Agenda

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meetings of the Council held on 16 January and 27 February 2025.

To report any urgent action taken under the Constitution since the last meeting of the Council.

To receive announcements from the Mayor.

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

To receive any questions from and provide answers to the public in relation to matters relevant to the Council’s activities.

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

(a)       Greater Manchester Police, Crime & Fire Panel

Councillor Jake Austin 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:-

To consider a report of the Independent Remuneration Panel.

To make the following appointments to the Greater Manchester Joint Health Scrutiny Committee:-

Member:         Councillor Wendy Wild

Substitute:     Councillor Karl Wardlaw

To approve the following appointments to the Admission Appeal Panel:-

Lay Members

Catherine Bates

Jeffrey Francis

Gopika Sunitha

Members with Educational Experience

Genevieve Clarke

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.

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

To receive the Minutes of the Cabinet held on 4 February and 18 March 2025 and the record of executive decisions taken since the last Council Meeting, (schedule enclosed, decisions previously circulated) and consider any recommendations they contain.

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.

To answer questions from Councillors addressed to the Scrutiny Chairs, in accordance with Council Meeting Procedure Rule 11.

To receive the Minutes of the following Scrutiny Committees:-

Adult Social Care & Health – 23 January and 6 March 2025  

Children & Families – 22 January and 5 March 2025   

Communities & Transport – 20 January and 3 March 2025    

Corporate, Resource Management & Governance – 21 January and 4 March 2025

Economy, Regeneration & Climate Change – 23 January, 3 February and 6 March 2025

To answer questions from Councillors addressed to the Chairs of 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

Audit – 11 February and 19 March 2025

Employment Appeals – 30 January 2025

Health & Wellbeing Board – 29 January and 5 March 2025

Licensing, Environment & Safety – 12 February 2025

Licensing, Environment & Safety Sub – 9 January and 25 February 2025

Member – 10 February 2025

Planning & Highways Regulation – 13 February 2025

Area Committees

Bramhall & Cheadle Hulme South – 30 January and 13 March 2025

Central Stockport – 30 January and 13 March 2025

Cheadle – 28 January and 11 March 2025

Heatons & Reddish – 27 January and 10 March 2025

Marple – 29 January and 12 March 2025

Stepping Hill – 28 January and 11 March 2025

Werneth – 27 January and 10 March 2025

Ward Committees and Area Sub-Committees

Brookfield Park Shiers Family Trust Sub-Committee – 11 February 2025

The NatWest branch in Heaton Moor is set to close on 3rd June 2025, leaving residents and businesses without a local banking service. This closure will particularly impact those who rely on in-person banking, including older residents, people on low incomes, and local businesses that need access to cash services. With no remaining banks north of the River Mersey in Stockport, urgent action is needed to ensure continued financial access for the community.

This Council Notes:

·         If the proposed closure of NatWest Heaton Moor goes ahead, there will be no remaining bank branches in the north of Stockport, leaving residents and businesses without easy access to essential banking services.

·         That significant areas of deprivation exist in the north of Stockport, where many residents, particularly older people and those on low incomes, rely on in-person banking services.

·         That while online banking has grown, not everyone is able to access or use digital services, making physical bank branches a vital resource.

This Council Believes:

·         That NatWest’s decision to close its Heaton Moor branch will have a detrimental impact on residents, particularly those who rely on face-to-face banking. We urge a rethink.

·         That local businesses will also be affected, as they often require in-branch services for cash deposits and financial support.

·         That banks have a responsibility to serve all members of the community, and alternative banking provisions must be put in place before branches are closed.

This Council Resolves To:

·         Urge NatWest to reconsider its decision to close the Heaton Moor branch on 3rd June 2025 and explore alternative ways to maintain local banking services.

·         Call on banking providers, LINK, and Cash Access UK to assess the feasibility of establishing a Banking Hub in North Stockport to ensure continued access to vital financial services across The Heatons, Reddish and Lancashire Hill.

·         Write to NatWest, the Financial Conduct Authority, and the UK Government to express our concerns about the impact of the closure and to request urgent discussions on maintaining banking access for local residents.

Moved by:                  Councillor David Sedgwick

Seconded by:           Councillor Holly McCormack

This Council notes:-

·         Driver John Axon was a Locomotive Driver with London Midland Region, British Railways based at Edgeley Sheds.

·         The following excerpt from The Gazette [Official journals of record of government] of 3 May 1957:

“On 11th Feb 1957 Mr. Axon was in charge of a train of over 500 tons of freight which was running at 15 m.p.h. on the London Midland Region line from Buxton to Warrington towards Chapel-en-le-Frith.

He was preparing to stop the train before descending a steep gradient when, with a deafening noise, the steam pipe feeding the brake suddenly fractured. This not only destroyed the braking system but filled the driving cab with blinding, scalding steam which was discharged at a very high pressure directly at the feet of Axon, who was badly burned.

He could have abandoned his engine and saved his life but, realising the danger of a runaway, he remained at his post and, with great bravery and determination, endeavoured to get the train under control. With the aid of his fireman the regulator was closed and the handbrake applied but the train, which was by now descending the gradient, could not be stopped.

Driver Axon then ordered his fireman to jump clear and to apply as many wagon brakes as possible. In spite of this prompt action the train gathered speed. Nevertheless, Axon stayed on the engine, although steam and boiling water were still pouring into the cab making conditions almost unbearable.

He waved a warning to a signalman that the train was running away and remained at his post in the hope of regaining control when a more favourable gradient should be reached. Before this occurred the runaway train overtook another freight train travelling in the same direction and in the resulting smash Axon was killed.

Driver Axon displayed devotion to duty, fortitude and outstanding courage in highly dangerous and alarming conditions. He gave his life in an attempt to prevent a collision.”

·         Axon was posthumously awarded the George Cross on 7 May 1957, which was donated to the National Railway Museum in York in 1978. He was also posthumously awarded British Railway Cert for Courage and Resource and also the Daily Herald Order of Industrial Heroism.

·         The Ballad of John Axon’ by Ewan MacColl and Peggy Seeger was transmitted by BBC Radio on 2 July 1958, the field recordings of colleagues and family and other Stopfordians. This marriage of the ballad form and tape recording technology was hailed in the national press as a remarkable innovation and the first of its kind to feature working people on a radio programme.

·         There is no permanent or visible recognition of the bravery and sacrifice of Driver Axon in Edgeley as a heroic Stopfordian in this Borough. 

The Council further notes the work Council Officers and the South East Manchester Community Rail Partnership have performed so far on renaming the Thomson Street bridge after Driver Axon by working with Network Rail and to thank them for their efforts so far.

This Council resolves:-

·         As a Borough to properly recognise and commemorate Driver Axon by requesting that all necessary measures be taken to rename the Thomson Street Bridge in Edgeley to the Driver John Axon G.C Bridge.

·         For the Chief Executive to write to the Rail Minister Lord Hendy informing him of this decision and to make the necessary arrangements to perform the renaming.

·         Upon completion of the Armoury Roundabout civil engineering works, that the Cabinet Member for Parks, Highways & Transport Services and the Director of Place Management be requested to make arrangements to have a naming plaque and an information board installed by the bridge as part of landscaping works, so members of the public can understand the sacrifice and outstanding courage of this Stopfordian in the line of his duty.

·         That the Cabinet Member for Parks, Highways & Transport Services and the Director of Place Management be  ...  view the full agenda text for item 7.(ii)

The litter in our communities has reached epidemic proportions. We see it everywhere and we know it eventually finds its way into our grids and gullies. We also know, because we live here as well, that it has an impact on the look and feel of our town centre and all wards.

A Keep Britain Tidy report from 2024 revealed some concerning statistics, including how this makes residents feel. There are wider societal impacts as well.

?     90% of the areas they surveyed were littered

?     70% of people reported noticing litter every day of their lives

?     83% feel that litter is a problem in this country and 77% believe the problem has become worse in recent years

?     87% of people said they are put off buying or renting a house or flat with substantial litter.

?     Litter is an issue across all of the Uk, but it is worse in the most deprived areas, with just 2% of those surveyed being litter free, compared to 14% in least deprived areas.

?     Fly-tipping in England is increasing year-on-year, with 1.2m reported incidents in 2023 - 2024.

Following International Women’s Day, it is important we recognise the role which litter plays in determining no-go areas for women as we go about our daily lives.

?     66% of respondents said they would not feel safe walking alone at night, and this figure rises to 72% of women.

There is huge public support for action. 96% of people would welcome measures to improve the situation; whilst more funding is one option, 94% of the public recognise that prevention measures are needed. Turning off the tap, and not just cleaning up after the litter is dropped.

Maintaining our public realm makes sense; but so does taking a preventative approach to this. In 2023 - 2024 Stockport MBC issued just 4 fixed penalty notices for fly-tipping / littering with Tameside issuing 279 and Trafford 135. This year's Great British Spring Clean is from 25/3/2025 to 6/4/2025 and activity during this period is welcome. But it is not enough. It is reactive and does not address the behaviours which lead to litter in our communities. 

Therefore, it is the view of this Council Meeting that this council should commit to adopting a year-round, multi-faceted, prevention strategy to address the ongoing problem of litter in our communities by:-

?     Developing the ‘The Stockport EcoTidy award’ for businesses who agree to promote action to reduce waste and who remove litter from the area around their businesses

?     Consider joining the Keep Britain Tidy network of Local Authorities

?     Adopt a zero tolerance approach by increasing visibility of the anti-social aspects of littering e.g. with visible signage in our communities reminding people to take litter home with them

?     Develop and promote behaviour-change campaigns and interventions, such as those highlighted within the ‘Keep Britain Tidy’ website to reduce the amount litter and detritus on our streets e.g. littering, dog-fouling, cigarette butts

?     Report back to Full Council at 6-monthly intervals to ensure progress on this important issue

?     Develop a ward level dashboard to effectively report changes in the littering and fly-tipping within our communities

Moved by:                  Councillor Helen Hibbert

Seconded by:           Councillor Rosemary Barratt

This Council Meeting welcomes Labour’s commitment to halve violence against women and girls (VAWG) in the next decade. However, this bold ambition cannot be realised by national government alone—we need action from local councillors, council leaders, and the Greater Manchester Police and Crime Commissioner to turn the tide on VAWG here in Stockport.

This motion has been developed to empower Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council (SMBC) to address the root causes of VAWG and ensure survivors can access specialist support.

The Impact of Domestic Abuse in Stockport

This Council Meeting believes that domestic abuse is a national emergency, and Stockport is not immune to this crisis.

·         An estimated one in four women experience domestic abuse in their lifetime.

·         An average of one woman per week is killed at the hands of their male partner or ex-partner.

·         Domestic abuse costs the public purse an estimated £78 billion per year.

·         In Stockport, authorities have been facing an "alarming" demand for domestic abuse services, with a significant increase in "high-risk" incidents recorded in 2020/21. Specifically, 502 such incidents were recorded, a 30% rise from the previous year.

Between 2018/19 and 2022/23, police records of VAWG increased by 37%, and in 2022, domestic abuse accounted for 18% of all recorded crime in England and Wales (NPCC, 2024).

This is just the tip of the iceberg. Many instances of abuse go unreported, leaving survivors without support and at risk.

The physical and emotional toll of VAWG on survivors, their families, and our communities is devastating. Domestic abuse is linked to depression, PTSD, brain injuries, miscarriage, long-term pain, and other serious health consequences (NICE, 2023). Worryingly, the mental health impact is severe, with more suspected victim suicides following domestic abuse than intimate partner homicides (National Police Chiefs Council, 2023). Women’s Aid (2022) found that 45.6% of women in refuge services reported depression or suicidal thoughts.

The Need for Prevention and Support Services in Stockport

Attitudes towards relationships in young people are concerning. There is a direct correlation between exposure to misogynistic social media content and unhealthy views on relationships (Women’s Aid, 2023). Sexism and misogyny—root causes of domestic abuse—must be addressed through education and prevention work with children and young people.

Despite their vital role, specialist domestic abuse services in Stockport face increasing pressure. These services provide independent, trauma-informed support and are embedded within local referral pathways.

Research shows that for every £1 invested in specialist domestic abuse services, £9 is saved to the public purse (Women’s Aid, 2023). However, competitive procurement processes are threatening these services. Nationally, over 24,000 survivors were turned away from safe accommodation due to a lack of capacity between 2022-23 (Domestic Abuse National Expert Steering Group).

Stockport Council must act to ensure survivors in our borough receive the specialist, trauma-informed support they need.

Stockport Council’s Commitment to Change

This Council Meeting commits to tackling the epidemic of violence against women and girls in Stockport by recommending that the Cabinet undertakes to fulfil the four pledges below and within 12 months, produces a report for submission to the Council Meeting outlining the actions they have taken to address these:-.

1. Work with survivors and local specialist ‘by and for’ services to understand the impact of VAWG in Stockport and develop a comprehensive local strategy to address it; building on, and updating where appropriate the 2021-24 Stockport Domestic Violence and Abuse Strategy.
2. Ensure all schools in Stockport provide comprehensive education on healthy relationships, consent, and recognising abuse, empowering young people to challenge misogynistic attitudes.
3. Conduct a review of Stockport Council’s procurement practices for VAWG services, ensuring they align with statutory guidance and prioritise specialist providers that meet the needs of all survivors, particularly those most marginalised.
4. Clarify which Cabinet Member within Stockport Council holds responsibility for VAWG, in order to ensure accountability, amplify survivors’ voices, and drive meaningful action

Stockport Council has a duty to protect its residents from violence and abuse. We must  ...  view the full agenda text for item 7.(iv)