Author: stockportlibdems

Having been confirmed as the new administration in mid-May, the Cabinet have just marked their first four months as the administration leading Stockport Council and have taken this moment to look back on the achievements of their first 100 days in office.

Reversed Labour’s decision to close Stockport Central Library
The Lib Dems kept their pledge and reversed the previous Labour administration’s decision to close Stockport’s Central Library. The Central Library will now continue to offer library services to Stockport’s residents, allowing the public to access and enjoy this iconic heritage building. Providing a new base for our adult education service, having both this and library services in the same building will encourage our adult learners to then use the library itself to support and enhance their own learning. Improved library technology will also allow Central Library to extend its opening hours, including being open on a Sunday.

Tackling the Cost of Living Crisis
At its meeting in February the Council agreed a Liberal Democrat budget amendment to give a rebate on council tax to households in bands A to D, acknowledging the difficulties faced by our residents as the economy is impacted by Brexit, Covid and the war in Ukraine. We have mounted a special initiative on Pension Credit claims, run drop-in events explaining all the help available, plus a one stop shop revision to our web site to put all help in one accessible place. We have set out our target to freeze council tax for next year, despite the huge uncertainties about what a new Government will do about local government finances. To ensure council money is best targeted this winter, we will be holding a summit in early October of public and third sector partners who work directly with our most vulnerable residents to hear their views of where such support is best directed.

Focused on climate change and the environment
One of our first acts was to announce a new portfolio focussing specifically on climate change and the environment to ensure this most important issue influences all our thinking across the council. This has already delivered an innovative Schools Climate Assembly, a successful Climate Summit, focussing on food and energy, and a critical review of the targets from the previous administration. Early wins include accelerating plans to triple the number of electric vehicle charging bays this year and considerable ongoing work to help set more ambitious, science based targets. Funding has also been secured for the exciting and innovative Cheadle Eco Business Park, which will act as an exemplar for low carbon technologies and clean energy production. This will help to accelerate the green business sector, providing quality jobs for the future and is another major first for Stockport.

Commissioned a detailed review in the future of Woodbank Hall
We have paused Labour’s proposal to convert Woodbank Hall, a Grade II listed building, into private housing. The proposal was very unpopular with local residents as increased vehicular access could disrupt the very popular park and green space in which it sits. We have commissioned an all-options review to determine the best use of this building for the future and, in the meantime, are arranging urgent work to be undertaken to prevent any further deterioration of the building fabric.

Finished policy developments of our Local Plan but paused the planned consultation to try to further protect our Green Belt and save money
Since the Liberal Democrats successfully persuaded the Council to opt out of the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework, which would have seen a significant loss of Green Belt whilst chasing arbitrary national housing targets, we have continued to progress the policies needed for our Local Plan through an all-party working group. These are now almost finalised but, because of national policy uncertainties where the top-down housing targets could soon be entirely scrapped, we have paused the consultation due to happen over the autumn while we await clarity from central government. This will save the council around £200,000, the estimated cost of the consultation. Pausing at this point may also help us to protect even more of our Green Belt if the current, top-down, targets are indeed abolished.

Commissioned a Local Government Association Peer Review
Something not done since the Liberal Democrats were last in administration, we have commissioned an independent Local Government Association Peer Review to look critically at the way the council operates and give an external assessment, with advice and guidance, from experienced local government officers and senior elected members from other councils. We are keen to be open to challenge and to learn from best practice elsewhere whenever we can.

Preparing a Greater Manchester ‘Town of Culture’ bid
We are preparing to launch a bid for Stockport to become Greater Manchester’s ‘Town of Culture’ 2023. The title is awarded to a town in the Greater Manchester region every year and we hope we would be able to use the grant awarded to capitalise on our borough’s rich culture and history. The ‘Town of Culture’ status would bring new opportunities to both residents and visitors of Stockport, leaving a lasting legacy.

Achieved Greater Manchester ‘Good Employment Charter’ status
This recognises the council’s commitment to the essential pillars of being a good employer, such as fair pay, employee engagement and workforce wellbeing. We recognise the council’s employees are our biggest asset and we are willing to listen to and invest in them. All SMBC employees are paid at or above Real Living Wage levels.

Reflecting on these achievements, Cllr Mark Hunter, Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group and of Stockport Council, said: “I am immensely proud of leading a Cabinet comprising such a dedicated and talented group of fellow Lib Dem Councillors – in our first 100 days in office we have already achieved so much. I look forward to the year ahead as we take on the inevitable challenges posed by a new government and work to deliver the very best for the residents and businesses across our Borough.”

Speaking after the formal announcement made by Buckingham Palace this evening, Cllr Mark Hunter, Leader of the Liberal Democrats at Stockport Town Hall and Leader of the Council, said: “On behalf of the Liberal Democrat Group, I would like to offer our deepest sympathies and condolences to the Royal Family on the passing of Her Majesty The Queen.

We are all shocked that Her Majesty The Queen’s long service at home and overseas has ended so suddenly and we join with our residents in mourning her loss.”

Commenting on Labour’s claims about the recent postponement of the public consultation on Stockport’s Local Plan, Cllr Mark Hunter, Leader of the Council and of the Liberal Democrat Group, said: “The decision to pause our consultation on the draft Local Plan was taken after considerable thought. Before any decision was taken or announced there was a full discussion at a Group Leaders meeting on Wednesday afternoon, where all Groups on the council were represented.

“Having outlined the increased risks of dramatic policy change in the wake of the current national Tory Party leadership election, there was no dissent from the view that the correct way forward was to pause whilst we await clarity about the level of house building required, specifically the unresolved question of whether the current Local Housing Need figures have any status at all, or whether they are firm targets or just guidelines.

“Are Labour now saying that we should have ploughed ahead and spent £200k on a consultation which could have been rendered obsolete within a few days of launch? That wasn’t their position at the Group Leader meeting, so what has changed since Wednesday?

“The rest of their news release is just an attack piece about the new Liberal Democrat administration running Stockport Council, prepared in advance and then cynically expanded to include the Local Plan. We don’t want to play politics with housebuilding and we do not want to release an acre of Green Belt if this can be avoided.”

The Liberal Democrats at Stockport Town Hall have decided to pause the consultation on the council’s Local Plan in the face of turbulence at a national government level and the lack of clarity about the intentions of the forthcoming new government in respect of planning policies.

Cllr Mark Hunter, Leader of the Council and of the Liberal Democrat Group, said: “It had been our intention to go out to public consultation in late September on a Local Plan for Stockport. Unfortunately, with a new Prime Minister due to be announced next week followed by the formation of a new government and no clarity about their intentions around planning matters, we have taken the difficult decision that this is not the time to launch such a consultation.

“We are advised that the consultation will cost in the region of £200k and could be rendered void by any changes to planning policy, forcing the council to reconsider the draft Local Plan and potentially have to repeat the exercise on a revised version. The same decision has been taken by other councils across the country and the political spectrum.

“At this time of great financial constraint, we feel the uncertainties are too great for this to be a sensible use of public funds and we are instead pausing this process whilst awaiting clarity from the new government. We will review the process in due course.”

Speaking after an interview on national radio, Cllr Mark Hunter, Liberal Democrat Leader of Stockport Council, said: “Stockport has been hit by a massive reduction in rail services and our zombie government, focussed entirely on picking their new party leader, is completely failing to act. We have seen our usual service decimated, with Avanti seemingly unable to staff their trains. That is on top of the disruption caused by the rail strikes on 18th and 20th August, which will mean no services at all in the Stockport area across four days.

“This is a disaster for Stockport and for the North West, at a time when our local economy is trying to recover from Covid and cope with the adverse impacts of Brexit, at a time when we are supposed to be encouraging people to use public transport to help tackle air pollution and climate change, and at a time when the council is investing £1bn in town centre regeneration based around our rail infrastructure.

“In a joint letter with the leaders of other political groups at the Town Hall, I have called on the Transport Secretary to intervene to ensure that our residents have access to the rail services they both need and deserve. To date he has not responded but his public comments seem to suggest he sees no role for the government in this latest transport crisis. This simply would not be allowed to happen in London and the South East and the government should not allow it to happen here.”

Speaking after last night’s historic Women’s Euro 2022 win, Cllr Mark Hunter, Leader of Stockport Council and of the Liberal Democrats at Stockport Town Hall, said: “What an amazing and truly historic performance by England’s Lionesses to beat Germany in the final of the Women’s Euro 2022 tournament. The spirit they showed throughout is an inspiration to all and it was great to see some of the stars of our local teams contributing to this win. I hope this performance enthuses girls and young women to participate in sport, particularly football.

“I’m sure all our hearts sank as Germany equalised and forced extra time but the Lionesses then won in extra time, saving us all the stress of yet another penalty shoot-out against our oldest rivals. Let’s look forward to the Women’s World Cup, being held ‘down under’ for the first time next year.”