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.
Minutes:
The Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care (Councillor Wendy Wild) provided an update on the review of the Council’s Reserves Policy the proposed 2017-18 Reserves Policy which aimed to provide certainty and transparency in the way in which reserves were managed within the Council. It was confirmed that it was proposed to increase reserves to the Children & Families and Adult Social Care portfolios to smooth out some of the issues faced in these areas and support spending. It was also proposed to temporarily increase the waste smoothing reserve to support the transition of the GMWDA’s waste collection and recycling contract.
It was further reported that work was due to take place on the Wellington Bridge in the centre of Stockport which would necessitate the closure of the A6 for a 12 week period. It was stated that alternative routes through the centre of Stockport would be clearly signed.
Councillor Wild then reported that the Stockport Together Outline Business Cases had now been published and that there would be a series of listening events held throughout July which would be open to everyone as mains of gaining feedback and to help further shape the plans.
The Cabinet Member for Economy & Regeneration (Councillor Kate Butler) reported that the development of the Stockport Local Plan continued to be progressed and that the first step would be the publication of an issues paper which would form the basis of a public consultation which would take place from July to September and which would include consultation events in each of the area committee areas.
It was then reported that the Cabinet had recently agreed a plan for the long term future of Stockport Market which aimed to use the unique environment of the market to encourage shoppers and new visitors by making better use of the Produce Hall and the Blackshaw’s Café by bringing in anchor tenants and creating a new destination point for the town centre.
Councillor Butler then responded to concerns over the impact of the proposed residential development in Handforth Dean and stated that the Council would express its opposition to the development in forthcoming enquiries.
The Cabinet Member for Education (Councillor Dean Fitzpatrick) reported that he had recently attended the Bridgewater One Voice celebration at the Lowry Theatre in Salford Quays which aimed to promote integration, co-operation and understanding and expressed his congratulations to all who were involved.
Councillor Fitzpatrick referred to the recent Grenfell Tower fire and commented that advice from the government was that maintained schools should have appropriate evacuation procedures and had a practiced fire drill. It was stated that 94% of maintained schools were currently compliant and work was taking place to ensure all schools were fully compliant. Further, it was stated that schools with cladding but less than four floors high were not considered a high priority as they were expected to be able to evacuate within three minutes of the alert being raised. The immediate focus was on those schools of four floors or higher which in Stockport included Marple Hall and Bramhall High Schools. With regard to Marple Hall School, the cladding material had been certified as being fully non-combustible and fire breaks had been installed within the building. Work remained ongoing at Bramhall High School to ascertain the materials used at those premises.
Councillor Fitzpatrick then reported that he had requested that a report be circulated to all area committees requesting that members give consideration to the acquisition of mobile speed indication devices for use within their localities as a means of encouraging improved road safety around schools. It was further stated that an additional report would be circulated to area committees identifying those schools within their purview which had vacancies on their Governing Body and requesting that members give consideration to nominating individuals to fill those vacancies.
The Cabinet Member for Health (Councillor Tom McGee) thanked those members who had attended the briefing on the Stockport Together programme which had taken place the previous week and advised members that there was still an opportunity as part of the forthcoming listening events to contribute to the discussion over the progression of Stockport Together.
Councillor McGee then reported on the early intervention schemes currently being undertaken which included work to reduce smoking in pregnancy and identify those people living with diabetes who had yet to be diagnosed.
The Cabinet Member for Reform & Governance (Councillor David Sedgwick) reported that the Council had agreed an unchanged funding settlement with the Citizen’s Advice Bureau for the 2017/18 financial year following an extension to the Council’s existing agreement with the CAB. The extension agreement included provisions for further outreach advice and support services being provided. However, it was stated that the agreement could not be extended for a further period without going through a formal tendering process.
Councillor Sedgwick then paid tribute to those staff in the elections team and wider who had been involved in organising and supporting the recent elections in the Borough.