Agenda

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 5 November 2024.

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

Members of the public are invited to put questions to the Chair and Cabinet Members on any matters within the powers and duties of the Cabinet, subject to the exclusions set out in the Code of Practice.  (Questions must be submitted no later than 3 hours prior to the commencement of the meeting via the Council’s website at www.stockport.gov.uk/publicquestions)

To consider whether it is in the public to exclude the public during consideration of the following agenda items which contain information “not for publication” and to consider any representations received to the notice of the intention to consider exempt information at this meeting.

The following representations have been received:-

At the time of publication no representations have been received.

To consider a report of the Cabinet Member for Parks, Highways & Transport Services.

The report provides an update on the works required, and schedule associated with, the Network Rail led Greek Street bridge renewal project. This includes providing an overview of the potential subsequent disruption and the responding mitigation works.

The Cabinet is recommended to:-

(1) Give approval to enter into the Bridgeguard 3 agreement and make any payments to Network Rail necessary under this agreement.

(2) Agree that the decisions related to the necessary diversion routes are delegated to the Director of Place Management in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Parks, Highways & Transport Services in conjunction with officers, following engagement with members.

(3) Agree that the decisions related to the final highway layout on the new structure are delegated to the Director of Place Management in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Parks, Highways & Transport Services, following consultation with the Member Working Group.

(4) Note the work undertaken to improve flood resilience in Stockport and support the continued partnership working and investment in these areas.

Officer contact: Sue Stevenson on 0161 474 4351 or email sue.stevenson@stockport.gov.uk and Jamie Birtles at jamie.birtles@stockport.gov.uk

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

This report provides Cabinet with a mid-year review of the council’s Treasury Management Strategy Statement and Annual Investment Strategy for 2024/25 approved by council on 22 February 2024 and has been prepared in accordance with the Chartered Institute of Public Finance Accountancy (CIPFA) Code of Practice for Treasury Management in the Public Services.

The report provides an economic update for the first six months of 2024/25 and details how this impacts upon the interest rate predictions and outlook provided in the initial strategy.

Cabinet is requested to recommend that the Council Meeting:-

(1) Note the report and the treasury activity in the first half of the financial year.

(2) Approve and note the Treasury Management Strategy, Annual Investment Strategy and Minimum Revenue Provision Policy for 2024/25 approved in February 2024, will continue to be followed considering the forecasts and conclusions set out in the report.

(3) Note the revised interest rate forecasts for Bank Rate and PWLB rates over the short and medium-term, which will drive the council’s long-term borrowing strategies going forward.

Officer contact: Lorna Soufian on Tel: 0161 474 4026 or email lorna.soufian@stockport.gov.uk

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

This report deals with the forecast Collection Fund outturn position for 2024/25, the setting of the Council Tax Taxbase for 2025/26 and also presents a forecast for Business Rates income expected in 2025/26.These items form an integral and important part of the Council’s budget setting and MTFP process

(1) The Cabinet is recommended to:-

(i)         Declare a provisional forecast outturn Collection Fund surplus of £0.461m in 2024/25 relating to a Council Tax deficit of £0.531m and Business Rates surplus of £0.992m subject to the delegations below;

(ii)        Declare a provisional forecast outturn Collection Fund surplus to be appropriated to the Council’s General Fund in 2025/26 of £0.535m relating to a Council Tax deficit of £0.447m and Business Rates surplus of £0.982m subject to the delegations below;

(iii)       Approve the use of the declared surplus to support the Council’s 2025/26 Budget and MTFP;

(iv)      Note the proposal for the Council Tax Discretionary Hardship Fund as set out in the Council Tax and Business Rates Discounts Annual Review report as per paragraph 3.4;

(v)       Note the 2025/26 Council Tax Taxbase for budget setting purposes of 99,399.6 Band D equivalent dwellings. The Council’s final 2025/26 Council Tax Taxbase will be presented for approval to the Council meeting on 16 January 2025;

(vi)      Note the 2025/26 Business Rates budget forecast subject to the completion of the NNDR1 (Business Rates budget) to be submitted to Government by 31 January 2025; and

(vii)     Note that the indicative Collection Fund resources identified are to be reviewed through the MTFP and 2024/25 budget setting processes following the Provisional Local Government Finance Settlement in December.

(2) The Cabinet is recommended to delegate the following decisions to the Deputy Chief Executive in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources:-

(i)         The decision to change the provisional 2024/25 Collection Fund forecast outturn position prior to declaring the position on 31 January 2025 as required by legislation;

(ii)        The decision to continue in the Greater Manchester Business Rates pooling arrangement; and

(iii)       The decision to vary the Business Rates forecast presented in Table 7 linked to the submission of the NNDR1 (Business Rates budget) to Government.

Officer contact: Elaine Carrington or Lisa Joy by email at elaine.carrington@stockport.gov.uk or lisa.joy@stockport.gov.uk

NOTE: There is an error in recommendation (1)(v) above that refers to a Council Tax Taxbase for budget setting purposes of 99,399.6.  The correct figure is 99,339.6 which is correctly detailed in the recommendation in the main report as originally published with the agenda for the meeting on 2 December 2024, and which the Cabinet has used as the basis for its decision.  The report can be accessed here.

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

Members are required to annually agree the range of localised reliefs and discounts available against liability for Business Rates and Council Tax, including the means tested Council Tax Support Scheme for working age residents.

This report summarises the schemes that are currently in place and recommends their continuation for 2025-26.

An integrated policy has been created to bring together all the existing criteria for Business Rates relief into one document for endorsement, and to agree award effective dates following a change in legislation.

The Cabinet is recommended to give approval:- 

(1) That private schools should not be eligible for discretionary rate relief as a non-profit organisation, due to the potential cost to the council which is currently estimated at £0.651m.

(2) That the Business Rates Discretionary Relief Policy for 2025-26 at Appendix 1 is endorsed.

(3) That discretionary Business Rates relief under Section 47 of the LGFA 1988 will normally be awarded from the start of the financial year in which the application is made or the date the business became liable for rates, if later. Consideration will be given to backdating relief from the start of the previous financial year where valid reasons are provided for not applying earlier.  Awards given under Section 44a on partly occupied premises or Section 49 on the grounds of hardship, will be determined on a case-by-case basis as appropriate.

(4) That discretionary Business Rates relief will normally expire at the end of the financial year in which the award is made or cease from the date liability ends (whichever is the earliest), except where it is granted based on the status of an organisation which is unlikely to change.

(5) That where a business has a change in circumstances, two months’ notice  will be given to reduce or revoke a discretionary rates relief award, effective from the date the change occurs.

(6) That any new applications for Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Relief should be backdated to April 2023 where eligibility exists from that date, in line with para 3.3.3. 

(7) That the council continues with its existing empty property discount and premium scheme for 2025-26, as shown at paragraph 4.2.1. 

(8) It is noted that the decision to charge a Council Tax premium on second homes from April 2025 was agreed at the council meeting of 11 January 2024 and therefore a new decision is not required on this aspect of the scheme for 2025-26.

(10) That exceptions to both the long-term empty and second home premiums are applied in line with published statutory guidance and that a localised policy will be developed during 2025-26 based on learning throughout the year.

(11) That any Council Tax liability for care leavers up to the age of 25 be reduced to zero for 2025-26.

(12) That Stockport’s Council Tax Support scheme is maintained for the financial year 2025-26 as detailed at Appendix 3.

(13) That the Council Tax discretionary fund is set at £0.2m for 2025-26, supporting customers facing financial difficulty, with no alternative means.  

(14) That delegation is given to the Director of Finance in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources to review and adjust the fund during 2025-26, capped at a total fund of £0.385m if required, to support the council’s ongoing cost-of-living response. 

(15) That delegation is given to the Director of Finance in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources to consider any subsequent Government announcements that impact on Business Rates and Council Tax reductions for 2025-26, and to decide what changes should be made aligned to legislation.

Officer contact: Andrea Griffiths on 0161 218 1075 or email andrea.griffiths@stockport.gov.uk

To consider a joint report of the Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Finance & Resources.

The Mid-Year Corporate Performance and Resource Report (CPRR) for 2024/25 provides a summary of progress in delivering the council’s priority outcomes up to 30 September 2024.

The report reflects the 2024-27 Council Plan, MTFP and portfolio priorities. It includes:

·         An overview of corporate delivery and performance (including brief highlights from the seven individual Portfolio Performance and Resources Reports (PPRRs).

·         A detailed financial update, including, the outturn position on revenue and capital.

The Cabinet is recommended to:-

(1) Note the key delivery and performance issues from the council’s seven portfolios set out in sections 1.3 and 1.4.

(2) Note the proposed approach set out in section 1.5 to ‘light-touch’ reviews of the 2024-27 Council Plan at the end of 2024/25 and 2025/26.

(3) Review progress against delivering council priorities and capital schemes alongside budget outturns contained within the report.

(4) Note the Cash Limit and Non-Cash Limit forecast outturn positions for 2024/25 as set out in section 2.3.

(5) Note the Dedicated Schools Grant, Housing Revenue Account and Collection Fund forecast positions as set out in sections 2.4, 2.5, and 2.6.

(6) Note the appropriations to/from reserves and balances during the period as set out in section 2.7 and note the resulting reserves and balances position as at 30 September 2024.

(7) Note the position for the 2024/25 Capital Programme as set out in section 3.1.

(8) Note the adjustments of capital schemes during the quarter as set out in section 3.2.

(10) Approve the resourcing of the capital programme as set out in section 3.3.

(11) Approve the 2024/25 prudential indicators as set out in section 3.4, and

Identify key areas for further investigation and responsibility for taking forward corrective action to address any existing or outturn issues or risks.

Officer contact: Jonathan Davies on 0161 218 1025 or email jonathan.davies@stockport.gov.uk and Alan Lawson on 0161 474 5397 or email alan.lawson@stockport.gov.uk

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

The report details proposed polling arrangements for Stockport in order to inform the Council meeting’s determination of polling districts, polling places and polling stations for forthcoming elections.

The Cabinet is recommended to:-

(1) Consider the report, make any observations and or suggested amendments.

(2) Request that the Council Meeting give approval to the proposed polling arrangements for Stockport as detailed in the report.

Officer contact: Vicki Bates on 474 3219 or email: vicki.bates@stockport.gov.uk

To consider a report of the Cabinet Member for Economy, Regeneration & Housing.

The report seeks Cabinet approval to progress with a Compulsory Purchase Order of land at Higher Hillgate/Higher Barlow Row, Stockport, to enable the development of 24 affordable homes by Stockport Homes Group within the Housing Revenue Account. 

The Cabinet is recommended to endorse the approach set out in this report for the use of the legal mechanism of a Compulsory Purchase Order to acquire/assemble the development land and achieve satisfactory title to deliver an affordable housing scheme.

Officer contact: Andy Kippax on 0161 474 4319 or by email at: andy.kippax@stockport.gov.uk

To consider a report of the Cabinet Member for Economy, Regeneration & Housing.

The five-year agreement between the Council and United Utilities to collect water charges from Council tenants is due to expire on 31st March 2025. The collection of water charges has been a huge success for the Council, Stockport Homes and the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) during the last 16 years and this report reviews the current arrangements and outlines the terms of a proposed new agreement from April 2025. 

The Cabinet is recommended to given approval to the extension of the water charge collection agreement until 31 March 2030 on the terms and basis identified in the report.

Officer contact: Andy Kippax on 0161 474 4319 or by email at: andy.kippax@stockport.gov.uk

The Leader of the Council to report.

To consider a report of the Leader of the Council.

The Cabinet is invited to note the decisions of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) held on 29 November 2024.

Officer contact: Damian Eaton on 0161 474 3207 or email: damian.eaton@stockport.gov.uk

On:-

(a)  Matters (if any) referred to the Cabinet Meeting

(b)  Any called-in Cabinet Executive Decisions

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

The report details a proposal for the disposal of a parcel of land located at the junction of Booth Street and Mercian Way.

The Cabinet is recommended to give approval to the proposed transaction as detailed in the ‘not for publication’ report.

(NOTE: This report is ‘not for publication’ and has been circulated to members of the Cabinet only).

Officer contact: James Kington on 07815 997564 or by email: james.kington@stockport.gov.uk