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 Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Policy, Finance & Devolution (Councillor Alex Ganotis) reported on the current budget position and that the Council ended the last financial year with a surplus of £4 million. It was stated that there was a £9 million surplus within the non-cash limit budget; however the cash limit budget there was a deficit of approximately £5 million. It was further reported that the deficit was made of up £4 million from children’s services and just under £1 million from adult social care.
Councillor Ganotis stated that over the next five years to 2023 the Council faced a funding gap of £47 million, and that since 2010 it had dealt with a funding gap of £100 million. It was reported that increased demand for council services especially children's and adult social care coupled with additional responsibilities being given to councils and increased cost pressures meant that although there would be no further reductions in resources available to Council beyond 2020 there were nonetheless be an increase in the funding gap the Council faced.
Councillor Ganotis then reported that Greater Manchester needed to develop a new air quality plan by early next year that tackled air quality in particular areas of the borough where we were exceeding legal limits. It was confirmed that air quality in those areas needed to be brought within safe limits within the fastest time possible and not exceeding 2021 and that for Stockport one area had been identified at the A34 between Cheadle Royal and the M60 at Gatley.
The Cabinet Member for Economy & Regeneration (Councillor Kate Butler) reported that following the anticipated approval of the new Stockport Interchange scheme by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, a ‘listening exercise’ would be held around the town centre which aimed to allow members of the public to provide their views on the proposal.
Councillor Butler stated that the Town Centre Living Development Framework continued to progress and would include a design guide which aimed to influence developers on the standards of development the Council expected to see within the Town Centre.
The Cabinet Member for Health (Councillor Tom McGee) reported that work was ongoing in relation to the redesign of the Health and wellbeing Board to enable it to undertake more strategic decision-making. It was further reported that Thursday, 5 July would mark the 70th birthday of the National Health Service and events would be held in various places including Stepping Hill to commemorate the event. It was stated that the Town Hall would also be lit up blue to mark the occasion.
Finally, Councillor McGee commented that preparations for the forthcoming winter were already being made. It was noted that Stockport had an excellent track record in flu vaccination rates and Councillor McGee congratulated public health within the Council as well as midwives and GPs for their excellent work.
The Cabinet Member for Reform & Governance (Councillor Elise Wilson) reported that issues surrounding the liquidation of Carillion had been complex and challenging for the Council. It was stated that council officers had been in constant negotiation with PricewaterhouseCoopers who had been appointed as special managers reporting to the official receiver and recently became joint liquidator. The council had worked closely with PricewaterhouseCoopers since Carillion went into liquidation in January 2018 to try and secure an alternative provider for all property contracts. Despite some companies’ initial expression of interest, unfortunately no provider had been found that were either suitable or able to accept the current contracts and as of late last week the Council had been informed that services provided by Carillion would cease on Tuesday, 26 June 2018.
It was stated that the Council had been left with the need to make an urgent decision about the provision of facilities and asset management services. The Council was in final negotiations for short term contract with a company to undertake this provision from the 1 July 2018 to ensure continued continuity of provision.
Councillor Wilson then reported that the Stockport Local Fund had been launched on 14 June 2018 at an event held in the ballroom at the Town Hall which saw over 200 people attend. Councillor Wilson encouraged councillors to inform local community groups of the fund.
The Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care (Councillor Wendy Wild) reported that a pilot was being undertaken of a ‘red bag scheme’ with a number of homes in our area so that when a care home resident had to go into hospital they would be accompanied by a red bag that contained information about their health and some personal items. The scheme was intended to improve the experience of care home residents who were admitted to hospital and also to support staff at the hospital by providing consistent information and documentation.