| RTNM.537 | There were no declarations of interest made at the meeting. |
| RTNM.538 | Councillor Gunther explained that Hazlehurst Primary School had recently undergone an Ofsted Inspection.
The report from Ofsted had indicated that the school was providing an outstanding service.
Councillor Gunther asked that the teachers, staff, parents and pupils at the school be congratulated for their hard work in achieving the recognition.
|
| RTNM.540 | It was reported that Councillor Y Wright had nominated Gina Ball as Vice Chair of the Ramsbottom, Tottington and North Manor Township Forum, this was seconded by Councillor I Bevan.
|
| RTNM.541 | Dave Thomas, the Township Co-ordinator gave a brief presentation on the purpose of Area Plans and used demographic and other background information relating to the Ramsbottom, Tottington and North Manor Wards to demonstrate this.
As part of a co-ordinated approach across the borough, other Township Forums would be undertaking the same work. The members of the audience present were invited to choose a subject area work group in which ideas and suggestions would be discussed and list the main priorities agreed for inclusion in the Area Plan.
The subject areas discussed were:
1 Employment/Worklessness/ Training
2 Crime/Perceptions of Crime
3 Health and wellbeing
4 Housing & Environment
5 Rural Issues/Promoting Outlying Areas
6 Community Cohesion/Pride and Belonging
7 Township Forum Involvement
The Chair asked that the Members and public present split into seven groups to discuss the issues and then feedback at the end of the session.
The feedback given included:
Employment/Worklessness/ Training
• Apprenticeships and vocational training should be promoted as much as possible and support given to small businesses
to encourage them to offer apprenticeships.
• Ensure that key community facilities remain open such as libraries
• Job fairs to promote local opportunities
• Joint working between different providers
Crime/Perceptions of Crime
• Encourage reporting of crimes
• Promotion of the PACT meetings
• Good news stories should be encouraged
• More work with local schools, colleges and community groups
Health and wellbeing
• The need to give out relevant messages rather than using scare tactics
• Positive methods of communication
• Look to utilise existing, established groups for targeted work
Housing & Environment
• Should tackle litter and graffiti immediately
• Provide more recycling bins in town centres
• More fixed penalty fines could be given out especially at certain times such as school holidays and market days
• encourage takeaways to clean up outside their premises
• consider enforcement for landlords of derelict empty properties or other social landlords to take them on
Rural Issues/Promoting Outlying Areas
•High speed broadband should be available to rural communities
• Transport links to villages could be improved and work with providers should be carried out
• issues such as dog fouling in the villages should be a priority
• Council support for rural groups should be maintained
Community Cohesion/Pride and Belonging
• Promotion of faith activities to bring together different groups
• engaging with young people
Township Forum Involvement.
• Engage with voluntary groups such as neighbourhood watch and local businesses
• Promote the meetings to as many people as possible- use group emails such as colleges etc
• Set up an on-line community for the Forum
• need to deal with issues local to the areas not covering the whole of the borough
Dave explained that the information generated would be fed into the draft Area Plan which would be reported at the next meeting of the Township Forum.
|
| RTNM.542 | • Gina Ball referred to the Our Voice publication that used to be distributed to residents and asked whether this would continue.
It was explained that the publication was no longer produced as a magazine but that information relating to local services and activities was available on the Council website and in public buildings.
• Judith Kelly referred to the recent announcement that the Council Tax would be frozen across the borough for the next two years. Judith explained that the announcement had been made just two days after the Plan for Change consultation had closed and asked how this decision could have been made so quickly. Judith explained that she was concerned that the results from the consultation would not have fed into the decision.
The Chair reported that the Forum could ask that the Leader of the Council attend the next meeting to explain how the decision had been made.
• Dr Binns explained that at the last meeting of the Township Forum, she had asked Helen Sigsworth for some information relating to the services provided by the PCT and NHS. She had not received any thing as yet and asked that this be followed up.
Gina Ball referred to the slip road off the M66 to Bury and the drivers that used it dangerously when exiting. Gina asked whether a camera could be placed there to deter dangerous driving and the accidents that it caused.
• Deborah Gregory from Groundwork reported that a community spirit project was currently taking place involving 8 streets across the borough which would bring communities together by holding events and activities. The project involved different organisations including Groundwork and the Police. Deborah asked that anybody interested in the project contact her.
• Mr Booth explained that he had recently visited the gym at Ramsbottom Pool and asked that it be recorded that the Council be complimented on the refurbishment work that had been carried out there.
• A member of the public reported that the next PACT meeting in Walmersley would be held on 24 January at 6pm at Christ Church, Walmersley.
|
| RTNM.544 | It was reported that the next meeting of the Township Forum would take place on Thursday 8 March 2012 at 7 pm at Ramsbottom Civic Hall. |