governance arrangements.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         There was general agreement that the proposed powers devolved to Greater Manchester were to be welcomed and that they would help to deliver key benefits for Stockport and for Greater Manchester as a whole.

·         While the creation of the position of an elected Mayor for Greater Manchester is clearly a key condition for Government agreement to the devolution of the range of powers set out, such a position is not a high priority for Stockport citizens and will be seen as an additional layer of political governance and bureaucracy.

·         There was a reluctant acceptance of the creation of the position of elected Mayor provided it was clear that this is an essential and unavoidable requirement for achieving the devolution of the full range of powers set out in the Agreement on a permanent basis.

·         Regardless of the position of the elected Mayor, there was a need for much greater transparency in the governance of the Combined Authority than is perceived to exist at present. In particular Members were concerned about:-

(i)            The accountability of Leaders in exercising their roles at GM level both collectively and in respect of portfolio responsibilities. One view was that there would be greater transparency and Greater Manchester-wide accountability through the creation of a directly elected Cabinet to support the Mayor rather than through continued reliance on the Leaders of Councils to undertake portfolio responsibilities as at present.

(ii)           The lack of an open and democratic process for the creation of the post of Appointed Mayor/CA Leader in 2015. Members queried whether more accountability and public engagement might be secured through conducting a referendum or through a direct election of the interim Mayor rather than by appointment by Leaders.

(iii)         That there was an urgent need to review arrangements for Scrutiny at the GM level and, in particular, to enable Scrutiny of key decisions prior to them being made by the Combined Authority. Such arrangements will be crucial to enabling effective scrutiny of an Executive Mayor but they were needed in any event to improve transparency and accountability now.

(iv)         The changing role of a Leader of the Council, whether their focus will ultimately be at a local or regional level, and what an increasing regional role will mean for the existing structure of the Council

·         There was a clear need for greater clarity about the constitutional position of the Mayor, including the system of voting and term of office.

RESOLVED - That the Chief Executive be requested to prepare a report, in consultation with Group Leaders, comprehensively summarising the range of views expressed at this Council Meeting for consideration at the Executive on 16 December 2014 and that the Executive should take into account such comments in formally responding on behalf of the Council to the consultation on GM Devolution.

To consider a report of the Executive Councillor (Corporate, Customer & Community Services).

The Deputy Leader of the Council and Executive Councillor (Corporate, Customer and Community Services) (Councillor Iain Roberts) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing a number of proposed amendments to the Council’s Constitution to reflect the requirements of the Openness of Local Government Bodies Regulation 2014 and to codify the Terms of Reference of the Audit Committee.

RESOLVED – That approval be given to the proposed amendments to the Constitution as detailed in the report and its appendices.

To appoint Councillor Martin Candler as a substitute member of the Stockport, Trafford and Rochdale (STaR) Joint Committee.

RESOLVED – That Councillor Martin Candler be appointed  as a substitute member of the Stockport, Trafford and Rochdale (STaR) Joint Committee.

(NOTE: The Mayor was of the opinion that this item, although not included on the Summons, should be considered as a matter of urgency in accordance with Section 100B(4)(b) of the Local Government Act 1972 in order that appointments to vacancies on committees of the Council could be filled prior to the next meeting of those committees).

RESOLVED – (1) That Councillor McGahan be appointed to the Conservative vacancy on the Adult Care Services & Housing Scrutiny Committee.

(2) That Councillor Sorton be appointed to the Labour vacancy on the Children & Young People Scrutiny Committee.