Agenda and minutes

Apologies are noted above.

Members of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee are asked to consider whether they have an interest in any matters on the agenda and, if so, to formally declare that interest.

Councillor Peel declared an interest in items 8-10 as Deputy Cabinet Member Environment, Climate Change and Operations so left the meeting after item 7 (19:56pm).

The minutes from the meeting held on 15^th June 2022 are attached for approval.

Councillor Birchmore flagged that page 4 of the minutes should be amended to:

It was moved by Councillor Birchmore and seconded by Councillor Boroda and it was agreed unanimously.

Subject to the above amendment the minutes of the meeting held on 23^rd March 2022 be approved.

There were no matters arising.

A period of 30 minutes has been set aside for members of the public to ask questions on matters considered at the last meeting and set out in the minutes or on the agenda for tonight’s meeting.

There were no public questions.

A period of up to 15 minutes will be allocated for questions and supplementary questions from members of the Council who are not members of the committee. This period may be varied at the discretion of the chair.

There were no member questions.

Report from Councillor Charlotte Morris, Cabinet Member for Culture and Economy attached.

Councillor Morris, Cabinet Member for Culture and Economy provided an overview of Bury Council’s Culture Strategy and Bury’s time as Greater Manchester Town of Culture.

In December 2019 Bury was named the inaugural Greater Manchester Town of Culture, an initiative to promote the 'distinctive culture' of towns across the region. As an outcome of the Town of Culture celebrations and recognised potential economic opportunity, a Culture Strategy was commissioned from a partner called Curated Place. This work was also tasked with exploring the opportunity to put cultural investment centre stage of the delivery of “Levelling Up” schemes in Bury and Radcliffe.

Councillor Morris then opened to questions from the Committee.

Councillor Birchmore asked the following questions; If you were writing this as a business plan what aims, and objectives would you have listed for this project? What outcomes do you think you have achieved? What do you think the legacy of this project will be for Bury and the other towns which make up Bury MBC? 

In response Councillor Morris advised the proposed aim of the strategy is to be the best borough to be an independent creative in Greater Manchester. The objectives are to contribute to economic growth; to harness and celebrate community pride and identity and to enable delivery of the Levelling Up ambitions through a high-quality events programme in the new Radcliffe and Bury events spaces specifically. The intention is to establish the Borough as a cultural destination to increase visitor footfall and spend and to attract and retain new businesses to the borough, from the creative sector. The outcomes will be financial resilience through self-sufficiency of creative industries; increased business rates from the hospitality industry and the vibrancy of our town centres which will benefit from increased footfall and visitor numbers.  Detailed evaluation measures will be determined when the strategy is finalised but are likely to include hotel stays; visitor numbers at principal attractions including Radcliffe hub and Bury Flexi Hall; numbers of resident artists and creative-based industries and increased regional and national media coverage. 

In response to a question from Councillor Bernstein about Gigg Lane Councillor Morris advised that as per the report to Cabinet last week there is now a clear opportunity to bring professional football back to the town at Gigg Lane whilst maximising a key community asset, which would see the council provide £450k to release further funding from the Community Ownership Fund.  Throughout our time as Town of Culture and when considering a future Cultural Strategy, we have always intentionally applied the broadest definition of culture, which includes sporting activity, hence for instance the Radcliffe People and Communities Plan having a joint theme on Culture and Sport. The proposals provide the opportunity to bring a range of benefits to the communities surrounding Gigg Lane, providing spaces for creative (priority 3 in the Curate Place proposal) and in particular celebrate the mutually beneficial relationship between creativity and wellbeing, both in the creation and consumption of cultural activity. 

During discussion of  ...  view the full minutes text for item OSC.7

Report from Councillor Quinn, Cabinet Member for Environment, Climate Change and Operations attached.

Councillor Quinn, Cabinet Member for Environment, Climate Change and Operations provided an overview of the Climate Action Strategy.

The Council declared a climate emergency in 2019 and has made a commitment to become carbon neutral by 2038. This aligns with the target for Greater Manchester. In October 2021, following public consultation, the Council published its Climate Action Strategy and Climate Action Plan. These documents outline how the Council will work towards achieving carbon neutrality by 2038.

During discussion of this item Councillor Walsh sought clarification on the current flood defences on Hardy’s Gate Bridge. Councillor Quinn explained the reason for the original plan of remodelling the bridge didn’t go ahead due to a funding gap and whilst it is not at immediate risk there is a 1 in 40 chance a storm could be detrimental to flooding in the immediate area.

Councillor Bernstein asked based on where we are today are we confident that we will reach carbon neutrality by 2038. In response to the question Councillor Quinn stated the Council continues to prioritise climate action, and this was acknowledged last year with the publication of our Climate Action Strategy and Climate Action Plan and the creation of a Climate Action Team. There has been some positive progress recently but there needs to be a change from the government to ensure we are successful. It is also important to recognise that we need to act quickly as it is estimated at the Greater Manchester level that we will use up our Carbon budget in the next 6 years, which means that by 2028 we will already be on the path to greater than 1.5C of warming. The Council is heavily reliant on government being able to make the necessary national changes that help to support the Council to achieve its carbon reduction goal, as there are many areas that we simply do not have necessary level of influence i.e., decarbonisation of the energy grid.

Councillor Birchmore sought assurances regarding getting vehicle charging points on a proposed development on the East Lancs Paper Mill site. Councillor Quinn advised that for a number of years, the Environment Section have been recommending planning conditions requiring that all new residential properties with a dedicated parking space be provided with an electric vehicle charge point. However, following the release of the new Building Regulations in June 2022, electric vehicle charge points will be required by law on all new residential properties with a parking space. This will be enforced by Building Regulations and so will no longer be needed as a condition on planning applications.

Councillor Vernon questioned what action was taken to access the potential £8.5 million funding as Bury received £2.5 million. In assurance Councillor Quinn advised that Bury council were originally awarded £8.5 million to deliver a range of decarbonisation measures across 16 of our corporate buildings. The government set extremely challenging timelines for delivery of the decarbonisation measures and these challenges were made even more difficult by late notification of  ...  view the full minutes text for item OSC.8

Report from Cabinet Member for Environment, Climate Change and Operations attached.

Councillor Quinn, Cabinet Member for Environment, Climate Change and Operations attended and provided an overview Greater Manchester Clean Air Plan. The report sets out the case for a new Greater Manchester Clean Air Plan and Greater Manchester’s annual mean standards for NO2 in 2021.

The Health Scrutiny Committee were asked to note the 'Case for a new Greater Manchester Clean Air Plan’ document has been submitted to the Secretary of State as a draft document subject to any comments from Bury Council ahead of the next Air Quality Administration Committee.

During discussion of this item members sought assurance on the change from the Government revoked the direction requiring the implementation of a category C charging zone. In response Councillor Quinn advised that as a result of legal action, in July 2017 the Secretary of State issued a Direction under the Environment Act 1995 requiring seven Greater Manchester local authorities, to produce a feasibility study to identify the option which will deliver compliance with the requirement to meet legal limits for nitrogen dioxide in the shortest possible time.  In Greater Manchester (GM) Authorities have worked together to develop a Clean Air Plan to tackle NO₂ Exceedances at the Roadside, referred to as GM CAP. Following Government guidance a best performing option was identified within an Outline Business Case (OBC) for further consideration and discussion with stakeholders and the public to aid the development of the Full Business Case.

In March 2019 the GM Authorities agreed the submission of the OBC that proposed a package of measures that was considered would deliver compliance in Greater Manchester in the shortest possible time, at the lowest cost, least risk and with the least negative impacts. This involved a Charging Clean Air Zone Class C with additional measures.

In July 2019 the Secretary of State issued a direction under section 85 of the Environment Act 1995 requiring the 10 GM local authorities to implement the local plan for NO₂ compliance for the areas for which they were responsible, including a Charging Clean Air Zone Class C with additional measures, but with an obligation to provide further options appraisal information to demonstrate the applicable class of charging clean air zone and other matters to provide assurance that the local plan would deliver compliance in the shortest possible time and by 2024 at the latest.

Councillor Birchmore questioned the ANPR cameras purpose; in response Councillor Quinn advised the ANPR cameras that have been installed can be utilised for data capture which would allow the Greater Manchester authorities to better understand vehicle fleet currently in operation, and their associated emissions. Using this data allows us to understand how vehicle fleets have naturally renewed over the course of the project, and whether the impacts of Covid-19 has altered typical cycles. Where ANPR cameras are located adjacent to air quality monitoring, additional analysis can be undertaken to be understand how specific vehicle types might be contributing to overall emissions.

Councillor Bernstein sought clarification on recommendation 6;  ...  view the full minutes text for item OSC.9

Report attached from Councillor Alan Quinn Cabinet Member for Environment, Climate Change and Operations.

Councillor Quinn provided the Committee with an overview of Highways Maintenance and the recent LGA Peer Review.

Councillor Vernon requested an update from the LGA Peer Review Team visit and follow up action planning day that took place on the 12 July. In response Councillor Quinn assured members the follow up action day took place this week. Three members of the LGA team came back to Bury and facilitated a workshop with officers. This workshop looked at communication, internally, with members and with residents and stakeholders. From this an action plan is being drawn up and actions allocated across Engineers and Street Scene. There is also work taking place to develop a communications strategy for both publicising what we are doing, why and also how we engage with members on the development of programmes of work and the delivery of schemes.

Councillor Bernstein further questioned who the communications strategy is aimed at in terms of behavioural change. In response Councillor Quinn advised the terminology is from the LGA, and is aimed at communications with the public, our partners such as TfGM and with elected Members. Then to raise awareness with the public, elected Members and our partners in connection with what we are implementing and achieving in connection with highways maintenance. By behaviour change this could refer to a more collaborative approach with our partners and Members in developing highways maintenance strategy together a better understanding by everyone of highway maintenance and improved customer satisfaction.

Councillor Birchmore wanted to voice positive feedback from Radcliffe residents on the roads being done in the area.

The Chair thanked Councillor Quinn for his contribution to the meeting.

Any other business which by reason of special circumstances the Chair agrees may be considered as a matter of urgency.

There was no urgent business.