Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 13 July 2023.

The minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting of the Council held on 13 July 2023 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, since the commencement of his term of office, he had attended many varied events across the borough. The Mayor stated that each of the events had been interesting, enlightening, and an honour to attend. In particular, he noted the enthusiasm of the young people and staff involved in projects across the borough, for the betterment of the borough.

·         It was also reported that the ‘Frogtastic Great Invention Train’ had been launched in July and saw Stockport’s famous frogs around the town.

·         The Mayor had had the pleasure of helping to present the Long Service Awards at the Annual Foster Carers Dinner, and heard their many inspirational and moving stories of their service to others.

·         On Thursday 28 September 2023, a reception was hosted by the Mayor for the Friends of Heilbronn. Heilbronn, in Germany, was Stockport’s twinned town. During the visit, the Mayor also met with representatives of Mayors for Peace. Stockport had been a member of Mayors for Peace since 2006, following a decision by Council. It was noted that Mayors for Peace was founded by the Mayors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and aimed to contribute to the attainment of lasting world peace by calling for the abolition of nuclear weapons. They sought to achieve this aim through close solidarity among member cities, and by striving to solve vital problems for the human race such as starvation and poverty, the plight of refugees, human rights abuses, and environmental degradation.

·         Members were encouraged to frequent visits the Stockport War Memorial Art Gallery, given that the exhibitions changed on a regular basis.

Members were also notified of several events due to take place in the coming months:

·         Trafalgar Day Service, 2:00pm, at St Georges Church, Buxton Road, Heaviley, on 22 October 2023.

·         Armistice Day would be commemorated at Stockport War Memorial Art Gallery, between 10.30am and 11.30am, on 11 November 2023.

·         Hazel Grove War Memorial Centenary Service, 2:30pm, Remembrance Gardens, Hazel Grove, on 11 November 2023.

·         The Stockport Civic Act of Remembrance service would take place from 11:00am at the Stockport War Memorial Art Gallery on 12 November 2023, with members assembling at the Town Hall from 10:00am.

·         Act of Remembrance (South Reddish), 12.40pm, at the Cenotaph, Reddish Road, South Reddish, on 12 November 2023.

·         The Normandy Veterans Legacy Remembrance Event, 2.20pm, at the Stockport War Memorial Art Gallery, on 12 November 2023.

Councillor Steve Gribbon was congratulated for raising in excess of £100,000 for charity over the years for his annual charity bike rides. Councillor Gribbon expressed thanks to members for their support over the years in helping to achieve this milestone.

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:

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 progress towards enhanced biodiversity in the borough.

The Cabinet Member for Climate Change & Environment (Councillor Mark Roberts) responded that the council’s Local Nature Recovery Group had met, and at its last meeting on 25 September 2023, had discussed the matter of biodiversity in Stockport. It was confirmed that ecologists were involved in the council’s work to increase biodiversity in the borough. It was advised that a report on Biodiversity Net Gain was scheduled to be considered at the Economy, Regeneration and Climate Change Scrutiny Committee at their meeting 12 October 2023. Stockport sought to ‘go further’ than neighbouring authorities and was expected to seek locations across the borough to establish as biodiversity ‘habitat banks’, establishing at least one for each Area Committee area. It was noted that government was asking local authorities to increase biodiversity in their areas by 10%. The council’s ambition was to see biodiversity increase by 20% in the borough, and increasing biodiversity was one of the council’s key aims in supporting action against climate change. It was noted that the council were awaiting the release of secondary legislation from government as part of their new national legislation relating to Biodiversity Net Gain.

·         Relating to the lack of housing provision in Stockport.

The Leader of the Council (Councillor Mark Hunter) agreed that Stockport was facing an unprecedented demand for housing and that housing need was higher than housing provision available. The Leader gave assurance that the council was committed to tackling the national crisis, and that transformative change was taking place in the town centre to increase housing provision in Stockport. It was noted that the council also had a strong focus in developing affordable housing provision, and that most of the housing to be delivered in the town centre was expected to be affordable homes. The council had continued to deliver housing in the face of a number of challenges which included but was not limited to, the covid-19 pandemic and inflation. It was noted that an excellent housing options service was available to support families.

Councillor David Meller further responded that housing, including family homes, were needed across the borough, and new provision should not solely be concentrated within the town centre.

·         Relating to the live transport of endangered macaque monkeys through Manchester Airport.

The Leader of the Council (Councillor Mark Hunter) responded that the council had written to Manchester Airport some months ago about the matter and had not received a satisfactory response. Councillor Hunter stated that he would welcome working with the other Greater Manchester local authority shareholders to put pressure on Manchester airport to put an end to this practice.

·         Relating to representation by ward councillors.

Councillor Angie Clark responded that she took her responsibility to represent all residents in the ward seriously.

·         Relating to lack of involvement in a public debate to counter the argument asserting that Carbon Dioxide (CO2) was not the cause for warming events.

The Leader of the Council (Councillor Mark Hunter) stated that he did not consider it appropriate for the council to provide a platform for climate change denial. Councillor Hunter further stated that there were a number of assertions within the question that were not correct.

The Cabinet Member for Climate Change & Environment (Councillor Mark Roberts) concurred and advised that Stockport councillors had discussed climate change in the chamber for many years, and were proud of the work going on at Stockport Council to support action against climate change.

A further public question was submitted where the questioner was not in attendance 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.

There were no petitions or presentations.

(a)       Greater Manchester Police, Crime & Fire Panel

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

(b)       Greater Manchester Combined Authority

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

(a)  Greater Manchester Police, Crime & Fire Panel

Councillor Tom Morrison responded to a question in relation to the business of the Greater Manchester Police, Crime & Fire Panel.

(b)  Greater Manchester Combined Authority

There were no questions in relation to the business of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority or the Greater Manchester Waste & Recycling Committee.

Councillor Grace Baynham responded to a question in relation to the business of the Greater Manchester Bee Network Committee.

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

The Cabinet Member for Finance & Resources (Councillor Jilly Julian) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing the annual treasury report reviewing treasury management activities and the actual prudential and treasury indicators for 2022/23.

RESOLVED - (1) That the actual 2022/23 prudential and treasury indicators in the report be approved.

(2) That the Annual Treasury Management Report for 2022/23 be noted.

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

The Cabinet Member for Finance & Resources (Councillor Jilly Julian) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) which set out the proposed Business Programme for 2024/25.

RESOLVED – That approval be given to the Business Programme for 2024/25.

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; the Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Climate Change & Environment; and the Cabinet Members for Communities, Culture & Sport; Economy, Regeneration & Housing; Finance & Resources; and Parks, Highways & Transport Services made a report on the conduct of Cabinet business since the last Council Meeting.

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; the Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Climate Change & Environment; and the Cabinet Members for Communities, Culture & Sport; Economy, Regeneration & Housing; Finance & Resources; and Parks, Highways & Transport Services answered questions and responded to comments relating to the business of the Cabinet in accordance with Council Meeting Procedure Rule 11.

RESOLVED – That in accordance with the provisions of Council Meeting Procedure Rule 13(g), approval be given to the withdrawal of the motion submitted as part of Summons Item 8(iii) – ‘Motion - Restore acceptable living conditions in properties managed by Stockport Homes in Lancashire Hill (see Minute 10(iii) below)’.

To receive the Minutes of the Cabinet held on 19 September 2023 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 19 September 2023 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.

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 Social Care & Health – 7 September 2023

Children & Families – 6 September 2023

Communities & Transport– 4 September 2023

Corporate, Resource Management & Governance – 6 September 2023

Economy, Regeneration & Climate Change – 7 September 2023

Scrutiny Co-ordination – 25 September 2023

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 – 7 September 2023

Children & Families – 6 September 2023

Communities & Transport– 4 September 2023

Corporate, Resource Management & Governance – 6 September 2023

Economy, Regeneration & Climate Change – 7 September 2023

Scrutiny Co-ordination – 25 September 2023

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

Appointments – 18 July 2023

Audit – 19 July 2023

Employment Appeals – 7 September 2023

Health & Wellbeing Board – 14 June and 6 September 2023

Licensing, Environment & Safety – 5 July 2023

Licensing, Environment & Safety Sub – 23 and 29 August 2023

Planning & Highways Regulation – 6 July and 17 August 2023

Standards – 18 September 2023

Area Committees

Bramhall & Cheadle Hulme South – 3 August and 14 September 2023

Central Stockport – 3 August and 14 September 2023

Cheadle – 1 August and 12 September 2023

Heatons & Reddish – 31 July and 11 September 2023

Marple – 2 August and 13 September 2023

Stepping Hill – 1 August and 12 September 2023

Werneth – 31 July and 11 September 2023

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

Appointments – 18 July 2023

Audit – 19 July 2023

Employment Appeals – 7 September 2023

Health & Wellbeing Board – 14 June and 6 September 2023

Licensing, Environment & Safety – 5 July 2023

Licensing, Environment & Safety Sub – 23 and 29 August 2023

Planning & Highways Regulation – 6 July and 17 August 2023

Standards – 18 September 2023

Area Committees

Bramhall & Cheadle Hulme South – 3 August and 14 September 2023

Central Stockport – 3 August and 14 September 2023

Cheadle – 1 August and 12 September 2023

Heatons & Reddish – 31 July and 11 September 2023

Marple – 2 August and 13 September 2023

Stepping Hill – 1 August and 12 September 2023

Werneth – 31 July and 11 September 2023

This council notes:

·         Creating a fair and inclusive Stockport is a key part of the One Stockport Borough Plan and the One Stockport Economic Plan.

·         Stockport is in the top ten most polarised boroughs in the country in terms of wealth and deprivation.

·         There are parts of Stockport that rank within the most deprived 10% of areas in the country.  These areas are concentrated around Brinnington, Central Stockport and Reddish.

·         Even in the wealthier parts of the borough there are pockets of deprivation that can go unnoticed.

·         The impact of poverty on people’s lives is drastic, for example:

o    Food insecurity: households receiving Universal Credit are almost four times as likely to experience food insecurity than all households. In May this year there were 21,635 people in Stockport claiming Universal Credit.

o    Child poverty: Children who are eligible for Free School Meals do not achieve  as well as their counterparts who are not eligible: nationally only 41% of those eligible for Free School Meals achieve good GCSEs in English and maths; compared to 69% of all other pupils. In Stockport, 20%, or 8,773 children are eligible for Free School Meals.

o    Health inequalities: 50% of people in the most deprived areas of the country report poor health by age 55-59, over two decades earlier than those in the least deprived areas. Brinnington is the area of Greater Manchester with the shortest life expectancy for women at 75.2 years, in Bramhall West, women can expect to live to 91.

This council believes

·         Facts and figures only tell part of the story. Behind every statistic is a person unable to live life to the full because of the impact of poverty.

·         Every resident of Stockport should be valued and given the opportunity to thrive, not just survive.

·         Those residents with lived experience of poverty are best placed to shape the solutions to the problems they face.

·         Tackling poverty should be at the heart of everything we do as a council and as a borough.

This council calls on the Cabinet:-

·         To produce an anti-poverty strategy by March 2024 that sets out how we will work to alleviate and tackle poverty in Stockport over the next five years.

·         As part of developing the anti-poverty strategy, work to establish a Poverty Truth Commission that puts the voices of those with lived experience of poverty at the heart of the strategy.

·         To immediately adopt the socio-economic duty in order to ensure that all the council’s work takes into account socio-economic status, and actively works to create opportunities for the most disadvantaged in our borough.

Moved by:                  Councillor Claire Vibert

Seconded by:            Councillor Rosemary Barratt

MOVED AND SECONDED - This council notes:

·         Creating a fair and inclusive Stockport is a key part of the One Stockport Borough Plan and the One Stockport Economic Plan.

·         Stockport is in the top ten most polarised boroughs in the country in terms of wealth and deprivation.

·         There are parts of Stockport that rank within the most deprived 10% of areas in the country. These areas are concentrated around Brinnington, Central Stockport and Reddish.

·         Even in the wealthier parts of the borough there are pockets of deprivation that can go unnoticed.

·         The impact of poverty on people’s lives is drastic, for example:

o   Food insecurity: households receiving Universal Credit are almost four times as likely to experience food insecurity than all households. In May this year there were 21,635 people in Stockport claiming Universal Credit.

o   Child poverty: Children who are eligible for Free School Meals do not achieve as well as their counterparts who are not eligible: nationally only 41% of those eligible for Free School Meals achieve good GCSEs in English and maths; compared to 69% of all other pupils. In Stockport, 20%, or 8,773 children are eligible for Free School Meals.

o   Health inequalities: 50% of people in the most deprived areas of the country report poor health by age 55-59, over two decades earlier than those in the least deprived areas. Brinnington is the area of Greater Manchester with the shortest life expectancy for women at 75.2 years, in Bramhall West, women can expect to live to 91.

This council believes:

·         Facts and figures only tell part of the story. Behind every statistic is a person unable to live life to the full because of the impact of poverty.

·         Every resident of Stockport should be valued and given the opportunity to thrive, not just survive.

·         Those residents with lived experience of poverty are best placed to shape the solutions to the problems they face.

·         Tackling poverty should be at the heart of everything we do as a council and as a borough.

This council calls on the Cabinet:

·         To produce an anti-poverty strategy by March 2024 that sets out how we will work to alleviate and tackle poverty in Stockport over the next five years.

·         As part of developing the anti-poverty strategy, work to establish a Poverty Truth Commission that puts the voices of those with lived experience of poverty at the heart of the strategy.

·         To immediately adopt the socio-economic duty in order to ensure that all the council’s work takes into account socio-economic status, and actively works to create opportunities for the most disadvantaged in our borough.

AMENDMENT MOVED AND SECONDED – This council notes:

·         Creating a fair and inclusive Stockport is a key part of the One Stockport Borough Plan and the One Stockport Economic Plan.

·         Stockport is in the top ten most polarised boroughs in the country in terms of wealth and deprivation.

·         There are parts of Stockport that rank within the most deprived 10% of areas in the country. These areas are concentrated around Brinnington, Central Stockport and Reddish.

·         Even in the wealthier parts of the borough there are pockets of deprivation that can go unnoticed.

·         The impact of poverty on people’s lives is drastic, for example:

o   Food insecurity: households receiving Universal Credit are almost four times as likely to experience food insecurity than all households. In May this year there were 21,635 people in Stockport claiming Universal Credit.

o   Child poverty: Children who are eligible for Free School Meals do not achieve as well as their counterparts who are not eligible: nationally only 41% of those eligible for Free School Meals achieve good GCSEs in English and maths; compared to 69% of all other pupils. In Stockport, 20%, or 8,773 children are eligible for Free School Meals.

o   Health inequalities: 50% of people in the most deprived areas of the country report poor health by age 55-59, over two  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.(i)

This council meeting condemns the statement by Conservative Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on the 20th Sept 2023 and the watering down of our country’s ambition to tackle Climate Change.

Moved by                   Councillor Mark Roberts

Seconded by:           Councillor Dena Ryness

                                 Councillor Anna Charles-Jones

                                 Councillor Gary Lawson

                                 Councillor Matt Wynne

RESOLVED - This council meeting condemns the statement by Conservative Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on the 20th Sept 2023 and the watering down of our country’s ambition to tackle Climate Change.

This council notes that, according to the Index of Multiple Deprivation 2019, Lancashire Hill is in the top 1% of most deprived areas nationally.

It scored worse in the 2019 IMD (58th out of 32,844) than in the 2015 IMD (153rd out of 32,844), indicating a downward trend in an already dire situation.

As well as being measurably worse off compared with most areas in the country, residents have reported to ward councillors that conditions on the estate during the past 5 years have deteriorated and are continuing to deteriorate, to the degree that they are now unacceptably poor.

This council further notes that:-

·         There has been a severe reduction in the number of caretakers, and the fact that they no longer live on site has led to a deterioration in cleanliness and security. The windows are very dirty because they are never cleaned.

·         There is a lack of safety and security in terms of access to the buildings, individual flats, the car parks and bicycle sheds.

·         There is a lack of adequate ventilation in corridors due to most windows not opening, and residents have reported broken windows in flats which are deemed to be beyond repair.

·         The lifts are unreliable and prone to breakdown for prolonged periods, causing access and egress problems for residents with disabilities and those with very young children in prams or pushchairs.

·         Problems with the water mains in The Bentleys led to residents being without a proper water supply for several weeks.

·         The heating boiler broke down in the coldest part of last winter. The backup boilers had been decommissioned, leading to no central heating at all for several days.

·         There are rodent infestations in the buildings and across the estate.

·         Fly tipping is a common occurrence and the public areas are littered, dirty and neglected, with black mould on lampposts and mould/graffiti on exterior walls.

·         The car parks and raised beds are neglected and overgrown with weeds.

·         A high proportion of new tenants require support for addictions or other reasons. This results in high levels of anti-social behaviour, which impacts heavily on other residents causing anxiety and stress.

·         Residents have told ward councillors that the tone of the language in notices and other communications, and the way they are treated by Stockport Homes staff is not always courteous and inclusive.

·         Residents have also told ward councillors that when they report problems to Stockport Homes or the Police, often nothing is done.

·         Overcrowding is common with large families living in small flats.

This council resolves:

(1) To request that Stockport Homes return the living conditions at the Lancashire Hill Estate, comprising Clarkethorne Terrace, The Longsons, The Bentleys, Stonemill Terrace, Pendlebury Towers, Hanover Towers and all public space in the surroundings to an acceptable level as soon as possible.

This action should not be delayed until the refurbishment due to begin in 2028.

(2) To request that the Cabinet Member for Economy, Regeneration & Housing form a taskforce comprising:-

·         Residents of Lancashire Hill.

·         Appropriate members of Stockport Council’s Cabinet, nominated by the Leader of the Council.

·         Reddish South ward councillors.

·         At least one member of each Council group.

·         Police officers.

·         Stockport Homes and Council officers.

This group will work to bring about the necessary changes and improvements, and overcome the problems arising from divided responsibilities across the estate between Stockport Homes, their contractors and Council staff.

The chair of the taskforce should be appointed by the Leader of the Council.

Moved by:                  Councillor Gary Lawson

Seconded by:           Councillor James Frizzell

With the consent of the Council Meeting, this item was withdrawn (see Minute 6 above).