Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 12 September 2019.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the Meeting of the Council held on 12 September 2019 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 reported that Rose Hill Railway Station had recently won the Community Art Scheme award at the Community Rail Awards for its Intergenerational Community Art Project.

The Mayor then reported that she had received a delegation from Stockport’s twin town of Heilbronn in Germany.  The Mayor stated that there was an associate organisation in Stockport that was recruiting for new members and requested that members encourage residents and stakeholders to join.

The Mayor then stated that an event was due to be held on Monday, 21 October 2019 as part of Black History Month to encourage the BME community to become more involved in public life.   

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.

The following interests were declared:-

Personal Interests

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.

Five public questions were submitted as follows:-

·         Relating to the consultation on the Support Funds business case and whether the Council would drop this proposal as it targeted the poorest and most vulnerable people in the borough.

The Cabinet Member for Inclusive Neighbourhoods (Councillor Amanda Peers) responded that the proposal to integrate support funds would enable a more holistic approach to be taken and would allow a better view of individual needs to be obtained.  The ‘one door approach’ would mean that there was a need for only one application and that would also enable the most appropriate form of funding to be applied for that individual.  It was stated that the team would be able to directly administer the funds the Council was responsible for but would also make applications on the applicant's behalf to a wide range of other funding sources such as charities, trust funds, credit unions and furnished tenancies provided by Stockport Homes.  This would potentially open a much greater source of support and funding which people would be able to access than was currently the case.

·         Relating to why the Stepping Hill Public Realm Inspector had not served a public nuisance action on Stepping Hill Hospital resulting from residents’ loss of reasonable enjoyment of their properties due to the hospital’s inability to accommodate staff, patient and visitor parking within the site which has created congestion, pollution, littering and additional traffic movements.

The Cabinet Member for Sustainable Stockport (Councillor Sheila Bailey) responded that she had provided a comprehensive response to a number of similar questions at the last Council Meeting, and one of the commitments that she had made was to write to the Chair of Stockport NHS Foundation Trust in relation to the concerns of local residents.  The Chair had agreed to meet with local residents and officers were already in the process of making arrangements to discuss the matter directly with those affected.

·         Relating to the use of the Open+ self service library access system at Marple Library and the proposal to extend this.

The Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Resources, Commissioning & Governance (Councillor Tom McGee) responded that unlike many authorities throughout the country, as part of ongoing budget reductions the Council had not taken the decision to close any of its libraries.  The use of Open+ as a means of increasing access to local libraries was first trialled in Bramhall and had been extended to other facilities across the borough which had resulted in a significant extension in the hours that libraries were open to members of the public.

Councillor Malcolm Allan further responded that Marple Library and its staff were a vital part of the Marple community and that there was a significant difference between a staffed and unstaffed facility.  It was stated that Marple Library had struggled with anti-social behaviour and that the Cabinet Member, police and local councillors had been involved in trying to bring about a resolution to this.  Councillor Allan expressed concern that the Open+ initiative had sustained reputational damage in the Marple area and that residents were reluctant to use it.

·         Relating to an apparent difference in the consultations on libraries which only permitted respondents to select from a palette of pre-determined options and that on museums which allowed the user to provide an open response.

Councillor Malcolm Allan responded that he was unsure why the Council had undertaken these two consultations in different ways, however he did know the value that local residents places on such facilities.  He stated that he was of the view that there could have been a much better consultation insofar as this affected Marple Library, and that the approach that seemed to have been taken was flawed.

·         Relating to why it was agreed  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.(i)

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

Signpost Stockport Young Carers

To receive a presentation from Alisha Routledge, a young adult carer, in relation to her experience as a young carer and the work of Signpost Stockport Young Carers on their school support service.

Signpost Stockport Young Carers

Alisha Routledge attended the meeting and made a presentation in relation to her experience as a young carer and the work of Signpost Stockport Young Carers on their school support service.

At the conclusion of the item, the Mayor expressed thanks to Alisha Routledge for her attendance and presentation.

Petitions

No petitions were submitted.

(a)       Greater Manchester Police and Crime Panel

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

(b         Greater Manchester Combined Authority

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

Greater Manchester Combined Authority            - Councillor Elise Wilson

Greater Manchester Transport Committee          - Councillor David Meller

Greater Manchester Waste Committee               - Councillor Roy Driver

(a)       Greater Manchester Police and Crime Panel

Councillor Lisa Smart asked Councillor Amanda Peers what action she had taken to ensure that Stockport residents got their fair share of the additional policing resources that had been committed to at both a Greater Manchester and national level.

Councillor Peers responded that a discussion had taken place at the last meeting of the Greater Manchester Police and Crime Panel in relation to the issues around the recruitment of new police officers.  Councillor Peers stated that she had always conveyed Stockport’s view at these meetings and had asked for specific details in relation to the impact of additional police numbers for the borough.  Councillor Peers stated that while overall police numbers would increase, some of these would be allocated to Greater Manchester-wide units that while not based in the borough, would nonetheless have a benefit for the whole conurbation.

(b)       Greater Manchester Combined Authority

Councillor Mark Hunter (Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group) asked whether the Leader of the Council agreed with him that the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework was now ‘dead in the water’ and that Stockport now needed a renewed focus on its own Local Plan.  It was further queried whether a date had yet been set for the next meeting of the Local Development Framework Working Party to discuss these matters further as the last such meeting had taken place some six months ago.

The Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Devolution (Councillor Elise Wilson) responded that she did not agree with his statement in relation to the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework, however the Local Plan continued to be progressed and remained crucial to the future development of Stockport.  It was stated that the date of the next meeting of the Local Development Framework Working Party had been discussed at the last meeting and was scheduled to take place in November.

Councillor Hunter then stated that the Liberal Democrat Group had long voiced its concerns in relation to the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework, and that it had since become apparent from literature being circulated in the Cheadle constituency that the Conservative Group from now opposed it.  In the light of this, Councillor Hunter asked whether the Leader of the Council would accept that, as both main opposition parties opposed the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework, she had no mandate to vote for the proposals.

The Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Devolution (Councillor Elise Wilson) responded that a commitment had previously been made that any final decision in relation to the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework would require a majority of councillors voting at the Council Meeting to support it, and that commitment was reiterated.

Councillor John McGahan asked whether the Leader of the Council had voted in favour of the proposed funding model for a bus franchising scheme for Greater Manchester that seemed to disproportionately impact Stockport residents.

The Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Devolution (Councillor Elise Wilson) responded that the Combined Authority had given its approval to go out to consultation on its proposals for bus franchising.  Councillor Wilson acknowledged that the introduction of bus franchising would incur costs, however this needed to be balanced against the cost to the local economy of continuing with the current model.

With regard to the proposed funding model, it was stated that the Prime Minister had made a statement that indicated that the government may look favourably on the provision of a package of funding to assist with the costs of establishing bus franchising in Greater Manchester.

Councillor Mike Hurleston (Leader of the Conservative Group) asked how the Council intended to allocate the £1.698 million that was due to be redistributed to Stockport in returned business rates. 

The Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Devolution (Councillor Elise Wilson) responded that there remained a degree of uncertainly in relation to the local government finance settlement  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.(iii)

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 and Cabinet Member for Devolution (Councillor Elise Wilson) reported that in response to recent flooding events in Stockport, she had written to the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs calling for the establishment of a flood summit with aim of seeing what more could be done to strengthen legislation, provide financial support and align national and regional strategies to mitigate flood risk.  However, this offer had been declined.  It was stated that the Council took its responsibilities at a local level very seriously, however the issues that played into instances of flooding were ones that needed a much wider conversation.

Councillor Wilson then reported on the vision for an integrated public transport network for Greater Manchester which had the aim of interlinking sustainable modes of transport under one pricing system.  It was stated that significant parts of the vision would require government support and funding and to that extent, recent statements by the Prime Minister on this issue had been encouraging.  On a more local level, walking and cycling projects covering the last mile of journeys were being delivered using money from the Greater Manchester Combined Authority and funding had been committed to several bids within the Stockport area.

Finally, Councillor Wilson encouraged members of the public to engage with the ongoing consultation in relation to the introduction of a bus franchising scheme in Greater Manchester.

The Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Resources, Commissioning & Governance (Councillor Tom McGee) thanked those members of the Council that had attended briefings in the previous week on the Brexit preparations being undertaken by the Council.  It was stated that the UK’s departure from the European Union would have a direct impact on the budget setting process, however there remained a degree of uncertainly in relation to the date for this and the impact that a general election might have on the scheduling of the announcement on the local government finance settlement.

It was confirmed that just over £1.5 million in business rates would be returned to the Council which would be put into reserves, and that the reserves policy would then be applied to determine how those reserves might be used. 

The Cabinet Member for Children, Family Services & Education (Councillor Colin Foster) reported on the ‘New Beginnings’ project that was being run within Stockport Family that has appeared within the October edition of the Department for Education’s children social care innovation programme.  The project was focused around families where trauma was an issue and took place over 26 weeks.  The aim was to tackle the underlying issues within the family and to avoid those children being taken into care.

Councillor Foster then reported on the creation of a specialist drug and alcohol court in Stockport following several pilots across the country where this had been introduced instead of using the normal family court process.  These specialist courts would have the support of a team that included misuse specialists, domestic abuse specialists, domestic violence experts, psychiatrists and social workers that would eb able to provide advice to the court about a particular family such that when care proceedings were going through the system the court could obtain a much wider view of the family concerned.

The Cabinet Member for Economy and Regeneration (Councillor David Meller) commented on the recently held Stockport Business Awards and commended the work to formally recognise those successful Stockport businesses that contributed to the growth of the Stockport economy. 

Councillor Meller further commented on the work taking place to improve and enhance Stockport’s district centres and stated that a report would be submitted to scrutiny committee in December that will form the basis of the Council’s support to its local high streets

Councillor Meller then reported on the consultation on Greater Manchester’s proposal for bus franchising that had recently commenced.  Councillor Meller stated that Greater Manchester had been  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.(i)

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 and Cabinet member for Devolution and the Cabinet Members for Children, Family Services & Education, Economy & Regeneration, Inclusive Neighbourhoods and Sustainable Stockport answered questions relating to the business of the Cabinet in accordance with Council Meeting Procedure Rule 11.

To receive the Minutes of the Cabinet held on 1 October 2019 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 Minutes of the Cabinet held on 1 October 2019 (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.

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

The Chair of the Children and Families Scrutiny Committee (Councillor Wendy Meikle) reported that Janice Cahill, the head teacher of The Pendlebury Centre, had been awarded an OBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours for her role in the education of vulnerable students.  Councillor Meikle informed the Council Meeting that she had asked that the Chief Executive to write to Mrs Cahill expressing the congratulations of the Council on her outstanding achievement.

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 – 10 September 2019

Children & Families – 18 September 2019

Communities & Housing – 16 September 2019

Corporate, Resource Management & Governance – 17 September 2019

Economy & Regeneration – 19 September 2019

Scrutiny Co-ordination – 30 September 2019

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 – 10 September 2019

Children & Families – 18 September 2019

Communities & Housing – 16 September 2019

Corporate, Resource Management & Governance – 17 September 2019

Economy & Regeneration – 19 September 2019

Scrutiny Co-ordination – 30 September 2019

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

To receive the Minutes of the following Ordinary, Area and Ward Committees:-

Ordinary Committees

Appointments – 12 September 2019

Health & Wellbeing Board – 25 September 2019

Licensing, Environment & Safety – 4 September 2019

Licensing, Environment & Safety Sub – 18 September 2019

Planning & Highways Regulation – 5 September 2019

Area Committees

Bramhall & Cheadle Hulme South – 26 September 2019

Central Stockport – 26 September 2019

Cheadle – 24 September 2019

Heatons & Reddish – 23 September 2019

Marple – 25 September 2019

Stepping Hill – 24 September 2019

Werneth – 23 September 2019

Ward Committee

Brinnington & Reddish Joint – 9 September 2019

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

Appointments – 12 September 2019

Health & Wellbeing Board – 25 September 2019

Licensing, Environment & Safety – 4 September 2019

Licensing, Environment & Safety Sub – 18 September 2019

Planning & Highways Regulation – 5 September 2019

Area Committees

Bramhall & Cheadle Hulme South – 26 September 2019

Central Stockport – 26 September 2019

Cheadle – 24 September 2019

Heatons & Reddish – 23 September 2019

Marple – 25 September 2019

Stepping Hill – 24 September 2019

Werneth – 23 September 2019

Ward Committee

Brinnington & Reddish Joint – 9 September 2019

This council meeting notes that:

·           The King’s Fund noted in their analysis of the recent Spending Round announcements that the £33.9bn of “additional money for the NHS” had already been announced in as part of the 2018 NHS five-year settlement and confirmed in January 2019, and represents a 3.4% real-terms increase in spending;

·           that The King’s Fund point to a joint report by the Institute of Fiscal Studies and The Health Foundation which said increases of 5% a year “will be needed over the next five years to maintain services and address the backlog of funding problems”, showing that the increase is “less than is needed”;

·           figures from the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC), uncovered by a Liberal Democrat Freedom of Information request, have revealed that over £607m of interest on outstanding debt was paid by NHS Trusts back to the DHSC in the last five years for which figures are available;

·           that this figure has risen markedly across those five years, from £63m in 2013/14 to over £205m in 2017/18; and

·           Stockport NHS Foundation Trust had to return over £4m in interest over this period whilst Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust had to return almost £14m and The Christie had to return over £3.5m.

This council meeting further notes the warning from the National Audit Office  that “the underlying financial health in some trusts is getting worse”, despite the government’s commitment in the NHS Long Term Plan to “reducing year-on-year the number of trusts and CCGs individually in deficit, so that all NHS organisations are in balance by 2023/24”.  The artifice of making NHS trusts in deficit pay interest on their overspends merely serves to make their financial positions worse and deprives local residents of the care they need.

This council meeting believes that our NHS should be properly funded and that all of the money allocated to each NHS trust should be available to that NHS trust each year.  For example, the money returned to DHSC by Stockport NHS Foundation Trust in 2017/18 would have paid for an additional 31 nurses, 9 consultants or 19 clinical psychologists, based on average salary figures on the Indeed recruitment website. 

This council meeting asks the Chief Executive to write to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care,

·           drawing his attention to this motion;

·           highlighting our concerns about continued underfunding of our NHS;

·           calling on him to cease charging NHS trusts interest on their deficits, so that all of the money allocated to each NHS trust each year can be spent on providing healthcare to local residents; and

·           calling on him to provide a one-off refund of all such interest charged over the past five years.

Moved by:                   Councillor Lisa Smart

Seconded by:             Councillor Keith Holloway

RESOLVED – (51 for, 6 against) This council meeting notes that:

·           The King’s Fund noted in their analysis of the recent Spending Round announcements that the £33.9bn of “additional money for the NHS” had already been announced in as part of the 2018 NHS five-year settlement and confirmed in January 2019, and represents a 3.4% real-terms increase in spending;

·           that The King’s Fund point to a joint report by the Institute of Fiscal Studies and The Health Foundation which said increases of 5% a year “will be needed over the next five years to maintain services and address the backlog of funding problems”, showing that the increase is “less than is needed”;

·           figures from the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC), uncovered by a Liberal Democrat Freedom of Information request, have revealed that over £607m of interest on outstanding debt was paid by NHS Trusts back to the DHSC in the last five years for which figures are available;

·           that this figure has risen markedly across those five years, from £63m in 2013/14 to over £205m in 2017/18; and

·           Stockport NHS Foundation Trust had to return over £4m in interest over this period whilst Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust had to return almost £14m and The Christie had to return over £3.5m.

This council meeting further notes the warning from the National Audit Office  that “the underlying financial health in some trusts is getting worse”, despite the government’s commitment in the NHS Long Term Plan to “reducing year-on-year the number of trusts and CCGs individually in deficit, so that all NHS organisations are in balance by 2023/24”.  The artifice of making NHS trusts in deficit pay interest on their overspends merely serves to make their financial positions worse and deprives local residents of the care they need.

This council meeting believes that our NHS should be properly funded and that all of the money allocated to each NHS trust should be available to that NHS trust each year.  For example, the money returned to DHSC by Stockport NHS Foundation Trust in 2017/18 would have paid for an additional 31 nurses, 9 consultants or 19 clinical psychologists, based on average salary figures on the Indeed recruitment website. 

This council meeting asks the Chief Executive to write to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care,

·           drawing his attention to this motion;

·           highlighting our concerns about continued underfunding of our NHS;

·           calling on him to cease charging NHS trusts interest on their deficits, so that all of the money allocated to each NHS trust each year can be spent on providing healthcare to local residents; and

·           calling on him to provide a one-off refund of all such interest charged over the past five years.