| BETF.362 | Councillor Rothwell declared a personal interest in item 9 on the Agenda, Community Funding Report, relating to Bury Society for the Blind and partially sighted, of which he is the Director and Trustee, to purchase and install a loop system.
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| BETF.363 | Residents in Pimhole being asked to pay for a new bin
Councillor Connolly explained that this was not the case. The developers of new properties were supposed to provide the bins. The Council would only charge for a replacement bin if it was lost or damaged but not for new properties.
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| BETF.364 | Councillor Connolly, the leader of the Council, gave a presentation on Bury’s proposed Council Tax Support Scheme. The presentation set out 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 and 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.
Questions were raised following the presentation, including:
Councillor Rothwell asked if the single occupancy discount would remain?
Councillor Connolly replied that this would be considered within the consultation.
A member of public asked if empty properties to be charged would also apply to social housing and Councillor Connolly stated that it would.
Councillor Cassidy asked how the consultation would take place in order to reach as many people within the Borough as possible.
Councillor Connolly explained that there would be various ways of reaching people including leaflets, writing to residents and information in Community Centres and Libraries.
The Chair, Tan Ahmed, asked whether charities and voluntary groups would be affected?
Councillor Connolly hoped this would not be the case.
A resident asked if this item could be put on the next agenda of Bury East Township Forum after the consultation period had ended on 31 October 2012.
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| BETF.365 | Ian Lord, the Service Manager for traffic and assets attended the meeting following requests from local residents.
Ian explained to the Township Forum that NSL, the Contractor for the Council, were responsible for parking enforcement, pay and displays and obstructions to driveways. The Police were responsible for traffic offences, and other obstructions. Ian stressed to residents that any queries should be reported to the contact centre of the Council either by telephone or via the website. He stated that all complaints are investigated, although this can sometimes take time.
The following questions were raised:
Jimmy Hill (Pimhole Residents’ Association) raised concerns about the parking around Roosters on Cook Street, even though there was a car park available.
Ian explained that enforcement officers can’t be in one place all the time, however, he would speak to NSL and see if this area can be targeted again.
Councillor Holt asked about white ’H’s’ outside people’s driveways on Cook Street to prevent people parking. Ian said he would request an NSL officer investigate the area and it could be an option to be considered.
Councillor Tariq stated that he was regularly contacted by residents over traffic management and Highways issues and he in turn would report these. However, he was not receiving responses and therefore could not report back to constituents.
Ian explained that this could be due to the sheer volume of calls the contact centre received but that he would follow this up.
Councillors Cassidy and Walmsley raised concerns regarding Walmersley Road at the junction on Peel Way, with people parking on double yellow lines to enter the takeaways and also vans delivering goods. Councillor Cassidy asked how parking restrictions could be enforced in this area as the Police do not have the resources and traffic enforcement officers don’t want to target the area as they are often abused. Councillor Walmsley stated that there could be two
possible solutions that the ward Councillors had discussed with the
Police, which were; metallic railings or a static camera to record car registration plates of offenders.
Ian Lord stated that regarding the metallic railings, a number of vehicles needed to stop to unload which would be impractical and would be further maintenance issues for Highways. Regarding the static camera, he would follow this up as to which sort of equipment could be used and report back.
Councillor Connolly stated that similar issues were a problem on Rochdale Road, adjacent to Bond Street and asked that this area be investigated also.
Councillor Holt asked if gulleys were regularly cleaned out and Ian replied that yes, as far as he was aware, they were.
Tim Boaden, Seedfield TRA, raised concerns relating to treacherous conditions along Parkinson Street for both vehicles and pedestrians during severe wintry weather.
Ian said he would forward this issue to the relevant officer.
Jimmy Hill stated that no-one takes notice of the double yellow lines on James Street, opposite the garage and asked if they could be removed from the road on the garage side and re-done on the opposite side.
A resident stated that on Bell Lane, road markings had disappeared.
Ian said that road markings were on a rolling programme to be re-done and replaced.
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| BETF.366 | Cindy Lowthian, Communities Manager, attended the meeting on behalf of Dave Thomas, Bury East Township Co-ordinator.
Cindy reported that at the last meeting on 18 July 2012, Dave Thomas had presented the Township Plan for Bury East. He explained how the Plan has been developed following round table discussions with Forum members and residents and that the overall purpose of the Plan was to set local priorities to promote improved outcomes for local people in relation to improved employment opportunities, health and wellbeing, community safety and community cohesion.
Bury East Township Forum had agreed this Township Plan at the last meeting but had asked for amendments to be made to the action plan under the priority ‘improved employment opportunities’. The
Forum asked for this section to be amended to reflect the impact and role of the Backing Young Bury Scheme in Bury East.
As the Action Plan for the next year is an evolving document that can be regularly updated and reviewed, comments and contributions were invited. Progress updates would be reported at each meeting.
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| BETF.367 | Cindy Lowthian, Communities Manager, explained that Dave Thomas, the Township Co-ordinator for Bury East, had given a presentation on the Alcohol Prospectus Scheme at the last meeting of Bury East Township Forum on 18 July 2012. Bury East TF had submitted a successful bid to the National Alcohol Prospectus Fund which set out how the Forum will involve local people in making decisions on funding priorities to tackle alcohol related anti-social behaviour. Over £80,000 of funding had been allocated (over 2 years) for the community to fund projects.
The first funding round was opened on 1 June 2012 and bids were invited from organisations and groups working in Bury East. Projects needed to deliver ‘added value’ and the maximum a project could apply for was £6000 per year. Six applications were received.
Cindy explained that on 6 September 2012 a presentation evening was held at the Freedom Church, Bury, which was attended by up to 30 people including Forum members, community members and project applicants and Councillor Connolly chaired the meeting. Members voted to support all six applications.
Next steps include developing detailed funding agreements. Projects will be monitored and verified to ensure they are delivering in line with the project application. Any issues will be addressed at the project group and reported to the Bury East Township Forum and a further presentation evening to allocate the remaining funds from the 2012/2013 financial year will be held in November, hopefully 19-25 November when it is National Alcohol Awareness week.
Cindy explained that it was hoped that Baroness Newlove would be visiting sometime in the near future also, to visit projects.
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| BETF.368 | Neville McWilliams, Treasurer of Openshaw Park Veterans’ Bowling Club, attended the meeting to inform the Forum about the plans he has for the future of the bowling club. Neville explained that currently he was in talks with the Council regarding upgrading the pavilion.
The Chair, Tan Ahmed, thanked Neville for all his hard work and commitments to raising funds over the years to improve the facilities at the bowling club.
Councillor Holt explained that he and Councillors Connolly and Stella Smith would support Neville in ensuring that refurbishment work was completed at the club.
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| BETF.369 | Jamie Griffin, Streetwise 2000, attended the meeting to inform members of the Forum about the work carried out by young people aged between 16 - 25, who suffer with depression and anxiety. Jamie and three others completed a garden project at the Kershaw Centre for 6 months with ground work and the youth service.
Councillor Connolly stated what an excellent advert Jamie was for Streetwise 2000. It was a fabulous organisation and the project was a credit to those young people.
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| BETF.370 | The Chair, Tan Ahmed, 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.
A member of public reported a problem that an elderly resident had with flies. A broken sewer pipe was the problem and unfortunately it had been going on for 8 weeks which was not satisfactory. He asked what Six Town Housing’s Policy was on such an issue.
The Chair, Tan Ahmed, explained that any complaints should be put in writing to the Council.
Councillor Cassidy stated that as soon as she had been contacted over this incident she had been in touch with a housing officer and this issue had now been addressed.
A local resident stated that he had received a letter and separately a polling card informing him that his polling station had now changed from East Ward Primary School to The Kershaw Centre.
Councillor Connolly reported that polling stations were moving away from schools due to the disruption it caused and it was necessary to make people fully informed of this move.
Kath Bond raised concerns over the number of ‘cold callers’ in the local area and the effect this could have on vulnerable residents.
Cindy Lowthian stated that she would pass the concerns on to the Township Co-ordinator, Dave Thomas to inform Trading Standards.
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| BETF.371 | Members of the Forum were informed that there was still some funding available for Bury East and that grant applications were available from Liz Saunders.
Harry Reid asked about room hire in the cross ward funding. Councillor Walmsley stated that the cost was for events taking place, however, it was felt more clarification was needed on this issue.
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| BETF.372 | Harry Reid asked when the next community first funding round is. It was stated that Liz Saunders would respond directly to Harry.
Councillor Holt brought to the attention of the Township Forum that Pimhole Residents’ Association will have been operational for 20 years and it was down to the dedication and commitment of Una and Jimmy Hill and he stressed how much Bury East appreciated their commitment.
Cindy Lowthian, Communities Manager, mentioned to the Forum about ‘Fun Active Bury’ which started on 14 September 2012 until 8 December 2012 to involve the young people of Bury. Leaflets were available to promote the Community Group and it was hoped flyers and leaflets could be distributed.
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