| PTF.833 | Councillor Bayley declared a personal interest in Minute PTF.834 below, Parklife, as an employee of Manchester City Council.
Councillor Quinn declared a personal interest in Minute PTF.838 below, Recycling Update, as the Council representative on the Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority.
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| PTF.834 | With the agreement of the Chair, Mr Stanley, the meeting commenced at 6pm in order to facilitate a presentation and question and answer session relating to the upcoming Parklife Festival, which is to be held over the weekend of the 8th/9th June 2013.
John Drape, Live Director of the event, gave a presentation setting out information in respect of:
• Ticketing
• Park Reinstatement
• Traffic and Transport Management
• Security and Stewarding
• Communications
• Noise Management
• Waste Management
• Supported Charities
• Access and Egress from the Park
Questions and comments were invited and the following issues were raised:
• In response to a question from Councillor Campbell it was confirmed that effective signage would be in place to direct people away from the event with assistance from security staff where necessary.
• With regard to the issues of car parking charges, Mr Drape explained that the issue was still under discussion. An undertaking was given that the issue on free on-site parking would be looked into. It was reported that organizers anticipated low car use and would be trying to discourage additional on street parking.
• Concerns were raised in relation to illegal street trading, anti social behaviour and the previous lack of communication with local residents at previous events. It was explained that a new security provider was being used and work was ongoing with the Police and Trading Standards. With regard to communications Kirsten Warren, Heaton Park Manager, explained that a letter drop would be done for local residents with the coverage area to be shared with local Councillors.
• Mr Drape confirmed that Parklife would be looking to head back to South Manchester in future years and the event may only be held in Heaton Park for this year.
• Following a request from Cllr Heneghan, an assurance was given that further public consultations and meetings would be held prior to the event in June.
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| PTF.836 | In respect of Minute PTF.707, Matters Arising, relating to bus services, Councillor Bayley reported that it was hoped the reduced fares initiative of First Buses would continue beyond April.
In respect of Minute PTF.707, Matters Arising (relating to Minute PTF.486(2) Prestwich Regeneration Group), Councillor Heneghan submitted a proposed Terms of Reference for the Group at the meeting.
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| PTF.837 | The Township Forum received a presentation from Ian Davenport (Service Development Manager) on Welfare Reform. Also in attendance was Claire Jenkins (Head of Customer Support and Collections).
The presentation summarised the aims of Welfare Reform. This included:
• Significantly reducing the national welfare bill by £18 billion;
• Simplifying the current system;
• Providing people with incentives to make work pay, and
• Reducing welfare dependency.
Other proposals under the reform include:
• Changes to Personal Independence Payments;
• The introduction of Universal Credit;
• The introduction of reductions for under occupancy in social housing;
• The localisation of the Social Fund; and
• Changes to the Council Tax Support Scheme.
In response to a question from Frank Adam, it was reported that approximately 900 Six Town Housing properties would be affected by the under occupancy criteria.
During discussion of this item it was suggested that a report back be provided in the autumn setting out details of the actual numbers of people affected by the changes.
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| PTF.838 | Glen Stuart (Head of Waste Management) attended the meeting and gave a presentation on Recycling within Bury. The meeting was reminded that Bury Council had introduced a system of recycling household waste in October 2011 to reduce the amount sent to land fill. One of the main reasons for promoting recycling is the cost of disposal which cannot be sustained due to ever decreasing land fill space and increasing costs.
Bury currently recycles 46% of its refuse and is the 3rd best performing authority in Greater Manchester. This has saved the Council £1 million in waste collection and disposal costs. The Township Forum was informed that a recycle rate of 50% would save the Council at least £800,000 and in turn protect other Council services. Improved rates were easy to achieve and involved simply ensuring items such as bottles and paper were placed in the correct waste container. Every Bury household could
contribute to this target by making part of their daily routine to separate items and place them into the appropriate bin.
Recycling was also being introduced to town centres and parks within Bury with small on-street recycling multi-bin containers to replace general waste single bin. It was also intended to increase commercial waste recycling as well as schools and council buildings.
Low recycling areas in Bury would be targeted through door to door canvassing to increase rates. The proposals would be explained as part of a promotional campaign targeted locally and in partnership across Greater Manchester. Residents across Bury are encouraged to recycle as part of their daily life and further information is available on the Council website.
With regard to the issue of enforcement, the Head of Waste Management explained that the Council did have the power to issue Fixed Penalty Notices against residents who failed to recycle. However it was stressed that all steps were taken to encourage and enable residents to recycle.
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| PTF.839 |
Councillor Campbell (Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods and Regeneration) attended the meeting and gave a presentation on the Council’s StreetSafe Strategy. The StreetSafe Strategy has been introduced to improve road safety in residential streets and estates. The proposals have been designed to make it easier for people to walk, cycle and use public transport. The aim of the Strategy is to make Bury’s neighbourhoods a better place live and encourage communities to get out and about more.
StreetSafe involves the lowering of average vehicle speeds in residential areas and achieving this will in turn deliver benefits to residents. Reductions in vehicles speed to 20mph will greatly reduce the chances of serious injury or death following a collision. The introduction of 20mph limits and zones will be a major part of the strategy and these will be introduced over a 3 year period. Each area will be assessed according to its individual need. The outcome will be that 20mph speed limits will be in place across the borough by 2015.
The 20mph zones will be self enforcing with the use of additional traffic calming measures where required. Priority will be given to streets with schools and streets with documented problems resulting from traffic. Over the next three years zones will be introduced in each of the six townships and will be detailed on the StreetSafe website. Details of proposed schemes will be advertised and residents will be consulted and invited to contribute to the schemes in their area.
The StreetSafe schemes also invited motorist to make a pledge to drive
safer in residential areas and be mindful of children and young people with a view to reducing the potential for a collision.
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| PTF.840 | Kim Griffiths, Township Co-ordinator, submitted a copy of an updated Prestwich Area Plan setting out progress against the agreed key outcomes.
It was reported that a meeting would be held on 14th May to consider and refresh the Area Plan
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| PTF.841 | The Chair, Mr David Stanley, invited questions, comments and representations from members of the public present at the meeting. Questions were asked and comments made on the issues detailed below. The Township Forum Co-ordinator undertook to obtain a reply to matters which could not be dealt with at the meeting.
• Comments were made in relation to traffic problems near to Marks and Spencer and the amount of traffic restrictions, including pelican crossings, along Bury New Road.
• A member of the public sought assurances about the future of the toning tables at Castle Leisure Centre. Councillor Heneghan gave an undertaking that the issue would be looked into and reported back.
• Frank Shatcliffe reported on plans for this year Carnival and appealed for any volunteers to assist on the event
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| PTF.842 | A report was submitted setting out details of funding applications and awards in the Holyrood, St Mary’s and Sedgely wards of Prestwich.
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| PTF.843 | Councillor Heneghan, on behalf of the Forum, thanked the Chair, Mr David Stanley, for his commitment and valuable contribution to the role during the Municipal Year.
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