Meeting documents

Council
Wednesday, 23rd February, 2005 7.00 pm

Date:
Wednesday, 26th January, 2005
Time:
7.00pm
Place:
Council Chamber Town Hall Bury
 

Attendance Details

Present:
The Worshipful the Mayor (Councillor E B Briggs) in the Chair;
Councillors K Audin, R A Bibby, D B Bigg, D Boden, K S Briggs, R C A Brown, J Byrne, G Campbell, L E Campbell, W A Campbell, D M Cassidy, T P Chamberlain, S Cohen, M Connolly, J P Costello, S Costello, Y Creswell, A J Cummings, V D D’Albert, W J Davison, W Flood, A J Garner, A S Garner, I B Gartside, M A Gibb, E K Grime, J Grimshaw, D L Gunther, D M Higgin, T Holt, K Hussain, A Isherwood, S P Magnall, A K Matthews, R H J Nuttall, T D Pickstone, P H Redstone, K Rothwell, G Sharkey, J Smith, S J Southworth, J W H Taylor, B Theckston, S J Treadgold, B Vincent, R E Walker, J F Walton, M J Wiseman and Y S Wright
Co-opted:
6 members of the public attended the meeting.
Apologies for absence:
Councillor S R Perkins
Buttons
Item Description Decision
Open
C.931 Minutes of the Meeting held on Wednesday, 3rd November, 2004 7.00pm
  • Minutes
RESOLVED:

That the Minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 3 November 2004 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Mayor.
C.932 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Preamble for item C.932
 
C.933 MAYORAL COMMUNICATIONS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Preamble for item C.933
 
C.934 PUBLIC QUESTION TIME
Preamble for item C.934
 
C.935 RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE EXECUTIVE AND COUNCIL COMMITTEES
 (a) Minute EX.605 of the Executive on 10 November 2004 - Establishment of the Housing Arms Length Management Organisation

It was moved by Councillor Byrne, seconded by Councillor W A Campbell
and -

RESOLVED:

That the recommendations contained in Minute EX.605 of the meeting of the Executive held on 10 November 2004 concerning the establishment of the Housing Arms Length Management Organisation be approved and adopted.

(b) Minute EX.732 of the Executive on 1 December 2004 - Arms Length Management Organisation and the Strategic Housing Unit Staffing Structure

It was moved by Councillor Byrne, seconded by Councillor W A Campbell and -

RESOLVED:

That the recommendations contained in Minute EX.732 of the meeting of the Executive held on 1 December 2004 concerning the Arms Length Management Organisation and the Strategic Housing Unit Staffing Structure be approved and adopted.

(c) Minute EX.858 of the Executive on 12 January 2005 - Arms Length Management Organisation and the Section 27 Application.

It was moved by Councillor Byrne, seconded by Councillor W A Campbell
and -

RESOLVED:

That the recommendations contained in Minute EX.858 of the meeting of the Executive held on 12 January 2005 concerning the Arms Length Management Organisation and the Section 27 Application be approved and adopted.

(d) Minute EX.859 of the Executive on 12 January 2005 - Governance of Greater Manchester Connexions

Following a Statement by Councillor Byrne relating to Greater Manchester Connexions, it was moved by Councillor Byrne, seconded by Councillor W A Campbell and -

RESOLVED:

That the recommendations contained in Minute EX.859 of the Executive at a meeting held on 12 January 2005 concerning the Governance of Greater Manchester Connexions be approved and adopted.
C.936 SPECIAL URGENCY DECISIONS
 It was moved by Councillor Byrne, seconded by Councillor W A Campbell and -

RESOLVED:

That the decisions taken by the Executive under the Special Urgency provisions in the Council Constitution and set out in the report by the Leader of the Council submitted to this meeting be noted.
C.937 LEADERS STATEMENT AND EXECUTIVE QUESTION TIME
Preamble for item C.937
 
C.938 SCRUTINY REVIEW REPORTS AND SPECIFIC ITEMS 'CALLED IN' BY SCRUTINY PANELS/COMMISSIONS
Preamble for item C.938
 
C.939 NOTICES OF MOTION
 (a) Local Sustainability

It was moved by Councillor Boden and seconded by Councillor Flood that the following Notice of Motion submitted under Council Procedure Rule 12 be approved:-

‘That this Council supports the concept of local sustainability as envisaged in the Local Community Sustainability Bill, namely:

• Protection of the Environment
• Reduction of social exclusion
• Increased involvement in the democratic process
• Promotion of the local economy
• Promotion of local services

And accordingly resolves to:

1. Support the Local Communities Sustainability Bill introduced into Parliament by a cross party group of MPs and which would require Government support for measures to increase the sustainability of local communities.

2. Advocate support of House of Commons Early Day Motion Nr 169.

3. Inform the New Economics Foundation of our support.’

In the names of Councillors D Boden, G Campbell, W Flood, A K Matthews, K Rothwell.

On being put, 32 voted for, 9 against and with 9 abstentions, the Motion was declared carried and it was -

RESOLVED:

That the motion set out above be approved and adopted.

(b) Community Governance

(i) It was moved by Councillor Pickstone and seconded by Councillor D’Albert that the following Notice of Motion submitted under Council Procedure Rule 12 be approved:-

‘This Council notes the increasing importance placed by Government of appropriate governance and leadership at a community and neighbourhood level. It notes the successful development of six Area Boards within Bury and believes that these form an ideal basis to further develop community governance and leadership within the Authority.

This Council is committed to maximising leadership and governance at a community and neighbourhood level. It is committed to maximum levels of public and stakeholder involvement within the framework of a democratically elected local authority. It is committed to an incremental shift towards locality based decision-making within the overall strategic framework of the Metropolitan Borough.

This Council resolves to undertake a cross-party review of community governance and leadership, local decision-making and the Area Board initiative, to report back to Council in the 2005-2006 municipal year.’

In the names of Councillors V D D’Albert, W J Davison, A S Garner, A J Garner and T D Pickstone.

(ii) An amendment was moved by Councillor S Costello and seconded by Councillor Grime by way of:-

(a) the inclusion in the third sentence of paragraph 2 of the words ‘in principle’ after the words ‘It is committed’; and

(b) the deletion of all the words in paragraph 3 and their replacement with:-

‘This Council therefore reiterates the decision already made on 30 November 2004 at Area Board Chairs to consider and consult on how Area Boards might be developed to ensure they inform the Council’s policies on regeneration/neighbourhood renewal, community cohesion, overview and scrutiny, local delivery of corporate policies and the budget.’

On being put, 25 voted for , 24 against and with 1 abstention, the amendment was declared carried.

(iii) The substantive motion on being put, 25 voted for, 19 against and with 6 abstentions, was declared carried and it was -

RESOLVED:

That the Notice of Motion, as amended at (ii) above, be approved and adopted.
C.940 QUESTIONS ON THE FUNCTIONS OF JOINT AUTHORITIES
Preamble for item C.940
 
C.941 QUESTIONS ON THE WORK OF OUTSIDE BODIES OR PARTNERSHIPS
Preamble for item C.941
 
C.942 DELEGATED DECISIONS OF THE EXECUTIVE AND COUNCIL COMMITTEES
Preamble for item C.942
 
The meeting started at 7.00 pm and ended at 10.02 pm

Preamble

Preamble
ItemPreamble
C.932(a) Councillors G Campbell, Davison, Gunther, Isherwood and Smith declared personal and prejudicial interests in Minute Nos EX.605, EX.732 and EX.858 all relating to the Housing Arms Length Management Organisation as members of the ALMO Six Towns Housing Shadow Board and left the meeting during the consideration of these items referred to in Minute
C.935 (a) to (c) below.

(b) Councillors Rothwell and Sharkey declared personal interests in Minute Nos EX.605, EX.732 and EX.858 all relating to the Housing Arms Length Management Organisation and referred to in Minute C.935 (a) to (c) below.

(c) Councillor Walker indicated that his personal interests were recorded in the Register of Members’ Interests held in the Democratic Services Section of the Chief Executive’s Department.

(d) Councillor Nuttall declared a personal and prejudicial interest in the written question from Councillor L E Campbell concerning elderly residents of Council-run care homes and left the meeting during the discussion of the question referred to in Minute C.937 (a) below.

(e) Councillors J P and S Costello declared personal interests in the discussions on the written question from Councillor L E Campbell concerning elderly residents in Council-run care homes, provision of home services and the meals on wheels service referred to in Minute C. 937(a)(1) and (b)(2) below.

(f) Councillor Connolly declared a personal interest in a question from Councillor Hussain concerning the funding of the Jinnah Day Centre referred to in Minute C.937(b)(6) below.

(g) Councillor Boden declared a personal interest in the question from Councillor Cohen concerning the North West Regional Assembly referred to in Minute C.937(b)(11).

(h) Councillor Gunther declared a personal interest in the Notice of Motion concerning local sustainability referred to in Minute C.939(a).
C.933(a) Death of Mrs Marjorie Little

The Worshipful the Mayor regretfully informed the Council of the death of Mrs Marjorie Little.

Mrs Little had been Mayoress of the Metropolitan Borough during the Municipal Year 1983 to 1984 and had also served as a Chairman’s Lady of the former Ramsbottom Urban District. Mrs Little, together with her husband, Albert, had made important and significant contributions to the local government service and the community of the Metropolitan Borough.

The condolences and sympathy of Members and Officers of the Council had been conveyed to Mr Little and his family.

All present stood in silence as a mark of respect and in memory of Mrs Little.

(b) Welcome Back to Members after Hospital Admissions

The Worshipful the Mayor was pleased to particularly welcome to this meeting, Councillors Cummings, Grimshaw, Sharkey and Walker, following their recent hospital admissions and offer them good wishes for their continuing treatment and recovery to good health.

Councillor Sharkey thanked the Mayor for his good wishes.

(c) Charity Dinner and Ball

The Worshipful the Mayor mentioned that a Charity Dinner and Ball in aid of the Mayoral Charity Appeal would be held at the Radcliffe Civic Suite on Friday, 18 February 2005. It was hoped that many Members would attend to support this occasion.
C.934A question was asked on the following issue during public question time:-

- Joanne James concerning the Council’s support for the campaign against proposals for the closure of the Baby Unit at Fairfield Hospital.
C.937The Leader of the Council made a Statement on the work of the Executive.

The Leader and Executive Members answered questions asked by Members of the Council on the following issues:-

(a) Written Questions (Notice Given)

1. Elderly residents of Council-run care homes affected by the modernisation of the service.
Questioner: Councillor L E Campbell
Answered by: Councillor Chamberlain, Executive Member for Health and Social Services

(b) Oral Questions

2. Costs to this Authority of Meals on Wheels Service.
Questioner: Councillor Bibby
Answered by: Councillor Chamberlain, Executive Member for Health and Social Services, agreed to provide Councillor Bibby with comparative figures

3. Complaints of inadequate refuse collection after the Christmas period particularly in Sedgley Ward.
Questioner: Councillor G Campbell
Answered by: Councillor Connolly, Executive Member for Environment and Transport

4. Increasing congestion on A56 Bury New Road and A665 Bury Old Road in Prestwich.
Questioner: Councillor Pickstone
Answered by: Councillor Connolly, Executive Member for Environment and Transport

5. Application of non-smoking policy in Council buildings.
Questioner: Councillor Cohen
Answered by: Leader of the Council

6. Withdrawal of Bury MBC funding from Jinnah Day Centre
Questioner: Councillor Hussain
Answered by: Leader of the Council

7. Temporary closure of Thorndyke Walk, Prestwich.
Questioner: Councillor A J Garner
Answered by: Leader of the Council

8. Speaking by Ward Councillors on applications at Planning Control Committee Meetings.
Questioner: Councillor Gartside
Answered by: Leader of the Council

9.Recent funding problems experienced by voluntary organisations and the need for a review of the Compact with the voluntary sector.
Questioner: Councillor D’Albert
Answered by: Leader of the Council indicated that the Compact and contracts will be looked at again.

10.Nitrogen dioxide pollution particularly around motorways.
Questioner: Councillor A S Garner
Answered by: Leader of the Council

11. Cost and benefits to Bury of the North West Regional Assembly.
Questioner: Councillor Cohen
Answered by: Leader of the Council and Councillor Boden, the Council’s representative on the Regional Assembly.

12. Loss of green flag status of Openshaw Park and Burrs Country Park.
Questioner: Councillor Bibby
Answered by: Leader of the Council and Councillor Connolly, Executive Member for Environment and Transport

13. Crime reduction and charges for Homewatch Scheme signs.
Questioner: Councillor Wiseman
Answered by: Leader of the Council agreed to look at this issue.

14. Future use of former Young People’s Information Shop on The Rock, Bury.
Questioner: Councillor Gunther
Answered by: Leader of the Council

15. Need for review of policy on street trees.
Questioner: Councillor Davison
Answered by: Councillor Connolly, Executive Member for Environment and Transport, indicated his willingness to look at this matter.

16. Authorisation of an additional day’s leave for staff of Bury MBC.
Questioner: Councillor Bigg
Answered by: Leader of the Council

17. Recycling targets and need for the inclusion of public houses in glass recycling schemes.
Questioner: Councillor Magnall
Answered by: Councillor Connolly, Executive Member for Environment and Transport

18. Cost of Warwick Forward Planning Event
Questioner: Councillor Walker
Answeredby: Leader of the Council
C.938There were no scrutiny review reports or specific items ‘called-in’ by Scrutiny Panels/Commissions to be considered at this Council meeting.
C.940(a) Greater Manchester Police Authority

Councillor Cohen, the Council’s nominated spokesperson on the above Joint Authority, answered a question submitted by Councillor Davison concerning policing issues and the Licensing Act 2003.

(b) Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority

Councillor Connolly, the Council’s nominated spokesperson on the above Joint Authority, answered a question submitted by Councillor Pickstone concerning community transport solutions in Bury and a question submitted by Councillor A J Garner concerning the withdrawal of the 90 bus service.
C.941There were no written questions on the work of outside bodies or partnerships submitted in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 11.2.
C.942There were no questions asked on the delegated decisions of the Executive and Council Committees contained in the Digests of Decisions 6 to 9 (2004/2005) published since the last ordinary meeting of the Council.