Conservatives win commitment to new GMSF vote
The Conservative Spokesman for Planning on Stockport Council has won a commitment from the Labour Leader of Stockport Council and the ruling Labour Group that a vote of the whole Council will be required to agree to any future redraft of the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework.
A recent decision of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority could take the decision on the final GM Spatial Framework out of the hands of Stockport’s local representatives, handing it to Andy Burnham and his Board of Labour Leaders up in Manchester.
At a meeting of Stockport Council’s Cabinet on Tuesday evening, 14th August, Cllr. Brian Bagnall asked the Council Leader to reconfirm his commitment, the Cabinet’s commitment and that of the Labour Group to only vote in favour of any GMSF plans if the majority of members of the Council agree following a debate and a vote. The Council Leader agreed and noted that he, his Cabinet and the Labour Group “remain committed to that position absolutely” and that his would “remain the case as long as Labour remain the ruling administration” of Stockport Council.
Councillor Brian Bagnall said, “I am delighted to have secured this commitment to a full vote of all Stockport Council’s elected representatives on any future GM Spatial Framework, which will affect Greenbelt and housing here in Stockport.”
ENDS
Notes to Editors:
- SMBC Cabinet Meeting, 18th August 2018. Cllr. Brian Bagnall asked a question of Cllr. Alex Ganotis under Public Question Time. The webcast for this can be viewed at: https://stockport.public-i.tv/core/portal/webcast_interactive/367192/start_time/304000
- The full question asked by Cllr. Brian Bagnall was:
You have always committed to elected members that you will only support a vote to pass any final Greater Manchester Spatial Framework if it is right for Stockport and if the majority of members of this hung Council are and vote in favour of any final plan. Following the decision of the Labour run GMCA to change the GMSF from a Joint Development Plan, which all ten individual Councils would have got a vote on, to a Spatial Development Strategy which apparently only requires the votes of the Leaders and Mayor on GMCA to be passed, will the Labour Leader reconfirm his commitment and that of his Cabinet and the Labour Group and only vote in favour of any GMSF plans if the majority of members of this Council agree following a debate and a vote in full Council?
Considering the controversial nature of GMSF and the outcry by residents regarding the first consultation, can you explain why the GMCA took this undemocratic decision to remove the vote of all ten member Councils which many would consider to be an attempt to silence local elected members?
- Cllr. Brian Bagnall is the Conservative Spokesman for Planning and represents the ward of Bramhall South and Woodford.
For further information please contact Cllr. Brian Bagnall on 07785778571 or cllr.brian.bagnall@stockport.gov.uk