Meeting documents

Council
Wednesday, 14th May, 2008 2.00 pm

Date:
Wednesday, 14th May, 2008
Time:
2.00 pm
Place:
Council Chamber, Town Hall, Bury
 

Attendance Details

Present:
The Worshipful the Mayor (Councillor F A Chaudhry) in the Chair;
Councillors D M Ashworth, P Ashworth, K Audin, I Ahmed, R L Baum, C A Berry, R A Bibby, D B Bigg, D Boden, K S Briggs, RCA Brown, J Byrne, W A Campbell, D M Cassidy S Cohen, M Connolly, S Costello, Y Creswell, A J Cummings, M D’Albert, V D D’Albert, W J Davison, A J Garner, A S Garner, I B Gartside, J Grimshaw, D L Gunther, M Hankey, J Harris, D M Higgin, T Holt, S Hurst, A Isherwood, S P Magnall, A K Matthews, D O’Hanlon, S P Penketh, T D Pickstone, P H Redstone, K Rothwell, J Smith, B J Sullivan, J W H Taylor, B Theckston, B Vincent, R E Walker, J F Walton, M J Wiseman, S D Wright and Y S Wright
Co-opted:
150 members of the public attended Part 1 of the meeting
19 members of the public attended Part 2 of the meeting
Apologies for absence:
Councillor R C Brown (Part 1), J Byrne (Part 1), S Costello (Part 1), P H Redstone (Part 1), J Smith (Part 1) (Clash of Meetings)
Buttons
Item Description Decision
Open
C.01 ELECTION OF THE MAYOR 2008/2009
Preamble for item C.01
RESOLVED:

That Councillor Peter Ashworth be duly elected Mayor of the Metropolitan Borough of Bury for the Municipal Year 2008/2009.

The newly-elected Mayor then occupied the Chair, made and signed the Declaration required by the Local Government Act 1972 and thanked the Council for the honour conferred on him in electing him Mayor of the Metropolitan Borough of Bury.
C.02 VOTE OF THANKS TO THE RETIRING MAYOR AND MAYORESS

Preamble for item C.02
RESOLVED:

That this Council hereby expresses its thanks to Councillor Farook Chaudhry and Mrs Rubina Chaudhry for the diligent manner in which they have undertaken the duties of Mayor and Mayoress of the Metropolitan Borough of Bury during the Municipal Year now ending and places on record its appreciation of their devotion to and performance of the important duties attaching to their offices and that Medallions be presented to them as tokens of appreciation of their services as Mayor and Mayoress.
C.03 APPOINTMENT OF THE DEPUTY MAYOR 2008/2009
Preamble for item C.03
RESOLVED:

That Councillor Farook Chaudhry be appointed Deputy Mayor of the Metropolitan Borough of Bury for the Municipal Year 2008/2009.

The newly-elected Deputy Mayor then made and signed the Declaration required by the Local Government Act 1972.

PART 2 OF THE MEETING
C.04 MINUTES
 RESOLVED:

(i) That the Minutes of the meetings of the Council held on 26 March and 24 April 2008 be confirmed as correct records and signed by the Mayor.

(ii) That further to Minute C.853(b) (20) of the meeting of the Council held on 26 March 2008, an undertaking was given that Councillor Walker would receive an answer to his question relating to Criminal Records Bureau checks on employees attending Area Tasking Team Meetings.
C.05 MAYORAL COMMUNICATIONS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Preamble for item C.05
 
C.06 ELECTION OF COUNCILLORS 2008
Preamble for item C.06
 
C.07 STATE OF THE BOROUGH DEBATE
Preamble for item C.07
 
C.08 AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION
Preamble for item C.08
RESOLVED:

That the motion be approved and the Council Constitution amended accordingly in respect of the composition of the Executive subject to a review of Executive Portfolios referred to in Minute C.09 below.
(This item, which was not included on the Summons for this meeting, was allowed to be considered by the Mayor on the grounds of urgency.)
C.09 ANNUAL APPOINTMENTS 2008/2009

Preamble for item C.09
RESOLVED:

1. That the appointments of the Political Groups’ Leaders and Deputy Leaders as set out in Appendix A to this report, be received.

2. That the appointment of the Leader of the Council, Deputy Leader of the Council and Executive Members for 2008/2009 Municipal Year as set out in Appendix B to the report be approved subject to authority being delegated to the Chief Executive after consultation with the Leader of the Council, to undertake a detailed Review of Executive Portfolios in 2008/2009, and the outcome reported to the Executive for information.

3. That the appointment of the Regulatory Committees, Scrutiny Commissions and other bodies covered by the Political Balance Rules, including the appointment of Chairs, where stated, for the 2008/2009 Municipal Year, as set out in Appendix C to the report, be approved.

4. That the appointment of the Standards Committee and other bodies not covered or exempted from the Political Balance Rules, including the appointment of Chairs, where stated, for the 2008/2009 Municipal Year, as set out in Appendix D to the report, be approved.

5. That the Chair of the Standards Committee be appointed from amongst the Independent Members for the 2008/2009 Municipal Year.

6. That appointments to the Greater Manchester Joint Authorities for the 2008/2009 Municipal Year including the appointment to the Greater Manchester Waste Plan Joint Committee, as set out in Appendix E to the report, be approved.

7. That the appointments to the various other internal bodies, including the appointment of Chairs, where stated, for the 2008/2009 Municipal Year, set out in Appendix F to the report, be determined by the Chief Executive in consultation with the Political Group Leaders and the outcome reported to the Executive for information.

8. That the appointments to outside bodies for the 2008/2009 Municipal Year as set out in Appendix G to the report be determined by the Chief Executive in consultation with the Political Group Leaders and the outcome reported to the Executive for information.

9. That the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Leaders of the three political groups on the Council, be authorised to determine any appointments to bodies which remain to be filled and any changes in appointments or any new appointments to be made during the 2008/2009 Municipal Year and that any such appointments be reported to the Executive for information.
C.10 OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY ANNUAL REPORT 2007/2008
Preamble for item C.10
 
C.11 AREA INITIATIVE ANNUAL REPORT 2007/2008
Preamble for item C.11
RESOLVED:

That the Area Initiative Annual Report for 2007/2008 be accepted.
C.12 STANDARDS ANNUAL REPORT 2007/2008
Preamble for item C.12
RESOLVED:

That the Standards Annual Report 2007/2008 be accepted.
C.13 CORPORATE PARENTING ANNUAL REPORT 2007/2008

Preamble for item C.13
 
Part 1 of the meeting started at 2.00 pm and ended at 2.50 pm
Part 2 of the meeting started at 4.00 pm and ended at 5.20 pm

Preamble

Preamble
ItemPreamble
C.01Councillor Cassidy moved that Councillor Peter Ashworth be elected to the office of Mayor of the Metropolitan Borough of Bury for the Municipal year 2008/2009. Councillor Yvonne Wright seconded the nomination.

The Worshipful the Mayor, after calling for and not receiving any other nominations, declared the nomination carried and it was:-
C.02It was moved by Councillor Walker, seconded by Councillor Davison and it was:-
C.03It was moved by Councillor Walker, seconded by Councillor Davison and it was:-
C.05The Worshipful the Mayor informed the Council of the recent death of Mr Arnold Holden who served as a Member of the former Prestwich Borough Council and was Mayor of Prestwich during the Municipal Year 1966/67.

The sympathy and condolences of the Council had been sent to Mr Holden’s family and all Councillors stood in silence as a mark of respect and in remembrance of Mr Holden.
C.06Ward: Ramsbottom
Councillor Elected: B Theckston

Ward: North Manor
Councillor Elected: D L Gunther

Ward: Tottington
Councillor Elected: R C A Brown

Ward: Elton
Councillor Elected: Y Creswell

Ward: Moorside
Councillor Elected: D Cassidy

Ward: East
Councillor Elected: J Byrne

Ward: Church
Councillor Elected: R E Walker

Ward: Redvales
Councillor Elected: I Ahmed

Ward: Unsworth
Councillor Elected: S Cohen

Ward: Radcliffe East
Councillor Elected: S Hurst

Ward: Radcliffe North
Councillor Elected: J Harris

Ward: Radcliffe West
Councillor Elected: A Isherwood

Ward: Pilkington Park
Councillor Elected: M J Wiseman

Ward: Besses
Councillor Elected: D Boden

Ward: Holyrood
Councillor Elected: V D D’Albert

Ward: St Mary’s
Councillor Elected: M D’Albert

Ward: Sedgley
Councillor Elected: A S Garner
C.07Councillor Bibby, Leader of the Council, made a Statement on the State of the Borough during 2006/2007.

The Worshipful the Mayor offered members of the public and Councillors the opportunity to ask questions on any issue raised in the Leader’s Statement and these questions were asked.

1. Questioner: Mr S Treadgold
Issue: The preservation of the rights of Members and the public to ask questions at meetings of Local Area Partnerships.

2. Questioner: Councillor Boden
Issue: The preservation of the rights of members of the public and Councillors to ask questions at meetings of Council bodies

The Leader answered both questions.
C.08The Council considered a report by the Leader proposing amendments to the Council Constitution in respect of:-

i) Membership of the Executive to be amended to provide for its membership to comprise the Leader plus eight Majority Group Members and two non-voting Co-optees allocated one each to the Minority Opposition Groups. One additional Portfolio to be established with a remit covering Human Resources and Performance and that a review of the other Portfolios be undertaken.

ii) Public Questions at Meetings to provide for questions to be submitted in writing to the Head of Paid Service five clear working days before the meeting at which the questions would be asked with no supplementary questions to be asked:-

iii) Questions asked by Councillors at Council meetings to be:-

(a) submitted to the Head of Paid Service five clear working days before the meeting at which the questions would be asked with one supplementary question arising out of the same issue allowed at the discretion of the Mayor.

(b) Each Councillor may ask up to two questions on different subjects with a 20 minute time limit on Executive Question Time.

(c) Questions on the work of the Executive at Council meetings, some of which may be verbal, to be regarded as in addition to written questions, to be limited to one per Councillor at the discretion of the Mayor and subject to a time remit of 20 minutes.

(d) Questions at the Executive relating to items on the agenda may be submitted by a Ward Councillor provided the question relates specifically to his/her Ward. All questions to be submitted in writing to the Head of Paid Service at least 3 working days prior to the Executive meeting at which the question is to be asked. One supplementary question to be allowed relating to the written question at the discretion of the Chairman.

It was moved by Councillor Bibby and seconded by Councillor Creswell that

(i) the recommendation at 1 above in respect of the composition of the Executive be approved; and

(ii) the recommendations (ii) and (iii) above be referred to the Democratic Arrangements Forum for discussion and reconsidered by the Council at the next meeting

On being put, 24 Members voted for with 27 Members abstaining, it was:
C.09Councillor Bibby, The Leader of the Council, submitted a report on the annual appointments for the 2008/2009 Municipal Year. It was moved by Councillor Bibby and seconded by Councillor Creswell that the appointments set out in the report be approved and adopted.

Councillor Walton drew attention to the need to amend the composition of the Human Resources and Appeals Panel to reflect the Political Balance of the Council.

On being put, with no Member voting against it was:-
C.10Councillor Vincent, Chair of the Scrutiny Management Committee for 2007/2008, reported that the Annual Report will be the subject of further consultations and submitted to a future meeting of the Council.
C.11Councillor Creswell, Executive Member for Community Relations, presented an oral report on the operation and achievements of the Area Initiative during the 2007/2008 Municipal Year.

A copy of the Annual Report had been circulated to each Member of the Council.

It was moved by Councillor Creswell and seconded by Councillor Hankey.

On being put, with no Member voting against, it was:-
C.12Councillor Brown, on behalf of Mr K Wainwright, Independent Chair of the Standards Committee, moved the Standards Annual Report 2007/2008, a copy of which had been circulated previously to Members of the Council. Councillor Higgin seconded the Annual Report.

On being put with none dissenting it was:-
C.13Councillor Diana Ashworth, Chair of the Corporate Parenting Panel, gave a report on the work and achievements of the Authority’s Corporate Parenting Panel since its first meeting held on 30 October 2007.