Meeting documents

Council
Wednesday, 28th October, 2009 7.00 pm

Date:
Wednesday, 28th October, 2009
Time:
7.00pm
Place:
The Council Chamber, Town Hall, Bury
 

Attendance Details

Present:
The Worshipful the Mayor (Councillor S P Magnall) in the Chair;
Councillors I Ahmed, D M Ashworth, P 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, D M Cassidy, F A Chaudhry, S Cohen, M Connolly, 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, A K Matthews, D O’Hanlon, S P Penketh, T D Pickstone, P H Redstone, K Rothwell, R Shori, J Smith, B J Sullivan, J W H Taylor, B Theckston, R E Walker, J F Walton, M J Wiseman, S D Wright and Y S Wright
Co-opted:
14 members of the public attended the meeting
Apologies for absence:
Councillors S Costello and B Vincent
Buttons
Item Description Decision
Open
C.385 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Preamble for item C.385
 
C.386 MINUTES OF THE COUNCIL
 That the Minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 9 September 2009 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Mayor subject to the inclusion of the details of the following question raised in Minute C.245(b)

Joint Authority and Questioner:Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Authority Councillor Connolly
Issue:Level of cover at the three Fire Stations in the Borough
Answered by:Councillor Walton
C.387 MAYORAL COMMUNICATIONS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Preamble for item C.387
 
C.388 PUBLIC QUESTION TIME
Preamble for item C.388
 
C.389 RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE EXECUTIVE AND COUNCIL COMMITTEES
Preamble for item C.389
RESOLVED:

That recommendations (i) and (v) of Minute CYP.100, be approved and adopted.
C.390 LEADER’S STATEMENT AND EXECUTIVE QUESTION TIME
Preamble for item C.390
 
C.391 NOTICES OF MOTION
Preamble for item C.391
 
C.392 SCRUTINY REVIEW REPORTS AND SPECIFIC ITEMS “CALLED IN” BY SCRUTINY COMMISSIONS
Preamble for item C.392
 
C.393 JOINT AUTHORITIES - REPORT BY THE COUNCIL’S REPRESENTATIVE AND QUESTIONS
Preamble for item C.393
 
C.394 QUESTIONS ON THE WORK OF OUTSIDE BODIES OR PARTNERSHIPS
Preamble for item C.394
 
C.395 DELEGATED DECISIONS OF THE COUNCIL COMMITTEES
Preamble for item C.395
 
The meeting started at 7.00 pm and ended at 10.00 pm

Preamble

Preamble
ItemPreamble
C.385There were no declarations of interest made at the meeting.
C.387The Worshipful the Mayor informed the Council that Councillor Vincent had undergone medical treatment in hospital and had returned home where he was making a steady recovery. Councillor Vincent had thanked all those who had offered their best wishes whilst he was ill.

The Mayor offered her congratulations and those of the Council to the Department of Environment and Transport and its partners for the success in the North West in Bloom Competition in which Bury had been voted ‘The Best Large Town’ for the sixth successive year. Bury had also won the ‘Heritage Award’ for the Gallipoli Garden and the Fusilier Tribute and the ‘Local Roots Award’ for high quality Town Centre features.
C.388Written notice had been given of two questions from the following members of the public:-

Name: Mrs A Audin
Subject: The poor condition of the toilets in the Interchange, Bury
Answered by: Councillor Gunther

Name: Mr J McDonagh
Subject: A private contractual matter
Answered by: Councillor Gunther
C.389Minute CYP.100 of the meeting of the Children and Young People Scrutiny Commission held on 23 June 2009 - Youth Participation

It was moved by Councillor Davison and seconded by Councillor S Wright that recommendations (i) (Appointment of a Youth Champion) and (v) (Co-option of a member of the Youth Cabinet onto the Scrutiny Commission), be approved.

On being put, with no Member voting against and with the Mayor abstaining, it was:-
C.390(a) Written questions (four clear days’ notice given)

The 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:-

1. Issue: 1. The future of Prestwich Longfield Suite 2. The status and powers of Task and Finish Groups
Questioner: Councillor O’Hanlon
Answered by (and action): Councillor Sullivan

2. Issue: Level of emergency cover across the Borough
Questioner: Councillor Connolly
Answered by (and action): Councillors Cohen and Walton

3. Issue: The Questioner’s suggestion to allow free parking in Bury Town Centre after 3.00 pm
Questioner: Councillor Baum
Answered by (and action): Councillors Gunther and Bibby

4. Issue: An update on Equal Pay Claims by employees against the Council
Questioner: Councillor Holt
Answered by (and action): Councillor Walton

5. Issue: 1. Planning Application for a Soccer Centre in Heaton Park 2. Concerns expressed regarding the car parking provision within the proposed scheme
Questioner: Councillor Pickstone
Answered by (and action): Councillor Gunther

6. Issue: 1. Central costs apportioned to each Civic Suite 2008/2009 2. Suggestion that each Civic Suite operate on a ‘stand/alone basis’ to increase usage
Questioner: Councillor Cummings
Answered by (and action): Councillor Sullivan

7. Issue: 1. Closure of the recycling facilities at Tesco, Prestwich 2. The capacity of the Longfield Recycling Centre to cope with increased activity
Questioner: Councillor Andrew Garner
Answered by (and action): Councillor Gunther

8. Issue: The role of the Local Area Partnership Managers
Questioner: Councillor Boden
Answered by (and action): Councillor Creswell

9. Issue: The Council’s budget for Disability Grants for building adaptations
Questioner: Councillor V D’Albert
Answered by (and action): Councillor Sullivan

10. Issue: Identity of the current owner of the former Radcliffe Times Building, Church Street West, Radcliffe and its intended future use
Questioner: Councillor Isherwood
Answered by (and action): Councillor Gunther

11. Issue: Opening times of Bury Market
Questioner: Councillor Baum
Answered by (and action): Councillor Gartside

12. Issue: Arrangements to allow staff to show support for the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers
Questioner: Councillor Smith
Answered by (and action): Councillor Walton

13. Issue: Council spending on taxi fares
Questioner: Councillor S Wright
Answered by (and action): Councillor Gartside

14. Issue: Location of toilets and bathrooms which open onto kitchens within Council-owned properties
Questioner: Councillor Byrne
Answered by (and action): Councillor Sullivan

15. Issue: Proposal to reduce flytipping by allowing sole traders permission to use household waste recycling centres
Questioner: Councillor S Wright
Answered by (and action): Councillor Gunther

16. Issue: Level of recycling 2004/2005-2008/2009 and to the current date
Questioner: Councillor Cummings
Answered by (and action): Councillor Gunther

17. Issue: The relocation and number of public waste bins, collection rotas and future plans for waste bins
Questioner: Councillor A S Garner
Answered by (and action): Councillor Gunther

18. Issue: Provision of support for children born during the Summer to avoid education and social disadvantages
Questioner: Councillor Rothwell
Answered by (and action): Councillor D Ashworth

19. Issue: Car parking enforcement
Questioner: Councillor Davison
Answered by (and action): Councillor Gunther

20. Issue: Professional development in the fields of Child Protection/Safeguarding
Questioner: Councillor Rothwell
Answered by (and action): Councillor D Ashworth

21. Issue: Council assistance for setting up Credit Unions over the previous year
Questioner: Councillor M D’Albert
Answered by (and action): Councillor Creswell

22. Issue: Possible re-location of Radcliffe Library to Radcliffe Civic Suite
Questioner: Councillor Connolly
Answered by (and action): Councillor Sullivan

23. Issue: Consultations with neighbouring Local Authorities on shared Social Housing Schemes
Questioner: Councillor A S Garner
Answered by (and action): Councillor Sullivan

Due to the lack of time to answer questions 8 to 23 inclusive, the Leader gave an undertaking that copies of the answers to those questions will be circulated to all Councillors. The Mayor agreed to allow an additional five minutes to answer the written questions to compensate for the time taken to resolve a constitutional matter during the answering of the questions.

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

24. Issue: Retention of the current dance floor at the Prestwich Longfield Suite
Questioner: Councillor V D’Albert
Answered by (and action): Councillor Bibby

25. Issue: Means to resolve income shortfalls of the Leisure Centres
Questioner: Councillor O’Hanlon
Answered by (and action): Councillor Bibby

26. Issue: The consultation process on the future of Civic Halls and the location of petitions against possible closure
Questioner: Councillor Holt
Answered by (and action): Councillor Bibby

27. Issue: Reward for reaching Stretch Targets within the Local Area Agreement
Questioner: Councillor Pickstone
Answered by (and action): Councillor Bibby

28. Issue: Proposed amendments to the governance of the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities and remit of the new Commissions
Questioner: Councillor Boden
Answered by (and action): Councillor Bibby
(To circulate the AGMA Constitution and Commission remits to all Councillors and place them on the Council’s website)

29. Issue: Confidential issues in relation to a complaint to the Standards Committee
Questioner: Councillors Smith and Connolly
Answered by
(and action):-

The Mayor ruled out of order Question 29 above which was not answered.
C.391Convention on Climate Change, which meets in Copenhagen in Two Notices of Motion both relating to Climate Change had been received in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 12:-

It was moved by Councillor V D’Albert and seconded by Councillor Baum that the following motion be approved:-

(A) “This Council notes that:

1. Climate change predictions show that without severe cuts in greenhouse gas emissions, the world will be hit by drought, flooding and famine affecting all of us and poorest countries in particular.

Some of these countries are already suffering from the effects of climate change. This is an issue of social justice as well as a call to take environmental action.

2. Under the UK Climate Change Act 2008 the UK is due to cut its emissions by 34% by 2020, but that, according to climate change scientists, a cut of 10% in 2010 is in line with what is now needed to avert runaway climate change.

3. The United Nations Framework December of this year, may be the world’s last chance to negotiate a deal that will avert the worst consequences of climate change.

4. To ensure a breakthrough at the critical Copenhagen conference government ministers need to know that their public supports more dramatic cuts in emissions than have hitherto been proposed.

5. Various councils are among those who have signed up to the
C.392There were no Scrutiny Review Reports or specific items ‘called in’ by Scrutiny Commissions to be considered at this Council meeting.
C.393(a) Councillor Walker, the Council’s representative on the Greater Manchester Police Authority, gave a verbal report on the work of the Joint Authority to all Members of the Council.

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

Joint Authority and Questioner: Greater Manchester Police Authority
Councillor Baum
Issue: The number of DNA records held by the Authority of people not convicted of crimes
Answered by (and action): Councillor Walker
C.394There 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.395There were no written questions asked on the delegated decisions of the Committees or Scrutiny Commissions contained in the Digests of Decisions 3, 4 and 5 (2009/2010).