Stockport council's budget was approved last night with members voting to balance the books and find £11 million in savings.

The town hall has been under pressure to keep key services running – but the situation could get even worse in the coming years according to council leader Mark Hunter.

Cllr Hunter said the challenge facing town halls is an "existential threat," but assured residents that Stockport is not about to go bust.

He added: "Local government is facing a bleak financial future, I fear that winter is coming because the system is undoubtedly broken.

"Councils up and down the country are simply not being resourced to provide the services that our residents are demanding."

Stockport council has made savings to services as part of its budget which was approved along with a Labour amendment.

These changes were previously put forward and agreed at a Lib Dem cabinet meeting at the end of January before being voted on by full council.

Councillors discussed the budget at a meeting yesterday evening (Image - Declan Carey / LDRS)

Here are the key changes which will impact residents.

Council tax

Stockport residents will pay 4.99 percent more in council tax, which works out at £111 extra per year for Band D equivalent households.

It will boost the council's income by about £10m in 2024/25.

Coun Jilly Julian, cabinet member for finance and resources at Stockport council, said: "This is not a choice that anyone in this room wants to take.

"To state what I hope by now is obvious – we have no choice. This Conservative government are very clear that the funding gap they have created must be met by the taxpayer."

Bin collections

The council's savings include scrapping weekly green bin collections in favour of a fortnightly service.

This could save the town hall around £600,000 as part of a wider waste review.

Other changes include increasing the charges of replacement bins from £20 to £25, and changing bulky collection charges to cover the costs incurred by the council.

The move will help lower costs by reducing the number of vehicles and crew needed to collect waste, and make savings on diesel as fewer miles are travelled by council collection vehicles.

Coun Gary Lawson, leader of Stockport Green Party, previously said that it could lead to more people "dumping their waste" in Stockport.

A council report about the move stated that it is "not expected to impact the recycling levels as there was no significant impact when the collections were changed during Covid."

Parking charges

A parking review is expected to save nearly £300,000 for the council but will hit residents in the pocket.

The town hall wants to "introduce charging where viable" in all 52 free car parks in Stockport.

This will initially focus on introducing charges for "larger car parks near district and local centres" as well as commuter locations, according to a report about the plan.

Stockport Labour's budget amendment stated that the charges will"negatively impact pedestrians, cyclists and traffic flow" when people try and avoid on-street parking charges.

Libraries

The council will standardise opening hours at 13 libraries where there is Open Plus technology – a scheme allowing libraries to open without staff.

This is expected to save around £300,000 and reduce the number of job posts needed to staff library buildings.

Lib Dem councillor Frankie Singleton said the changes "protect our libraries" by making sure residents can access the services in their neighbourhoods – despite the changes to staffed hours.

Social housing rents

Social housing rents and service charges are set to go up for Stockport residents this year.

The combined increase will be between £5 and £10 per week for around 10,000 residents living in social homes.

Around 8,000 of these homes are receiving housing benefit or Universal Credit.

Coun Colin MacAlister, cabinet member for economy, regeneration, and housing, said: "Any increase will present challenges, particularly for those on low incomes but who are unable to access housing benefit or Universal Credit.

"This however has to be balanced against the fact that social rents are significantly lower than market rents."

(Image - Alexander Greensmith)

What did opposition councillors say?

Stockport Labour Group submitted an amendment to the Lib Dem budget, which was accept by council members.

The Group stated that it could accept savings proposals for library hours and parking charges as long as an assessment is made in line with the Socio-Economic Duty – which means the council will have to assess and address any inequalities that may arise due to the changes.

Stockport Labour also called for an additional £160,000 in drainage cleaning as well as a review of the social housing model in Stockport, to decide whether using Stockport Homes to mange the council's housing stock remains the best way for the town hall and tenants.

Stockport Labour leader David Meller said: "This council is under no overall control and throughout the year we have sought to use the power available to us to deliver for Stockport and set it in the direction we want to see.

"We are addressing the deprivation at the heart of this council's work, and it simply isn't right that you lose two years of life expectancy for every mile you travel from Bramhall to Brinnington."

Stockport Green Party, the Edgeley Community Association, and the Independent Ratepayers accepted the Labour Group's amendment, as did the Lib Dem Group.

Stockport council deputy leader Mark Roberts said the Labour Group showed itself as "unfit to lead this borough" with its amendment, but added: "we are content to accept the amendment, it does align with the priorities set and agreed under the council plan this evening."

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