The Executive Cabinet of Tameside Council were scheduled to meet on 24 September 2025 to discuss a range of issues, including the adoption of a new Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy, the introduction of an Article 4 Direction regarding houses in multiple occupation, and the approval of a new Cultural Strategy. The cabinet was also scheduled to discuss corporate performance reporting, and various property-related matters.

Tameside Cultural Strategy 2025-2030

The Executive Cabinet were scheduled to consider the Tameside Cultural Strategy 2025-2030. The strategy aimed to harness the power of culture to drive change and investment, and ensure all residents can live fulfilling and joyful lives. It was scheduled to be closely aligned with local, regional, and national strategies, such as Arts Council England's Let's Create 2020-2030, National Heritage Lottery Fund's Heritage 2033 and Greater Manchester's CreateGM 2025-2030. The strategy was scheduled to propose the establishment of a Creative Strategy Board to advocate for and drive the strategy forward, and a commitment to support the delivery of a culture programme in line with the strategy.

The report pack stated that the strategy sets out to deliver a solid foundation from which culture can grow, and that it would do this through three core aims supported by a series of strategic interventions:

• A Creative Strategy Board
• Creative Spaces
• Regular events and exhibitions programme

The report pack also noted that the strategy recognised that climate change is one of the most serious and urgent issues facing the planet today, and that the cultural strategy also has a responsibility to ensure that it continues to challenge and advocate for a sustainable approach to creating culture.

Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy

The Executive Cabinet were scheduled to consider a report on the refreshed Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy for the years 2025-2030. The strategy sets out the council's plans for preventing homelessness and securing accommodation and support for those at risk or experiencing homelessness.

The report pack noted that the strategy included a five-year action plan, which would need to be reviewed annually and amended accordingly, and that it also included half a dozen performance measures which can be monitored and reported on to track the progress of implementing the action plan against the aims and objectives of the strategy.

The report pack stated that the strategy proposed to act at earlier stages, and to provide services to all eligible applicants.

The report also provided an update on the consultation on the draft strategy, which took place with the public and strategic stakeholders in May and June 2025.

The report pack included the following recommendation:

That Cabinet are asked to:

1. Consider the comments submitted during the wider consultation with the public and strategic stakeholders on the draft strategy.

Proposed Article 4 Direction for Small Houses in Multiple Occupation

The Executive Cabinet were scheduled to consider a report regarding the introduction of an Article 4 Direction relating to small Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO). The report pack stated that legislative changes in October 2010 allowed for a change of use from Use Class C3 (dwellinghouse) to Use Class C4 (HMO) without planning permission, but that local planning authorities may make an Article 4 Direction removing these permitted development rights.

The report pack stated that there was a sufficiently strong justification to apply the Direction Tameside-wide, and that it was considered that an Article 4 Direction should be introduced in relation to the change of use from a Use Class C3 dwellinghouse to a Use Class C4 small HMO in order to protect local amenity and the well being of Tameside.

The report pack included the following recommendation:

That Executive Cabinet be recommended to:

1. Approve the making of an immediate Article 4 Direction to be brought into effect immediately. This will remove permitted development rights for the change of use from Use Class C3 dwellinghouses to Use Class C4 small houses in Multiple Occupation for the entire borough of Tameside as identified within the Direction.

SEND Home to School and Vulnerable Adult Transport

The Executive Cabinet were scheduled to consider a report seeking approval to procure a new Open Framework contract for the transport of children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) to school, children in social care, and vulnerable adults. The procurement is being led by STAR, the council's procurement partners, in collaboration with five other north-west local authorities.

The report pack stated that local authorities have a legal duty to provide free home-to-school transport for eligible children of compulsory school age (5–16) who have special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), where their needs or distance from school make it necessary. It also noted that the number of children receiving transport support has more than doubled since the 2019/20 academic year, and that the average daily cost per pupil has risen significantly, placing further pressure on the transport budget.

The report pack stated that Adult Services also has a legal duty to provide transport to clients who are eligible for social care support in certain circumstances, and that there are currently 118 individuals transported with external providers funded by Adult Services.

The report pack noted that the new framework would be for eight years, starting in September 2026, and that the annual cost of the transport contract is estimated to be in the region of £10 million.

Proposal to Declare Assets Surplus to Requirements (Batch 6)

The Executive Cabinet were scheduled to consider a report seeking approval to declare a number of assets surplus to requirements, in accordance with the council's disposal policy approved on 30 September 2020.

The report pack stated that officers had consulted with relevant Executive and Ward Members on all of the assets, and had received no objections to the proposal.

The assets listed in the report pack were:

1. Land at 147-151 St Anne's Road, Denton
2. Car park at Market Street, Droylsden
3. Land at Union Street / Cowhill Lane / Albemarle Street, Ashton
4. Land at Clark Way, Hyde
5. Land at Pilling Street / Foster Street, Denton
6. Plots of Land at Grafton Street, Hyde
7. Plot of land Market Street / Waterloo Rd., Stalybridge
8. Ward Street, Hyde
9. Land south of Hyde Road and to the west of Hawthorns School

Sale of Land at Grafton Street, Hyde

The Executive Cabinet were scheduled to consider a report regarding the sale of land at Grafton Street, Hyde.

The report pack stated that Executive Cabinet on 25 October 2023 gave approval for the sale of four plots of land, and that terms were agreed, contracts were exchanged, and a planning application was submitted by the prospective purchaser. It also stated that on the advice of Planning and Highways the proposed scheme would be improved by the stopping up of adjacent roads and the inclusion of three areas of additional land owned by the Council. The report sought approval for the provisionally agreed terms for the disposal of the three additional plots of land.

Proposed Sale of the Former Droylsden Library and Lock Keepers Sites, Droylsden

The Executive Cabinet were scheduled to consider a report regarding the proposed sale of the former Droylsden Library and Lock Keepers Sites in Droylsden.

The report pack stated that an Executive Decision was taken by the First Deputy, Executive Member for Finance, Resources & Transformation to approve the route to market for these two sites on 17 July 2024, and that the sites have subsequently been marketed and bids received. The report sought approval to progress a disposal to the preferred bidder.

Corporate Performance Reporting: Quarter 1 2025/26

The Executive Cabinet were scheduled to consider a report of Councillor Hugh Roderick, Executive Member (Finance and Resources) and Harry Catherall, Interim Chief Executive, presenting the corporate performance reports for each of the council's directorates and providing a summary of notable observations from the latest data, alongside the council's corporate risk register.

The report pack stated that the council's corporate KPIs have been refreshed for the 2025/26 financial year to ensure that performance metrics remain relevant to the council's strategic priorities and the challenges the organisation is currently facing.

Other items

The agenda for the meeting of the Executive Cabinet also included:

• Apologies for absence
• Declarations of interest
• To note the minutes of the Environment and Climate Emergency Working Group meeting that took place on 10 September 2025
• To approve the minutes of the Executive Cabinet meeting on 27 August 2025 as a correct record
• Urgent items