Meeting documents

Council
Wednesday, 28th January, 2004 7.00 pm

Date:
Wednesday, 28th January, 2004
Time:
07.00pm
Place:
Council Chamber, Town Hall, Bury
 

Attendance Details

Present:
The Worshipful the Mayor (Councillor W J Davison) in the Chair;
Councillors P Ashworth, K Audin, R A Bibby, D B Bigg, D Boden, E B Briggs, K S Briggs, J Byrne, W A Campbell, D M Cassidy, T P Chamberlain, F A Chaudhry, M Connolly, J P Costello, Y Creswell, A J Cummings, V D D’Albert, C M Fitzgerald, A S Garner, M A Gibb, E K Grime, J Grimshaw, D L Gunther, D M Higgin, T Holt, A Isherwood, A K Matthews, P J Nesbit, S R Perkins, T D Pickstone, G Sharkey, J Smith, S M Smith, B J Sullivan, J W H Taylor, B Theckston,
P Timperley, S J Treadgold, B Vincent, R E Walker, J F Walton, M J Wiseman and Y S Wright

Co-opted:
4 members of the public attended the meeting.
Apologies for absence:
Councillors S Costello, A P Hughes, W Johnson and S P Magnall
Buttons
Item Description Decision
Open
C.1097 MINUTES OF THE COUNCIL
 RESOLVED:

That the Minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 5 November 2003 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Mayor.
C.1098 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Preamble for item C.1098
 
C.1099 MAYORAL COMMUNICATIONS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Preamble for item C.1099
 
C.1100 PUBLIC QUESTION TIME
Preamble for item C.1100
 
C.1101 RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE EXECUTIVE AND COUNCIL COMMITTEES
 (a) Minute EX.912 of the Executive on 3 December 2003 - Proposed Revised Definition of a Key Decision

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

RESOLVED:

That the recommendations contained in Minute EX.912 of the meeting of the Executive held on 3 December 2003 concerning the proposed revised definition of a Key Decision be approved and adopted.

(b) Minute EX.954 of the Executive on 17 December 2003 - Appointments to Outside Bodies

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

RESOLVED:

That the recommendations contained in Minute EX.954 of the meeting of the Executive held on 17 December 2003 concerning appointments to Outside Bodies be approved and adopted.

(c) Minute EX.957 of the Executive on 17 December 2003 - Operation of Council Meetings

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

RESOLVED:

That the recommendations contained in Minute EX.957 of the meeting of the Executive held on 17 December 2003 concerning the operation of Council Meetings be approved and adopted.

(d) Minute EX.958 of the Executive on 17 December 2003 - Meetings Timetable for 2003/2004 and 2004/2005

(i) It was moved by Councillor Byrne and seconded by Councillor Campbell that the recommendations contained in Minute EX.958 of the meeting of the Executive held on 17 December 2003 concerning the Meetings Timetable 2003/2004 and 2004/2005 be approved and adopted.

(ii) An amendment was moved by Councillor Walker and seconded by Councillor Creswell by way of the addition of the following paragraph:-

‘That the meeting of the Planning Committee proposed for 5 October be moved to the week following and that those meetings which it is proposed should be held on Jewish Holy Days be rearranged in good time once the membership of the relevant Committees is known in the New Municipal Year.’

The amendment was accepted by the mover of the motion.

(iii) It was then -

RESOLVED:

That the recommendations contained in Minute EX.958 of the meeting of the Executive held on 17 December 2003 concerning the Meetings Timetable 2003/2004 and 2004/2005, as amended at (ii) above, be approved and adopted.

(e) Minute EX.1096 of the Executive on 21 January 2004 - Calculation of the Council Tax Base

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

RESOLVED:

That the recommendations contained in Minute EX.1096 of the meeting of the Executive held on 21 January 2004 concerning the calculation of the Council Tax Base be approved and adopted.
C.1102 PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO POLLING DISTRICT BOUNDARIES
Preamble for item C.1102
It was moved by Councillor Byrne, seconded by Councillor Campbell and -

RESOLVED:

That the proposed amendments to the boundaries of Polling Districts within the new Church, Holyrood and Sedgley Wards, as detailed in the report, be approved in order to facilitate ease of voting for electors in future elections and to assist in the effective running of elections.
C.1103 LEADER'S STATEMENT AND EXECUTIVE QUESTION TIME
Preamble for item C.1103
 
C.1104 SCRUTINY REVIEW REPORTS AND SPECIFIC ITEMS 'CALLED IN' BY SCRUTINY PANELS/COMMISSIONS
Preamble for item C.1104
 
C.1105 NOTICES OF MOTION
Preamble for item C.1105
 
C.1106 QUESTIONS ON THE FUNCTIONS OF JOINT AUTHORITIES
Preamble for item C.1106
 
C.1107 QUESTIONS ON THE WORK OF OUTSIDE BODIES OR PARTNERSHIPS
Preamble for item C.1107
 
C.1108 DELEGATED DECISIONS OF THE EXECUTIVE AND COUNCIL COMMITTEES
Preamble for item C.1108
 
The meeting started at 7.00 pm and ended at
8.54 pm

Preamble

Preamble
ItemPreamble
C.1098(a) Councillors Connolly, Byrne, Pickstone and Treadgold declared personal interests in various Minutes of Area Boards and the Healthier and Safer Communities Scrutiny Commission concerning Bury Primary Care Trust Service Strategy, Health Scrutiny and Joint Health Scrutiny Arrangements as members, directors or employees of Bury Primary Health Care Trust or Pennine Acute Hospitals and Care NHS Trusts.

(b) Councillor Creswell declared a personal interest in Minute EX.954 of the Executive at its meeting on 17 December 2003 in relation to the appointment made to BADDAC.

(c) The Worshipful the Mayor declared a personal interest as Chair of a local football club in relation to a question raised in Minute C.1108 below on charges made to charitable organisations for car boot sales.
C.1099(a) Recent deaths and bereavements

The Worshipful the Mayor was saddened to refer to the recent deaths of Mrs Mary Mills, Mrs Evelyn May Waite and Mr John Ball.

Mrs Mills was the Chairman’s Lady of Ramsbottom in 1972/1973. Her husband, Herbert served on the Ramsbottom Urban District Council for many years and he was also a Member of this Council following re-organisation in Local Government in 1974.

Mrs Waite was a Member of this Council from 1974 to 1995 and she served as Mayor during the Municipal Year 1986/1987.

Mrs Waite made an important and significant contribution to the affairs of the Council and served on many Committees and outside bodies. She was very well respected and highly regarded and made an important and impressive contribution to the Local Government Service.

Mr John Ball was a serving member of the Council’s staff and he died tragically whilst on holiday. He was a well liked Officer of the Council and undertook his duties with great efficiency and was loyal to all the Council undertakings.

The sympathy and condolences of the Council and Metropolitan Borough had been conveyed to the families of Mrs Mills, Mrs Waite and Mr Ball.

All present stood in silence as a mark of respect and in their memory.

(b) Seasonal Refreshments

The Worshipful the Mayor expressed his hope that all had enjoyed a Very Happy Christmas and offered all present sincere good wishes for the New Year.

The Mayor invited all present for ‘Seasonal Drinks’ to be served on the Balcony Bar of the Elizabethan Suite at the conclusion of the meeting.

C.1100A question was asked on the following issue during public question time:-

• Mr K Rothwell concerning progress towards implementing proposals for the integration of children’s services currently in Education and Social Services into a single service, the likely effect of the proposals on the education service and the implications for the two services whose revenue budgets were already under pressure.

C.1102Further to Minute C.723 of the Council at its last meeting, the Leader of the Council submitted a report containing details of suggested amendments to the boundaries of Polling Districts in the new Church, Holyrood and Sedgley Wards.
C.1103The Leader of the Council made a Statement on the work of the Executive.

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

(a) Written Questions (Notice Given)

1. A crossing on Bury Old Road, Prestwich near Sealand House Elderly Persons Home
Questioner: Councillor Garner

2. Car Parking Enforcement
Questioner: Councillor Higgin

3. Car Parking Enforcement
Questioner: Councillor Walker

4. Speed tables on Silver Street, Bury
Questioner: Councillor Walker

5. All postal ballot for elections in June 2004
Questioner: Councillor Pickstone

(b) Oral Questions

6. Speed tables on Silver Street, Bury
Questioner: Councillor Boden

7. Outcome of Benefit Fraud Inspection
Questioner: Councillor Sharkey

8. Supplementary question on car parking enforcement
Questioner: Councillor Higgin

9. Supplementary question on car parking enforcement
Questioner: Councillor Walker

10. Supplementary question on speed tables on Silver Street, Bury and resumption of bus services
Questioner: Councillor Walker

11. Progress on appointment of Members Services Officer
Questioner: Councillor Walton

12. Holocaust Memorial Day
Questioner: Councillor Nesbit

13. Resignation of a teacher
Questioner: Councillor Gunther

14.Future service provision at Fairfield Hospital for children
Questioner: Councillor D’Albert

15. Re-arranged date of a meeting of Whitefield and Unsworth Area Board
Questioner: Councillor Matthews

16. Updating of Quango Register
Questioner: Councillor Higgin

17. Update on dispute with private care home owners
Questioner: Councillor Bigg

18. Benefit Fraud Inspection and rent arrears
Questioner: Councillor Gunther

Prior to answering questions 2 and 3 above, Councillor S M Smith, Executive Member for Environment and Transport read a Statement concerning car parking enforcement
C.1104There were no scrutiny review reports or specific items ‘called in’ by Scrutiny Panels/Commissions to be considered at this Council meeting.
C.1105There were no notices of motion received in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 12.
C.1106There were no written questions on the work of the Joint Authorities submitted in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 11.2.


C.1107There were no written questions on the work of outside bodies or partnerships submitted in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 11.2.
C.1108Questions were asked on the delegated decisions of the Executive and Council Committees contained in the Digests of Decisions 7 to 10 (2003/2004) published since the last ordinary meeting of the Council as follows:-

1. Requesting a review of charging for charitable organisations holding car boot sales.
Questioner: Councillor Walker
Answered by Councillor J P Costello

2. Fairer charging policies for Home Care in relation to transport to day centres.
(Minute EX.1055 of the Executive on 14 January 2004 refers)
Questioner: Councillor Bigg
Answered by Councillor Connolly