Agenda and minutes

Councillor Connolly declared a personal interest in respect of any issues relating to Adult Care Services for the reason that his partner is employed by Adult Care Services.

A period of thirty minutes was allocated for any 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 meetings held on 11 February (attached) and 25 February (to follow) 2015.

Delegated decision:

That the minutes of the meetings held on 11 and 25 February 2015 be approved and signed by the Chair as correct records.

The Cabinet Member (Resources and Regulation) submitted a report seeking approval for the delegation of the formulation and preparation of the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework (GMSF) to the AGMA Executive Board and to agree to authorise updates to the AGMA constitution to reflect this.

The report also sought approval to withdraw the Core Strategy as the move towards a joint Development Plan Document (DPD) for Greater Manchester progresses.

The AGMA Executive Board (29 August 2015) had agreed to the GMSF being produced as a statutory DPD that would principally seek to identify future housing and employment floor space requirements and associated infrastructure for each district within Greater Manchester. The Joint GM Combined Authority and AGMA Executive Board meeting (24 November) approved the necessary measures and actions to be undertaken by each GM district to formally approve the preparation of the GMSF as a statutory DPD and subsequently take the document forward to adoption.

The Council meeting (28 January 2015) approved the making of the agreement for the joint preparation of the GMSF to cover housing and employment land requirements and associated infrastructure across Greater Manchester as a joint DPD.

Delegated decisions:

1.     That the decision of Council (28 January 2015) to approve the making of an agreement with the other 9 Greater Manchester councils to prepare jointly the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework to cover housing and employment land requirements and associated infrastructure across Greater Manchester (as set out in Appendix 1 of the report submitted) as a joint development plan document be noted.

2.     That delegated authority be given to the AGMA Executive Board for the formulating and preparing of the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework to cover housing and employment land requirements and associated infrastructure across Greater Manchester insofar as such matters are executive functions.

3.     That it be noted that the following are the sole responsibility of the Council:

§  Responsibility for giving of instructions to the executive to reconsider the draft plan submitted by the executive for the authority’s consideration;

§  The amendment of the draft GMSF plan document submitted by the executive for the Council’s consideration;

§  The approval for the purpose of its submission to the Secretary of State or Minister of the Crown for their approval of the GMSF, if required;

§  The approval of the GMSF document for the purposes of submission to the Secretary of State for independent examination;

§  The adoption of the GMSF.

4.     That approval be given to authorise the amendment of Paragraph 13.2 (Schedule 1) to the AGMA constitution by deleting the words ‘initially in terms of Waste and Minerals Planning‘.

5.     That approval be given to the withdrawal of Bury’s Core Strategy and for work to commence on a new Local Plan that can be developed alongside those of other GM districts and the GMSF in a coordinated way.

Reasons for the decision:

1.     To ensure that Greater Manchester’s aspirations for growth are formally supported by a statutory DPD and to address the policy void that has  ...  view the full minutes text for item CA.779

The Cabinet Member (Communities and Culture) submitted a report presenting a draft strategy for the future development of Burrs Country Park for the period 2015 to 2029. The strategy identifies key projects that will help Burrs Country Park to achieve its potential in establishing itself as a ‘destination park’ of regional significance.

The strategy also aims to capitalise on Bury’s reputation as a sub-regional success story by increasing visitor numbers and longer stays in the area, whilst making a commitment to working with partners in encouraging investment and support funding applications. The strategy will further assist in unlocking the potential of Burrs Country Park and the East Lancashire Railway with the introduction of a direct Burrs Country railway halt.

Approval of the strategy would involve a 4 week public consultation period. The comments received would be considered with subsequent changes being made to the document where it is appropriate.

Delegated decision:

That approval be given to the Burrs Country Park Strategy for consultation purposes (for a period of four weeks). The comments received from the consultation to be considered and amendments made to the document, where it is appropriate.

Reason for the decision:

The decision will enable Burrs Country Park Strategy to go out for a period of public consultation, therefore allowing local business partners and other interested parties to have input prior to the final publication of the document.

Other options considered and rejected:

To reject the recommendation or amend the proposed strategy.

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 exempt information as detailed in the condition of category 3.

The Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member (Health and Wellbeing) submitted a report informing Cabinet that Six Town Housing had secured funding from the Homes and Communities Agency under the Affordable Housing Programme 2015-2018 to deliver 88 new housing units in Bury. In order to progress the schemes certain approvals including the authorisation of borrowing on behalf of Six Town Housing was requested.

Delegated decisions:

1.     That approval be given to authorise Six Town Housing, as Registered Provider, to sign the grant agreement with the Homes and Communities Agency in order to obtain the grant funding from the Affordable Housing Programme 2015-2018.

2.     That approval be given to the borrowing of funds on behalf of Six Town Housing with the powers delegated to the Executive Director of Resources and Regulation to agree terms. The amount involved is the balance of the scheme cost and is based on current estimated funding requirements.

3.     That the Executive Director of Resources and Regulation, in consultation with the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member (Health and Wellbeing), be authorised to vary the borrowing requirement, subject to due diligence in light of the tender prices received.

4.      That the Director of Resources and Regulation be authorised to lease the sites which are in Council ownership to Six Town Housing at a peppercorn rent for a period of 125 years.

Reason for the decision:

This decision will increase the amount of affordable housing, including a new extra care scheme, in the Borough which is a key part of the Housing Strategy for the Borough.

Other option considered and rejected:

To reject the recommendation.

(The Chair indicated that he had agreed to the submission of this item as urgent business for the reason that a decision was required before the date of the next scheduled meeting of the Cabinet).

The Leader reported that this would be the last Cabinet meeting attended by Mike Kelly as Chief Executive due to his retirement at the end of March.

Councillor Connolly, on behalf of all Cabinet members, expressed his deep appreciation in recognition of the work undertaken by Mike Kelly during his time as Deputy Chief Executive and Chief Executive of Bury Council and wished him a long and happy retirement.