District and local centres across Stockport are to receive more funding for safety measures, after a proposal was approved at a Stockport Council meeting yesterday (16 November). 

The proposal means hundreds of thousands of pounds will be put towards safety improvements such as better lighting and CCTV. Some will also go towards high street regeneration. 

The motion was brought by Stockport Labour councillor Claire Vibert, and was unanimously approved by the council.

How will it be funded?

The money comes from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) - a £2.6bn package from the UK Government, allocated to local authorities across the country. 

Stockport received £2.4m from this package - in total, the 10 local authorities across Greater Manchester received £25.3m. 

£1.2 million of Stockport's share has already been allocated across the borough, including towards Town of Culture events. 

However, £367,513 remains unallocated, which needs to be spent by March 2024. A further £874,000 is due in 2024-25, leaving almost half of Stockport's initial figure unallocated.

The funding will come from the Council's £2.4m UKSPF grant from the UK Goverment (Image - Alasdair Perry)

"A proposal to invest strategically in our public spaces across the borough"

Speaking at the meeting, Cllr Vibert, Shadow Cabinet Member for Economy, Regeneration and Housing, said: "By investing in measures that improve safety for vulnerable groups, including women and girls, we can really support our communities to thrive. 

"If people feel safe in their neighbourhoods, they are more likely to go out and support local businesses. Individuals benefit and so does the wider community."

Cllr Joe Barratt, who was elected earlier this year following a campaign to restore CCTV in Woodley Precinct, seconded the motion. 

He said: "The flexibility of the UKSPF pot, which can be spent on both capital and revenue projects across a wide range of interventions, provides enough scope to be able to really tackle the issue of community safety right across Stockport.

"We shouldn't miss out on the opportunity to use this fund to upgrade our own outdated infrastructure where necessary, in order to leave a lasting legacy behind."

The proposals could see increased CCTV in district centres across the borough (Image - pxfuel)

"A fantastic achievement"

On the success of the motion, Leader of Stockport Labour Group, Cllr David Meller, said: "This is a fantastic achievement, bringing together opposition groups behind our vision to get the basics right in our communities, one of which is making them safer."

Responding to the motion, Cllr Frankie Singleton, Lib Dem cabinet member for communities, culture and sport, said: "Since forming a Liberal Democrat cabinet in May 2022, we've invested over £220,000 in community safety projects, predominantly in the town centre and Brinnington as our priority one areas.

"Opinions differ on the approaches to community safety, and whether CCTV is always the answer. We need engagement with the local police, and to work with them to find the right solution for each community.

"Thank you for reaffirming the council's commitment to ensure community safety is at the heart of what we do. There is more we can do, and more we will do to ensure everybody feels safe in our borough. I'm happy to support this motion."

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