Meeting documents

Council
Wednesday, 14th December, 2011 7.00 pm

Date:
Wednesday, 14th December, 2011
Time:
7:00pm
Place:
Council Chamber, Town Hall, Bury
 

Attendance Details

Present:
The Worshipful the Mayor (Councillor Y Creswell, in the Chair;
Councillors I Ahmed, A Audin, K Audin, M Bailey, N Bayley, I Bevan, D Boden, R C A Brown, P Bury, J Byrne, G Campbell, R Caserta, D M Cassidy, S Cohen, J Columbine, M Connolly, A J Cummings, M D’Albert, V D D’Albert, J Frith, A Garner, I Gartside, J Grimshaw, D L Gunther, M Hankey, J Harris, T Holt, K Hussain, A Isherwood, M James, J Lewis, A K Matthews, D O’Hanlon, N Parnell, T D Pickstone, A Quinn, K Rothwell, R Shori, J Smith, T Tariq, B Theckston, B Vincent, R E Walker, S Walmsley, J F Walton, M J Wiseman and Y S Wright.

17 members of the public attended the meeting.
Apologies for absence:
Councillors Bibby, Hurst and Taylor
Buttons
Item Description Decision
Open
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 Bury’s 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 year’s Civic Ball and helped make the event such a success, with proceeds going to the Mayor’s 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 Mary’s Court, Prestwich Councillor N Bayley
Councillor Shori

5. Expenditure on Christmas decorations by Township
Councillor O’Hanlon
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 D’Albert
Councillor Isherwood

9. Review of the Future of the Borough’s Civic Halls Councillor Hankey
Councillor Lewis

10. NHS support to Council for older people’s care Councillor Vic D’Albert
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 O’Hanlon
Councillor Holt

13. Pupil Premium Funding for Bury Schools
Councillor Vic D’Albert
Councillor Parnell

14. Dog Warden Service visits Councillor Mary D’Albert
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 O’Hanlon
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 D’Albert
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 Borough’s 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 D’Albert, V D’Albert, Garner, O’Hanlon 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 Council’s 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 people’s 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 O’Hanlon
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 Bury’s 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 Bury’s 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.
The meeting started at 7.00 pm and ended at 9.35 pm.