| BETF.861 | No declarations of interest were made in relation to any items considered at the meeting.
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| BETF.862 | The Chair, Tan Ahmed (ADAB) and Dave Thomas, Township Coordinator for Bury East, explained to the Forum that they had met with Ian Lord from Highways regarding outstanding issues from previous meetings. Dave stated that he had updated information and responses which he would forward on to all members of the Forum on the issues so far.
Also, it was reported that any matters arising at future meetings would be forwarded to Highways, within a timescale of a week for their response which would then be emailed to all members prior to the following meeting of the Forum.
A local resident asked in what order highways complaints were considered and the Chair replied that any work carried out had to be prioritised due to budget constraints. The Township Co-ordinator stressed that it was important for people to call the Customer Contact Team at the Council to report any issues.
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| BETF.863 | The Township Forum received a presentation from Andrew Eland, Benefits Operations Manager, on Welfare Reform. Also in attendance was Claire Jenkins, Head of Customer Support and Collections, and Michelle Smythe, Community Development Worker, Six Town Housing. The presentation was to provide a summary of the impending Welfare Reforms being introduced by the Government. The presentation covered the following key areas:-
- 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.
Questions and comments were invited and the following issues were raised:
- Was online communication required?
There was an expectancy for applications to be made online, but it was acknowledged that a number of vulnerable people would need support in this area and therefore help would be available.
- Would that be a further cost for Bury LA?
No, as this was a Government initiative, there would not be an additional cost to the resources of Bury.
- Would there be some protection for people in properties that had been adapted for the needs of a particular person?
People in adapted properties would be contacted and would be awarded a full year of protected rent.
- How would foster carers be affected?
There would be an exception to foster carers and armed forces personnel and they would be contacted accordingly.
- What was the situation with privately rented accommodation?
Private housing landlords were already paid directly, the situation was with social housing and the fact that a lot of accommodation had rooms that were not being used.
- Following pilots of the scheme in the south, it was noted that the large majority of people were unable to manage their finances and went into arrears. What was Bury LA doing to address this issue?
Nothing official has been reported as yet on any pilot schemes, locally the Council, Citizens Advice Bureau and Six Town Housing would be working closely with residents on setting up bank accounts and offering support.
- It was absolutely vital that legal loan sharks were avoided.
Yes, the LA would assist people in the most suitable ways of paying.
- What was the situation with disabled adults?
- Disabled adults were not exempt due to the limited amount of financial resources available.
- What facilities were available for people to downsize?
People were assessed originally to ensure the right accommodation was allocated in the first place.
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| BETF.864 | The Township Plan update had been issued to members prior to the meeting.
The Township Co-ordinator, Dave Thomas, explained to the Forum that following the successful presentation evening in September 2012, where six applications had been received from groups and Bury East Township Forum 20 March 2013
organisations working in Bury East for over £80,000 of funding which had been allocated (over 2 years) for the community to fund projects, that it was envisaged to hold another event this year for 46,000 of funding which was available. Dave would advertise this event and all information would be sent out to potential ‘bidders’ and the date of the presentation evening would be notified to members of the Township Forum.
Dave reported that the next meeting of the Forum, the first in the municipal year, would be focused on the refresh of the Bury East Township Area Plan. The meeting will involve round table workshops to involve all members and local residents of the Township Forum and that he would make a presentation on what would be delivered.
The following questions/comments were raised:
Councillor Connolly asked if he could be presented with clear evidence on how successful the first round of funding had been before another presentation evening was advertised and bidding put forward for the £46,000 for this year.
Councillor Walmsley re-iterated that it was important to receive status and follow up reports.
The Township Co-ordinator stated that a full performance report would be produced in the coming months and circulated to members. The report will outline the successful delivery of outcomes relating to the agreed priorities within the Township Plan.
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| BETF.865 | The meeting was attended by Glen Stuart, Head of Waste Management, who 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 of waste 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. It was reported that from April 2013 it would cost £270.00 per tonne to get rid of grey bin waste at landfill, this amount had increased from £210.00 per tonne.
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 recycling at schools and council buildings commercial waste recycling.
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.
Questions and comments were invited and the following issues were raised:
- When would yoghurt pots and certain other plastics be able to be recycled?
Unfortunately not in the foreseeable future, as they contained different types of polymer that weren’t able to be recycled. Plastic bottles can be recycled however plastic food containers should be placed in the general waste bin. There is not a market available that recycles the grade of plastic used in food packaging, however this position may change.
- A resident queried as to why a bag of rubbish was removed from her bin and left just because the lid was not down fully.
It was stated that if recycling was carried out properly in each household, there should be enough room in each bin to ensure the lid would close. It is a request which is on all literature available about recycling.
- There seemed to be a large amount of litter in Starkies Wood, and it was noted that at Manchester Road bus stop, there was no bin available. Also regarding public litter bins, where did this waste go?
It was reported that currently it has to go to landfill. It was not envisaged at this stage to change all of the waste bins in Bury to multi-bin containers due to cost implications.
- Was there not a digester available?
No, alternative means were not available currently. Glen Stuart stated that all of the local authorities were working
closely together, to try and solve the issues regarding waste management.
- Was waste in the grey bin sorted?
Not currently, but it was hoped that the situation would change.
- The price of £25.00 per tonne for recycling items in the blue and green bins does not seem high, is this price negotiable?
It was stated that the Council have agreed a fixed contract of 5 years and are currently in the 3rd year. After that, the figure will be re-negotiable.
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| BETF.866 | Councillor Connolly, Leader of the Council, and Les Watts, Principal Engineer, 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.
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.
Bury East Township Forum 20 March 2013
The StreetSafe schemes also invited motorists 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 of a collision.
Questions and comments were invited and the following issues were raised:
- How much was the scheme costing and how was it being funded?
£700,000 over a 3 year period, funded locally through the Council, not money from the Government. It was stated that this was an important initiative and would be money ‘well spent’.
- Was there anything that could be done on Rochdale Road near the crossing in the Pimhole area? There were a lot of elderly residents in this area trying to cross and it was hazardous.
It was possible that this area could be assessed outside the StreetSafe scheme.
- Would the scheme include re-doing road markings?
- No, the StreetSafe scheme would introduce signs and road humps but it was acknowledged that road markings in certain areas were fading.
- It was a perilous problem trying to get out of Hurst Street and a potential area for an accident. Was this area to be considered?
- Areas such as this are being monitored and these issues were raised with the Police. The Police will enforce 20 mph speed limits on narrow roads but not wider ones, this is where traffic calming measures will come in.
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| BETF.867 | 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 resident stated that parking had just been acquired on Primrose Drive but other drivers were now using it.
- Councillor Holt agreed that people park irresponsibly and inconsiderately. It was the final phase of making the streets around Fairfield Hospital designated residents’ parking only but people insist on parking. The road markings currently don’t quite go far enough but it was an issue being addressed.
Bury East Township Forum 20 March 2013
- A resident stated that on Rochdale Old Road, the footpath had been taken up to repair a gas pipe which was causing disruption.
Councillor Connolly said he would investigate.
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| BETF.868 | A report was submitted setting out details of funding applications and allocations in the East, Moorside and Redvales Wards of Bury East and Cross Ward Funding for 2012/13.
Councillor Walmsley re-iterated to the members of the Forum that any money still available in the ward fund must be used by the end of the municipal year. If anyone knew or was part of a constituted group that required funding, it was important they made an application as soon as possible.
Councillor Connolly brought it to the attention of the Forum that there was a misunderstanding regarding the community first funding. This funding was for four wards in the Borough, East, Moorside, Radcliffe East and Radcliffe West Wards. If any funding was required by organisations, it had to benefit the residents in those wards only.
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| BETF.869 | As this was the last meeting of the municipal year, the Chair, Tan Ahmed, thanked all members and residents of the Township Forum for their attendance and contributions throughout the year. Councillor Walmsley took the opportunity to thank the Chair also and Dave Thomas, Bury East Co-ordinator and Democratic Services.
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| BETF.870 | The date and venue of the next meeting of Bury East Township Forum was to be arranged.
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