Agenda item

(time limit 90 minutes)

1. Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Growth – including the Minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held 17^th November 2025 and the minutes of meeting of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority held 26^th September 2025.
2. Statutory Deputy Leader and Neighbourhoods Portfolio Holder
3. Deputy Leader and Finance, Corporate Services and Sustainability Portfolio Holder
4. Children and Young People’s Portfolio Holder
5. Adults, Health and Wellbeing Portfolio Holder
6. Education and Skills Portfolio Holder
7. Culture and Leisure Portfolio Holder
8. Enterprise Portfolio Holder
9. Transport and Highways Portfolio Holder

In respect of this agenda item Councillor Woodvine MOVED and Councillor Sykes SECONDED that Council Procedure Rule 12.4.4 be suspended, to allow extra time for consideration thus permitting Councillor Woodvine and Leaders of other political groups, the opportunity to ask a question to the Leader of the Council. On being put to the vote, the Motion was LOST.

The Mayor invited the Leader of the Council and Cabinet Members to present their reports and further invited non-executive members to ask questions thereon. Written questions and answers submitted to the Leader and Cabinet Members were attached at Appendix A (and have been published to the Council’s website):

a.    Councillor Shah, Leader of the Council and the Growth Portfolio holder, presented her report, including the Minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held 17^th November 2025 and the minutes of meeting of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority held 26^th September 2025.

Councillor Sykes, Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group

Question 1: Management of Council Accounts

Councillor Sykes, reference the management of the Council’s finances under the current administration. He stated that the Council’s projected overspend, in terms of the 2026/27 budget had, according to reports, increased to £21 million. Therefore, Councillor Sykes asked the Leader of the Council what the actual projected overspend was and what mitigations were being put in place to address the projected deficit?

Councillor Shah, Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Growth, replied, that the projected overspend had subsequently been reduced by £17 million and that it continued to reduce. This was due, she said, to the continued hard work and diligence of staff in the Council’s Financial Services.

Question 2: Free School Meals

Councillor Sykes noted that children who are eligible to claim free school meals, in the Borough, included children who come from households that received Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support but did not include children who came from families that were in receipt of Universal Credit? Councillor Sykes asked if the Council’s policy, in this regard, could be changed so that children who reside in households that receive Universal Credit can be enrolled for free school meals?

Councillor Shah replied that she agreed with Councillor Sykes and would look at reviewing the policy at the earliest opportunity.

Question from Councillor Wahid, Deputy Leader of the Oldham Group

Councillor Wahid referred to the portfolio holder report submitted by the Leader for the Council and Cabinet Member for Growth noting that the council received news that the Council’s bid to the Greater Manchester Good Growth Fund for Prince’s Gate had been successful. The £35.1m secured would top up £9.9m of brownfield grant funding already secured and £5m of Community Regeneration Funding, that is already committed to the project, to ensure the delivery of 331 new homes, including 75 social homes. He sought clarification on the total project costs, the associated risks and if a contingency plan was in place in case of something going awry.

Due to time constraints the Councillor Shah was unable to provide a complete answer but she undertook to provide Councillor Wahid with a full and detailed written answer to his question.

RESOLVED:

1.       That the Leader and Portfolio Holder reports be noted.

2.       That the written questions and answers submitted to the Leader and Portfolio Holders, as published on the Council’s website, be noted.

3.       That the Minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held 17^th November 2025 and the minutes of meeting of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority held 26^th September 2025, be noted.