To receive any questions from and provide answers to the public in relation to matters relevant to the Council’s activities.
Minutes:
Members of the public were invited to put questions to the Mayor and Councillors on any matters within the powers and duties of the Council.
Ten public questions were submitted as follows:-
· Relating to the consequences of the refresh of the investment and benefit plans for Stockport Together.
The Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care (Councillor Wendy Wild) responded that reference to Stockport Together was in the summer review of the Council’s Medium Term Financial Plan which recognised that there was a lowered forecast of the expected financial benefits from the previously agreed economic business case. This had resulted in further investment in the new models of care at risk and increasing capacity in community and primary care which was underpinned by the financial risk share agreement.
It was stated that the Council had set aside an additional £4.6 million over this year and the next to offset the financial risk ahead of the benefits being realised and providing for a sustainable funding source for this additional community capacity.
· Relating to the planned date for the opening of the A6 to Manchester Airport Relief Road.
The Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Cabinet Member for Policy, Finance & Devolution (Councillor Alex Ganotis) responded that there would be an open day held on the new road on 7 October 2018 to allow members of the public to see and take advantage of the road for cycling, running and walking in a way that they would not be able to do once it was fully open to traffic. The Council was aiming to open the road to traffic in October, and it was hoped that it would be possible to open it immediately after the open day event on 7 October, however at this stage it could not be confirmed that the outstanding works would be completed in time.
· Relating to the date for the opening of the Produce Hall and how the plans were progressing.
The Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Cabinet Member for Policy, Finance & Devolution (Councillor Alex Ganotis) stated that it had been found that the works at the Produce Hall were more complex than first anticipated due to the age and nature of the building and the specification of works needed to ensure that it could be transformed into restaurants. This had not resulted in any increase in the budget for the project, however the work had been more complex and would therefore take longer to carry out than was originally planned. Councillor Ganotis confirmed that the Produce Hall and the nearby former Blackshaws Café site were both aiming to open before Christmas.
· Relating to whether the Council had undertaken assessments in relation to the effects of Brexit on Stockport.
The Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Cabinet Member for Policy, Finance & Devolution (Councillor Alex Ganotis) responded that he was very concerned about the impact on the country from the UK’s departure from the European Union, and in particular about the impact this would have on Stockport. It was stated that the Council had assessed the impact of Brexit in respect of the loss of both EU structural funds and EU social funds, and within the regular treasury management reports consideration was given to the foreseeable impact of the Brexit Bill and the uncertaint impact on the economy.
It was further stated the Greater Manchester Combined Authority was undertaking ongoing assessments of Brexit across the whole of the conurbation and all councils, including Stockport, had been providing information as part of that analysis. This information formed part of the regular Brexit Monitor reports that were submitted to meetings of the Combined Authority.
· Relating to what contingency plans had been put in place to ensure that Stockport had access to food, medicines, power, heating and other essential resources in the event of a no-deal Brexit.
The Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Cabinet Member for Policy, Finance & Devolution (Councillor Alex Ganotis) stated that a report was due to be submitted to the next meeting of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority on 28 September 2018 that would provide an assessment of the impact of a ‘no-deal’ Brexit on Greater Manchester.
· Relating to whether the Council would pass a motion in support of banning the LGBT cure.
The Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Cabinet Member for Policy, Finance & Devolution (Councillor Alex Ganotis) confirmed that he would bring forward a motion to the next meeting of the Council Meeting on this issue.
· Relating to whether all Stockport councillors would have a vote on the final proposals in the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework (GMSF) and whether the Leader of the Council would abide by that decision in casting his vote on the matter at the Greater Manchester Combined Authority.
The Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Cabinet Member for Policy, Finance & Devolution (Councillor Alex Ganotis) confirmed that the Council Meeting would be asked to vote on the final Spatial Framework document and that he would abide by that outcome in any vote at the Combined Authority. It was stated that the revised proposals were due to be published for consideration by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority in the middle of October, following which there would be a 12 week consultation period. It was further stated that at the meeting of the Combined Authority in July 2018, it was agreed in principle to move the spatial framework from being a joint development plan to a spatial development strategy. This meant that rather than requiring consent from all ten Greater Manchester districts at their Full Council meetings, it would require the consent of the ten leaders of those councils. However, it was noted that it had been the intention from the outset of the process in 2014 that the GMSF would become a spatial development strategy and that it was only prevented from being so at its inception as Parliament had not yet passed the necessary enabling regulations.
Councillor Ganotis stated that it was nonetheless the position of this Council that Stockport would not sign up to the GMSF unless it was passed by the a majority of votes of members of this Council.
· Relating to the timetable for the SEMMM Strategy refresh and whether the proposed A6 to M60 Relief Road would be excluded from the plan.
The Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Cabinet Member for Policy, Finance & Devolution (Councillor Alex Ganotis) responded that the timetable for the SEMMM Strategy refresh had been pushed back slightly to take into account the proposed timetable for the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework to ensure that the SEMMM Strategy was not signed off before the Council had agreed how it would meet its housing targets over the next 20 years. Councillor Ganotis stated that he could not commit to the removal of the A6 to M60 Relief Road from the Strategy as the approval of the Strategy would be matter for the Council Meeting.
· Relating to the promotion of public awareness on two consultations being undertaken by NHS England in respect of limits on access to certain elective medical procedures and the awarding of contracts to providers to run Integrated Care Systems.
The Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Cabinet Member for Policy, Finance & Devolution (Councillor Alex Ganotis) responded that with regard to the consultation on elective medical procedures, there was a clear separation between that consultation and the responsibilities of the Council; and as important as the consultation was, it was not the role of the Council to promote it.
With regard to the consultation on Integrated Care Systems, it was his view and that of relevant cabinet members that this should be promoted by the Council. It was stated that the consultation was open until the end of October and it would be promoted through relevant channels to ensure that there was greater public awareness.
· Relating to whether Stockport Together or the Council had put forward an action plan to deal with the issues raised in the public consultation in respect of the reorganisation of health and social care; and whether a refresh of Stockport Together would invalidate the consultation.
The Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Cabinet Member for Policy, Finance & Devolution (Councillor Alex Ganotis) responded that he had provided responses to similar questions at previous meetings. It was stated that everything that continued to be done with Stockport Together followed the original business case and what was originally consulted upon. It was stated that any refresh of Stockport Together would not invalidate the consultation as it was not proposed to move away from any of the principles or substance of what was originally consulted upon.