Meeting documents

Council
Wednesday, 28th March, 2012 7.00 pm

Date:
Wednesday, 28th March, 2012
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, R A Bibby, D Boden, R C A Brown, P Bury, 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, S Hurst, 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, J Taylor, B Theckston, B Vincent, R E Walker, S Walmsley, J F Walton, M Wiseman and Y S Wright.

30 members of the public attended the meeting.

Buttons
Item Description Decision
Open
C.756 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.Councillor Pickstone declared a personal interest in Minute C. 761 , in respect of the question to the Leader on Health and Wellbeing Boards, as he is a member of an NHS Trust and his partner is employed by the NHS.

C.757 MINUTES OF THE COUNCIL
 RESOLVED:
That the Minutes of the meeting of the Budget Council held on 22 February 2012, be approved as a correct record and signed by the Mayor.
C.758 MAYORAL COMMUNICATIONS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
 The Mayor referred to:

- the recent deaths of Mr Arthur Withington and former Councillor Leonard Phillips and paid tribute to their contributions to civic life in Bury. Members observed a brief silence as a mark of respect.

- the Gallipoli Commemoration and St George’s Day Celebration Dinner and Ball on 21 April 2012.

- the retirement of Councillor Boden from front-line politics after 40 years service.

- the fact that Councillors Ahmed, Hurst and Garner would not be seeking re-election.

- Councillor Vincent’s celebration of his 70th birthday.
C.759 PUBLIC QUESTION TIME
 1.Speeding motor vehicles and traffic calming - Mrs Haroon - Councillor Connolly
2.The future of St Mary’s Court, Prestwich and provision of good quality accommodation for elderly residents - Ms J Black -Councillor Shori
3. Suggested rent free day for market traders - Mr P Taylor - Councillor Connolly
4. Lifting of vehicular access restrictions on Gigg Mill Bridge and issue of ownership - Mr K Hannan - Councillor Connolly
5.Planning Application and outline of process, including arrangements for site visits - Councillor Connolly
6. Proposed changes regarding bus services between Rochdale and Tottington - Mr S Carter -Councillor Connolly
C.760 RECOMMENDATIONS OF EXECUTIVE AND COUNCIL COMMITTEES

Democratic Arrangements Forum of 15 March 2012
Use of Social Networking during Council Meetings.
To consider a recommendation that Members of Council should fully debate and decide on the policy as to whether or not Members can engage in the use of social media or networking during the business of any/all Council meetings.
 The Mayor reported that Members were being asked to consider a recommendation from the Democratic Arrangements Forum of 15 March 2012 to fully debate and decide on the policy as to whether or not Members can engage in the use of social media or networking during the business of any/all Council Meetings.

It was moved by Councillor Connolly and seconded by Councillor Smith and unanimously
RESOLVED:

That Council Procedure Rules be suspended for this item, in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 23.1, to enable Notices of Motion to be put and debated without the requisite notice.


It was moved by Councillor Tariq and seconded by Councillor Shori:

“That this Council resolves to:

(A)allow the use of social media (via mobile telephone, ipads, or other such tools as may be necessary) at all Council Meetings;

(B)save for instances where the agenda items of such meetings are specifically exempt from publication in the press and/or the members of the press and public have specifically been excluded from the meeting.”

It was subsequently moved by Councillor Tariq and seconded by Councillor Shori that the motion be amended by the addition at (A) of “with the exception of quasi judicial committees.”

The amendment on being put 28 voted for, 17 against and with 5 abstentions, was declared carried.
C.761 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.Support for the Phoenix Centre, Prestwich - Councillor Caserta
Councillor Parnell
2. Action to tackle dog fouling
Councillor Grimshaw
Councillor Isherwood
3.Former Prestwich Household Waste Disposal Site Councillor Mary D’Albert
Councillor Isherwood
4.Funding of community groups through Township Forums
Councillor Wiseman
Councillor Walmsley
5.Bury Council Workforce
Councillor Noel Bayley
Councillor Holt
6.Council representation on Health and Wellbeing Boards
Councillor Pickstone
Councillor Shori
7.Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Celebration
Councillor Gunther
Councillor Connolly
8.Plan for Change and impact on library service
Councillor Columbine
Councillor Lewis
9.Settlement of Equal Pay claims
Councillor Vic D’Albert
Councillor Smith
10.Priorities under Plan for Change and spending between Townships
Councillor Harris
Councillor Connolly
11.Government Support for Weekly Bin Collection Councillor Campbell
Councillor Isherwood
12.Sponsorship of Bury FC
Councillor O’Hanlon
Councillor Shori
13.Reviews under Plan for Change and use of consultants
Councillor Walker
Councillor Connolly
14.Impact of reorganisation of NHS
Councillor Boden
Councillor Connolly
15.Localism Act and listing of community assets
Councillor Garner
Councillor Walmsley
16.Backing Young Bury and opportunities for Looked after Children.
Councillor Frith
Councillor Connolly
17.Road traffic accidents involving pedestrians
Councillor Mary D’Albert
Councillor Isherwood
18.Election of Police Commissioner
Councillor Quinn
Councillor Connolly
19.Stone Roses Concerts in Heaton Park - Parking and security
Councillor Vic D’Albert and Councillor Quinn
Councillor Lewis
20.Condition of roads in Besses Ward
Councillor Matthews Councillor Isherwood
21.Household Waste Disposal Sites and recycling
Councillor Garner
Councillor Isherwood
22.Reports generated on “pot hole” enquiries
Councillor Pickstone
Councillor Isherwood
23.Council Tax distribution
Councillor O’Hanlon
Councillor Smith
24.Review of Library Service
Councillor Ann Audin
Councillor Lewis
25.Theft of metal and impact on Council
Councillor Rothwell
Councillor Isherwood
26.Traffic Calming around the Redvales Road area Councillor Tariq
Councillor Isherwood
27.Missed bin collections and subsequent action Councillor Bevan
Councillor Isherwood

Due to the lack of time to answer questions 9 to 27 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 Executive since the last Council meeting (without Notice)

28.Proposed erection of wind turbine in the Bradshaw area of Bolton
Councillor Brown
Councillor Connolly
29.Review of Library Service
Councillor Gartside
Councillor Lewis
30.Backing Young Bury and opportunities for Looked after Children
Councillor Frith
Councillor Connolly
31.Provision of information on the Budget
Councillor O’Hanlon and Councillor Caserta
Councillor Connolly
32.Reviews under Plan for Change and use of consultants
Councillor Walker
Councillor Connolly

C.762 NOTICES OF MOTION
 A Notice of Motion had been received in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 12:-

OFF PEAK CONCESSIONARY FARES

A Motion had been received and set out in the Summons in the names of:-

Councillors A Audin, K Audin, M Bailey, N Bayley, D Boden, P Bury,
G Campbell, D Cassidy, J Columbine, M Connolly, C Cummings, J Frith,
J Grimshaw, T Holt, A Isherwood, M James, J Lewis, A Matthews,
N Parnell, A Quinn, K Rothwell, R Shore, J Smith, T Tariq and S Walmsley.

It was moved by Councillor Boden and seconded by Councillor Isherwood:-

“That this Council recognises the benefits that the free off-peak concessionary fares have brought to our Borough and to its residents.

There is less traffic congestion on our roads, travel opportunities are affordable and interaction with friends and family are achievable. This Council, therefore, rejects the reported call by the Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg for ‘all benefits, including concessionary fares to be means tested’.

This Council resolves to write to Councillor Andrew Fender, Chair of Transport for Greater Manchester Committee, and our local Members of Parliament expressing our support for his campaign against the means testing of concessionary fares.”

An amendment was moved by Councillor Pickstone and seconded by Councillor O’Hanlon:

“That this Council recognises the benefits that the free off-peak concessionary fares have brought to our Borough and to its residents.

There is less traffic congestion on our roads, travel opportunities are affordable and interaction with friends and family are achievable.

This Council, therefore, welcomes Government policy to maintain free off-peak concessionary travel as a universal benefit.

This Council resolves to write to Councillor Andrew Fender, Chair of Transport for Greater Manchester Committee, and our local Members of Parliament expressing our support for continued concessionary fares for older people in Greater Manchester as a universal benefit.”

The amendment on being put, 22 voted for and 25 against, with one abstention, was declared lost.

The substantive motion on being put was carried unanimously.
C.763 SCRUTINY REVIEW REPORTS AND SPECIFIC ITEMS CALLED IN BY SCRUTINY COMMITTEES
 REVIEW OF SCRUTINY STRUCTURE

A report of the Chair of the Overview Management Committee, Councillor Tariq, was submitted which set out the findings and recommendations of the Overview Management Committee’s review into the current scrutiny structures in Bury.

It was moved by Councillor Tariq and seconded by Councillor Campbell that the recommendations contained in the report be approved.

On being put, with 45 in favour and two against it was:-

RESOLVED:

1.That the proposed Overview and Scrutiny Structure set out in the report be approved.

2.That an evaluation be undertaken after 12 months of operation.

3.That a 3 year Scrutiny Work Programme, co-ordinated with the priorities of the Council and Plan for Change, be developed and refreshed annually.

4.That to assist in the development of a work programme, a planning event be held with all Scrutiny Members (with Executive Members and Executive Directors invited in an advisory capacity).

5.That the issue of potential duplication in the performance monitoring aspect of Scrutiny and the Audit Committee be examined.

6.That attendance at Scrutiny Panel meetings be included within the overall Members attendance statistics.

7.That the Member Development Group be requested to arrange specific scrutiny training for all Elected Members.

The Mayor called upon the Leader to move the Closure Motion in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 9.


The Leader moved and it was:

RESOLVED:

That the whole of the remaining business before the Council be approved.
C.764 JOINT AUTHORITIES REPORT BY THE COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE AND QUESTIONS
  
C.765 QUESTIONS ON THE WORK OF OUTSIDE BODIES OR PARTNERSHIPS
  
C.766 DELEGATED DECISIONS OF THE COUNCIL COMMITTEES
  
C.767 INTERIM REVIEW - TOWNSHIP FORUMS
  
C.768 MODIFICATIONS TO GREATER MANCHESTER JOINT MINERAL PLAN
  
C.769 URGENT ITEM - PAY POLICY STATEMENT
  
The meeting started at 7.00 pm and ended at 10.30 pm.