| WUTF.629 | No declarations were made in respect of the any items on the agenda.
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| WUTF.631 | Councillor J Smith (Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Corporate Affairs) and Councillor Isherwood (Cabinet Member for Resources) and the Assistant Director (Resources) attended the meeting to give a presentation on the Council’s Plan for Change.
An update was given on the Council’s anticipated financial settlement from central government and the proposals contained in the Plan for Change.
The Chair invited questions from the audience.
Question: In view of the proposed £430k proposed reduction from the Parks Service which would involve the loss of the Ranger Service is it proposed that the grounds maintenance service will also be lost including ‘static’ members of staff. Would the reductions in services provided by the Council mean a need for less staff and it is important to keep those affected informed.
Response: The £430k involves a range of saving options including self-management of allotments and football pitches as indicated within the Plan for Change document. All members of staff who are at risk have been made aware of the position. Voluntary severance will be considered where possible. It is difficult to foresee what the allocation will be for 2014/2015.
Question: What is the total number of staff earning over £50,000 per year? Could they take a 10% cut in pay?
Response: This information is available on the Council web site. The Council has been through a job evaluation process to determine pay scales.
Question: What is the Council’s total workforce?
Response: The Council has 7000 members of staff (including schools).
Question: What is required from the public to effect changes to budget saving proposals?
Response: The Council is required to set a balanced budget and will do so using input from public consultation as a means to consider how services will be delivered.
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| WUTF.632 | The meeting was attended by Mr Paul Turner (First Bus) who gave an update on the forthcoming changes to bus services in Whitefield and Unsworth. The meeting was informed that the new routes would come into effect on 27 and 28 January 2013. Publicity material would be available shortly and any help from local residents in distributing the new timetables would be welcomed. The new timetable had been produced to factor in additional time for buses to navigate through the high congestion areas of Manchester City Centre, such as Blackfriars Bridge, which had been causing delays. Monitoring would be on going to ensure that buses turned up on time. It was proposed to introduce a GPS system for First Buses in partnership with TfGM to help identify the areas and times which had the biggest impact on bus movement.
Councillor Jones asked why there was no bus service on New Years Day.
It was reported that the cost of providing a service would be too expensive and results of the previous year had indicated that there was not sufficient demand. The services provided on Boxing Day had four times more users than those who used the service on New Years Day.
Councillor Matthews reported that a constituent had complained about the 135 service which had not been stopping and as a result service users had missed the bus and had to make alternative travel arrangements to get to work which had made them late. It was reported that TfGM had been consulted regarding the siting of a bus stop to help service users. The issue of frequency of the service would be reported to the depot concerned for action to be taken.
Mr Turner reported that he would attend the next meeting of the Township Forum to report on the changes and receive feedback.
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| WUTF.633 | The Chair welcomed Dr Peter Elton (Director of Public Health - NHS Bury) who gave a presentation on Health and Well Being for Bury. The presentation outlined the structures for the Health and Well Being Board, Clinical Commissioning Group and Health Watch.
The Chair invited questions from the audience.
Question: Is public transport beneficial to the mental health of individuals in accessing activities?
Response: We would favour public transport for individuals as a means of achieving regular social contact.
Question: From the case study referred to in the presentation, how would the elements of the various services be drawn together?
Response: A Case Manager is involved with an individual and would be in contact with the social support agencies as well the individual to help co-ordinate the support services involved.
Question: How do consent rules apply?
Response: Informed choice is made by the individual, where this is not possible discussion is held with the individual’s relative/s and then a decision is made by the clinician.
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| WUTF.634 | Sergeant Mike Reed attended the meeting and reported that anyone wishing to receive regular update information from the Police could do so through the GMP website as well as Facebook and Twitter. Newsletters had been circulated at the meeting and were also available in electronic format.
The meeting was reminded that a PACT meeting would take place thirty minutes prior to each Whitefield and Unsworth Township Forum.
From 12 March 2013 there would be changes to the way in which the Police in Bury would be located. There would be two Integrated Neighbourhood Policing Teams (INPT 1 (north based at Bury Police HQ) and INPT 2 (south based at Whitefield Police Station)). A new IT system would also be introduced. There would be no changes to the opening hours of the Whitefield Police Station.
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| WUTF.635 | For a period of thirty minutes the Chair invited questions from the members of the public present.
- It was reported that the Greater Manchester Authorities were looking to introduce an energy switching auction where energy providers would bid for custom. The best value energy provider would be chosen and the deal offered to residents. Residents were encouraged to register on the scheme.
- A request was made for something to be done about the state of paths in a local park adjacent to Chadderton Drive. The paths were in need of attention due to the boggy conditions of the grass which flooded the path. The Township Co-ordinator undertook to report the matter.
- What is the current situation regarding the Whitefield House site? A report will be made at the next meeting of the Township Forum.
- Can action be taken to unblock the gully on Church Lane? A request will be made to highway maintenance with notices for those who park there to move there vehicles when the cleaning takes place.
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| WUTF.636 | A copy of the Whitefield and Unsworth Area Plan was submitted for information.
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| WUTF.637 | A copy of the Community Funding report was submitted containing details of the grant funding allocations for the Whitefield and Unsworth Township Forum in 2012/2013.
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