Meeting documents

Council
Wednesday, 9th April, 2003 7.00 pm

Date:
Wednesday, 9th April, 2003
Time:
07.00 p.m.
Place:
Council Chamber, Town Hall Bury
 

Attendance Details

Present:
The Worshipful the Mayor (Councillor J Smith) in the Chair;
Councillors K Audin, R A Bibby, J Byrne, G Campbell, W A Campbell, D M Cassidy, T P Chamberlain, F A Chaudhry, M Connolly, J P Costello, S Costello, Y Creswell, A J Cummings, C M Fitzgerald, J Grimshaw, D L Gunther, D M Higgin, T Holt, B M Hope, A P Hughes, A Isherwood, W Johnson, S Mason, A K Matthews, P J Nesbit, S R Perkins, T D Pickstone, W Ramsey, G Sharkey, S M Smith, J W H Taylor, B Theckston, P Timperley, S J Treadgold, B Vincent, P Walker, R E Walker, J F Walton, R A Watts and Y S Wright

Co-opted:
Public attendance: 22 members of the public attended the meeting.
Apologies for absence:
Councillors D Boden, E B Briggs, K S Briggs, V D'Albert, W J Davison, E K Grime and S P Mangnall
Buttons
Item Description Decision
Open
C.1377 MINUTES OF THE COUNCIL
 RESOLVED:

That the Minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 26 February 2003 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Mayor.
C.1378 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Preamble for item C.1378
 
C.1379 MAYORAL COMMUNICATIONS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS (IF ANY)
Preamble for item C.1379
 
C.1380 PUBLIC QUESTION TIME
Preamble for item C.1380
 
C.1381 RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE EXECUTIVE AND COUNCIL COMMITTEES
Preamble for item C.1381
(a) Minute S.1243 of the Standards Committee on 13 March 2003 - Report of the Independent Remuneration Panel.

It was moved by the Mayor and seconded by Councillor Mason that the recommendations contained in Minute S.1243 of the meeting of the Standards Committee on 13 March 2003 be approved and adopted.

Each of the four recommendations contained in the Minute was put to the vote separately.

On being put 39 voted for and none against, with 2 abstentions (Councillors Higgin and Pickstone), in respect of recommendations 1, 2 and 3 and 40 voted for and none against, with 1 abstention (Councillor Pickstone), in the voting in respect of recommendation 4.

The motion was then declared carried and it was -

RESOLVED:

That the recommendations contained in Minute S.1243 of the meeting of the Standards Committee held on 13 March 2003 concerning the report of the Independent Remuneration Panel be approved an adopted.

(b) Minute S.1246 of the Standards Committee on 13 March 2003 - Probity in Planning Code of Conduct

It was moved by the Mayor, seconded by Councillor Mason and -

RESOLVED:

That the recommendation contained in Minute S.1246 of the meeting of the Standards Committee held on 13 March 2003 concerning the Probity in Planning Code of Conduct, be approved and adopted.

(c) Minute EX.1276 of the Executive on 19 March 2003 - Proposed Timetable of Meetings 2003/2004

It was moved by Councillor Byrne, seconded by Councillor W A Campbell and -

RESOLVED:

That the recommendations contained in Minute EX.1276 of the meeting of the Executive held on 19 March 2003 concerning the proposed Timetable of Meetings 2003/2004, be approved and adopted.

(d) Minute EX.1277 of the Executive on 19 March 2003 - Corporate Plan 2003/2008

It was moved by Councillor Byrne, seconded by Councillor W A Campbell and -

RESOLVED:

That the recommendation contained in Minute EX.1277 of the meeting of the Executive held on 19 March 2003 concerning the Corporate Plan 2003/2008 be approved and adopted.

(e) Minute EX.1278 of the Executive on 19 March 2003 - Bury Youth Justice Plan 2003/2004

It was moved by Councillor Byrne, seconded by Councillor W A Campbell and -

RESOLVED:

That the recommendations contained in Minute EX.1278 of the meeting of the Executive held on 19 March 2003 concerning the Bury Youth Justice Plan 2003/2004 and the Update to Plan 2002/2005 be approved and adopted.

(f) Minute EX.1280 of the Executive on 19 March 2003 - Treasury Management Annual Strategy and Plan

It was moved by Councillor Byrne, seconded by Councillor W A Campbell and -

RESOLVED:

That the recommendations contained in Minute EX.1280 of the meeting of the Executive held on 19 March 2003 concerning the Treasury Management Annual Strategy and Plan be approved and adopted










C.1382 PERIODIC ELECTORAL REVIEW - RECOMMENDATIONS OF BOUNDARY COMMITTEE FOR ENGLAND
Preamble for item C.1382
RESOLVED:

That the draft recommendations of the Boundary Committee for England in respect of the future electoral arrangements for Bury be supported.
C.1383 STANDARDS COMMITTEE - INDEPENDENT MEMBERS
Preamble for item C.1383
RESOLVED:

That the recommendations 1 to 4 contained in the report on the appointment of Independent Members to the Standards Committee be approved and adopted.
C.1384 LEADERS STATEMENT AND EXECUTIVE QUESTION TIME
Preamble for item C.1384
 
C.1385 OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY - ANNUAL REPORT 2002/2003
Preamble for item C.1385
RESOLVED:

That the Overview and Scrutiny Annual Report for 2002/2003 be accepted.
C.1386 SCRUTINY REVIEW REPORTS AND SPECIFIC ITEMS 'CALLED IN' BY SCRUTINY PANELS/COMMISSIONS
Preamble for item C.1386
 
C.1387 NOTICES OF MOTION
Preamble for item C.1387
 
C.1388 QUESTIONS ON THE FUNCTIONS OF JOINT AUTHORITIES
Preamble for item C.1388
 
C.1389 QUESTIONS ON THE WORK OF OUTSIDE BODIES OR PARTNERSHIPS
Preamble for item C.1389
 
C.1390 DELEGATED DECISIONS OF THE EXECUTIVE AND COUNCIL COMMITTEES
Preamble for item C.1390
 
C.1391 APPOINTMENT OF DIRECTOR OF LEGAL AND DEMOCRATIC SERVICES
Preamble for item C.1391
 

The meeting started at 7.00 pm and ended at 9.40 pm


Preamble

Preamble
ItemPreamble
C.1378Councillors S J P Costello, Y Creswell, R E Walker and R A Watts declared personal interests as Governors of High Schools in respect of the Private Finance Initiative bid referred to in Minute EX.1192 of the Executive at its meeting on 5 March 2003 and any discussions at this meeting on the Initiative.

C.1379Thanks to Council Members and Staff

As this was the final meeting of the Council for the current Municipal Year, the Worshipful the Mayor expressed sincere thanks and appreciation to those Members who had served as Executive Members, Lead Members and Chairs of various Committees, Panels, Boards and other bodies during the past twelve months, for their valuable service and the time rendered by them in carrying out their duties.

The Mayor extended particular thanks to Councillors Hope, Mason and Ramsey who were retiring from the Council.

Councillor Winston Ramsey has been one of the Council's longest serving Members and has more than nineteen years service. He has chaired many Committees and has represented the Council on many outside bodies. Councillor Ramsey was Mayor during the Municipal Year 1992/1993 and together with his wife, Ruth, who was Mayoress, had a most successful year and amongst their many engagements they had the duty to officially welcome to the Metropolitan Borough Her Majesty The Queen and to act as hosts to Her Majesty during the period of the visit.

Councillor Sylvia Mason has served the Council for seven years. She has been an Executive Member and also chaired various bodies and represented the Council on many organisations. She has been actively involved in many aspects of the functions of the Authority.

Councillor Bredon Hope has served one term on the Council and during this period he has been committed and dedicated Member. He has served the Council in various capacities and has shown a great awareness of the needs of Community and his views and opinions have always been highly regarded as respected.

The Mayor indicted that all the retiring members have a wealth of experience and their contributions to Local Government have been most significant and will be of lasting benefit. On behalf of the Council the Mayor wished them well for the future.

The Mayor also expressed thanks to those Members seeking re-election to the Council at the forthcoming Municipal Election for the excellent manner in which they had served the Metropolitan Borough.

The Mayor also thanked all Members of the Council's staff for their endeavours and contribution to the affairs of the Borough during the past year.

C.1380Questions were asked on the following issues during public question time:-

• Mr K Rothwell concerning the effect on the Capital Programme of the loss of the estimated £1.5m to be received from the sale of the Claremont site if the change of designation of the site had not been granted by the Planning Control Committee.

• Mr T Miles concerning the effectiveness of the radio/television early warning system which replaced the Air Raid Sirens.

• Mrs L Jones and Mr Launders concerning a footpath at Osborne Walk, Bury

• Mrs P Mason regarding concerns over moving elderly people from or between Elderly Persons’ Homes.

• Mr B Farrer concerning the provision of services to elderly people in the voluntary and independent sectors and the underfunding of social services in Bury.

• Mr Hamburger regarding the inadequate level of fees payable to private residential care homes in respect of social services clients.

• Mr Barclay regarding the comparison with the level of fees payable to private residential care homes in a neighbouring local authority.

• Mr Barclay concerning the increase in the Mayor's Allowance.

• Ms K Shafto regarding the difference in pay rates for care workers in the private and public sectors.

• Mrs D Bigg seeking clarification of the situation in respect of closures and admittance to the local authority Elderly Persons' Homes.

C.1381





C.1382The Leader of the Council submitted a report on the draft recommendations of the Boundary Committee for England for the future electoral arrangements for Bury, which were based on the Council's submitted proposals agreed at the meeting of the Council held on 12 September 2002, with minor amendments.

The Boundary Committee has asked for the views/comments on the draft recommendations by 22 April 2003 prior to the submission of their final recommendations to the Electoral Commission.

It was moved by Councillor Byrne and seconded by Councillor W A Campbell that the draft recommendations of the Boundary Committee for England in respect of the future electoral arrangements for Bury be supported.

Upon being put and with none dissenting, the motion was declared carried and it was -

C.1383The Council considered a report submitted by the Director of Legal and Democratic Services on the appointment of Independent Members to the Standards Committee which recommended:-

1. That the number of Independent Members serving on the Standards Committee be increased from 3 to 4;

2. That the 3 Independent Members currently serving on the Standards Committee be invited to continue in office beyond May 2003;

3. That the fourth Independent Member be appointed following interview; and

4. That a recommendation be made to the Annual Council meeting on staggered terms of office for those appointed.

It was moved by the Mayor and seconded by Councillor Mason that the recommendations 1 to 4 as set out above and contained in the report be approved and adopted.

Upon being put and with none dissenting, the motion was declared carried and it was -

C.1384The Leader of the Council made a Statement on the work of the Executive

The Leader and Executive Members answered oral questions asked by Members of the Council on the following issues:-

1. Consultations by Manchester City Council on a proposed car park at Heaton Park - Councillor P J Nesbit

2. Funding for private sector residential care homes - Councillor D Gunther

3. Further consultation on provision of elderly persons' services -Councillor T Holt

4. Residential Care provision for elderly - Councillor R A Bibby

5. Monitoring of elderly persons moved from Elderly Persons' Homes - Councillor B M Hope

6. Current situation in relation to the suspension of a teacher employed by the Authority - Councillor R E Walker

7. Update on energy saving in the Borough - Councillor S Mason

8. Best Value Inspection Team report on the reducing level of rent arrears - Councillor J Grimshaw

9. Publication of the identities of local authority debtors in the press - Councillor Y S Wright

10. Cost of the forthcoming Bury F.C. centenary celebrations - Councillor T Creswell

11. Date of opening of the public toilet in Kay Gardens, Bury - Councillor G Sharkey

12. Plans for future development in Whitefield - Councillor B Vincent

13. Management of care for the elderly - Councillor D L Gunther

14. School Organisation Committee decision-making arrangements and accountability - Councillor R E Walker

15. Development in Whitefield including improvements to parks, building work by developers at Elms Precinct and traffic calming measures on Park Road - Councillor P Walker

16. Public toilets in Kay Gardens and use by disabled people - Councillor R A Bibby



C.1385Councillor T P Chamberlain made a Statement on the Overview and Scrutiny Annual Report 2002/2003, which was the first annual report to be submitted for consideration by the Council and which set out details of the changes to the overview and scrutiny structure and process introduced during 2002/2003 and of the work undertaken by the Scrutiny Panels and Commissions during that year.

It was moved by Councillor Chamberlain, seconded by Councillor Walton and -

C.1386There were no scrutiny review reports or specific items 'called in' by Scrutiny Panels/Commissions to be considered at this Council meeting.

C.1387There were no Notices of Motion received in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 12.

C.1388There were no written questions on the work of the Joint Authorities submitted in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 11.2.

C.1389There were no written questions on the work of outside bodies or partnerships submitted in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 11.2

C.1390There were no questions on the delegated decisions of the Executive and Council Committees contained in the Digest of Decisions (Nos. 14, 16 and 17 [2002/2003]) published since the last ordinary meeting of the Council.

C.1391The Worshipful the Mayor, on behalf of the Council, offered congratulations to Jayne Hammond on her appointment as Director of Legal and Democratic Services.