The Communities and Transport Scrutiny Committee met on Monday 24 November 2025 to discuss the council's medium-term financial plan, review mid-year performance reports for key service areas, and consider revised fees and charges. The committee also reviewed the cabinet's response to a scrutiny review on cycling.

Responding to the Medium-Term Financial Plan

The committee discussed the council's strategic approach to its medium-term financial plan, acknowledging significant funding gaps and increasing demand for services, particularly in statutory areas like children in care and adult social care. Councillors expressed concern about the impact of ongoing cuts and the reliance on reserves, while Cabinet Members highlighted the necessity of making difficult decisions to ensure a balanced budget. Proposals for efficiency savings were presented, including maximising digital technology and automation, reviewing vacancies, and exploring income generation opportunities. There was a discussion about potential changes to town centre parking charges, with Cabinet Member Grace Bainham stating that any changes would not be substantial, likely involving a few pence on the first hour and streamlining options for longer periods. Councillor Colin MacAlister raised concerns about the user-friendliness of the council's website for making comments on local plans, particularly for those not digitally literate. Councillor Dominic Hardwick highlighted the ongoing challenge of unfunded statutory obligations and the lack of a clear end to austerity measures.

2025/26 Mid-Year Portfolio Performance and Resources Reports

The committee reviewed the mid-year performance and resource reports for the Communities, Culture & Public Protection, and Parks, Highways & Transport Services portfolios.

Communities, Culture & Public Protection

Councillor Dan Oliver, Cabinet Member for Communities, Culture and Public Protection, presented a positive overview of his portfolio's progress, despite challenging financial circumstances. Key highlights included the success of the Live Well initiative, with over 500 attendees at sessions and positive feedback. Stockroom, a new creative and cultural space, had surpassed expectations with half a million visitors within six months. The report detailed significant anti-poverty work, including the delivery of over £12 million in new cash gains for local families and the commissioning of an anti-poverty network to incorporate lived experience into decision-making. Concerns were raised by Councillor James Frizzell about the indices of multiple deprivation, noting that Lancashire Hill was the most deprived area in Greater Manchester and the 21st most deprived in England. He also highlighted the polarisation within Stockport, with the borough having both the most and least deprived areas in Greater Manchester, which impacted funding allocations. Councillor Jon Byrne commented on the importance of benefits as a safety net and challenged media narratives that stigmatised those receiving them. He also raised concerns about the council's approach to tackling hate crime, particularly racism, and asked for more detail on proactive measures. Councillor Angie Clarke praised the emphasis on community cohesion and suggested inviting representatives from the interfaith panel to future meetings. She also highlighted the role of libraries in promoting reading and challenging views, and welcomed the expansion of library services.

Parks, Highways and Transport Services

Councillor Grace Bainham, Cabinet Member for Parks, Highways and Transport Services, presented a report detailing significant activity across her portfolio. She highlighted numerous infrastructure schemes, including improvements to walking and cycling routes, pedestrian crossings, and the ongoing work towards bringing Metrolink to Stockport. The redevelopment of Stockport Station and the potential for Northern Powerhouse Rail were also mentioned. Cheadle Train Station was nearing a crucial stage, awaiting ministerial approval. Accessibility improvements at Reddish and Bredbury Stations were noted, with ongoing work to achieve step-free access at other stations. The franchising of the bus network under the Bee Network was progressing, with a local steering group providing input. A greenspace strategy was being developed to enhance the usage and accessibility of parks and green spaces. The renaming of Thomson Street Bridge to Driver John Axon Bridge was highlighted as a fitting tribute. Councillor Jon Byrne questioned the rationale behind major road building projects in the context of the climate emergency and the push for modal shift to public transport and active travel. Councillor Helen Hibbert raised concerns about the safety and accessibility of green spaces for women and the need for more granular data on performance indicators. Councillor Dean Fitzpatrick praised the Heaton's Walk Cycle route as an example of good community engagement and highlighted the need for similar engagement if Metrolink comes to the town centre.

Revised Fees and Charges 2025-2026

The committee considered a report detailing a review of highways-related fees and charges. The proposed revisions aimed to ensure that all costs incurred for services, such as temporary traffic regulation orders, were fully accounted for by the fees. The report indicated that increases were necessary due to rising advertising costs, legal support, and the implementation of new software for digital traffic regulation orders. Councillor Jon Byrne questioned whether broader work would be done on park usage fees, particularly for large commercial projects, and Cabinet Member Grace Bainham agreed that officers would investigate this.

Cycling Scrutiny Review Cabinet Response

The committee reviewed the cabinet's response to the Stockport Strategic Cycling Review. The cabinet broadly agreed with the review's recommendations, which included developing a mapped active travel network plan, prioritising protected cycleways on arterial routes, and integrating cycling provision into the council's core strategy. Councillor Jon Byrne expressed disappointment with the cabinet's response to the recommendation on improving safety and accessibility for women in active travel, feeling that the proposed approach of leading through the One Stockport Safety Partnership was too late and that safety should be embedded in the design process from the outset. Councillor Helen Hibbert echoed these concerns, emphasizing the need for safety considerations for women and girls to be part of the initial design process, not an afterthought. Councillor Dean Fitzpatrick noted that while the council was making progress, there was a need for a clear vision to join up various cycling schemes and ensure they were safe and well-lit, particularly on arterial routes.

Scrutiny Work Programme

The committee reviewed its work programme and discussed potential future agenda items. Councillor Angie Clarke requested that representatives from the interfaith panel be invited to a future meeting. It was also confirmed that reports on the green space strategy and the Stockport Local Transport Plan would be brought to future scrutiny meetings. Councillor Dean Fitzpatrick was appointed to chair the 2025/26 Scrutiny Committee's Scrutiny Review Panel.