Agenda item

To consider executive decision CAB339.

The call-in of this decision was considered by the Corporate, Resource Management & Governance Scrutiny Committee on 4 January 2022 which agreed to refer the decision to this meeting for debate.

A written record of the concerns of the Scrutiny Committee will be circulated in advance of the meeting.

The Executive Decision Record and original report are enclosed.

The Chair of the Corporate, Resource Management & Governance Scrutiny Committee submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing the decision of the committee to refer executive decision CAB339 – ‘Future High Street Fund – Stockroom’ to the Council Meeting so that it could be debated by all councillors.

RESOLVED (30 for, 22 against, 1 abstention) - That this Council Meeting objects to the permanent removal of library services from Stockport Central Library under the “Future High Street Fund – StockRoom” decision (CAB339).

This Council Meeting notes:

·         the public consultation conducted by this Council found a majority of respondents were against the permanent removal of library services from Stockport Central Library;

·         petitions with over 8,000 signatories received by this Council opposing the move; and

·         the formal recommendation made by three scrutiny committees not to proceed with the move.

This Council Meeting believes that:

·         Cabinet should rescind the decision to move Central Library from its current location to Merseyway;

·         This Council should proceed with StockRoom, keep Central Library open and seek clarity with the Department of Levelling Up on the formal change procedure to vary the final mix of uses and spend profile; and

·         a cross-party working group should be established to review and secure the long-term viability of Central Library in its historic home.

This Council Meeting requests that the decision is referred back to Cabinet for reconsideration along with the opinion of this Council Meeting as set out above.