Stockport Liberal Democrat Local Manifesto

Cllr Mark Hunter

Stockport is on the up! But you don’t just have to take our word for it – even the experts agree.

The Sunday Times naming us as the ‘Best place to live in the North West’ is just the latest accolade to be bestowed upon us.

There is palpable excitement around the place and a belief that good things are happening here. Despite the challenges, not least the cost of living crisis that continues to impact on many, Stockport has the ‘feel good’ factor.

Our area has so much going for it already but we are determined

it can be even better. Since the Liberal Democrats took responsibility for leading the Council two years ago, we have driven forward an ambitious plan for change.

The transformation of our town centre with a billion pound regeneration project is massive, but not the only example of progress, 4000 much-needed new homes – the right homes in the right places – is testimony to our approach. We are also protecting valuable green spaces and this year celebrated being named as Greater Manchester ‘Town of Culture’.

Our distinctive green agenda has led to many local initiatives to tackle climate change as we strive to make Stockport a great place to live and work for future generations. We can see success here as we have been named the best council for recycling rates in the North!

The obstacles to progress are great, the scale of the financial difficulties facing local government are well known and not to be underestimated, but with the right vision and ambition there is no limit to what we can achieve.

I have always said that Stockport is a borough greater than the sum of its parts. By working together, in partnership, we have a bright future ahead. We have already put Stockport back on the map – but the best is yet to come!

Cllr Mark Hunter Leader of Stockport Council Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group

PROTECTING OUR ENVIRONMENT.

STRENGTHENING OUR NEIGHBOURHOODS AND MAKING OUR STREETS SAFER.

SUPPORTING OUR NEXT GENERATION AND FIGHTING FOR FAIRNESS IN OUR COMMUNITY.

INVESTING AND INNOVATING FOR OUR FUTURE. CONNECTING OUR BOROUGH.

PROTECTING OUR ENVIRONMENT

We have increased the pace and scope of the work the council is doing to tackle climate change and de-carbonise its estate. Engaging with residents and putting funds in the hands of local people to deliver climate action with our Climate Action Now Seed Fund.

We have saved our precious greenbelt, so valued by local people, from housing development through our management of the council’s Local Plan.

We have worked to ensure the new plan for clean air is a fair one that is investment led, in contrast to the punitive and unfair approach pursued under the previous Labour Administration and the city centre charging zone suggested by the Conservative Government.

We are building resilience within our communities for the consequences of extreme weather and flooding.

We have already started the roll-out of publicly accessible Electric Vehicle charging points across the borough and will continue to deliver more.

We will continue to develop our Schools and Youth Climate assemblies that enable the voice of young people to shape council climate policy and action.

We have bought a new electric street sweeper and re-launched our annual spring clean campaign to help tidy up our borough.

STRENGTHENING OUR NEIGHBOURHOODS AND MAKING OUR STREETS SAFER

We have invested over £200,000 in community safety projects, including updating CCTV, youth justice, and youth work.

We have pushed for Stockport to get its fair share of police resources, including fully staffed neighbourhood teams.

Using a joined-up approach with partners, including the police, we are tackling the problem of off-road bikes that blight our neighbourhoods.

We will strengthen local decision making and the ability for councillors to make a difference in the area they represent, ensuring decisions are being taken as close to the local people as possible.

We are supporting local businesses through investment in our local and district centres helping them to thrive.

We have successfully secured action from the police on Community Speedwatch schemes, helping to tackle speeding across our borough.

We will continue to strengthen partnerships within the Voluntary, Community, Faith and Social Enterprise Sector.

SUPPORTING OUR NEXT GENERATION AND FIGHTING FOR FAIRNESS IN OUR COMMUNITY

We will continue to deliver the successful Stockport Family Hubs to provide a "one-stop-shop" for early help, public health and support services for families.

Ensure the voice of young people is heard when making decisions that will affect their future and help them shape our borough.

Continue to hold jobs fairs in communities around the borough to help people get good jobs, better training and fulfilling careers.

Tackle the deprivation gap and cost of living crisis in Stockport head on, using our anti-poverty objectives to tackle this longstanding problem.

We have successfully secured funding for new school rebuilds in Stockport, including St Thomas’ in the Town Centre and Bramhall High School.

We will continue to push for better accessibility at our train stations to ensure everyone is given the choice to use public transport.

We are working towards ensuring accessible play equipment is available in all our play areas so everyone can enjoy them.

INVESTING AND INNOVATING FOR OUR FUTURE

We are delivering the brand new £20 million Marple Community Hub.

We are fighting for new, modern health services across the borough, including an impressive new offer in the Town Centre.

We have created a Climate Catalyst Fund to promote innovation in tackling climate change.

We will continue to make progress towards the delivery of an ambitious district heat network, a potential game changer in our efforts to de-carbonise and bring down the cost of heating.

We are introducing the latest technology available for adult social care so that people can enjoy a better life in old age.

We are working to deliver a truly brownfield first approach to building the right homes in the right places through Stockport’s own Local Plan.

We are delivering more affordable and environmentally friendly homes across our borough.

We will ensure council services continue to innovate and deliver best value for residents.

We have invested £2m in tackling blocked grids and gullies across our borough.

CONNECTING OUR BOROUGH

We have delivered a state of the art new bus interchange in the town centre and secured millions of pounds of funding for active travel.

We are continuing to fight for Metrolink to finally come to Stockport, pulling together the many voices across Stockport and championing the case for better transport links.

We are delivering a new train station for Cheadle.

We are working to remove barriers that block access for disabled people and parents with buggies and adopting a fairer approach for all.

We are delivering a new electric bus fleet in Stockport.

We are working to protect our bus services and push for new connections and services for residents.

We are working to link up the many miles of walking and cycling routes across the borough, ensuring better accessibility for all, whether walking, wheeling or scooting whilst reducing congestion for drivers and improving health and our environment.

We are working to deliver 20mph limits on residential roads across the borough, tackling the issue of speeding on the roads where people live and children play.

We are championing digital inclusion so that everyone can use online services without leaving anyone behind.

In February, with our values running throughout it, the Liberal Democrat Cabinet published its new Council Plan, “Ambitious Stockport, creating opportunities for everyone”.

This plan describes the role of the council in supporting our borough through the provision and delivery of services that are essential to everyday life.

Rather than just looking ahead one year, for the very first time this looks ahead three years and incorporates our “Four Big Ambitions”:

Investment, regeneration and creating jobs.

Education, work and skills.

Wellbeing in neighbourhoods.

Delivering for those who most need it.

Alongside these are two cross cutting themes, creating a fair and inclusive Stockport and delivering Climate Action Now.

In addition to this, we have just launched “One Stockport, One Future”, our even longer term look ahead at our ambitions for the borough and the “Five Big Things” most important for the borough’s future:

Thriving neighbourhoods, where local people participate in their future, with joined up public services in vibrant, clean and safe places with thriving local businesses and unique neighbourhoods.

The best place to grow up, with excellent schools, top quality early years support, involving young people in shaping our future and ensuring they can gain the right skills and training.

The best Health and Care, moving from reactive to proactive care, with a brand new additional hospital in the town centre as part of a health-hub, and enabling people to age well and live a good later life in an age friendly borough.

Clean, Green transport, with Metrolink coming to Stockport, a zero-emission bus network and securing further investment in Stockport Railway Station.

Good jobs and homes, building the right homes in the right places whilst protecting our Green Belt and green spaces, creating new businesses and employment opportunities, particularly in growing industries such as the green economy, digital, construction, transport, health and care.