Agenda and draft minutes

Councillor Shori declared a personal interest in any item which related to staffing as his partner is an employee of Bury Council

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.

There were no questions from members of the public present at the meeting.

Minutes of the meeting held on the 26^th July are attached.

Delegated decision:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 26 July 2017 be approved and signed by the Chair as a correct record

The Cabinet Member (Finance and Housing) submitted a report presenting a summary of the new Business Rates Discretionary Payments Scheme which aims to help businesses which have seen recent increases in their Business rates.  The scheme has been devised to distribute support to local businesses over a four year period.

Delegated decisions:

That approval be given to the Business Rates Discretionary Scheme with effect from 1^st April 2017.

Reasons for the decision:

In the Spring Budget in March 2017 the Government announced funding would be made available to help local councils provide financial support to businesses who had seen an increase in their Business Rates following the revaluation of rateable values.  The scheme is financed by the Government, who have allocated funding for four financial years. 

There is no scope to transfer funding between financial years. Any relief awarded above the government thresholds will have to be funded by the Council.

The scheme will be introduced in autumn 2017 and backdated to 1 April 2017.

Other option considered and rejected:

To reject the recommendation.

The Cabinet Member (Environment) presented the Bury Local Flood Risk Management Strategy.  The report seeks approval to consult the public on the draft version of a 2017 review of Bury’s Local Flood Risk Management Strategy.  The Draft Strategy has been produced in consultation with local partners and designated Risk Management Authorities.  Its focus is on flooding from surface water runoff, groundwater and small ordinary water courses. 

Delegated decision:

That Members approve the Draft Local Flood Risk Management Strategy and authorises the proposed measures for it to be subject to a period of consultation.

Reason for the decision:

To enable the Council as a Lead Local Flood Authority to comply with its statutory duties and responsibilities required under the Flood and Water Management Act.

Other options considered and rejected:

That members revise the proposed content of the Draft Local Flood Risk Management Strategy prior to public consultation.

The Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member (Economic Growth and Human Resources) submitted an Equality Update report.  The report contains; the Employment Equality Report 2017; the Equality Strategy 2016-20, One Year On Progress Report and general statistics on the Council’s changing workforce.

Delegated decisions:

That approval be given to the publication of the Employment Equality Report 2017 and the Equality Strategy 2016/20 One Year On Progress Report.

Reason for the decision:

The Public Sector Equality Duty (Equality Act 2010) requires the Council to:

-      annually publish equality information upon its workforce.  The information must include data from various points in the employment lifecycle, disaggregated by the different protected equality characteristics.

-      publish a number of specific and measurable equality objectives everyfour years

Other options considered and rejected:

To reject the recommendation.

The Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member (Economic Growth and Human Resources) submitted a report presenting an initiative to become an autism friendly borough with the introduction of a framework and training packages for use in public places and by Bury businesses.

Delegated decisions:

That approval be given to work towards Bury becoming an Autism Friendly Borough.

Reason for the decision:

The aim of this initiative is to initially become an autism friendly borough with a view to extending the scheme to become a Hidden Disability Friendly Borough.

Public spaces can prove extremely difficult for people with autism and other hidden disabilities such as ADHD and Dementia. They can be overwhelming, crowded, unpredictable, loud and bright. When people feel overloaded by too much information, they encounter a public that simply doesn’t understand them and their autism.

Other option considered and rejected:

To reject the recommendation.

The Cabinet Member (Communities and Safer Neighbourhoods) submitted a report providing details of the key aspects of the implementation of a new neighbourhood engagement framework in Bury.

The new framework offers a flexible approach to community engagement across Team Bury partners and supports and facilitates the new relationship between public services and citizens, communities and businesses that is required to support wider neighbourhood working. This report also sets out implementation details of the new grant investment framework that is replacing the Community Grants Budget of £56k and previous allocation process, with a combination of Participatory Budgets and Elected Member Discretionary Budgets

Delegated decision:

That approval be given to the implementation of the neighbourhood engagement framework including the grant investment framework.

Reason for the decision:

The new framework will build on the many strengths and assets that exist within communities, including the extensive community networks and local businesses, whilst embracing the new Social Value Policy for Bury Council.

The ethos of neighbourhood working means the Council and other public agencies working alongside residents, as equal partners, to shape their own areas and neighbourhoods by developing local solutions for the things that matter most to them. In addition to the devolution of powers from central to local government, there has, for some time, been planned devolution of power and action to a local level.

Other option considered and rejected:

To reject the recommendation.

The Cabinet Member (Finance and Housing) submitted the Risk Management Annual report 2016/17.  The report outlines risk management policies and practices in place and the key issues that will be addressed during the coming financial year.  Corporate, departmental and operational risk assessments have been undertaken and key elements of the resultant Management Action Plans are incorporated into Departmental Service Plans.

Delegated decision:

Members re-affirm their support for the Council’s approach to risk management, and note progress made throughout 2016/17 and actions planned for 2017/18.

Reason for the decision:

Risk management is an integral part of the Council’s approach to corporate governance and service and financial planning and it is essential that robust risk management practices are put in place to safeguard the Council’s assets and its reputation.

Other option considered and rejected:

To reject the recommendation.

The Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member (Economic Growth and Human Resources) submitted a report requesting consent to the making of Regulations by the Secretary of State to establish Transport for the North as a sub-regional transport body under section 102(E) of the Local Transport Act 2008.  The consent of each constituent authority is required.

Transport for the North (TfN) is an evolving partnership of Local Transport Authorities and Local Enterprise Partnerships across the North of England acting collectively and working with the Government, Highways England, HS2 and Network Rail to develop a Northern Transport Strategy.

Delegated decision:

That Cabinet approves:

(i) The making by the Secretary of State of Regulations under Section 102(E) of the Local Transport Act 2008 to establish Transport for the North as a Sub-National Transport Body;

(ii) That where the regulations propose to confer on TfN local transport functions, consent to include such concurrent powers be agreed subject to the consent of the Council, as set out in section 2 of the report.

Reason for the decision:

To address concerns about transport connectivity across the North, Local Transport Authorities and Local Enterprise Partnerships across the North of England came together in 2014 in partnership with the Department for Transport and the National Transport Agencies to form Transport for the North (TfN).  Together they have developed an ambitious pan-northern transport strategy to drive economic growth in the North.  The purpose of TfN is to transform the transport system of the North of England and the aim of TfN is to plan and deliver the improvements needed to truly connect the region with fast, frequent and reliable transport links, driving economic growth and creating a “Northern Powerhouse”.

Other option considered and rejected:

To reject the recommendation.

To consider passing the appropriate resolution under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 that the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following items of business since they involve the likely disclosure of the exempt information stated.

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 involved the likely disclosure of exempt information, as detailed in the conditions of category 3.

The Leader and Cabinet Member (Finance and Housing) submitted a report seeking authorisation and approval in order to deliver a residential scheme comprising 8 units for Shared Ownership on the site of the former Mayfair Garage Sites, Radcliffe.

Delegated decisions:

Subject to approval of the funding bid to the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) for £236,000 grant for this 8 unit shared ownership scheme, that:

·         The Council enters into a funding agreement with the HCA for this scheme under the Affordable Homes Shared Ownership Programme 2016-21.

• Approval of capital of up to an estimated £652,738; to be funded through loan via HRA borrowing. 

• Authorisation of the Executive Director of Resources and Regulation, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing and Finance to vary the loan requirement, subject to due diligence and finance levels, in the light of changes to the capital requirements.

• Authorisation for the Council to enter into a JCT 2011 Design and Build Contract with Strategic Team Group Limited in relation to the construction of the scheme

Reason for the decision:

Delivery of this scheme, supported by HCA funding, has a strong strategic and good financial business case. The risks associated with delivering this scheme are in the main known and are manageable.

This scheme will bring further benefits by way of, additional social housing, contribution to “New Homes Bonus” and Council Tax revenues

Other option considered and rejected:

Not to approve and do nothing.

There was no urgent business reported.