Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the Annual Meeting of the Council held on 24 May 2016.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the Annual Meeting of the Council held on 24 May 2016 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 referred to recent events both at home and abroad which had involved the tragic and senseless loss of life.  The Mayor reported that Jo Cox, the MP for Batley and Spen was killed in her constituency on 16 June 2016; that 49 people were killed and a further 53 injured during an attack in Orlando, Florida on 12 June 2016 and 41 people had been killed and more than 200 people injured in an attack at Istanbul Airport on 28 June 2016.

The Mayor invited those present to stand in silence as a mark of respect to those who had lost their lives or who had been injured.

The Mayor then reported that he had attended an event to celebrate Armed Forces Day on 25 June 2016 held on Castle Street in Edgeley.  The Mayor further reported that an event to commemorate the centenary of the Battle of The Somme would be held at Stockport War Memorial on Friday, 1 July at 11.00 am.

Finally, the Mayor reported that a number of Stockport food and drink operators had received nominations for the Manchester Food & Drink Festival Awards this year including ‘Foodie Friday’ in the Market Place; the Magnet Public House, Wellington Road North; Indian Tiffin Room, Cheadle; Heaton Hops, Heaton Chapel; Brassica, Heaton Moor and Bakers Vaults, Stockport.

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 Interests

Personal and Prejudicial Interests

All those members declaring a personal and prejudicial interest left the meeting during the consideration of this item and took no part in the discussion or vote.

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.

Four public questions were submitted as follows:-

·         Relating to flooding on the Bosden Farm Estate in Offerton and why there had been a delay in securing skips for residents’ use.

Councillor Booth responded that she had experienced difficulties in contacting Council officers responsible for co-ordinating the response to the flooding over the weekend concerned.  It was commented that when the appropriate officer had spoken to her, it was stated that there was no authority to authorise the procurement of skips for residents’ use and it required further contact through the Chief Executive to ensure that skips were provided. 

·         Relating to flooding on the Bosden Farm Estate in Offerton and why the Council had only offered £100 to residents whereas other local authorities had provided grants of up to £500.

Councillor Meikle responded that she did not consider that this disparity was fair, but that the grant provided by the Council had been funded by Forever Manchester which was a community foundation fund.  In other areas, central government had provided the funding for grants in excess of this amount which had not been forthcoming on this occasion.

·         Relating to alcohol advertising and whether removing such advertising from hoardings in the vicinity of schools was tokenistic when alcohol advertising was prevalent during major sporting events on television and whether improvements in education would produce better results.

Councillor McGee responded that there were already restrictions on alcohol advertising around television programmes which were designed for children but that sporting events were not covered by this provision due to the mixed nature of the audience.  It was further stated that the origins of the motion on the Summons relating to alcohol advertising near schools and colleges was a presentation made by young people to the Children & Young People Scrutiny Committee expressing concerns that they had that Stockport had one of the highest rates of hospital admissions for alcohol related disease for children under eighteen.  It was consequently important to reduce the exposure of young people to such advertising.

Councillor Elise Wilson replied that reducing the exposure of young people to alcohol advertising was a campaign brought to the Council’s attention by young people and the motion was the latest step in this campaign. 

·         Relating to why Councillor Driver had voted to close Reddish Baths which had been a valued community asset in Reddish.

Councillor Driver replied that the decision to close Reddish Baths had been taken by the Executive in 2008 and had been supported by him.

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

Police and Crime Commissioner for Greater Manchester

Tony Lloyd (Interim Mayor and Police and Crime Commissioner for Greater Manchester) will attend the meeting to address the Council in relation to his role as Interim Mayor and the work of the Police and Crime Commissioner.

There were no petitions presented to the meeting.

Police and Crime Commissioner for Greater Manchester

Tony Lloyd (Interim Mayor and Police and Crime Commissioner for Greater Manchester) attended the meeting to address the Council in relation to his role as Interim Mayor and the work of the Police and Crime Commissioner which was followed by questions from Councillors.

At the conclusion of the item, the Mayor expressed thanks to Tony Lloyd for his attendance and presentation.

(a)       Section 41 Spokespersons

To report that under Section 41 of the Local Government Act 1985, the following councillors have been nominated by the bodies indicated to answer questions relating to the discharge of the functions of those authorities:-

The appointed councillors to then answer questions, if any, on the business of the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Authority and Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority.

(b)       Greater Manchester Police and Crime Panel

To appoint Councillor Alex Ganotis to answer questions in relation to the business of the Greater Manchester Police and Crime Panel.

Councillor Alex Ganotis to then answer questions, if any, on the business of the Greater Manchester Police and Crime Panel.

(c)        Greater Manchester Combined Authority

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

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

(d)       GMCA/AGMA Scrutiny Pool

The following councillors to answer questions (if any) on the business of the GMCA/AGMA Scrutiny Pool:-

(a)       Section 41 Spokespersons

The Mayor reported that under Section 41 of the Local Government Act 1985, the following councillors had been nominated by the bodies indicated to answer questions relating to the discharge of functions of joint authorities for the Municipal Year 2016/17:-

Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Authority         - Councillor Walter Brett

Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority           - Councillor Roy Driver

Questions

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

RESOLVED – That Councillor Alex Ganotis be appointed to answer questions in relation to the business of the Greater Manchester Police and Crime Panel.

Questions

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

(c)       Greater Manchester Combined Authority

RESOLVED – That the following councillors be appointed to answer questions in relation to the discharge of the functions of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority and the Transport for Greater Manchester Committee:-

Greater Manchester Combined Authority                    - Councillor Alex Ganotis

Transport for Greater Manchester Committee             - Councillor John Taylor

Questions

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

(d)       GMCA/AGMA Scrutiny Pool

There were no questions on the business of the GMCA/AGMA Scrutiny Pool.

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, Finance & Devolution) (Councillor Alex Ganotis) thanked the Council for his appointment as Leader of the Council and welcomed those councillors that had recently been elected to the Council.  It was then reported he had requested that a review be undertaken on the use of the Council’s reserves to evaluate whether they struck the right balance between the risk to the Council and the demands on the Council’s budget.  It was also stated that there had been a £3.9 million carryover from last year and that the principles underpinning the use of this had been set out in the Leader’s Report with a view to investing this in resources which would have continued rather than one-off benefits for the Borough.  It was also stated that there would need to be an increased focus on income generation.

Finally, the Leader of the Council stated that he had requested that a cross-party review of the constitution be undertaken which would include the potential realignment of scrutiny committees, the remit of area committees and the transparency and role of the Health & Care Integrated Commissioning Board and Health & Wellbeing Board

The Executive Councillor (Communities & Housing) (Councillor Sheila Bailey) referred to the recent incidents of flooding in the Borough and expressed sympathy with those who had been affected by this.  It was stated that an investigation into the flooding and the response to it had been commissioned by the Executive.  It was reported that the government had not provided financial support to those residents affected as it had done elsewhere in the country and the Council had written to the government in relation to this matter.  A grant of £100 was available to affected residents through the Forever Manchester Fund and the Council had agreed to fund an additional support package of £200 per property coupled with a four month freeze on Council Tax.

It was further reported that £615,000 of transitional funding had been allocated to parks infrastructure in Priority 1 areas with the balance being used to improve access routes to North Reddish Park and Bruntwood Park.

Finally, Councillor Bailey stated that investigations were ongoing in relation to the creation of a Stockport construction company to build homes that people can afford and that it was proposed that a Stockport Housing Commission be established to oversee the strategy for housing across the Borough.

The Executive Councillor (Economy & Regeneration) (Councillor Kate Butler) reported that she had held a number of discussions with traders in and around Stockport Market and stated that it was her view that the Market Hall, Market Place and the Underbanks area of Stockport had potential to form the ‘beating heart’ of the town centre. It was stated that a report had been commissioned from CBRE to provide an evidence base for the future of the market.  Councillor Butler also commented that work was ongoing on how best the Council could exploit its valued arts and culture facilities.

The Executive Councillor (Education) (Councillor Dean Fitzpatrick) reported that an Ofsted inspection had taken place between 3-6 May 2016 in respect of the Council’s adult education provision which had identified that Council leaders did not challenge senior managers sufficiently and that the effectiveness of leadership and outcomes for learners required improvement.  It was commented that it was regrettable that under the previous administration the service had been failing to provide the required standard of education and support to adults to help them improve their life chances.  An improvement board had now been set up to drive up standards in this area and that the target was to be rated as ‘good’ at the time of the next inspection.

Councillor Fitzpatrick stated that he had recently attended the official opening of Oak Tree Primary School and commented that physical infrastructure played an important part of a young persons’ learning experience and ultimately their attainment.  It was stated that the  ...  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, Finance & Devolution); the Deputy Leader of the Council (Adult Social Care); and the Executive Councillors (Communities & Housing), (Economy & Regeneration), (Education), (Health) and (Reform & Governance) answered questions and responded to comments relating to the business of the Executive in accordance with Council Meeting Procedure Rule 11.

To receive the Minutes of the Executive held on 26 April and 12 June 2016 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 Meetings held on 26 April and 12 June 2016 (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 – 26 May 2016

Children & Young People – 13 April and 1 June 2016

Corporate, Resource Management & Governance – 12 April and 31 May 2016

Environment & Economy – 14 April and 2 June 2016

Health & Wellbeing – 5 April and 25 May 2016

Scrutiny Co-ordination – 13 June 2016

To consider the Scrutiny Annual Report 2015/16.

The Chair of the Scrutiny Co-ordination Committee (Councillor Wendy Meikle) submitted the Scrutiny Annual Report for 2015/16 (copies of which had been circulated) summarising the work of the Scrutiny Committees during the current Municipal Year.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

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

Area Committees

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

Health & Wellbeing Board – 18 May and 8 June 2016

Licensing, Environment & Safety – 27 April 2016

Licensing, Environment & Safety Sub-Committee – 25 April and 2 June 2016

Planning & Highways Regulation – 31 March and 28 April 2016

Stockport Homes Member – 25 April 2016

Town Centre – 7 June 2016

Area Committees

Bramhall & Cheadle Hulme South – 21 April and 9 June 2016

Central Stockport – 21 April and 9 June 2016

Cheadle – 19 April and 7 June 2016

Heatons & Reddish – 18 April and 6 June 2016

Marple – 20 April and 8 June 2016

Stepping Hill – 19 April and 7 June 2016

Werneth – 6 June 2016

This council meeting notes

·         The government’s encouragement for disabled people to start (or return) to paid employment;

·         The important role played by our rail network in helping people to travel to and from their workplaces;

·         The difficulties faced accessing rail services by disabled people;

·         Stockport’s Rail Strategy, published last year, which noted that step-free access should be a minimum facility at stations.

·         The importance of the £102m Department for Transport” Access for All” programme in funding adaptations to railway stations to make them more accessible;

·         The additional £3m funding within  Greater Manchester from the “Rail Station Improvement Strategy”; and

·         That around half of the 96 railway stations across Greater Manchester still require more work, including important commuter stations across Stockport such as Bredbury, Heaton Chapel and Reddish North, and including other locally important destination stations such as Manchester Oxford Road, which all have stepped access to at least one platform.

This council meeting notes with concern

·         The proposals within the recent Hendy report to defer half of the “Access for All” projects until the period 2019-24;

·         That this is a 50% reduction in funding for the current period, delaying vital improvements across the network;

·         That future funding may be impacted by this re-phasing, meaning fewer adaptations may be  delivered in total by 2024; and

·         That any delay to a particular station being adapted means services are not accessible to all, contrary to the various Disability Discrimination and Equalities Acts.

This council meeting believes that deferring any “Access for All” project would be a mistake and supports the calls by Transport for All and Campaign for Better Transport to overturn this decision.

This council meeting therefore resolves to ask the Chief Executive to write to

·         the Secretary of State for Transport, asking him to reject the proposed re-phasing of Access for All projects and instead, wherever possible, to undertake more accessibility improvements in the current period; and

·         the Chair of Transport for Greater Manchester Committee, urging him to consider how more Transport for Greater Manchester funding can be made available to bring our railway stations up to the high accessibility standards of Metrolink.

Moved by:      Councillor Laura Booth

Seconded:     Councillor Geoff Abell

MOVED AND SECONDED - This Council Meeting notes

·         The government’s encouragement for disabled people to start (or return) to paid employment;

·         The important role played by our rail network in helping people to travel to and from their workplaces;

·         The difficulties faced accessing rail services by disabled people;

·         Stockport’s Rail Strategy, published last year, which noted that step-free access should be a minimum facility at stations.

·         The importance of the £102m Department for Transport” Access for All” programme in funding adaptations to railway stations to make them more accessible;

·         The additional £3m funding within  Greater Manchester from the “Rail Station Improvement Strategy”; and

·         That around half of the 96 railway stations across Greater Manchester still require more work, including important commuter stations across Stockport such as Bredbury, Heaton Chapel and Reddish North, and including other locally important destination stations such as Manchester Oxford Road, which all have stepped access to at least one platform.

This Council Meeting notes with concern

·         The proposals within the recent Hendy report to defer half of the “Access for All” projects until the period 2019-24;

·         That this is a 50% reduction in funding for the current period, delaying vital improvements across the network;

·         That future funding may be impacted by this re-phasing, meaning fewer adaptations may be  delivered in total by 2024; and

·         That any delay to a particular station being adapted means services are not accessible to all, contrary to the various Disability Discrimination and Equalities Acts.

This Council Meeting believes that deferring any “Access for All” project would be a mistake and supports the calls by Transport for All and Campaign for Better Transport to overturn this decision.

This Council Meeting therefore resolves to ask the Chief Executive to write to

·         the Secretary of State for Transport, asking him to reject the proposed re-phasing of Access for All projects and instead, wherever possible, to undertake more accessibility improvements in the current period; and

·         the Chair of Transport for Greater Manchester Committee, urging him to consider how more Transport for Greater Manchester funding can be made available to bring our railway stations up to the high accessibility standards of Metrolink.

AMENDMENT MOVED AND SECONDED - This Council Meeting notes

·         The government’s encouragement for people with a disability to start (or return) to paid employment;

·         The important role played by our rail network in helping people to travel to and from their workplaces;

·         The difficulties faced accessing rail services by those with a disability;

·         Stockport’s Rail Strategy, published last year, which noted that step-free access should be a minimum facility at stations

·         Funding adaptations to railway stations to make them more accessible is principally the responsibility of Government through the Department for Transport's £102 million ”Access for All” programme

·         That around half of the 96 railway stations across Greater Manchester still require more work, including important commuter stations across Stockport such as Bredbury, Heaton Chapel and Reddish North, and including other locally important destination stations such as Manchester Oxford Road, which all have stepped access to at least one platform.

This Council Meeting notes with concern

·         The proposals within the recent Hendy report to defer half of the “Access for All” projects until the period 2019-24;

·         That this is a 50% reduction in funding for the current period delaying vital improvements across the network;

·         That future funding may be impacted by this re-phasing, meaning fewer adaptations may be  delivered in total by 2024; and

·         That any delay to a particular station being adapted means services are not accessible to all, contrary to the various Disability Discrimination and Equalities Acts.

This Council Meeting believes that deferring any “Access for All” project would be a mistake and supports the calls by the Transport for Greater Manchester Committee, Transport for All and Campaign for Better Transport to overturn this decision.

This Council Meeting therefore resolves to ask the Chief Executive to write to the Secretary  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.(i)

This Council notes that

·         Public health statistics suggest a decline in the numbers of young people drinking regularly in Stockport and a decline in the amount of alcohol consumed by those who do drink, but that a significant number of young people still drink at harmful levels

·         When alcohol-related hospital admissions for 16 and 17 year olds are considered in isolation there was a recorded increase in the rate in Stockport between 2011-12 and 2015-16

·         Stockport is still significantly above the English average for under 18s being admitted to hospital for treatment related to alcohol, with 59.5 admissions per 10,000 compared to a national average of 36.6 between 2012-13 and 2015-16, although for this broader age group admission rates have fallen in each of the last three years

·         Work has taken place in Stepping Hill Hospital’s emergency department to ensure that clinical staff are fully aware of the impact of alcohol on young people’s attendances

·         The 2014 ‘What About YOUth’ national survey of 15 year olds received 856 responses from local young people and found that Stockport was above the national average for the percentage of young people who had been drunk in the past week – 16.5% compared to the English average of 14.6%

·         The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) apply rules on alcohol advertising in the media which place an emphasis on protecting young people and ensure that adverts aren’t directed at people under 18 or contain anything that is likely to appeal to them

·         Despite these rules strict rules on alcohol advertisement in the media, which were brought into force in 2005, widespread outdoor alcohol advertising remains, including near local schools and colleges

·         The Executive Member for Health has requested a refresh of Stockport’s Drug and Alcohol Strategy, one of the aims of which is to bring down alcohol-related hospital admissions to the lowest level possible

This Council believes that

·         Alcohol advertisement often has a profound impact on the drinking habits of young people which can have long-term implications on their future alcohol use

·         Another trend in alcohol consumption is that there has been an increase in binge drinking and some young people are still drinking at levels that would be considered risky for adults

This Council resolves

·         To invite the members of the Stockport Youth Council who presented to the Children and Young People’s Scrutiny Committee on Wednesday 13^th April to present to a future Full Council Meeting

·         To ask the Chief Executive, in consultation with members of Stockport Youth Council, to write to the Under Secretary of State for Public Health, the Minister of State for Schools and the Chief Executive of the ASA to lobby for tighter restrictions on outdoor alcohol advertising near local schools and colleges

Moved by:                  Councillor Elise Wilson                                  

Seconded by:           Councillor Tom McGee

In accordance with the provisions of Council Meeting Procedure Rule 14.7 (Alteration of Motion) at the request of the mover of the motion the Council Meeting gave its consent to the alteration of the motion as tabled to incorporate an alteration proposed by the Liberal Democrat Group which had been published and circulated in advance of the meeting.

RESOLVED - This Council notes that

·         Public health statistics suggest a decline in the numbers of young people drinking regularly in Stockport and a decline in the amount of alcohol consumed by those who do drink, but that a significant number of young people still drink at harmful levels

·         When alcohol-related hospital admissions for 16 and 17 year olds are considered in isolation there was a recorded increase in the rate in Stockport between 2011-12 and 2015-16

·         Stockport is still significantly above the English average for under 18s being admitted to hospital for treatment related to alcohol, with 59.5 admissions per 10,000 compared to a national average of 36.6 between 2012-13 and 2015-16, although for this broader age group admission rates have fallen in each of the last three years

·         Work has taken place in Stepping Hill Hospital’s emergency department to ensure that clinical staff are fully aware of the impact of alcohol on young people’s attendances

·         The 2014 ‘What About YOUth’ national survey of 15 year olds received 856 responses from local young people and found that Stockport was above the national average for the percentage of young people who had been drunk in the past week – 16.5% compared to the English average of 14.6%

·         The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) apply rules on alcohol advertising in the media which place an emphasis on protecting young people and ensure that adverts aren’t directed at people under 18 or contain anything that is likely to appeal to them

·         Despite these rules strict rules on alcohol advertisement in the media, which were brought into force in 2005, widespread outdoor alcohol advertising remains, including near local schools and colleges

·         Stockport’s current Drug and Alcohol Strategy, last refreshed in 2014, has helped to bring down overall alcohol-related hospital admissions

·         The Executive Member for Health has requested a refresh of Stockport’s Drug and Alcohol Strategy, one of the aims of which is to bring down alcohol-related hospital admissions to the lowest level possible

This Council believes that

·         Alcohol advertisement often has a profound impact on the drinking habits of young people which can have long-term implications on their future alcohol use

·         Another trend in alcohol consumption is that there has been an increase in binge drinking and some young people are still drinking at levels that would be considered risky for adults

This Council resolves

·         To invite the members of the Stockport Youth Council who presented to the Children and Young People’s Scrutiny Committee on Wednesday 13^th April to present to a future Full Council Meeting

·         To ask the Chief Executive, in consultation with members of Stockport Youth Council, to write to the Under Secretary of State for Public Health, the Minister of State for Schools, the Greater Manchester Health and Wellbeing lead (currently Lord Peter Smith), and the Chief Executive of the ASA to lobby for tighter restrictions on outdoor alcohol advertising near local schools and colleges and to ensure these are proactively enforced.

·         To include reference to advertising in Stockport’s refreshed Drug and Alcohol Strategy.

This Council notes that

·         Stockport’s Armed Forces Community consists of serving personnel, both Regular and Reservist,  and their dependents, as well as our veterans and their dependents

·         The Royal British Legion estimates that there are currently between 6.5 and 6.7 million members of the Armed Forces Community living in the UK, accounting for around one in ten people

·         Stockport Council and our local partner agencies have obligations to the Armed Forces Community in the planning and provision of services which are enshrined in our own Armed Forces Covenant which was endorsed by the Council meeting of 25th April 2013

·         The Armed Forces Community are also supported by a large UK Armed Forces charity sector comprising 1,818 registered charities in England and Wales who would be assisted by reliable and comprehensive data on our Armed Forces population

·         The next censuses in England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland will be conducted in 2021

·         Whilst the Office for National Statistics (ONS) is responsible for delivery of the census in England and Wales and the UK Statistics Authority for coordinating the census arrangements across the UK, it is for the UK Parliament to determine what questions feature in the final census documents

This Council believes that

·         The Armed Forces Community should not face disadvantage in the provision of services and that special consideration is appropriate in some cases, especially for those who have given the most

·         Despite the large Armed Forces population, the 2011 UK census contained just two questions related to the Armed Forces and failed to collect information on veterans and their dependents and only provided limited detail about Reservists and the dependents of those currently serving

·         Delivery of commitments made under Stockport’s Armed Forces Covenant would be helped by more reliable data on our Armed Forces Community and the 2021 census provides a unique opportunity for the nation to produce this comprehensive snapshot

This Council resolves

·         To support and promote the Royal British Legion’s call for Parliament to include a new topic in the 2021 census that concerns military service and membership of the Armed Forces Community when they approve the final census questionnaire through the legislative process in 2019

·         For the Chief Executive to write to the Minister for the Cabinet Office urging the UK Government to include questions concerning membership of the Armed Forces Community in the 2021 census

Moved by:                  Councillor Maureen Rowles (Labour Group)

Seconded by:           Councillor Stuart Corris (Liberal Democrat Group)

                                    Councillor Linda Holt (Conservative Group)

                                    Councillor Adrian Nottingham (Independent Ratepayer’s Group)

                                    Councillor Mags Kirkham (Stockport Resident’s Group)

RESOLVED - This Council notes that

·         Stockport’s Armed Forces Community consists of serving personnel, both Regular and Reservist, and their dependents, as well as our veterans and their dependents.

·         The Royal British Legion estimates that there are currently between 6.5 and 6.7 million members of the Armed Forces Community living in the UK, accounting for around one in ten people.

·         Stockport Council and our local partner agencies have obligations to the Armed Forces Community in the planning and provision of services which are enshrined in our own Armed Forces Covenant which was endorsed by the Council meeting of 25^th April 2013.

·         The Armed Forces Community are also supported by a large UK Armed Forces charity sector comprising 1,818 registered charities in England and Wales who would be assisted by reliable and comprehensive data on our Armed Forces population.

·         The next censuses in England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland will be conducted in 2021.

·         Whilst the Office for National Statistics (ONS) is responsible for delivery of the census in England and Wales and the UK Statistics Authority for coordinating the census arrangements across the UK, it is for the UK Parliament to determine what questions feature in the final census documents.

This Council believes that

·         The Armed Forces Community should not face disadvantage in the provision of services and that special consideration is appropriate in some cases, especially for those who have given the most.

·         Despite the large Armed Forces population, the 2011 UK census contained just two questions related to the Armed Forces and failed to collect information on veterans and their dependents and only provided limited detail about Reservists and the dependents of those currently serving.

·         Delivery of commitments made under Stockport’s Armed Forces Covenant would be helped by more reliable data on our Armed Forces Community and the 2021 census provides a unique opportunity for the nation to produce this comprehensive snapshot.

This Council resolves

·         To support and promote the Royal British Legion’s call for Parliament to include a new topic in the 2021 census that concerns military service and membership of the Armed Forces Community when they approve the final census questionnaire through the legislative process in 2019.

·         For the Chief Executive to write to the Minister for the Cabinet Office urging the UK Government to include questions concerning membership of the Armed Forces Community in the 2021 census.

To consider a report of the Executive Councillor (Economy & Regeneration).

The Executive Councillor for Economy & Regeneration (Councillor Kate Butler) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing an application submitted by Marple Civic Society to establish Marple Neighbourhood Area under the provisions of the Localism Act 201.

RESOLVED – That approval be given to the designation of the area as submitted in the application as the Marple Neighbourhood Area.