Decisions

The Cabinet has considered its response to addressing the uncertainty, volatility and risk outlined within the review of the medium-term financial plan (MTFP) with a focus on delivering outcomes-focused transformational change for communities and businesses across Stockport. 

The Cabinet has then:-

(1) Noted the approach and endorse the next steps, including agreeing to share with scrutiny, for comment, the proposals which support a resilient and sustainable MTFP.

(2) Supported the ongoing development of our MTFP response and transformation programme.

The Cabinet has considered the outcomes of the review of the council’s Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP) update 2024/25 to 2028/29 which highlights the continuing financial challenges as a result of significant budget pressures due to inflationary costs and increasing need for services, and the adjustments needed to the approved MTFP forecasts and assumptions in order to present the most accurate forecast of the council’s financial position and saving requirement over the medium-term period.

The Cabinet has then:-

(1) Noted the outcomes of the MTFP update including the identified core budget pressures in Children’s and Education services, the fleet loan facility vehicle depreciation, and the highlighted changes to the MTFP forecasts and assumptions approved in February;

(2) Approved the forecast and assumption adjustments as a result of the MTFP Update outlined in the report;

(3) Noted that the council’s savings requirement has decreased to £24.517m in 2025/26 rising to £61.898m in 2028/29 as a result of the adjustments highlighted and subject to further review and updates during the financial year;

(4) Noted that due to the significant uncertainty, volatility, and risk of the financial landscape the assessment of the MTFP forecasts and assumptions will continue to be iterative with further updates to the MTFP reported to Cabinet as part of the 2025/26 budget setting process; and

(5) Approved the recommended use of one-off resources identified during the financial year to support the council’s in-year financial position, the 2025/26 Budget and MTFP.

The Cabinet received the final report of the Scrutiny Review into Stockport's Communal Corridors: Securing the Safety, Cleanliness and Biodiversity and agreed that:-

(1) The Director of Place Management be requested to prepare a response to the ‘Stockport's Communal Corridors: Securing the Safety, Cleanliness and Biodiversity’ scrutiny review and the recommendations contained therein for consideration by the Cabinet at a future meeting.

(2) The gratitude of the Cabinet be recorded for the excellent work undertaken by the Scrutiny Review Panel ‘Stockport's Communal Corridors: Securing the Safety, Cleanliness and Biodiversity’ and others involved in the Review.’

The Cabinet has considered a proposal to voluntarily adopt the socio-economic duty in Stockport including the steps necessary to implementation, and has:-

(1) Noted the delivery of activity against the Anti-Poverty 2024 – 2027 objectives

(2) Adopted the socio-economic duty and approve the implementation stages.

(3) Approved that the council will take socio-economic disadvantage into account in terms of its public sector equality duty.

(4) Confirmed that the council will continue to work with partner organisations across the borough on the development and implementation of the socio-economic duty.

This report seeks to present the ‘City Region Sustainable Transport Settlements (CRSTS) – A6 Corridor Improving Journeys’ project for approval. This was subject to a consultation exercise carried out with residents and businesses along the A6 Corridor and has been reported to, and has resolutions from, the Heatons and Reddish and Central Stockport Area Committees.

The Cabinet has considered a report detailing a proposed A6 Corridor Improvement scheme that extended from Crossley Road in the north, on the boundary with Manchester to Heaton Road in the south immediately north of Stockport town centre, and has given approval to the implementation of the recommendations detailed at Appendix 2 to the report and associated further appendices.

The Cabinet has considered an update members on the progress being made on the delivery of the new Marple Active Communities Hub and has:-

(1) Noted the contents of this report and progress on the Marple Active Communities Hub.

(2) Delegated authority to the Deputy Chief Executive and the Section 151 Officer, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Economy, Regeneration and Housing to enter into any Grant Funding Agreement or Memorandums of Understanding with the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government, or any other government department or government organisation required to deliver the scheme.

(3) Delegated authority to the Deputy Chief Executive and the Assistant Director (Legal & Democratic Governance), in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Economy, Regeneration and Housing, to take such steps and complete such agreements as are necessary to implement the resolutions recommended in this report and any decisions properly made under authority delegated by these resolutions, including the necessary Works or Services contracts, providing the funding for such contracts sits within the overall funding envelope for the project.

(4) Approved the release of the full grant funding package to allow the scheme to progress to completion.

(5) Approved the development and implementation of an enabling works package, and delegate authority to the Deputy Chief Executive and the Section 151 Officer, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Economy, Regeneration and Housing, to approve the Council entering into any Works or Services contracts to enable this works package to progress, to facilitate the demolition of the current Marple Library, police, and clinic buildings enabling the Marple Community Hub project to be delivered.

(6) Approved the establishment of an interim Marple Library provision during the construction phase of the project.

(NOTE: Appendices to this report contained information ‘Not for Publication’ which was circulated to members of the Cabinet only).

The Cabinet has considered a report setting out a request to use compulsory purchase powers to acquire the land and buildings comprising 72 / 74 Wellington Road South to enable the delivery of Phases 6 and 7 of the Stockport Exchange regeneration scheme, and has:-

(1) Approve, in principle, the use of compulsory purchase powers, to acquire all the necessary interests in the Site.

(2) Approve the taking of all necessary steps/the carrying out of all necessary work required to establish a case for the making of a CPO, and the preparation of all necessary CPO documentation, including securing the appointment of suitable external advisors.

(3) Approve the continuance of voluntary negotiations with the Landowner, and anyone else with an interest in the Site, in parallel with the preparation of CPO documentation;

(4) Note that a further report will be presented to the Cabinet to approve the making of any CPO following the finalisation of the necessary preparatory work and CPO documentation;

(5) Delegate to the Assistant Director of Legal and Democratic Governance and the Deputy Chief Executive authority to do all things necessary or incidental to the implementation of the above-mentioned resolutions.

(NOTE: Appendices to this report contained information ‘Not for Publication’ which was circulated to members of the Cabinet only).

The Cabinet has considered an update on the revenue budget forecast outturn for the period to the end of June 2024 (Quarter 1) which included an update on the Dedicated Schools Grant, Housing Revenue Account (HRA) and updates to the Capital Programme, and has:-

(1) Approved the virements to the Revenue Budget;

(2) Noted the Cash Limit and Non-Cash Limit forecast outturn positions for 2024/25 as at Quarter 1;

(3) Noted the DSG and HRA forecast outturn positions for 2024/25 as at Quarter 1;

(4) Noted the update on Reserves;

(5) Noted the forecast position for the 2024/25 Capital Programme;

(6) Noted the changes to the Capital Programme and re-phasing of schemes during Quarter 1; and

(7) Noted the 2024/25 Capital Programme Prudential Indicators.

The Cabinet considered an update on the Council’s Reserves Policy following the reporting of the Council’s 2023/24 outturn position and has agreed to:-

(1) Note the annual review of Council’s 2024/25 Reserves Policy including the level and rationale for the reserves held.

(2) Approve the adjustments and reclassification of earmarked reserves held in line with the recommended amounts.

(3) Approve the proposed 2024/25 Reserves Policy.

This report sets out the strategic priorities for children and young with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and their families in Stockport for the period 2024 until 2027 which the Cabinet will be requested to approve.

The Cabinet has considered the SEND Strategy 2024-2027 which was a refresh of the previous strategy, co-produced between Stockport Council, NHS GM Stockport and SEND Partners, including but not limited to SEND Parent Carer Forum and has endorsed and approved the Strategy.

The Cabinet considered a report providing an update on the operation and effectiveness of the Council's Treasury Management function for quarter one of 2024/25 and has agreed to note the report, the treasury activity and recommend approval of any changes to the prudential indicators.