After six years, the Lib Dems are back at the helm at Stockport council. The town hall has a new leader - and a new administration.
Lib Dem leader Councillor Mark Hunter emerged victorious from a crunch town hall vote. Coun Hunter defeated Labour’s Coun Elise Wilson by 31 votes to 25 to put his group back at the helm for the first time since 2016.
The vote came two weeks after the local elections again left the authority under no overall control - albeit the Lib Dems remained the largest group, increasing their number from 26 to 28 thanks to two gains at the Tories expense. Labour held on to the reins last year - despite having one councillor fewer than the Lib Dems - effectively due to the Conservatives refusing to oust Coun Wilson before the end of her term.
It is thought that decision stung the Tories at the ballot box though, and the group - now reduced to five - abstained along with the Greens. But the trio of Heald Green Independent Ratepayers voted for Coun Hunter - handing his group the keys to the town hall.
READ MORE: Labour and Lib Dems in showdown vote for control of Stockport council
Accepting the leadership, Coun Hunter told the meeting it was a ‘humbling experience’ to be entrusted to the role and one for which he was grateful.
“It’s also an honour and a privilege, and certainly not a responsibility I take on lightly,” continued Coun Hunter, who also led the council for three years in the early 2000s, before serving as the MP for Cheadle between 2005 and 2015.
“I will be unstinting in my efforts to do my best on behalf of the people of our great borough.”
Coun Hunter confirmed Offerton councillor Wendy Meikle would serve as deputy council leader, with the other cabinet positions to be confirmed shortly. Despite previous tensions, the new leader struck a conciliatory tone, telling members he would ‘attempt to run the council by consensus’ and his door would ‘always be open to new ideas’.
And he acknowledged that his group would need to steer the borough through some tough times over the next 12 months. “We live in unprecedented times, as our nation slowly recovers from the worldwide Covid pandemic. Many families and individuals are suffering from the cost of living crisis and finding it increasingly difficult to make ends meet,” he said.
Speaking after the vote Coun Hunter told the Local Democracy Reporting Service he was under no illusions as to the scale of the task in hand. “It’s a big, big job we are taking on,” he said. “I don’t underestimate the challenge - the circumstances out there are very very challenging.”
Noting that prices were rocketing in the shops and the petrol pumps, he added: “Both central and local government need to do more, I genuinely believe that.”
The Lib Dem chief said he had been ‘optimistic’ of winning the vote, given the Lib Dems were the largest party - but had learned not to take anything for granted in politics.
But he said it was now all about the parties working together in order to take the borough forward under a ‘no overall control’ council
“People want to see the politics set aside and us work together for the good of the borough, in my view, and that’s what I will be seeking to do,” he said. He has offered the other group leaders regular meetings , in order to give them a ‘voice and a seat at the table’.
“It just puts rocket boosters under the whole idea of a stronger working cooperation. I strongly believe a council under no overall control will benefit from that. If we can’t achieve things by ourselves, we need to establish consensus wherever possible.”
He also said paid tribute to his predecessor Coun Wilson and her team for their ‘effort and commitment’ while in administration.
Coun Wilson said it had been her ‘absolute honour to serve the people of Stockport’ and she was ‘incredibly proud’ of what her group had achieved ‘during the most challenging of circumstances. "Stockport council remains under No Overall Control, and more than ever it is a time for all froups to maintain the smooth running of the council, support our first-rate council officers as they continue to deliver services and protect our residents," she said.
And - perhaps hinting at ambitions for a comeback - she added: “I wish Coun Hunter well in leading the council until the all-out elections next year.”
Over the last 12 months the Lib Dems deployed the attack line of a ‘Conservative-backed Labour council’ to ultimately devastating effect - making two gains at the Tories expense in their Bramhall strongholds.
This was perhaps reflected in the Conservatives' less than collegiate response to Coun Hunter’s election, despite his offer of closer cross-party working.
Coin Mike Hurleston, Conservative group leader said “Stockport Conservative group will continue to provide a strong and robust opposition. The Liberal Democrats have made a lot of promises and commitments to residents in opposition.
“Now is not a time for words, it’s a time for action. The Conservative group will ensure that we hold them to account.”
Stockport annual council meeting was held on Thursday night (May 19), at the town hall.
