Meeting documents

Council
Wednesday, 1st April, 2009 7.00 pm

Date:
Wednesday, 1st April, 2009
Time:
7.00pm
Place:
Council Chamber, Town Hall, Bury
 

Attendance Details

Present:
The Worshipful the Mayor (Councillor P Ashworth) in the Chair;
Councillors I Ahmed, D M Ashworth, K Audin, R L Baum, C A Berry, R A Bibby, D B Bigg, D Boden, K S Briggs, R C A Brown, J Byrne, W A Campbell, D M Cassidy, F A Chaudhry 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 Mangnall, A K Matthews, D O’Hanlon, S P Penketh, T D Pickstone, 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:
26 members of the public attended the meeting
Apologies for absence:
Councillor P H Redstone
Buttons
Item Description Decision
Open
C.01 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Preamble for item C.01
 
C.02 MINUTES OF THE COUNCIL
 RESOLVED:

That the Minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 25 February 2009 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Mayor.
C.03 MAYORAL COMMUNICATIONS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Preamble for item C.03
 
C.04 PUBLIC QUESTION TIME
Preamble for item C.04
 
C.05 RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE EXECUTIVE AND COUNCIL COMMITTEES

The Executive, 18 March 2009 (Minute EX.759) -Minimum Revenue Provision - Policy Statement 2009/2010
Preamble for item C.05
RESOLVED:

1. That the recommendations be approved and adopted.
C.06 LEADER’S STATEMENT AND EXECUTIVE QUESTION TIME
Preamble for item C.06
 
C.07 NOTICE OF MOTION
Preamble for item C.07
 
C.08 CORPORATE HEALTH AND SAFETY POLICY - EXECUTIVE ROLE SPECIFICATIONS
Preamble for item C.08
RESOLVED:

1. That the Executive Role Specifications be amended as set out in the report; and

2. That the Council Constitution be amended accordingly.
C.09 SCRUTINY REVIEW REPORTS AND SPECIFIC ITEMS “CALLED IN” BY SCRUTINY COMMISSIONS
Preamble for item C.09
 
C.10 JOINT AUTHORITIES - REPORT BY THE COUNCIL’S REPRESENTATIVE AND QUESTIONS
Preamble for item C.10
 
C.11 QUESTIONS ON THE WORK OF OUTSIDE BODIES OR PARTNERSHIPS
Preamble for item C.11
 
C.12 DELEGATED DECISIONS OF THE EXECUTIVE AND COUNCIL COMMITTEES
Preamble for item C.12
 
The meeting started at 7.00 pm and ended at 9.35 pm

Preamble

Preamble
ItemPreamble
C.01(a) The following Councillors declared personal and prejudicial interests in the Notice of Motion (Minute C.06 below) by virtue of their School Governorships mentioned:-

Councillor Gunther (The Derby High School)
Councillor Cummings (Radcliffe Riverside School)
Councillor Hurst (Radcliffe Riverside School)
Councillor Harris (The Elton High & Radcliffe Riverside Schools)
Councillor Ahmed (The Derby High School)

All of the above Councillors left the Chamber for the duration of the debate on the Notice of Motion.

(b) Councillor Davison declared a personal interest in the Notice of Motion (Minute C.06 below) in respect of his daughter’s employment by the Council’s Catering Services at Derby High School.

(c) Councillor Rothwell declared a personal interest in the verbal question asked by Councillor Connolly in relation to Minute EX.627 by reference to the level of rents levied by the Council, as a tenant of a Council property (Minute C.05 (18) below)
C.03The Worshipful the Mayor reported the receipt of the resignation from the Council of Councillor Wayne Campbell with effect from 8 April 2009 after 25 years service as a Member representing Radcliffe West Ward.

Tributes to the substantial contributions of Councillor Campbell to the achievements of the Council were made by Councillors Bibby, Pickstone and Connolly.

All Councillors stood and applauded as a mark of respect for Councillor Campbell’s long service on the Council.

The Mayor also reported that Zoë Robinson, Danny Boyle and the members of the band, Elbow, had all accepted the Council’s invitation to become Honorary Freemen of the Borough. The Honours were to be conferred at a special Council meeting to be convened in the near future.

As this was the final meeting of the Council for the current Municipal Year, the Worshipful the Mayor thanked those Members who had served in various capacities during the past twelve months, for their valuable services and their time devoted to carrying out their duties.

The Mayor advised the Council that he had accepted a Petition signed by 225 residents requesting that “Radcliffe Riverside School stays open to ensure a continuity quality education and provision for Radcliffe until the completion of the new build on the ELPM site”. The Petition would be forwarded to the Executive Director of Children’s Services.

The Mayor reminded all Councillors and Officers of the St George’s Day Dinner and Ball to be held in the Elizabethan Suite on Thursday 23 April 2009. The proceeds from the event were to be donated to the ‘Help the Heroes Fund’
C.04No written questions from members of the public had been received by the deadline of four clear working days prior to the meeting.
C.05(a) Minute EX.759 of the meeting of the Executive held on 18 March 2009 - Minimum Revenue Provision - Policy Statement 2009/2010

It was moved by Councillor Bibby and seconded by Councillor Creswell that the recommendations be approved.

On being put, with no Member voting against and the Mayor abstaining

(b) Minute EX.766 of the meeting of the Executive held on 18 March 2009 - Timetable of Meetings 2009/2010

It was moved by Councillor Bibby and seconded by Councillor Creswell that the recommendations be approved.

On being put, with no Member voting against and the Mayor abstaining

C.06The Leader of the Council, Councillor Bibby, made a statement on the work of the Executive since the date of the last Council meeting. The Leader and the relevant Executive Members answered questions raised by Councillors on the following issues:-

(a) Written questions (four clear days’ notice given)

1. Issue: Policy of enforcement of graffiti removal
Questioner: Councillor Pickstone
Answered by (and action): Councillor Gunther (to examine ways of enhancing implementation of policy-site visits to be made)

2. Issue: 1. Support for residents in Prestwich affected by Oasis concerts in June 2009.
2. Security of Voting in the European Election on 4 June 2009 in the area surrounding Heaton Park
Questioner: Councillor A S Garner
Answered by (and action): Councillor Gunther

3. Issue: Repair of street lights in Prestwich
Questioner: Councillor S Wright
Answered by (and action): Councillor Gunther

4. Issue: Road gritting after snowfalls
Questioner: Councillor Baum
Answered by (and action): Councillor Gunther

5. Issue: Installations and removals of on-street litter bins in St Mary’s Ward
Questioner: Councillor Baum
Answered by (and action): Councillor Gunther
(litter bins now replaced)

6. Issue: Removal of trees throughout the Borough
Questioner: Councillor S Wright
Answered by (and action): Councillor Gunther

7. Issue: 1. Safeguarding of children in the Borough 2. Levels of professionally qualified staffing Children’s Services
Questioner: Councillor Rothwell
Answered by (and action): Councillor D Ashworth
(Details of all relevant aspects of staffing to be provided to the questioner)

8. Issue: 1. Implementation of the Sustainable Communities Act 2007 2. Sale of alcohol to young people under 18
Questioner: Councillor Boden
Answered by (and action): Councillor Creswell

9, 10 and 11 Issue: Operation of the Strategic Housing Unit
Questioner: Councillor Boden, Holt and A J Garner
Answered by (and action): Councillor Gartside

12. Issue: Trial of ‘Slipper’ Street lighting columns
Questioner: Councillor Cummings
Answered by (and action): Councillor Gunther

13. Issue: Development of a Children’s Centre at Heaton Park Primary School, Prestwich
Questioner: Councillor V D’Albert
Answered by (and action): Councillor D Ashworth

14. Issue: Building of a Sports Zone adjacent to St Margaret’s Road, Prestwich
Questioner: Councillor Pickstone
Answered by (and action): Councillor Gunther

15. Issue: Future of the shops on Chapel Road, Prestwich
Questioner: Councillor M D’Albert
Answered by (and action): Councillor Gartside

16. Issue: Proposed widening of the M60 Motorway - adjacent residential properties
Questioner: Councillor M D’Albert
Answered by (and action): Councillor Gunther

Due to lack of time to answer questions 9 to 16 inclusive, the Leader gave an undertaking that copies of the answers to those questions would be circulated to all Councillors.

(b) Oral Questions on the work of the Executive since the last Council meeting (without notice)

17. Issue: Local Area Partnerships - delegated decisions
Questioner: Councillor Isherwood
Answered by (and action): Councillor Creswell

18. Issue: Housing Revenue Account 2009/2010 - Levels of Rents
Questioner: Councillor Connolly
Answered by (and action): Councillors Gartside and Bibby

19. Issue: Local Area Agreement - Refresh: Homeless People
Questioner: Councillor Baum
Answered by (and action): Councillor Gartside

20. Issue: Sponsorship of Bury Football Club - Council logo
Questioner: Councillors S Wright
Answered by (and action): Councillor Bibby

21. Issue: Surveillance activities by the Council
Questioner: Councillor V D’Albert
Answered by (and action): Councillor Bibby
(report to Scrutiny pending) (Written response to be given)

22. Issue: Local Area Partnerships
- Deferral of highway repairs in Chapelfield, Radcliffe
Questioner: Councillor Cummings
Answered by (and action): Councillor Creswell

23. Issue: Vehicle and Plant Replacement Programme 2008/2011 - Filling of potholes in highways
Questioner: Councillor Matthews
Answered by (and action): Councillor Gunther
(written response to be given)

24. Issue: Audit Commission Management Letter -
Revenue & Benefits Section (Pay and Grading Review)
Questioner: Councillor Byrne
Answered by (and action): Councillor Bibby

25. Issue: Vehicle and Plant Replacement Programme 2008/2011 - Mayoral Car
Questioner: Councillor O’Hanlon
Answered by (and action): Councillor Bibby

26. Issue: Local Area Partnerships - decisions on highways to be repaired
Questioner: Councillor M D’Albert
Answered by (and action): Councillor Creswell
C.07The following Notice of Motion had been received in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 12:-

“We call upon this Council to respect the wishes of the communities of Radcliffe and Bury East by withdrawing the proposal to re-locate the Derby School to Radcliffe.
Furthermore, we demand that each community is provided with a new school to reflect appropriately the needs of those areas and to ensure that the schools are central to their distinctive communities.”

In the names of: Councillors W Campbell, M Connolly, J Byrne,
T Cummings, K Audin, S Briggs, D Boden, D Cassidy, F Chaudhry,
S Costello, J Grimshaw, T Holt, T Isherwood, A Matthews, K Rothwell and J Smith

It was moved by Councillor Connolly and seconded by Councillor Byrne

Following a detailed debate, Councillor Walton moved and Councillor Bibby seconded that the question be now put which was passed by the Council with 20 Members voting for, 15 against an 10 abstentions.

The Motion on being put, 15 Members voted for, 29 against with the Mayor abstaining

The Mayor declared the motion lost.

(Note: Councillors Gunther, Cummings, Hurst, Harris and Ahmed, having declared personal and prejudicial interests in this item, left the chamber for the duration of the debate and did not vote).
C.08The Leader of the Council submitted a report proposing changes to the Role Specifications of individual Executive Members in line with the revisions to the Corporate Health and Safety Policy following a detailed review.

It was moved by Councillor Bibby and seconded by Councillor Creswell that the amendments to the Role Specifications as set out in the report be approved and that the Council Constitution be amended accordingly.

On being put, with 48 Members voting for with the Mayor and Councillor O’Hanlon abstaining, it was:
C.09There were no Scrutiny Review Reports or specific items ‘called in’ by Scrutiny Commissions to be considered at this Council meeting.
C.10(a) Councillor Yvonne Wright, the Council’s representative on the Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority, gave a verbal report on the work of that Joint Authority to Members of the Council present at the meeting.

(b) The following question had been received in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 11.2:-

Joint Authority: Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority Councillor Baum
Issue: Possible ending of the ban on transporting bicycles on the Metrolink
Answered by (and action): Councillor Creswell
C.11There were no written questions on the work of outside bodies or partnerships on which the Council is represented, submitted in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 11.2.
C.12There were no written questions asked on the delegated decisions of the Committees or Scrutiny Commissions contained in the Digest of Decisions 11 (2008/2009).