The Council Meeting of Stockport Council, held on Thursday 09 October 2025, addressed a wide range of issues, including a significant debate on housing needs and the regeneration of district centres. Key decisions were made regarding the Treasury Management Annual Report, updates to the Council's Constitution, and the allocation of committee places.

Access to Transport for Disabled People

A motion was passed calling for improved access to public transport for disabled people. The council resolved to write to the Secretary of State for Transport and the Mayor of Greater Manchester to inquire about measures being taken to enhance accessibility and user-friendliness of public transport and taxis. The motion also called for mandatory training for transport staff and a commitment to continue work on making railway stations step-free. The council will also seek information from disability access forums and steering groups to inform future improvements.

Regeneration of Edgeley District Centre (Castle Street)

A motion proposing a Regeneration Strategy for Edgeley District Centre was debated and ultimately lost. Councillors argued that while the district centre was a vital community hub, the proposed strategy was financially unviable and disproportionately focused on a single area. Concerns were raised about the council's limited resources and the need to consider the needs of all district centres across the borough. While acknowledging the challenges faced by Edgeley, the administration stated that they would review issues related to street cleansing and domestic waste and continue to explore opportunities for improvement.

Review and Strengthen Enforcement in Edgeley and Across Stockport

A motion to review and strengthen enforcement across the borough was passed. The council resolved to undertake a comprehensive review of enforcement functions and policies, examining staffing, timeliness, consistency, and barriers to effective enforcement. The motion also called for stronger enforcement of fly-tipping, parking, planning breaches, dog fouling, and anti-social behaviour, alongside improved collaboration with partners and a report back within six months on measurable steps for improvement.

A Plan for the Homes that Stockport's Residents Need

A motion was passed to develop a Local Plan that meets the housing needs of Stockport's residents for years to come, addressing the housing crisis and its associated costs. The council resolved to communicate with residents in good faith during the Local Plan consultation, taking a strategic approach that considers the need for homes across the entire borough and ensures new, affordable homes and services are provided in local communities. An amendment, which called for government funding for social homes and prioritised brownfield sites over green spaces, was also accepted.

Treasury Management Annual Report 2024-2025

The Council approved the actual 2024/25 prudential and treasury indicators and noted the Annual Treasury Management Report for 2024/25. The report indicated strong performance in the council's treasury management strategy, with borrowing costs minimised and investment returns robust.

Update to the Constitution to Incorporate Updated Contract Procedure Rules

The Council adopted proposed amendments to the Contract Procedure Rules (CPRs) to align with the Procurement Act 2023. These changes primarily involve terminology updates to ensure consistency with current legislation and practices.

Scrutiny Annual Report 2024-25

The Scrutiny Annual Report for 2024-25 was approved for submission to the Council Meeting. The report detailed the work undertaken by the various scrutiny committees throughout the year, including reviews on health inequalities, early years support, cycling infrastructure, STAR procurement and social value, and the accountability of social housing providers. The Cabinet was recommended to comply with their duty to provide formal responses to scrutiny reviews within the specified timeframe.

Allocation of Places on Committees in Accordance with the Proportionality Rules

The Council noted and approved the revised allocation of seats on committees to reflect changes in the political composition of the council, following the resignation of two councillors from the Labour Group. This resulted in a redistribution of seats, with the Bredbury & Woodley Independents gaining representation.

Leader's Report and Cabinet Question Time

Councillor Mark Roberts, Leader of the Council, reported on Cabinet business since the last meeting. He reflected on the attack in Manchester, offering condolences and thanking colleagues for their collegiate approach. He also highlighted positive developments, including a citizenship ceremony and the progress of the main fire station rebuild, which will be renamed Stockport Central Fire Station. The expansion of the Mayoral Development Corporation (MDC) was also discussed as a key step in the town's regeneration plans.

Councillor Jilly Julian, Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Finance, Resources & Innovation, provided an update on the council's financial position, noting a forecast in-year deficit and the need for significant savings. She also echoed the Leader's thanks to council colleagues for their dedication, particularly frontline teams facing challenging environments.

Councillor Helen Foster-Grime, Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Adult Social Care, spoke about positive collaborations in health across Greater Manchester and highlighted the importance of patient voice, referencing the NHS Foundation Trust's Annual General Meeting. She also touched upon the Stockport CQC assessment and the work of the public health team.

Councillor Michaela Meikle, Cabinet Member for Economy, Regeneration & Skills, provided an update on regeneration projects, including the MDC expansion, the Town Centre E Strategic Framework, and various development projects across the borough. She also highlighted economic initiatives, such as the Merseyway's progress and the Stockport Annual Business Awards.

Councillor Dan Oliver, Cabinet Member for Communities, Culture & Public Protection, provided updates on trading standards, including action taken on disposable vapes and a successful prosecution of a window company. He also detailed progress on the Live Well programme and upcoming centenary events for the War Memorial Art Gallery.

Questions were raised by councillors to Cabinet members on various topics, including social media policy, housing targets, the placement of flags, postal services, and commemorating Ricky Hatton.

Cabinet Business

The Cabinet noted the outcomes of the Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP) update and approved forecast and assumption adjustments. They also endorsed the approach to addressing financial uncertainty and volatility, including sharing proposals with scrutiny. The Q1 Budget Monitoring Update was noted, with approval given to virements and forecast outturn positions. The Treasury Management Annual Report and Q1 Report were noted, with approval given to changes in prudential indicators. The Reserves Policy was also noted and adjustments approved. The SEND Sufficiency Plan was approved in principle, and the Stockport Town Centre East Strategic Regeneration Framework was approved to become a material consideration in planning decisions. The outcome of the public consultation on expanding the Mayoral Development Corporation was noted, and the proposal to designate the expanded area as a Mayoral Development Area was endorsed. Amendments to the Contract Procedure Rules were adopted, and the One Stockport Safety Partnership Plan was presented. The Continuous Improvement and Impact Plan for Children's Services was approved. GMCA decisions were noted, and the Asset Management Report was considered in private.

Scrutiny

The Scrutiny Co-ordination Committee's report was approved for submission to the Council Meeting, with a recommendation for the Cabinet to provide formal responses to scrutiny reviews within the constitutional timeframe. The Scrutiny Annual Report for 2024/25 was noted, and the committee's work programme was discussed.

Ordinary and Area Committees

Minutes from various committees, including Planning & Highways Regulation, Licensing, Environment & Safety, Audit, and several Area Committees, were received. Decisions were made regarding planning applications, including the granting of permission for the expansion of Stockport County Football Club stadium and the redevelopment of land at Town Centre West. Traffic Regulation Orders were approved for various locations across the borough, including Edgeley, Cheadle, Marple, and Hazel Grove. Ward Flexibility Funding was approved for several community groups.

Motions

A motion on Access to Transport was passed, calling for improvements to public transport accessibility for disabled people. A motion regarding the Regeneration of Edgeley District Centre (Castle Street) was lost. A motion to Review and Strengthen Enforcement across Stockport was passed. A motion on A Plan for the Homes that Stockport's Residents Need was passed, with an amendment accepted.

The Council Meeting also debated and voted on motions concerning the Divesting the Greater Manchester Pension Fund from Fossil Fuels and calling for transparency over Arms investments, which was passed following an amendment. A motion regarding Request for information regarding the rationale for introducing car parking charges at new locations across Stockport was withdrawn. A motion Calling on government for a more compassionate approach to benefits was passed. Finally, a motion celebrating Local Authority of the Year! was passed, thanking staff and partners for their work.

The meeting concluded with a comfort break and the formal closing of the meeting.