| BWTF.329 | The Chair, Councillor Hankey, began by welcoming everyone to the meeting.
Councillor Hankey informed those present of the recent death of Advisory Group member Ian Pilling. Councillor Hankey paid tribute to his contribution to the Township Forum and many other community groups, in particular, the Diggle Lane Allotment Association. The Township Forum observed a minute silence.
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| BWTF.330 | Councillor Walker declared a personal interest in agenda item … as a frequent user of First Bus services.
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| BWTF.331 | Councillor Southworth informed the Township Forum that Miller Homes have agreed to install speed bumps on Garside Hay Road; this work would be completed by the end of the financial year 2012/2013. |
| BWTF.332 | Mr Guy Warren, Network Planner, First Bus, attended the meeting and gave a verbal presentation to the Township Forum regarding First Bus Services within Bury West. The presentation contained the following information;
The Network Planner reported that the bus market was de-regulated in 1986, the services were operated initially by former staff, these services have been bought subsequently, by Stagecoach and First Bus. First Bus predominately provide services in the North of Manchester and Stagecoach in the South, either operator can provide services on any bus route.
The bus network would be overseen by Transport for Greater Manchester; part of their role would be to identify gaps in service provision. First bus would consult with TfGM and the transport commissioner before making amendments to any bus service.
The Network Planner reported that First Bus would endeavour to provide a good service and would be obliged to provide profitable services.
In response to a question from a member of the Township Forum, the Network Planner reported that initially bus companies would not be able to cross subsidise more profitable services for those less profitable, this conditions have been relaxed more recently.
In response to a question from a member of the Township Forum, the Network Planner reported that the Number 98 bus can be challenging to operate. The number of passengers would be greater in Manchester than in Bury. The network planner reported that from the beginning of November an additional bus would be operational on the 98 service; the aim would be to improve the punctuality of the service.
The Network Planner reported that he would review the timetabling of the evening services within Bury west and if necessary, discuss with TfGM.
In response to a question from a member of the public, the network planner reported that from October bus numbers 472 and 474 would be less frequent in the afternoon to try and improve punctuality.
The network planner reported that the information relating to passenger numbers would be collated by data collectors working for TfGM.
Members of the public expressed concern that some bus drivers would not always scan concessionary cards and this could lead to inaccurate recording of the number of people using the bus service. The Network manger agreed to raise this with the staff concerned.
Members of the Township Forum raised concern with regards to the cost of fares on First Bus in comparison with Stagecoach.
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| BWTF.333 | Members of the Township Forum considered a verbal presentation from Councillor Tony Isherwood, Executive Member for Finance and Resource, the presentation contained the following information;
The Council currently administers on behalf of the government, a scheme for providing support with Council Tax costs, to people on low incomes; Council Tax Benefit.
The Government is legislating to ‘localise’ the scheme whilst at the same time imposing a 10% reduction in the amount of funding provided. The Council would lose funding of around £1.4 million a year.
The Government has stipulated that benefit must not be reduced for pensioners, cuts in funding would have to be concentrated on the remainder of the caseload.
The scheme would be operational by 1st April 2013 and the final scheme needs full Council approval by 31st January 2013. Public Consultation would take place between 4th September and 31st October 2012.
In addition to the Council tax freeze and the cost of the cut to the Council Tax Support, the Council must find an additional £9.8 million of savings.
The local scheme should aim to protect vulnerable people in the borough from the effect of the changes. The new scheme should contain a mixture of measures with the aim of spreading the effect of government cuts.
The Executive Member of Finance and Resources reported that the funding shortfall should be addressed by raising additional Council Tax from empty properties and changing discounts. There Council would be consulting on the possibility of putting a hardship scheme in place.
In response to a question from the Chair, Councillor Isherwood reported that the Council would not consider removing the single person’s discount.
Councillor Walker raised concerns that a number of properties within the Borough are owned by Private companies to provide accommodation for young people; these premises would be exempt from Council Tax or Business rates.
In response to a question from a member of the Township Forum, Councillor Isherwood reported that, housing benefit would be paid to the recipients instead of the landlord from October 2013.
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| BWTF.334 | Members of the Township Forum considered a verbal presentation from Trudi Brown, Probations Operations Manager. The report contained the
following information:
The Local Crime and Community Sentencing presentation gives the community the opportunity to find out more about the sentencing process as well as Court and Community Sentencing.
The service is a joint partnership between the magistrates and probation service and the Local Crime and Community Sentencing presentations’ aim, would be to increase public confidence and knowledge of the community sentencing process. The presentation enables members of the public to get involved in a real life case study and grapple with sentencing issues.
The Probation Operations Manager reported that Bury and Rochdale Magistrates recently merged services. The probation service would manage at any one time, 6,400 adult offenders across Greater Manchester.
In response to a question from a member of the Township Forum, the Probations Operations Manager reported that, unpaid community service orders can form part of a sentence. The offender would ordinarily work 7.5 hours per day and members of the public can suggest community projects through the community pay back unit.
The Probation Operations Manager reported that she would be happy to deliver the interactive Local Crime and Community Sentencing presentation to any community group.
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| BWTF.335 | Christine Maksymowski, Township Co-ordinator, submitted a revised Bury West Township Area Plan. The Township Co-ordinator reported that the following actions have been completed:
• Apprenticeships would be available for Bury West residents aged 16 to 24, residents can contact the Township Co-ordinator for further information.
• The Roc youth club would begin in October 2012. The youth club was a partnership between St. Stephens Church and Bolton Road Methodist Church. Initially the youth club would meet once a month.
• Councillor Hankey would act as the lead to meet with representatives from Brandlesholme Library to explore access to learning.
Councillor Walker reported that the traffic on Bolton Road, Bury would continue to be a problem; he requested that this be addressed in the Area Plan.
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| BWTF.336 | The Chair, Councillor M Hankey, 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.
• Phillip Jones, Advisory group member reported that disability scooters would be unable to access the Kirkless trail because two barriers have been installed.
• Judy Condron, asked if a pedestrian crossing could be installed on Bolton Road, Councillor Walker agreed to raise this at the Bury West Highways Sub group.
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