The Liberal Democrats are set to take power in Stockport for a further year after Labour dropped its bid to run the town hall. The new Lib Dem administration will be confirmed at tomorrow’s annual council meeting, following an agreement between leader Mark Hunter and new Labour chief Coun David Meller, the Local Democracy Reporting Service, understands.
It comes after this year’s local elections again left the council under ‘no overall control’, with the Lib Dems just two seats shy of the majority needed to take the reins by right. There has been a minor complication since then, with Coun Aron Thornley - elected as a Lib Dem - making the surprise announcement he would now be sitting as an independent.
However, it became clear that was not symptomatic of any wider discontent within the group - which remains the largest on the council, boasting 29 members to Labour’s 25. Labour still had the option of rallying support from the three smaller groups - the Greens, Independent Ratepayersand Edgeley Community Association - with Coun Meller intitially indicating it was 'incumbent' on him to do so.
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But he now concedes the ‘electoral maths’ effectively hands the administration to the Lib Dems.
It is understood that Labour, in exchange for not contesting the leadership, will chair all five of the council’s scrutiny committees - these run the rule over emerging policies and hold cabinet members to account.
Coun Mark Hunter has confirmed he expects the agreement to be formally ratified at Tuesday’s annual council meeting as is ‘looking forward to more positive progress over the next 12 months’.
“We are looking forward to forming the administration. I have a new cabinet team, there are two new faces and there’s a gender balance with four men and four women which I’m delighted about,” he told the LDRS.
“I’m looking forward, together with my colleagues, to taking the administration forward next year.”
An ‘adjourned’ annual council meeting had been pencilled in for Thursday - to ensure the mayor-making was kept separate from any political wrangling - but that will now not be necessary.
The Lib Dems increased their number on the council by wiping out the Conservatives, despite Labour making gains at their expense in Bredbury and Woodley, and Offerton.
Coun Meller believes that could set the stage for a truly ‘progressive agenda’ in the borough over the next 12 months.
“For the first time in the history of Stockport council, there will be no Conservative councillors on the council,” he told the LDRS.
“However, the electoral maths means the Liberal Democrats have the opportunity to form the administration for the next municipal year.
“Nevertheless, this still gives Stockport Council a real opportunity to implement a truly progressive agenda for Stockport over this next year, something Stockport Labour will support in line with our manifesto. Indeed, we were the only party in Stockport to publish a manifesto.”
Coun Meller notes that Labour’s proposal to extend the provision of free school meals for 12 months was incorporated into the Lib Dem’s 2023/24 budget - equivalent to £500 per child for households in receipt of housing benefit or council tax support, that did not previously qualify.
“We want to continue meaningfully supporting residents during the cost-of-living crisis and advance our agenda on social and affordable housing, public transport and reinvigorating our neighbourhood centres,” he said.
“We also want to ensure that council taxpayers get the best possible deal and push the council to get the basics right, such as on bin collections, fly-tipping and maintaining our roads.
“This could be a transformative year for Stockport if we and the Liberal Democrats take this opportunity before us. With this being a no overall control council, the role of the smaller groups is vital, too, and we look forward to working with them.
"I hope that the co-operative approach we have agreed benefits the whole of Stockport.”
Coun Meller - who has taken over from Elise Wilson, following her decision to step down - has appointed a somewhat new look shadow cabinet, following the retirement of former deputy leader Tom McGee.
Appointments to shadow portfolios and scrutiny positions are as follows:
Christine Carrigan - Finance and Resources & Deputy Leader
Chair of CRMG Scrutiny Committee
Joe Barratt - Communities, Culture and Sport
Chair of Communities and Transport Scrutiny Committee
Claire Vibert - Economy, Regeneration and Housing
Chair of Economy, Regeneration and Climate Change Scrutiny Committee
Colin Foster - Children, Families and Education
Chair of Children and Families Scrutiny Committee
David Sedgwick - Health and Adult Social Care
Chair of Adult Social Care and Health Scrutiny Committee
Helen Hibbert - Parks, Highways and Transport
Proposed Greater Manchester scrutiny appointee
Dena Ryness - Climate Change and Environment
Vice Chair of Economy, Regeneration and Climate Change Scrutiny Committee
Stockport council’s annual meeting will take place at the town hall on Tuesday (May 23) from 2.30pm. Coun Graham Greenhalgh will be sworn in as mayor for the coming municipal year.
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