Stockport Council release Covid recovery budget proposal

The council has released its 2021/22 budget proposal which includes a Covid recovery plan to help the town ‘build back better’.

Focused on three key areas, economic recovery, supporting communities and tackling climate change the budget includes a £160m capital programme for Stockport, Greater Manchester.

Labour-led Stockport Council have retained their commitment to town centre regeneration announcing funding for Stockport Interchange, Stockport Exchange Phase 4 and Weir Mill and as well as further investment in Redrock, Merseyway and Underbanks.

A £2m economic recovery fund has also been announced with the hope of supporting local businesses and the local economy post-Covid.

£10m has also been allocated to continue with the building of new homes over the next five years.

For the environment £8.8m has been allocated for walking and cycling schemes and £1m has been set aside for the Solar PV scheme to help residents buy solar panels and increase Solar PV and Solar Carports across the borough.

Leader of the Council, Elsie Wilson said: “The Covid-19 pandemic has had a detrimental impact on our community, the like we haven’t experienced for generations.

“It has exasperated many of the inequalities we face and placed even more pressure on an already pressurised public sector services.

“This budget takes the first steps towards our recovery from Covid, offering support to our communities, investing in our economic regeneration and enhancing our natural environment.

“We are investing in our priorities, not just for now, but for the future as we carry on delivering on our bold ambition for Stockport.”

Cllr Tom McGee, Deputy Leader of the Council, said: “We recognise that businesses, communities and individuals have been adversely affected by the covid-19 pandemic and that is why the council, along with our partners, have to start the path to recovery while also tackling some of our long term priorities.

“We have set out budget proposals to reflect the needs that residents suggest is necessary to start a recovery programme post Covid 19, focusing on our communities, businesses and health and wellbeing.”

The budget will also include £2m in one-off monies to support various initiatives across the borough.

Firstly, £300k will be set aside to commemorate Covid and Hopes Carr disaster victims with a new memorial or open space.

Cllr Amanda Peers said: “One key piece of work will be to enable local communities to create their own memorial or commemoration to remember those that have lost their lives to Covid and also to recognise the amazing community effort made in response to the difficulties faced by our communities.

“Funding will be made available across the borough later this year. This is something that has been discussed at length in several meetings of a cross party working group, further details will follow in due course.”

£600k of the £2m is to be put towards tackling climate change, including funding for electric vehicle charging points, increasing the number of community orchards and further tree planting.

Cllr Sheila Bailey, cabinet member for sustainable Stockport, said: “Stockport Council has an ambitious climate change strategy which includes the planting of thousands of trees, the installation of EV charging points, using our green spaces to provide grass and flower meadows and the planting of orchards across the borough.

“In addition to funding allocated in this budget, Stockport has received grant funding through the Nature for Climate Fund for the planting of 17,000 trees, creating new forests across Stockport.”

Additionally £500k will be allocated to support digital inclusion and help overcome digital poverty and £300k for the roll out of ‘Open +’ technology in more town libraries.

Cllr Kate Butler, cabinet member for Citizen Focus and Engagement, said that the pandemic had widened the digital divide and that the budget would help support schemes such as the Digital Inclusion Alliance which aims to bring skills, equipment and data to those in digital poverty.

A £350k provision has also been made to help with mental health support, youth work and to tackle drug and alcohol addiction.

Cllr Jude Wells, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Health, said: “Investment in mental health support is a key part of our Covid recovery plan. The pandemic and its restrictions are having a negative impact on people’s health and well-being and is likely to be a long term issue across our communities.

“The additional funding will provide much-needed early intervention support to a wider group of people and will enhance and consolidate the current offer available to residents.

“Addiction Issues are a significant factor in health inequalities. We know that Covid has had a detrimental impact on people’s ability cope and that addictions like alcohol and drug dependency are on the increase.

“During lockdown many people have stopped accessing support services so there is latent and increased demand in many of our communities.”