Stockport is something of an anomaly when it comes to Greater Manchester councils. In no overall control since 2011, it has been run by Labour for the last six years despite the Lib Dems emerging as the largest group at last year’s local elections.
A shock victory for the Greens in Reddish South left Labour with one fewer councillor than the Lib Dems, appearing to signal that the administration could again change hands. But - at a crunch meeting the following week - opposition groups refused to oust council leader Elise Wilson before the end of her term, meaning Labour remained at the helm.
Lib Dem leader Coun Mark Hunter could only fume at an alleged ‘unholy alliance’ between Labour and the Tories, blocking his group from taking the town hall reins. With votes set to go to the polls next Thursday, it’s very much a case of ‘as you were’ last May - with Labour holding 25 of the council’s 63 seats and the Lib Dems just ahead on 26.
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Another tense election night lies ahead with the council likely to remain in no overall control once all the votes are in. The currently eight-strong Tory group is again likely to find itself in a ‘kingmaker’ position with behind the scenes deals -and possibly another crunch council vote - needed before anything is settled.
But with the Lib Dems consistently pushing the ‘Tory-backed Labour council’ attack line, the Conservatives would find it politically difficult to support Labour remaining in administration if they don’t get the numbers this time. In previous years the controversy surrounding the proposed loss of green belt under the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework (GMSF) plan - now Places for Everyone - was a key campaigning issue.
That issue has been parked - for now anyway - with Stockport pulling out of the joint development strategy and focusing on preparing a ‘local plan’ for adoption in 2024. In the meantime, another region-wide initiative, the GM Clean Air Zone, has taken over as the controversy du jour.
Despite being placed ‘under review’ and Andy Burnham promising any future proposal would be non-charging, it could pose a problem for Labour at these elections. While Labour - which runs nine of the region’s 10 council’s, including Stockport - argues it was acting on a directive from the Conservative government, it is undoubtedly bearing the brunt of a backlash from small business owners. Not that the ‘CAZ’ is universally unpopular - environmental and active travel groups were very much in favour of the zone.
And the same can be said for the Active Neighbourhoods which have been trialled and proposed in areas across Stockport. Also known as Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs) these have been highly contentious, with reports of delayed ambulances in Heaton Chapel eventually being verified by North West Ambulance Service despite initial denials from themselves and the council.
Unsurprisingly, these have been at the centre of some election skirmishes. Councillor David Meller took to his Facebook page to rubbish ‘nonsense’ claims that road planters would be coming back ‘through the back door’ in his Cheadle Hulme North ward. Meanwhile the Conservatives are looking to put clear blue water between themselves and the Labour/Lib Dem nexus by highlighting their approach to local taxation.
Although the two groups are often bitterly opposed, Labour accepted a Lib Dem amendment to their budget proposals in February - effectively giving all households in bands A to D a rebate on the 1pc rise in the general element of council tax. However, the Tories called for a blanket freeze, attacking the two larger groups for hiking the tax in hard times while the council was sitting on more than £90m in reserves.
Labour leader Coun Elise Wilson insisted the budget was focused on ‘fairness’, balancing ‘the immense pressures of today with the extraordinary opportunities of tomorrow’. Coun Wilson will discover whether those words resonate with voters next week, when she stands for re-election in the Davenport and Cale Green.
Key battlegrounds
Coun Wilson will also find herself up against one of her staunchest critics - John Pearson of Stockport Fights Austerity No to Cuts - one of the leading campaigners against moving Stockport Central Library to a new £14m hub at Merseyway. Deputy leader Coun Tom McGee is also up for re-election in Heatons South, while Coun John McGahan - his opposite number on the Tory benches - needs a renewed mandate in Bramhall South and Woodford.
The Lib Dems also have some big players looking for a return to the council chamber including Coun Helen Foster-Grime (Cheadle Hulme South) and Colin MacAlister (Marple South and High Lane). Key battlegrounds this year will include the aforementioned Cheadle Hulme North, always something of a bellwether seat in the borough.
Back in 2018 Coun David Meller - now Labour’s cabinet member for economy - won the seat by just two votes, with the result taking no fewer than three recounts. He remains the ward’s lone Labour councillor - with the other two seats taken by the Lib Dems- and will need to fend off the challenge of Michael Hannon (Lib Dem), Brian Dougal (Conservative) and Michael Padfield (Green) to ensure that remains the case.
A video of a Lib Dem canvasser telling a voter he would like to ‘kick’ Coun Meller, perhaps underscoring just how hotly contested the ward will be this year. Stepping Hill again looks to be a three-way fight between Labour, Lib Dems and the Tories. Coun Rory Leonard’s victory last year was one of few highlights for Labour on what was a relatively disappointing night for the group.
But whether his party colleague Christine Carrigan or Lib Dem candidate Pete West are able to oust Conservative incumbent Coun John Wright this time round remains to be seen. Offerton could be another tightly fought Labour/Lib Dem contest, Joe Barratt finishing a narrow second last year.
But the well-known ‘Foodie Friday’ founder is standing in Bredbury and Woodley this time. And with veteran Lib Dem Coun Chris Gordon stepping down, he will be hoping to go one better on May 5. The Lib Dems lost out to the Tories in Hazel Grove last year, as Coun Oliver Johnstone returned to the council - but Coun Paul Ankers will be fighting hard to defend his seat and fend off another Conservative gain this time round.
Last year’s biggest shock was the Greens Coun Gary Lawson defeating Yvonne Guariento to take Reddish South. And with Con Jude Wells, cabinet member for adult social care, standing down, there is a possibility Labour could be vulnerable again in this ward.
Manor also looks to be tightly contested between Labour, who currently hold the seat and the Lib Dems. Catherine Stuart is standing for the Independent Ratepayers in Heald Green as Coun Adrian Nottingham - currently Mayor of Stockport - is stepping down.
The current political make-up of Stockport council is as follows:
Liberal Democrats 26
Labour 25
Conservatives 8
Heald Green Independent Ratepayers 3
Green 1
Stockport council's 2022 local elections will be held on Thursday May 5. The count will take place overnight, with the full result expected by around 6am on Friday morning.
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