The Communities & Transport Scrutiny Committee of Stockport Council met on Monday 20 January 2025 to discuss the council's medium-term financial plan, progress on walking and cycling initiatives, and the procurement of electric vehicle charging infrastructure. The committee also considered a call-in regarding discretionary grit bins.

Cabinet Response: Responding to Medium Term Financial Plan

The committee was scheduled to consider a joint report from the Cabinet Member for Communities, Culture & Sport and the Cabinet Member for Parks, Highways & Transport Services regarding the council's medium-term financial plan. The report aimed to provide further detail on budget change proposals, taking into account feedback received. It outlined budget proposals being considered by the Cabinet to address financial challenges and the rising cost of delivering services. The committee was asked to comment on the report and proposals relevant to its remit. The report highlighted significant national coverage on pressures across public services, with councils facing urgent funding gaps. Stockport Council's annual budget for 2024/25 was £336 million, and the cost of delivering services was increasing due to demographics, inflation, and rising demand for support in areas such as children's social care, education, health and care plans, adult social care, and homelessness. The provisional local government settlement for 2025/26 offered a 5.89% increase in core spending power, which was less than the average for England and metropolitan borough councils. The report also noted that Stockport received a disproportionately small amount of additional national funding for local government. The council's reliance on Council Tax, a regressive form of taxation, was also a concern, with approximately 64% of its 2025/26 core spending power expected to come from this source. The report detailed change proposals contributing £8.937 million in budget reductions to support the balancing of the 2025/26 budget, with equality and environmental impact assessments undertaken for relevant proposals.

Walking and Cycling Update Report

A report from the Director of Place Management was scheduled for discussion, providing an update on the progress of the Walking and Cycling Strategy and the broader commitment to active travel in 2024. Stockport's ambition to create a high-quality, fully connected walking and cycling network by 2029 was detailed, building on the Stockport Active Communities Strategy 2022-2030. The report highlighted progress in delivering schemes, including the Stockport Interchange, various Mayoral Challenge Fund Urban Traffic Control schemes, and improvements to shared use routes. Schemes under construction included the Ladybrook Valley, Romiley to Stockport, and Heatons Link (Phase 2) projects. The report also detailed activation events to promote the use of new walking and cycling facilities, such as at the Stockport Interchange and Broadstone Hall Crossing. Behavioural change initiatives, partnerships with external groups, and maintenance through capital funding were also outlined. Future plans included proposals for the Greek Street Bridge replacement, Active Neighbourhoods trials, and the Marple Area Walking and Cycling project. The report noted that funding for these initiatives was primarily accessed through funding bids, including the Bee Network Crossings Programme and the Active Travel Programme.

Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) Fund Procurement Report

The committee was set to consider a report from the Director of Place Management concerning progress with the Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) Fund. The report sought permission to authorise Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) to undertake preparatory procurement arrangements for the LEVI Programme on behalf of Stockport Council. Greater Manchester has set a target to become carbon neutral by 2040, with transport accounting for 30% of its total emissions. Promoting electric mobility is seen as crucial to reducing transport emissions and improving air quality. The LEVI fund, designed by the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV), aims to increase the deployment of on-street charging infrastructure. Greater Manchester's allocation from the LEVI fund is £16,158,000. TfGM is managing the procurement process, with local authorities responsible for contract management of operations and maintenance once chargers are installed. The report detailed the procurement process, including a 15-year concession contract for the installation, maintenance, and operation of charging infrastructure. The committee was recommended to note the report and that Cabinet would be requested to approve the delegation of procurement functions to TfGM and authority for the Director of Place Management to act on the council's behalf regarding the LEVI programme.

Call-in of Executive Decision CMDHPL166 - 'Discretionary Grit Bin Report'

The committee was scheduled to consider the call-in of an executive decision regarding discretionary grit bins. The decision, CMDHPL166, had been called in by Councillors Asa Caton, Leah Taylor, and Matt Wynne. The report accompanying this item outlined proposals to facilitate ward members requesting the placement of additional community grit bins on adopted roads, outside the scope of the council's borough-wide risk-based approach. A separate decision process would be introduced for these grit bins, with costs charged to the Ward Delegated Budget. The report also recommended that the council's Winter Maintenance Policy and Plan be reviewed in the summer/autumn of 2025.

Scrutiny Work Programme

A report from the Assistant Director for Legal & Democratic Governance was to be considered, setting out planned agenda items for the committee's next meeting and Forward Plan items within its remit. The committee was invited to consider the information and propose any agenda items for future meetings. The report listed planned items including the Greek Street Bridge Resilience Report, taxi licensing issues, the impact of Equity Networks, and updates on the Annual Flood Resilience Report and Highway Drainage Asset Management. Future planned items included the Cabinet Response to the Medium Term Financial Plan, Walking and Cycling, the Transportation Capital Programme, the One Stockport Community Safety Partnership, Highway Obstruction, and Socio-Economic Duty. The committee was also invited to consider a report on the Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) Fund Procurement.