| BWTF.846 | Councillor S Nuttall declared a personal interest in Minute BWT.854 Below, Community Funding report, as a Director of Bury Blind Society.
Councillor J Walton declared a personal interest in minute BWTF.849 Below as a governor of Chantlers Primary School.
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| BWTF.848 | Neil Long, Assistant Director (Operations) gave a presentation on the Council¡¦s aim to raise recycling rates in the Borough to 50%. It was reported that since October, 2011 the Council had been making major changes to the ways household waste is collected. The new service was designed to help residents recycle more, help the environment and save money. The presentation covered the following key points:-
„X The key changes to the household collection services in Bury
„X Current recycling rates (up to 46% from 28%)
„X Cost savings achieved
„X Why Bury needs to recycle more and how this can be achieved
„X What the Authority are doing to promote recycling
The audience were invited to ask questions/make comments:-
In response to a question from Councillor Hankey, the Assistant Director reported that the Council provides recycling services to over one thousand commercial customers.
In response to a question from a Member of the public, the Assistant Director reported that, it would still be cost effective for the Council to provide smaller bins and collect those bins more frequently.
The Assistant Director reported that, if a bin is damaged by a wagon it would automatically be reported by the wagon crew.
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| BWTF.849 |
PC Peachey, Greater Manchester Police provided the Township Forum with a verbal update on policing issues within the Bury West area. The presentation contained the following information:
As a result of changes to the police force within Bury, Bury West would now be part of the Bury North policing team, the phone number and email address have changed.
The Police continue to experience problems with parking at Chantlers Primary School and a Police van has been in attendance on several occasions to deter parents from parking carelessly.
PC Peachey reported that the police continue to receive complaints from members of the public in relation to anti social behaviour in and around Ainsworth Park. The police will continue to patrol the area.
A member of the public raised concern in relation to identity fraud, PC Peachey confirmed he had met and discussed the concerns with the resident.
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| BWTF.850 | Councillor Gill Campbell (Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods and Regeneration (Housing)) gave a presentation introducing the ¡§Streetsafe¡¨ Initiative, a new strategy for improving road safety in residential streets and estates in Bury. It was reported that the proposals would make it easier for people to walk, cycle and use public transport and aimed to make the neighbourhoods better places to live and encourage communities to get out and about more. The presentation also covered the following areas:-
Why Streetsafe is needed in Bury?
The facts about collisions
What Streetsafe will involve?
What the 20 mph speed limits and zones were likely to achieve?
How the 20 mph zones will be introduced?
Who would get the 20 mph zones first.
When and where the Streetsafe zones would be implemented?
Other aspects involved in the Streetsafe initiative
The consultation process.
The audience were invited to ask questions/make comments:-
In response to a question from a member of the public, the Cabinet member reported that traffic calming measures, including speed humps, would not result in an area being automatically earmarked as a 20mph zone.
In response to a question from a member of the public, the Cabinet Member reported that the police would be willing to enforce 20mph zones as long as the Council had put in the environmental features, for example signage and speed humps.
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| BWTF.851 | Ian Davenport (Service Development Manager, BMBC), introduced Claire Jenkins (Head of Customer Support & Collections, BMBC) and Dave Bevitt (CAB) to the meeting to provide a summary of the impending Welfare Reforms being introduced by the Government. The presentation covered the following key areas:-
•Aims of welfare reform
•Personal Independence Payments
•Universal Credit (now to be implemented from January 2014)
•Under occupancy in social housing
•Replacement for Social Fund Payments
•Council Tax Support scheme
•How the Authority are dealing with welfare reform.
The audience were invited to ask questions/make comments:-
In response to a question from the Chair, Councillor Hankey, the Service Development Manager reported that the Council had a limited discretionary fund of £300,000 this would be available in exceptional circumstances.
The Chief Officer, Citizens Advice Board reported that the changes to their legal aid budget would have an impact on the services provided. The CAB has seen an increase in the demand for help and assistance in the areas of welfare and debt advice.
A representative from Six Town Housing reported that joint initiatives had been undertaken with partners to inform residents of the benefit changes including the cut in housing benefit for those who under occupy.
Councillor Frith expressed concern with regards to the changes in the benefit system and the affect on vulnerable residents within Bury.
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| BWTF.852 | Christine Maksymowski, Township Co-ordinator, reported that the Bury West Area Plan would continue to be developed and reported that progress had been made, in the following areas:
•The Township Co-ordinator, reported that events held to tackle obesity at St.Stephens school had been very successful.
The Township Co-ordinator reported that the Bury West Area Plan would be refreshed at the next meeting of the township forum.
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| BWTF.853 | 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.
•In response to a question from a member of the public, the Chair confirmed that there would be no changes to Council Tax in relation to single occupancy discount.
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| BWTF.854 | Christine Maksymowski, Township Co-ordinator reported that ward funding was still available in Elton and Church wards and if any member would like to apply for funding to support the work of a voluntary or community group, they should contact the Township Co-ordinator. The current ward funding would only be available until the 31st March 2013. |