Here is a summary of the items scheduled for discussion at the Stockport Council Cabinet meeting on 16 September 2025.

The Cabinet is expected to discuss the Medium Term Financial Plan, budget monitoring, treasury management, the SEND Sufficiency Plan, and the Stockport Town Centre East Strategic Regeneration Framework. They will also consider the outcome of a public consultation on expanding the Mayoral Development Corporation, changes to the council's constitution, and the One Stockport Safety Partnership Plan. Some items, including an asset management report, may be discussed in private due to containing confidential financial or business information.

Here are some of the topics in more detail:

Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP)

The Cabinet will consider the Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP) in two parts. Part A, the Medium Term Financial Plan MTFP Update, will focus on the review of the council's financial plan for 2025/26 to 2029/30. This review highlights the financial challenges facing the council due to inflation and increasing service demand. The report pack states that the review will consider adjustments to the approved MTFP forecasts and assumptions to provide an accurate forecast of the council's financial position and saving requirement over the medium term. The report pack also states that the updating of the MTFP will continue to be iterative, with forecasts and assumptions retested throughout the year as part of the 2026/27 budget setting process. The Cabinet is expected to note the outcomes of the MTFP update, approve forecast adjustments, and note the council's savings requirement, which has decreased to £19.162m in 2026/27, rising to £63.222m in 2029/30. They are also expected to approve the use of one-off resources to support the council's in-year financial position, the 2026/27 Budget, and the MTFP.

Part B, Responding to Our MTFP, outlines the Cabinet's response to the uncertainty outlined in Part A. The report pack states that the Cabinet's focus is on delivering outcomes-focused transformational change for communities and businesses across Stockport, with a resilient and robust budget being key to this. The report pack also states that the evolving strategy to address medium-term budget challenges focuses on budget adjustments, local taxation considerations, the use of reserves, and change proposals. The Cabinet is expected to note the approach, endorse the next steps, and support the ongoing development of the MTFP response and transformation programme.

2025/26 Q1 Budget Monitoring Update

The Cabinet will consider the 2025/26 Q1 Budget Monitoring Update - Main Report, which provides an update on the revenue budget forecast outturn for the period ending June 2025 (Quarter 1). The report also provides updates on the Dedicated Schools Grant¹ (DSG), Housing Revenue Account (HRA), and the Capital Programme. The Cabinet is expected to approve virements² to the Revenue Budget, note the cash limit and non-cash limit forecast outturn positions, the DSG and HRA forecast outturn positions, the update on Reserves, the forecast position for the Capital Programme, changes to the Capital Programme, and the Capital Programme Prudential Indicators.

Treasury Management

The Cabinet will consider the Treasury Management Annual Report 2024/25 Main Report, a backward-looking report on the council's treasury management function for the 2024/25 financial year. The report pack states that treasury management policies and strategies and the economic landscape have moved on since the close of the 2024/25 financial year, and consideration of this report is therefore recommended in conjunction with the Treasury Management Quarter 1 report for 2025/26. The Cabinet is expected to recommend that the Council Meeting approve the actual 2024/25 prudential and treasury indicators and note the Annual Treasury Management Report for 2024/25.

The Cabinet will also consider the Treasury Management Q1 Report 2025/26, which informs the Cabinet on the operation and effectiveness of the council's Treasury Management function for quarter one of 2025/26. The report pack states that the report updates members with progress on the treasury and capital position of the council. The Cabinet is expected to note the report, the treasury activity and give approval to any changes to the prudential indicators.

2025/26 Reserves Policy

The Cabinet will consider a report that provides the outcome of the annual review of the council's 2025/26 Reserves Policy - Main Report, following the reporting of the council's 2024/25 outturn position. The report pack states that the report needs to be read in conjunction with the Medium Term Financial Plan Update and Cabinet Response – Responding to Our Medium Term Financial Plan reports presented elsewhere on the agenda. The Cabinet is expected to note the annual review of the council's 2025/26 Reserves Policy, approve adjustments and reclassification of earmarked reserves, and approve the proposed 2025/26 Reserves Policy.

SEND Sufficiency Plan

The Cabinet will consider the SEND Sufficiency Planning - Main Report, which introduces the council's overarching plan to commission sufficient high quality school places for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). The report pack states that the council has a statutory responsibility to commission sufficient high quality school places, meaning having the right number and type of school places, in the right place, at the right time to meet demand. The Cabinet is expected to note and comment on the plan and agree the detailed recommendations in principle, on the basis that more detailed reports will be brought to Cabinet on implementation of the plan and the delegations required to implement it as and when required.

Stockport Town Centre East Strategic Regeneration Framework

The Cabinet will consider the Stockport Town Centre East SRF Scrutiny Report Final Version, which sets out an ambitious vision to transform the eastern side of Stockport Town Centre. The report pack states that the SRF builds upon Stockport's decade-long £1bn town centre regeneration programme and that Stockport Mayoral Development Corporation has played a powerful role in accelerating this transformation, delivering the residential led regeneration masterplan for Stockport Town Centre West. The report pack also states that Stockport Town Centre East and West will deliver a total of 8,000 new homes for Stockport, equating to 4,000 homes for each part of the town centre. The Cabinet is expected to give approval to the Strategic Regeneration Framework and enable it to become a material consideration in the determination of future planning applications for Town Centre East.

Outcome of the Public Consultation on the Proposal to Create a Mayoral Development Corporation for the Town Centre

The Cabinet will consider a report that summarises the outcome of the public consultation on the proposal for the area covered by Stockport Town Centre West MDC to be expanded, enabling it to become the delivery vehicle for housing led regeneration across the entirety of the town centre. The report pack states that the report outlines the process for establishing a new MDC for this expanded area and highlights that, subject to the support of Stockport Cabinet, a paper will be submitted to GMCA by the Greater Manchester Mayor to propose this designation. The Cabinet is expected to note the outcome of the public consultation, endorse the proposal that the GM Mayor submit a paper to the GMCA to seek approval to designate this expanded area as a Mayoral Development Area, and endorse the proposal that, subject to approval of the GMCA, the GM Mayor will designate the existing and expanded area together as a new Mayoral development area, notify the Secretary of State of the designation, and notify the Secretary of State of the name to be given to the new Mayoral Development Corporation for the area.

Update to the Constitution to Incorporate Updated Contract Procedure Rules

The Cabinet will consider a report that sets out the proposed amendments to the Contract Procedure Rules (CPRs) to reflect new procurement legislation as agreed by the recent STaR Joint Committee on 19 June 2025. The Cabinet is expected to recommend that the Council Meeting adopt the proposed amendments to the Contract Procedure Rules (CPRs) and gives approval to their incorporation within the Council's Constitution.

One Stockport Safety Partnership 2025-28 Plan

The Cabinet will consider a report that presents a draft of the latest three-year iteration of One Stockport Safety Partnership's (OSSP) Plan, covering 2025 to 2028. The report pack states that development of the plan was informed by data from a range of agencies, as well as the quarterly GM Community Safety Surveys and a range of engagement events. The Cabinet is expected to note and give approval to the One Stockport Safety Partnership 2025-28 Plan.

Continuous Improvement and Impact Plan

The Cabinet will consider a report that sets out the specific actions needed to drive Stockport's children's services from their current Ofsted requires improvement rating to a good or better rating. The report pack states that this plan will be formally submitted to Ofsted on 22 October 2025 and serves as a key instrument to support and sustain the council's improvement journey. The Cabinet is expected to approve and endorse the Continuous Improvement and Impact Plan.

GMCA Decisions

The Cabinet is invited to note the decisions of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) held on 27 June and 22 August 2025.

Asset Management Report

The Cabinet will also consider an Asset Management Report, but the public will be excluded from this part of the meeting because it contains information relating to the financial or business affairs of a particular person (including the authority).