Agenda and minutes

There were no declarations of interest made at the meeting.

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.

Minutes of the meeting held on 25^th June 2019 are attached.

Delegated decision:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 25^th June 2019 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

Councillor Eamonn O’Brien will report at the meeting.  Report attached.

The Leader and Cabinet Chair, submitted the Cabinet Financial monitoring report.  The report informs Members of the Council’s financial position for the period April 2019 to June 2019 and projects the estimated outturn at the end of 2019/20.

The report also includes Prudential Indicators in accordance with CIPFA’s Prudential Code.

Projections are based on current trends, information, and professional judgement from service managers and finance staff. The revenue budget projections highlight the fact that budget pressures exist in some key areas and it will be necessary to continue to maintain the high level of scrutiny, control and support around the Budget Recovery Boards and to further develop the savings pipeline.  The projected overspend of £0.996m represents approximately 0.7% of the total net budget of £138.862m. 

Delegated decisions:

Cabinet agrees to:

Note the projected financial position of the Council as at 30 June 2019.

Reason for the decision:

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 prudent forecasts, several budget hotspots exist which will need remedial action.

Members and officers will be examining these areas in more detail at the joint JET / Cabinet meetings as well as at the themed Budget Recovery Boards.

Councillor David Jones, Leader of the Council will report at the meeting.  Report attached.

Councillor David Jones, Leader of the Council submitted a report setting out details of the findings of the Bury Town Centre Business Improvement District (BID) Feasibility Report undertaken on behalf of the Bury Town Centre Management Board (BTCMB).

The Feasibility Report recommendation is to proceed to the full BID Development and Campaign Phases which will include in-depth business/stakeholder consultation to develop the BID Business Plan and BID Proposal, followed by a BID Campaign and BID Ballot.  It is during this next stage that the BID Boundary, BID Levy Rate and any payment threshold/exclusions will be agreed and finalised.

Delegated decision:

Cabinet agrees to:

·         Support the Bury Town Centre Business Improvement District Feasibility Report Recommendations and the decision taken by Bury Town Centre Management Board to progress to the next stage of the Bury Town Centre Business Improvement District process.

·         To note the Council’s role in the Bury Town Centre Business Improvement District Development and Campaign Phases and to allocate the financial and staff resource required to support the process.

·         To approve the annual budget required to meet the  Council’s annual Bury Town Centre Business Improvement District levy payments should the Bury Town Centre Business Improvement District Ballot result in a ‘Yes Vote’ and to allocate the resources required to deliver the Council’s role and responsibilities throughout the duration of a Bury BID.

·         To Delegate Powers for detailed decisions relating to the Bury Town Centre Business Improvement District process to the Leader as Regeneration Portfolio holder.

Reason for the decision:

There is minimal investment required in relation to potential benefits as well as evidence of success in other areas. The proposals are in line with the Council’s growth agenda and therefore support financial sustainability.

A verbal update will be provided at the meeting.  Report attached.

Councillor David Jones, Leader of the Council submitted a report setting out details of an outline business case for the potential transfer of additional services to Persona, the Council’s Local Authoring Trading Company (LATCo). 

The outline business case proposes that further work is undertaken, in the form of a detailed business case, to demonstrate the feasibility of transferring additional services to Persona.  An initial assessment as to which of the Council’s remaining adult social care services might be a best fit with Persona, has been undertaken and the suggested scope of services that would be considered within the detailed business case.

Delegated decision:

Cabinet agrees to:

·         Approve the request to produce a detailed business case.

·         Cabinet notes the proposed deadline of 30 September 2019 for the completion of the detailed business case, to present to Cabinet on 16 October 2019.

Reason for the decision:

The approval of the recommendation will facilitate the development of the detailed business case to support further decision making by Cabinet.

Councillor David Jones, Leader of the Council, will report at the meeting.  Report attached.

Councillor David Jones, Leader of the Council submitted a report setting out details of the Greater Manchester Full Fibre programme. The report provided an overview of the capital funding successfully secured by GM of £23.8m.  The funding will connect full fibre to over 1,300 GM Public sector sites.  These include Local Authority, GM Fire and Rescue, Health and Social Care partnerships (CCGs) sites across the region.

The capital funding for this project was earmarked as part of the agreed 2019/20 budget setting. 

Delegated decision:

Cabinet agrees to:

•             Approve Bury Council’s involvement with and investment into this programme.

•             Agree to an investment of £469k capital from Bury Council plus additional capital to fund a dedicated Project Manager post on a 2-year fixed term basis.

•             Agree to the Inter Authority Agreement (IAA) that sets out the local authority role and processes for the implementation of the LFFN Programme and minimise disruption.

•             Grant delegated authority to the Cabinet Member for Finance and Housing, in consultation with the Council’s Section 151 Officer and Monitoring Officer to enter into a contract with the supplier for the fibre connection of public sites and premises in Bury under the GM Local Full Fibre Networks Programme.

•             Grant delegated authority to the Cabinet Member for Finance and Housing, in consultation with the Council’s Section 151 Officer and Monitoring Officer to approve the final capital funding commitment

Reason for the decision:

Accelerating investment in full fibre to the premises is a key priority of the GM Digital Infrastructure Plan which is part of the GM Digital Strategy approved by the GMCA in February 2018.

Councillor Eamonn O’Brien, Cabinet Member for Finance and Housing will report at the meeting.  Report attached.

Councillor David Jones, Leader of the Council submitted a report setting out details of the Supplementary Planning Document (SPD)

6.  The document provides more detailed guidance to support Unitary Development Plan Policy H2/3 and sets out a range of requirements for alterations and extensions to residential properties.

Since the current version of SPD6 was adopted, there has been changes to procedures, design standards, legislation and national planning policy which need to be reflected in the Supplementary Planning Document.

Members are therefore being asked to approve the updated version of SPD6 for a four-week period of consultation in order to establish stakeholder views on its content. Following consultation, all representations received will be fully considered and changes made where appropriate.

Delegated decision:

Cabinet agrees to:

Approve the updated Supplementary Planning Document 6 together with the proposed consultation measures outlined in this report.

Reason for the decision:

The revised SPD6 provides up-to-date guidance in respect of alterations and extensions to residential properties and consultation will ensure that all interested parties have the opportunity to comment on its content before it is formally adopted.

Other options considered and rejected:

Option 2

That Members seek revisions to the proposed content of the updated SPD6 report prior to consultation and/or Members seek revisions to the proposed measures for undertaking consultation - Members to specify the nature of any revisions to be sought.

Councillor Alan Quinn, Cabinet Member for Environment will report at the meeting.  Report attached.

The Cabinet Member for Environment and Operations submitted a report setting out details of the annual residents parking scheme.  Bury Council currently has 11 residents parking zones across the Borough. The first residents parking scheme was introduced approximately 20 years ago.  Around 6,000 permits are now issued per annum.   

In order to provide a transparent framework for determining the appropriateness of a scheme, a policy has been developed that sets out the process in relation to considering residents parking requests.

The revised residents parking policy provides a more comprehensive guidance that officers can follow.  It provides clarity regarding the minimum figures of support that should be achieved in order to progress and implement a scheme. 

Delegated decision:

Cabinet agrees to:

·           Adopt the residents parking policy contained in Appendix 1 so that over 50% of the properties affected must be in favour of a scheme for it to be implemented.

• A minimum of 10 properties must indicate support to initiate the Council to investigate a residents parking scheme request.

• The costs and fees associated with all residents parking schemes are reviewed annually as part of the budget setting process with the objective of being cost neutral.

• Each scheme will be reviewed every 5 years to ensure that they continue to be supported by the local community and demonstrate value for money.

Reason for the decision:

The proposal will help to address under-recovery of administration costs. 

Other options considered and rejected:

1. Continue to implement schemes where the majority of consultation responses are in favour, regardless of the level of response.

2. Continue to investigate residents parking schemes on request without any evidence of wider public community support.

3. Not review existing schemes to determine if they continue to be supported by the community and represent value for money.

A report from Councillor Eamon O’Brien, Cabinet Member for Finance and Housing will report at the meeting.  Report attached.

Councillor David Jones, Leader of the Council submitted a report setting out details of plans to purchase the freehold of a commercial property in Prestwich.  The property is located on the site where the Council is planning to develop the new Prestwich Village scheme.  The opportunity to acquire a key piece of real estate would greatly assist the speed and practicality of delivering the Prestwich scheme.

It is proposed to utilise the fund established to create an ‘Investment Property   Acquisition Fund’.

Delegated decision:

Cabinet agrees to:

• Subject to final agreements being reached on works being carried out to the building, that the Council formally acquire the freehold of 458 Bury New Road, Prestwich.

• Note the site is key to the strategic, economic and regeneration objectives for the area; 

• Approve borrowing the resources required for this property at an assumed rate of 2.5%.

• Authorise the Chief Executive, Director of Regeneration and Growth, Assistant Director of Legal and Democratic Services to negotiate and finalise the detailed arrangements in respect of the purchase, and to progress the legal work associated with it;

• Authorise the Director of Regeneration and Growth to utilise the ‘Investment Property Acquisition Fund’ for the acquisition of the property

Reason for the decision:

The risks associated with the investment have been fully considered as part of the due diligence process.  This has been carried out by external property advisors. The scope, details and conclusions of this work are set out in Part B of this report.

To consider the minutes of meetings of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority held on 31^st May 2019 are attached.

For information.

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.

Councillor Eamon O’Brien, Cabinet Member for Finance and Housing will report at the meeting.  Report attached.

Delegated decision:

Cabinet agrees to:

• Note the full proposals set out in Part A.

• Authorise the Director of Regeneration and Growth to purchase the property.

• Approve the proposal to utilise ‘Investment Property Acquisition Fund’ Approve borrowing the resources required for this property at an assumed rate of 2.5%.

• Authorise the Chief Executive, Director of Regeneration and Growth, Assistant Director of Legal and Democratic Services (in the role as the Council’s Solicitor) to negotiate and finalise the detailed arrangements in respect of the purchase, and to progress the financial and legal work associated with it;

• Authorise the Director of Regeneration and Growth to determine the detailed accounting arrangements for the loan, including the classification between revenue and capital

• Authorise the Assistant Director of Legal and Democratic Services (in the role as the Council’s Solicitor) to enter into any necessary agreements or documents to give effect to the above recommendations.