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C.460
DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
1. Councillor Connolly declared an interest in any item which related to staffing as his partner is an employee of Bury Council. 2. Councillors Cummings and Quinn each declared a personal interest in Minute C. 471, Allowances for Members of the Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority, as they represented the Council on the Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority.
C.461
MINUTES OF THE COUNCIL
RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 26 October 2011 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Mayor.
C.462
MAYORAL COMMUNICATIONS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
The Mayor referred to the recent deaths of Anne Costello, former Mayoress, and Fusilier James Wilkinson. Members observed a brief silence as a mark of respect. The Mayor congratulated all concerned in Burys success in achieving the Strategic Planning Winner and Overall Winner in the Royal Town Planning Institute North West Awards for 2011. Finally, the Mayor thanked those who attended this years Civic Ball and helped make the event such a success, with proceeds going to the Mayors Charities.
C.463
PUBLIC QUESTION TIME
Support by the political leadership for the recent day of action and repercussions in paying staff to work over a weekend to compensate for services not carried out. Mrs D Ashworth Councillor Connolly Acted responsibly as a Council in ensuring services carried out for the public good. Payments to staff offset by savings through recycling initiatives.
C.464
RECOMMENDATIONS OF EXECUTIVE AND COUNCIL COMMITTEES Executive of 9 November 2011- Minute EX.348 Nomination of Mayor for 2012/2013
It was moved by Councillor Connolly and seconded by Councillor Smith and it was RESOLVED: That Councillor Joan Grimshaw be nominated as Mayor for the Municipal Year 2012/2013.
C.465
LEADER STATEMENT AND EXECUTIVE QUESTION TIME
(a)Written questions (four clear days notice given) The Leader of the Council, Councillor Connolly, made a statement on the work undertaken by him since the date of the last Council meeting. The Leader and the relevant Executive Members answered questions raised by Councillors on the following issues: 1. Comprehensive Area Assessment and Service Improvements Councillor Ann Audin Councillor Holt 2.Government Announcement relating to the Youth Contract Councillor Pickstone Councillor Bury 3. Involvement of Political Leadership in supporting recent industrial action Councillor Walker Councillor Connolly 4. New affordable housing development on the site of St Marys Court, Prestwich Councillor N Bayley Councillor Shori 5. Expenditure on Christmas decorations by Township Councillor OHanlon Councillor Lewis 6. New High School for Radcliffe Councillor Harris Councillor Parnell 7. Future use of the Shuttle Centre Councillor Boden Councillor Parnell 8. Provision of grit bins and supply of grit to residents. Councillor Mary DAlbert Councillor Isherwood 9. Review of the Future of the Boroughs Civic Halls Councillor Hankey Councillor Lewis 10. NHS support to Council for older peoples care Councillor Vic DAlbert Councillor Shori 11. Council Tax levels and cost of living pay rises during Plan for Change Councillor Pickstone Councillor Smith 12. Sickness Absence amongst Council employees Councillor OHanlon Councillor Holt 13. Pupil Premium Funding for Bury Schools Councillor Vic DAlbert Councillor Parnell 14. Dog Warden Service visits Councillor Mary DAlbert Councillor Isherwood Due to the lack of time to answer questions 9 to 14 inclusive, the Leader gave an undertaking that copies of the answers to those questions will be circulated to all Councillors. The Leader also gave an undertaking to make these available on the Council Web Site. (b) Oral questions on the work of the Leader and Cabinet Members since the last Council meeting (without Notice) 15. Home Ownership and social housing provision Councillor Gartside Councillor Shori 16. Development of site of former Prestwich Tip Councillor OHanlon Councillor Isherwood 17. Early Intervention Grants and Children in Care Councillor Caserta Councillor Parnell 18. Level of recycling rates and comparison with AGMA Authorities Councillor Quinn Councillor Isherwood 19. Financial Support to Bury Met Arts Association Councillor Vic DAlbert Councillor Connolly 20. Refuse Collection Service and Recycling Councillor Gunther Councillor Connolly 21. Legal Costs incurred in resolving the Equal Pay Dispute Councillor N Bayley Councillor Connolly 22. Claims dealt with under Equal Pay Councillor Brown Councillor Connolly 23. Provision of brown bin recycling service in Ramsbottom Councillor Bevan Councillor Isherwood
C.466
NOTICES OF MOTION
Two Notices of Motion had been received in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 12:- (A) CORPORATE PARENTING AND FOSTER CARE A motion had been received and set out in the Summons in the names of: Councillors J Frith, N Parnell, J Grimshaw, A Audin, K Audin, M Bailey, N Bayley, D Boden, P Bury, J Byrne, G Campbell, D Cassidy, J Columbine, M Connolly, A Cummings , T Holt, A Isherwood, M James, J Lewis, A Matthews, A Quinn, K Rothwell, R Shori, J Smith, T Tariq and S Walmsey. It was moved by Councillor Frith and seconded by Councillor Parnell:- That this Council notes: The vital role and responsibility of all Elected Members as Corporate Parents to the Boroughs Children and Young People in Care. We support the work of Children's Services in actively encouraging the recruitment of foster carers in Bury. This Council supports and is committed to the provision of child centered, high quality foster care; giving the maximum stability possible for our young people so to improve their life chances among their peers and give them the best chance of success in their own lives. This Council resolves to support an active campaign to raise awareness and provide accessible information about foster caring with the aim to increase the recruitment of foster carers in Bury. The motion on being put was unanimously accepted and declared carried. (B)TOWNSHIP FORUMS AND SECTION 106 A motion had been received and set out in the Summons in the names of: Councillors M DAlbert, V DAlbert, Garner, OHanlon and Pickstone. This Council notes: 1. The progress made towards more local decision making in the Borough, most recently through the development of Township Forums. 2. The resources that are available, and are likely to be available in the future, through income as a result of Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990. This Council resolves: 1. To identify ways in which decisions around Section 106 expenditure can be made by Township Forums. 2. To ask that the Leader bring a report to a future meeting of the Executive, or this Council as appropriate, outlining a process of how Township Forums can make decisions about Section 106 expenditure in the future. This report will outline how Township Forums will receive appropriate advice and guidance from Officers and outline how decisions can be made about Section 106 monies whose area of benefit covers more than one Township. 3. That this report be brought before the end of the 2011-12 municipal year. An amendment was moved by Councillor Walmsley and seconded by Councillor Cummings that:- TOWNSHIP FORUMS AND RESOURCE ALLOCATION MECHANISMS This Council notes: 1. The progress made towards more local decision making in the Borough, most recently through the development of Township Forums. 2. The resources that are available, and are likely to be available in the future, through various income sources including Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990. This Council resolves: 1. To identify ways in which the Township Forums can play a role in influencing future investment of these resources through provisions of the Localism Act and Local Community Plan priorities subject to any covenants or restrictions that may be associated with the investment of these funds through development agreements. 2. To ask that the Leader bring a report to a future meeting of the Executive, or this Council as appropriate, outlining a process of how Township Forums can influence resource allocation outlined in 1 above. This report will outline how Township Forums will receive appropriate advice and guidance from Officers and outline how decisions can be made about resources whose area of benefit covers more than one Township. 3. That this report be incorporated into the review of the Township Forums to be brought before Council prior to the end of the 2011/12 Municipal Year. The amendment on being put, 26 voted for, 21 against was declared carried. A further amendment was moved by Councillor Brown and seconded by Councillor Hankey that the amendment as carried be agreed subject to the deletion in Resolution 2 of the Executive, or this Council as appropriate, and the substitution of the Council. The further amendment on being put was unanimously accepted and declared carried. The following substantive motion on being put was unanimously accepted and declared carried:- TOWNSHIP FORUMS AND RESOURCE ALLOCATION MECHANISMS This Council notes: 1. The progress made towards more local decision making in the Borough, most recently through the development of Township Forums. 2. The resources that are available, and are likely to be available in the future, through various income sources including Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990. This Council resolves: 1. To identify ways in which the Township Forums can play a role in influencing future investment of these resources through provisions of the Localism Act and Local Community Plan priorities subject to any covenants or restrictions that may be associated with the investment of these funds through development agreements. 2. To ask that the Leader bring a report to a future meeting of the Council, outlining a process of how Township Forums can influence resource allocation outlined in 1 above. This report will outline how Township Forums will receive appropriate advice and guidance from Officers and outline how decisions can be made about resources whose area of benefit covers more than one Township. 3. That this report be incorporated into the review of the Township Forums to be brought before Council prior to the end of the 2011/12 Municipal Year.
C.467
SCRUTINY REVIEW REPORTS AND SPECIFIC ITEMS CALLED IN BY SCRUTINY COMMITTEES
There were no Scrutiny Review Reports or specific items called in by the Internal Scrutiny Committee to be considered at this Council meeting.
C.468
JOINT AUTHORITIES REPORT BY THE COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE AND QUESTIONS
(a) Councillor Cummings, the Councils representative, on the Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority, gave a verbal report on the work of the Authority to all Members of the Council (b) The following questions had been received in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 11.2: 1. Discretionary fares for young peoples travel - Review Councillor Garner Councillor Byrne (Representative on the Committee for Greater Manchester Transport) 2. Provision of replacement trams on the Bury Line Councillor Pickstone Councillor Byrne (Representative on the Committee for Greater Manchester Transport 3. Impact of the closure of Prestwich Tip Councillor OHanlon Councillor Cummings (Representative on the Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority
C.469
QUESTIONS ON THE WORK OF OUTSIDE BODIES OR PARTNERSHIPS
There were no written questions on the work of the outside bodies or partnerships on which the Council is represented, submitted in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 11.2.
C.470
DELEGATED DECISIONS OF THE COUNCIL COMMITTEES
There were no written questions asked on the delegated decisions of the Committee or Scrutiny Commissions contained in the Digests of Decisions No.d 6 (2011/2012).
C.471
ALLOWANCES FOR MEMBERS OF THE GREATER MANCHESTER WASTE DISPOSAL AUTHORITY
The Chief Executive submitted a report which set out the proposed allowances recommended by an Independent Review Panel for those Members who serve on the Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority It was moved by Councillor Connolly and seconded by Councillor Smith that: 1. The level of Special Responsibility Allowances recommended by the Independent Panel, including a basic allowance of £2,100, be approved; 2. In line with Burys current scheme, the recommendation that a member in receipt of this allowance is also entitled to receive one other SRA be endorsed; 3. With regard to travel allowances for GMWDA representatives, for meetings which take place outside the Borough, Members be reimbursed at the current rate applied by the Council of 40p per mile. On being put, the recommendation was unanimously carried and it was: RESOLVED: 1. That the level of Special Responsibility Allowances recommended by the Independent Panel, including a basic allowance of £2,100, be approved. 2. That in line with Burys current scheme, the recommendation that a member in receipt of this allowance is also entitled to receive one other SRA be endorsed. 3. That with regard to travel allowances for GMWDA representatives, for meetings which take place outside the Borough, Members be reimbursed at the current rate applied by the Council of 40p per mile.