The Corporate Resource Management & Governance Scrutiny Committee met on Tuesday 13 October 2026 to discuss the Medium-Term Financial Plan, bus franchising, and the council's annual insurance and modern slavery reports. Key decisions included noting the significant financial challenges facing the council due to rising costs and insufficient funding. The committee was asked to note the review and the refreshed draft of the Modern Slavery Statement for 2026/27.

TFGM Bus Franchising and Service Provision

Nick Fairclough, interim head of bus from Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM), presented an update on bus franchising and service provision. He highlighted significant progress since the introduction of bus franchising, including an increase in service quality, better connectivity, and a rise in patronage across Greater Manchester, with over 170 million journeys recorded in the last year. However, he acknowledged the ongoing impact of the pandemic on patronage and passenger revenues. New services have been introduced in Stockport, such as the 377 bus route and a bolstered night service on the 192.

Councillor David Meller expressed gratitude for the improvements but raised concerns about avoiding past mistakes of escalating costs and deregulation. He advocated for the publication of peak vehicle requirement (PVR) data to provide an objective measure for councillors to understand trade-offs between service development and funding. Nick Fairclough agreed to take this away for consideration, alongside improving the transparency of patronage data. Councillor Megan Axon requested Stockport-specific statistics, which TfGM agreed to provide. Councillor David Sedgwick inquired about the resilience of the bus network in light of global economic pressures and fuel costs. Nick Fairclough stated there were no immediate plans for service cuts or fare increases, and emphasised the importance of transitioning to electric buses for both environmental and economic benefits. Councillor Jeremy Meal asked for an update on Ring and Ride, which is currently part of a neighbourhood transport review aiming to integrate it more closely with the Bee Network.

Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP) Summer Review Update and Cabinet Response

Councillor Julie Julian, Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources, and Jonathan Davies, Director of Finance (Section 151 Officer), presented updates on the council's Medium-Term Financial Plan (MTFP) for 2026/27 to 2030/31. They highlighted significant and sustained financial pressures due to inflation, rising service demand, and increasing complexity of need, exacerbated by a disappointing Local Government Finance Settlement that has materially weakened Stockport's financial position. The council faces a savings requirement of £12.078 million in 2027/28, rising to £29.137 million by 2030/31.

Councillor Carole McCann suggested encouraging annual council tax payments to improve flexibility and reduce administrative burden. She also raised the possibility of re-evaluating property valuations after extensions to increase council tax income. Jonathan Davies acknowledged these points, noting the challenges with the Valuation Office Agency's capacity. Councillor Julian expressed enthusiasm for Manchester Airport's recovery and hoped for significant dividend payments back to local councils.

Councillor Paul Wright raised concerns about SEND Transport costs, questioning if savings would be realised as accounted for. Jonathan Davies assured that MTFP assumptions were sound and tested, but acknowledged the need for adaptation. He also explained the concept of Exceptional Financial Support (EFS) and the council's efforts to avoid needing it, while acknowledging its increasing prevalence among local authorities. Councillor Jens questioned the nature of EFS, suggesting it was not true support and should be avoided. Jonathan Davies clarified that EFS is a capitalisation directive, not new money, and a necessary step before a Section 114 notice. Councillor McCann raised a query about an adverse one-off MTFP adjustment of £860,000 related to the collection fund, which Jonathan Davies explained was a normal accounting transaction with a net nil impact due to offsetting reserves. Councillor David Meller commented on the importance of reforming social care and inquired about discussions regarding a tourism levy, noting that Stockport's position as a gateway should be reflected in any distribution. Jonathan Davies confirmed Stockport's interests were being represented and that an officers' group was discussing the overnight visitor levy. Councillor Wright asked about the SEND Transport budget, and Jonathan Davies confirmed that while there's always a margin of error, the current forecasts are robust, supported by reserves and ongoing monitoring. Councillor Wright also raised a resident's concern about the council claiming to have no money while spending £28,000 on fighting a house building appeal at Woodford Garden. Councillor Julian explained that sometimes spending is necessary in areas that may not be ideologically preferred, and that ring-fenced funding can be difficult to explain.

Annual Insurance Report 2025/26

John Pearsall, Head of Internal Audit, Risk and Insurance Services, presented the Annual Insurance Report. He noted a slight increase in claims received (407 compared to 382 in the previous year), largely due to an incident on the A555 which resulted in 53 claims. Excluding this, claim numbers had plateaued. He highlighted the success in defending five liability claims at court, saving £940,000, and the identification of three potentially fraudulent claims, saving £148,000. Emerging risks include the impact of climate change, leading to increased flooding and subsidence claims, and a rise in claims from cyclists and concerning electric scooters and charging points. The use of AI in claims repudiation was also noted as a growing challenge. The council is preparing for a new insurance contract in November 2027. Councillor Jeremy Meal inquired about lessons learned for future risk management regarding climate resilience. John Pearsall explained proactive work with other services and partners, and the use of a risk-based approach. Councillor Mark Jones asked if the council's robust approach to fraud was reflected in premium levels, to which John Pearsall confirmed that insurers acknowledge this and it is reflected in the price.

Stockport Council Modern Slavery Statement 2026/27: Review and Refresh

Councillor Julie Julian presented the review and refreshed draft of the council's Modern Slavery Statement for 2026/27. She emphasised the ongoing relevance and prevalence of modern slavery and the council's commitment to eradicating it from its organisation and supply chains. Councillor Paul Wright complimented the previous work on the topic and asked if communications to residents warning about the funding of modern slavery through everyday purchases could be considered. Councillor Jeremy Meal highlighted that modern slavery predominantly affects British nationals in Stockport, not just foreign nationals. Councillor Megan Axon inquired about the council being ahead of national legislation with the Immigration and Asylum Bill 2026. Councillor Julian confirmed the statement covers all age ranges and acknowledged the importance of member training, noting that a recorded session would be made available. The committee was asked to note the review and the refreshed draft statement.

Annual Report Regarding Councillor Conduct

Vicki Bates, Chief Governance Officer and Monitoring Officer, presented the annual report on councillor conduct. She reported that three complaints were received in the 2025/26 municipal year. One complaint was partially upheld, resulting in the councillor providing an apology, while two were not upheld. All members engaged proactively with the process, and recommendations were accepted. The report noted that revised standards regimes are expected from the government, with only a change to the declaration of home addresses having been implemented so far. The committee was asked to note and comment on the report.

Scrutiny Work Programme

Jacqueline Kramer, Senior Democratic Services Officer, presented the Scrutiny Work Programme. Councillor David Meller requested that the annual monitoring report on bus franchising be scheduled for the first or second session after the municipal year starts to effectively report on the full financial year. Jonathan Davies confirmed this would be taken back to TfGM. The committee noted the work programme and discussed upcoming agenda items.

The meeting concluded with thanks to all attendees. The next meeting was scheduled for 24 November 2026.