Agenda and minutes

Members of Cabinet are asked to consider whether they have an interest in any of the matters of the Agenda, and if so, to formally declare that interest.

Councillor Connolly declared a personal interest in any matters relating to the fact that his partner is employed by Adult Care Services and in minute numbers CA.10 and CA.12 for the reason the he serves as a Deputy Director of the Manchester Airport Group plc (MAG) and is a member of the Shareholder Committee member for (MAG).

Questions are invited from members of the public present at the meeting on any matters about the work or performance of the Council or the Council’s services.

Approximately 30 minutes will be set aside for Public Question Time, if required.

A period of thirty minutes was allocated for members of the public present at the meeting to ask questions about the work or performance of the Council or Council services.

No questions were asked.

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 28 August 2013.

Delegated decision:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 28 August 2013 be approved and signed by the Chair as a correct record.

The Cabinet Member for Adult Care, Health and Housing submitted a report seeking approval to consult on a draft Housing Strategy for 2013-2023.

The Council’s current Strategy is ten years old and is outdated. The new draft Strategy would utilise refreshed data from Bury’s Housing Need and Demand Assessment (2011/2012) and other sources to identify 5 key themes for action to use over the next ten years.

• The consultation would include the public, elected members, housing providers and stakeholders to:
• highlight issues;
• seek consensus on the priorities
• produce a robust action plan to strengthen housing improvement in the Borough.

The consultation would take place during October and November 2013 with the submission of the final revised final Housing Strategy to Cabinet in 2014.

Delegated decision:

That approval be given to consult on the draft Housing Strategy 2013-2023.

Reason for the decision:

Although the Council is not required to produce a Housing Strategy for regulatory purposes it is good practice to update the existing Strategy to set out local priorities and provide a guide to registered providers and developers on housing requirement within the borough.

Other option considered and rejected:

To reject the recommendation.

The Cabinet Member for Adult Care, Health and Housing submitted a report seeking approval for the draft Carers Strategy 2013-2018.

The Strategy is jointly owned by Bury Council and NHS Bury and was produced in response to the National Carers Strategy (Recognised Valued and Supported: Next Steps for the Carers Strategy 2010).

The Strategy gives particular focus to four key areas that have been prioritised by the Government and sets out how the Council will develop and improve services to carers in achieving them. The four key areas are:

• Identification and recognition
• Realising and releasing potential
• A life outside of caring
• Supporting carers to stay healthy

Delegated decisions:

1. That approval be given to the Bury Carers Strategy 2013-2018, as detailed in the report submitted.

2. That it be noted that the Carers Strategy Steering Group will monitor the implementation of the action plan.

Reasons for the decisions:

The Bury Carers Strategy 2013-2018 aims to ensure that carers are respected, have access to good quality information and receive the services and support needed to care for their relative or friend and allow the carer to have a life of their own.

Other option considered and rejected:

1. To approve the Bury Carers Strategy 2013-2018 with amendments.

2. To reject the recommendations.

The Cabinet Member for Leisure, Tourism and Culture submitted a progress report on the work that has taken place since the independent review carried out on the Council’s Civic Venues Service.

Delegated decisions:

1. That the good progress being made in response to the recommendations made in the review recommendations be noted.

2. That a progress report be submitted in 6 months time.

Reason for the decision:

The report demonstrates the positive action be undertaken to make the Council’s Civic Venues service more competitive.  

Other option considered and rejected:

To reject the recommendations.

The Cabinet Member for Environment submitted a report which set out a proposal for a pilot project aimed to increase the resource within the Waste Management Service to improve the Council’s household recycling rate to at least 50%. The pilot would include:

• An enhanced Educational and Regulatory Team.
• Investment in infrastructure and promotions.
• A Waste Management Regulatory and Enforcement Policy.

Delegated decision:

That approval be given to a 24 month pilot project, including approval of the regulatory policy and capital and revenue spend as detailed in the report submitted. 

Reason for the decision:

In view of the success achieved through improvements in recycling rates within Bury further action is required to address the plateau in performance and divert more waste from landfill to achieve greater savings and meet wider environmental benefits.

Other option considered and rejected:

To reject the recommendation.

The Cabinet Member for Children and Families submitted a report setting a out a newly developed strategy and delivery plan for the Council in discharging its duty as a Corporate Parent for children and young people in its care and care leavers.

Delegated decisions:

1. That the revised Corporate Parenting Strategy and Corporate Parenting Panel Delivery Plan be adopted.

2. That the revised terms of reference for the Corporate Parenting Panel be noted. The terms of reference will be submitted for approval to the meeting of Council on 16 October 2013.

Reason for decisions:

As Corporate Parents, Councillors and Council officers share a statutory Corporate Parenting responsibility for children and young people in the care of Council and care leavers in Bury. There is an expectation that the Council publish a strategy to sets out how it will fulfil statutory responsibilities to children in its care and care leavers.

Other option considered and rejected:

To reject the recommendation.

The Leader of the Council submitted a report outlining the progress made on the Corporate Plan during quarter one (2013-2014) for the corporate performance indicators and projects within the Bury Council Corporate Plan.

Delegated decision:

That the report be noted.

Reason for decision:

The report provides a clear indication of the overall performance made against the Corporate Plan.

Other option considered and rejected:

To reject the recommendation.

The Leader submitted a report providing an update on the commercial terms which have been completed with Manchester Airport Group plc (MAG) for the lease on Airport City South and commercial arrangements proposed for the land which will form part of Airport City North currently held in Trust by Manchester City Council for the other nine Greater Manchester Districts.

The report also addressed matters evidenced under the terms of the current Trust Deed for the Governance arrangements which are in place in managing the relationship between Manchester City Council and the other nine Districts in dealing with property matters with Manchester Airport Group plc (MAG), involving land that is leased to the Airport and held in Trust by the City Council for the other nine Districts.

Delegated decision:

That approval be given to delegate authority to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Leader, to approve arrangements for varying the consultation arrangements with the nine Greater Manchester Districts as set out in the 1994 Trust Deed.

Reason for decision:

The Manchester Airport City Enterprise Zone is a key economic development opportunity within Greater Manchester. This decision sets out new governance arrangements to underpin and help unlock the job creation potential and financial benefits for Greater Manchester.

Other option considered and rejected:

To reject the recommendation.

To consider passing the appropriate resolution under Section 100 (A)(4), Schedule 12(A) of the Local Government Act 1972, that the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the reason that the following business involves the disclosure of exempt information as detailed against the item.

Delegated decision:

That in accordance with Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following item of business as it involves the likely disclosure of information as detailed in the conditions of category 3.

The Leader submitted a report on changes to the land tenure in respect of the Airport City South development together with an update on the commercial terms which are being proposed with the Manchester Airport Group plc (MAG) for the land which will form part of the Airport City North. 

Delegated decisions:

1. That approval be given to the Commercial terms agreed with MAG for the new leases on Airport City North.            

2. That approval be given to delegate authority to the Chief Executive in consultation with the Executive Director of Resources and the Council Solicitor to:

       i) engage with the other nine Greater Manchester Councils through the Enterprise Zone Landowners Commissioning Board, and

       ii) agree the land transfers and future individual property transactions.

3. That the Council Solicitor be authorised to finalise and complete all legal documentation required to give effect to these proposals.

Reason for the decision:

The decision enables MAG to deliver development on these premier sites.

Other option considered and rejected:

To reject the recommendations.