Agenda and minutes

Councillor J Kelly, A Simpson & T Pickstone

        Councillor S Wright declared a personal interest in all items under consideration as his partner works at a Bury school.  Councillor S Wright declared a further personal interest in item CA.103 as a member of the Six Town Housing Board.

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 received.

Minutes of the meeting held on the 27^th June 2018 are attached.

Delegated decision:

        That the minutes of the meeting held on 27^th June 2018 be approved and signed by the Chair as a correct record.

It was agreed that further to the published agenda, the agenda items would be re-arranged, therefore, the Corporate Finance Monitoring Report and the Bury Brownfield Land Statement would be considered prior to the Corporate Performance Report.

A report from Leader of the Council, Councillor Rishi Shori is attached.

The Leader submitted a report setting out details of the Council’s performance in line with the single outcomes framework for Team Bury.  This report compliments the regular finance and risk monitoring reports that Members receive.  This performance update includes indicators from the GM framework.

Delegated decision:

  Members agreed to note the report.

Reason for the decision:

A robust performance management framework is essential if the Council is to measure the effectiveness and value for money of the services it delivers.

A report from the Cabinet Member Finance and Housing, Councillor O’Brien is attached.

The Cabinet Member for Finance and Housing submitted a report setting out details of the Council’s financial position for the period April 2018 to June 2018 and projects the estimated outturn at the end of 2018-19.  The report also includes Prudential Indicators in accordance with the CIPFA’s Prudential Code.

Delegated decisions:

Members agreed to note the financial position of the Council as at 30 June 2018.

Reason for the decision:

The report has been prepared in accordance with all relevant Codes of Practice. 

Successful budget monitoring provides early warning of potential major overspends or underspends against budgets which Members need to be aware of.

This report draws attention to the fact that, based on the most prudent of forecasts, several budget hotspots exist which will need remedial action.

A report from the Cabinet Member for Finance and Housing, Councillor O’Brien is attached.

The Cabinet Member for Finance and Housing presented a report reaffirming the Council’s commitment to bring forward new developments on brownfield land to help deliver regeneration within the Borough and to reduce the amount of greenfield land that is required to meet the long term development needs.  The statement underlies the importance that the Council continues to give to the delivery of brownfield land and sets out the Council’s commitment to using its powers and influence to bring back vacant brownfield sites into a viable use. 

Delegated decisions:

That members approve the updated Brownfield Land Statement.

Reason for the decision:

The statement establishes a framework to bring forward the development of brownfield sites and is critical to the Council’s growth and aspirations and to address the challenge of self-financing in future years.

    Other options considered and rejected:

That members approve the brownfield land statement subject to revisions – Members to specify the nature of any revisions to be sort.

To consider the minutes of meetings of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority held on 25^th May 2018.

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.

A report from the Cabinet Member for Finance and Housing, Councillor O’Brien is attached.

The Cabinet Member for Finance and Housing provided details of a recently commissioned report conducted by Savills Housing Consultancy to undertake an independent review of all housing services and functions provided by the Council and Six Town Housing. 

The work was commissioned primarily due to the imminent expiry of the Council’s contract with its Arms’ Length Management Organisation (ALMO), Six Town Housing, and was carried out between December 2017 and May 2018.

The review was seen as an opportunity to identify more efficient and effective means of service delivery responding to the current and future budget and demand pressures facing both the Council and Six Town Housing. 

Delegated decision:

Members agreed to support the progression of the implementation of the recommendations made by Savills Housing Consultancy.

Reason for the decision:

Failure to act promptly will result in the Council not delivering its growth delivery plan or the corporate priorities.

    Other options considered and rejected:

Option 1 – retain the status quo between the Council and Six Town Housing.  The Council would continue to deliver the services it currently does, with the housing management contract between the Council and Six Town Housing being reviewed and extended.