Agenda and minutes

Councillor Connolly declared a personal interest in any matters relating to the fact that his partner is employed by Adult Care Services.

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 9 April 2014.

Delegated decision:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 9 April 2014 be approved and signed by the Chair as a correct record.

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.

The Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member (Health and Wellbeing) submitted a report setting out a revision of the Councils Private Sector Housing Renewal Assistance Policy.

The revision introduces new powers to enable the Council to supplement mandatory Disabled Facilities Grants (DFGs) with discretionary grants and loans in certain circumstances. It also provides for other minor amendments to the Councils Private Sector Housing Renewal Assistance Policy in response to on-going financial constraints within Local Government since the Policy was last updated in 2009.

                Delegated decision:

                That approval be given to the proposals to revise the Private Sector Housing Renewal Assistance Policy as detailed in the report submitted.

Reasons for the decision:

                Approval and adoption of the Policy will:

·                     Add value to existing mandatory Disabled Facilities (DFG) provisions and support the Council’s wider welfare obligations;

·                     Introduce streamlined processes and flexibilities for customers requiring adaptations;

·                     In exceptional cases, it will help customers who need expensive adaptations above the mandatory DFG level of £30,000 in a prudent and proportionate way;

·                     Maintain the Council’s commitment to addressing poor housing conditions whilst operating within a more restrictive financial environment.

                Other option considered and rejected:

                To reject or amend the proposals.

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 outlining proposals to undertake, in partnership with Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM), the relocation of the existing Radcliffe Bus Station in order to create a key development opportunity as part of the wider Radcliffe Town Centre Regeneration Plan.

                Delegated decisions:

1.           That approval be given to the capital allocation of up to £1million, match funded on a 50:50 basis by TfGM, to be used for the development of a new bus station in Radcliffe.

2.           That approval be given to delegate authority to the Executive Director of Regulation and Resources and the Head of Property and Asset Management, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, to request and accept tenders for the bus station contract.

3.           That delegated authority be given to the Head of Property and Asset Management to grant TfGM a new long lease for the bus station and to accept a surrender of TfGM’s interests in the existing bus station site.

4.           That the Director of Regulation and Resources be requested to advise Cabinet of the outcome of the tender process.

Reasons for the decision:

As part of the Radcliffe Town Centre Masterplan 2010 the relocation of the existing Radcliffe bus station will free up a site for a suitable retail led development scheme.

Other options considered and rejected:

To amend or reject the recommendations.

The Leader of the Council and the Cabinet Member (Children and Young People) submitted a report setting out in financial terms the details of a project at Radcliffe Hall CE/Methodist Primary School which involved expenditure exceeding £250,000. Details of the financial profile of the project identifying the estimated cost to be incurred were provided.

                Delegated decisions:

1.   That approval be given to the financial details as detailed in the report submitted.

2.   That approval be given to rescind the earmarking of the capital receipt from the sale of the site of the former Radcliffe High School (Minute number EX.030).

3.   That approval be given to an equivalent amount to be guaranteed from future capital receipts/Council reserves to satisfy the conditions of minutes number EX.030

Reasons for the decision:

Radcliffe Hall CE/Methodist Primary School is one of the oldest school buildings use within Bury having been constructed in two parts between 1853 and 1898. The school requires refurbishment to allow it to continue as a valued learning environment.

Other option considered and rejected:

                To reject the recommendation.

The Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member (Health and Wellbeing) submitted a report outlining the approach to the delivery of the increased capital programme investment of £12.36million in the Bury Council housing stock from 2014 to 2017, which is managed by Six Town Housing.

                Delegated decision:

                That approval be given to that total investment programme and the approach outlined in the report submitted.

Reason for the decision:

This decision reaffirms the importance of maintaining the Council’s housing stock.

Other options considered and rejected:

                To reject the recommendation.