Stockport Council Leader sets out borough’s investment needs in letter to new PM

Leader of Stockport Council, Cllr Mark Roberts, has written to new Prime Minister Andy Burnham, highlighting three priorities where investment is needed in the borough.

The three areas Cllr Roberts has raised with the Prime Minister are:

• fair funding for local services
• improved connectivity for Stockport through delivery of the Metrolink
• investment for Stepping Hill Hospital

One of the key issues raised in the letter is council funding. Like local authorities across the country, Stockport is seeing growing demand for services including adult social care, children’s services, support for vulnerable residents and maintaining local infrastructure. At the same time, councils continue to face significant financial pressures.

The council has argued that funding arrangements should more accurately reflect levels of need, deprivation and demand so that residents receive the services they rely on.

The letter also highlights Stockport’s case for wider eligibility for the Recovery Grant. It states that the current criteria do not fully reflect the challenges faced by some communities in the borough and argues that a broader distribution of funding would help protect frontline services, support disadvantaged neighbourhoods and invest in prevention to reduce future demand on public services.

The letter also highlights the case for Metrolink to be delivered in Stockport, improving transport connections and supporting future growth, and which Andy Burnham has supported during his time as Greater Manchester Mayor. The extension of the East Didsbury Line into Stockport aims to better connect the borough with other key employment areas in the city-region already on the network, such as Manchester Airport, Trafford Park and MediaCityUK. It also will unlock future expansion of the tram network detailed in longer-term visions for Metrolink using existing rail lines in the borough.

Stockport Council’s Leader has also called for the Prime Minister to back investment in Stepping Hill Hospital, including improvements to existing buildings and long-term plans for modern healthcare facilities.

Cllr Mark Roberts, said:

“Stockport is ambitious and continuing to grow. We want to work constructively with Government to secure the investment needed to support our communities, improve transport connections and ensure local services can meet future demand.”