| RTF.797 | There were no declarations of interest made at the meeting. |
| RTF.798 | MATTERS ARISING
Minute RTF.648 - Police Update
Councillor M Bailey sought clarification as to when the changes to the Neighbouring Policing Teams in the Borough would be taking place. It was reported that these changes would be from 10 March 2013.
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| RTF.799 | Claire Jenkins (Head of Customer Support & Collections, BMBC) introduced Ian Davenport (Service Development Manager, BMBC), Dave Bevitt (CAB) and Adam Greenhalgh (Six Town Housing) 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:-
Councillor Shori raised concerns about the growth of legal loan company’s in Bury. It was reported that a Borough-wide credit union facility was currently being developed in Bury.
Councillor Briggs enquired about Welfare Reform Board initiatives in Bury. It was reported that there were briefings taking place with other agencies looking into funding and sharing information. A corporate approach to debt and debt counselling were being considered. Councillor Briggs also raised concerns about the initial panic for claimants when the welfare reform is introduced.
Councillor Bailey asked about the criteria for the under occupancy in social housing part of the reform. It was reported that there would be some discrepancies in the critieria eg. Disability and there would be some discretionary housing payments available to local authorities. |
| RTF.800 | 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:-
• How much would the initiative cost? Where was the money coming from in Bury?
It was reported that funding would be a one-off spend, money that had already been set aside from reserves. This would not be a year-on-year spend, the total would be £750,000. Councillor Shori commented that this would be an investment to save. A recent survey conducted on the total cost of road accidents had shown that this Council, by undertaking the Streetsafe initiative could save up to £10 million on one year against other Greater Manchester Authorities.
• How will the initiative be monitored? What sanctions would be put in place?
Raising awareness of the initiative would be of paramount importance. Speeds can be measures in an area. The police were happy to support the initiative and enforce the speed restrictions. Additional physical speed measures may need to be implemented at a later stage.
• Would the priority be areas near to local schools and children’s play areas?
The areas that fall into the remit of the initiative were available to view on the Council’s website. Comments from local people were important and suggestions were welcome. The Township Co-ordinator suggested that further discussions on the initiative could take place at the next meeting as part of the round-table discussions.
• Concerned schools on main roads would lose out on the benefits of Streetsafe because of their locality.
The initiative would be targeted at sites away from main roads but the areas surrounding the schools on main roads could be considered as part of the scheme.
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| RTF.801 | 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:-
The key changes to the household collection services in Bury
Current recycling rates (up to 46% from 28%)
Cost savings achieved
Why Bury needs to recycle more and how this can be achieved
What the Authority are doing to promote recycling
The audience were invited to ask questions/make comments:-
• Councillor Bailey commented on the success of the recycling scheme in Bury and asked for clarification on enforcement, publicity and missed collections.
In terms of enforcement, the Council take on a helpful and proactive response rather than strict enforcement, certain areas are targeted by canvassing low uptake areas. Missed collections are complex, often access to some areas can make things difficult. In relation to publicity, a questions and answers leaflet will be distributed during the next round of collections.
• Has there been an increase in fly-tipping in Bury?
It was reported that there are isolated incidents of fly-tipping in the Borough, however, there has not been an increase in these incidents following the introduction of the recycling initiatives. Bury has a good track record of enforcement.
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| RTF.802 | The Chair, Colin Jones invited Advisory Group members to inform the Township Forum of events or news relating to the work of their group and the following information was provided:-
(a) Friends of Close Park - Colette reported that the cuts to the Rangers Service in Bury had affected the HLF bid. Residents had been asked to apply for additional match funding. It was hoped that this issue would be addressed in due course.
Colette also provided an update in relation to the Community First Initiative. It was reported that a panel had been formed in Radcliffe. Cllr M Bailey gave an assurance to attend the Panel meeting. It was reported that there was an available budget of £18,000 which needed to be spent by 18 March 2013. Any interested community groups would need a bank account and constitution in place in order to qualify for this funding. The Panel were there to help any group interested. A Facebook page had been set up and leaflets distributed. The Chair informed the meeting that there were two Panels set up, representing Radcliffe East and Radcliffe West.
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| RTF.803 | A report from the Programme Support Officer was submitted providing an update on Council funding to support the work of voluntary and community groups in Radcliffe, since the last meeting of the Township Forum. It was reported that there was still £8000 available to spend in Radcliffe West and that any joint initiative in Radcliffe could apply for the funding available in Radcliffe West. Cllr Walmsley informed the meeting that groups could apply for small grants of up to £12,000.
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| RTF.804 | The Township Co-ordinator submitted a report providing an update on the priorities since the last meeting of the Township Forum:-
• The Children’s Centre Action Plan was currently being co-ordinated.
• One member of the public had attended the last Town Team meeting. The next meeting would be held on 9 April.
• The Township Co-ordinator would be working with the new Police Inspectors in the area - the aim being to revitalise the partnership meetings.
• The next meetings cycle would include a full performance report.
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| RTF.805 | The Chair invited questions, comments and representations from members of the public present at the meeting.
• A Mr Barrett attended the meeting to inform members of the Charity event being held by the Bury Croquet Club in support of Bury Hospice. The event would take place at Coronation Park on Saturday 13 April at from 11.30 am. £1 per ticket. All proceeds to Bury Hospice.
Cllr Bailey informed the meeting that Radcliffe Brass Band would be holding their Centenary event at Radcliffe Civic Suite on the evening of Friday 1 March.
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