Speaker/s
Kathryn Rees, Executive Director Corporate and Support Services, Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council
Vicki Bates, Assistant Director, Governance and Monitoring Officer, Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council
Session Outline and Objectives
Running a council with no overall control isn’t just a challenge – it’s a daily balancing act. But in Stockport, it’s become a powerful catalyst for bold decisions, strong partnerships, and real transformation. In this session, Kathryn Rees lifts the lid on what it really takes to lead in such an environment. She’ll take you through the council’s pragmatic, mature approach to cross-party working – from the gritty governance and robust scrutiny, to the softer stuff like induction, communication and trust-building. You’ll learn how Stockport’s councillors and officers work together – across party lines – to make decisions that stick and get things done. The results speak for themselves: £1bn invested in the town centre, a thriving integrated Stockport Family model, and consistently resilient budgets. All achieved without a single party holding the reins.
We’ll cover:
What effective cross-party working looks like in real life
How pre-decision scrutiny can improve outcomes, not delay them
The structures and relationships that help area governance flourish
Why the Leader–Chief Executive relationship is just one part of the story
How consistent member engagement builds resilience and trust. This session isn’t theory. It’s practical, proven, and built from the ground up.
Takeaways
Learn how to lead effectively in a politically diverse council
Understand the structures and behaviours that make cross-party working thrive
See how a collaborative culture enables long-term transformation
Take away ideas you can apply – whether you’re in overall control or not
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