Issue - meetings

Report of the Leader and Cabinet Member for Strategic Growth is attached.

Councillor Charlotte Morris declared an interest in this item and did not participate in the discussion or vote on the decision.

Councillor Eamonn O’Brien, Leader and Cabinet Member for Strategic Growth, presented the report which detailed a National Highways scheme to undertake a major infrastructure development to improve Junction 18 of the M60 (Simister Island) and widen to five lanes of the M60 between Junction 17 and Junction 18 to facilitate smoother flows of traffic along the connecting motorways. This was a “Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project” (NSIP) which meant that planning consent for the scheme is determined by the Secretary of State through an application process known as a Development Consent Order (DCO). Members noted that the Council will not decide whether the scheme goes ahead but will automatically be an “Interested Party” and was required to provide evidence within prescribed timetables and, as such, the report recommended appropriate delegations to facilitate this.

Decision:

Cabinet delegated authority to the Executive Director (Growth), in consultation with the Monitoring Officer and Cabinet Member for Strategic Growth, to respond to all consultations and engagement as part of the Simister Island Development Consent Order application process.

Reasons for the decision:

Without delegated authority it is unlikely that the Council will be able to effectively engage with the DCO process. If responses are not submitted in accordance with the statutory timescales, they cannot be taken into account. Without the requested delegation in place, this could result in a recommendation made to the Secretary of State which does not fully take account of impacts upon Bury.

Other options considered and rejected:

·         Not to delegate authority. This is not recommended for the reasons set out above.

·         Not to participate in the DCO process. This is not recommended for the reasons set out above.