Agenda and minutes

Members of the Township Forum are asked to consider whether they have an interest in any of the matters on the Agenda and if so, to formally declare that interest.

Councillor Gartside declared a personal interest in Item 8 – Funding Report,  as he was a member of Tottington Sports Club – an organisation that had submitted  a bid for funding.

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 2 July are attached.

It was agreed:

That the Minutes of the last meeting held on 2 July 2015 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

Action sheet attached

The action sheet arising from the Minutes of the Last Meeting was presented to the Forum.

An update will be given at the meeting.

Dr Falmai Binns from the Holcombe Society and BRIF explained that she had been in contact with Tony Trehy, Arts and Museums Manager in relation to the Urn in Ramsbottom Market Place.

Dr Binns stated that the Tilted Vase, known locally as the Urn had originally been commissioned as a water feature and was part of the Irwell Sculpture Trail. It had cost around £250,000.

Dr Binns explained that she had contacted Tony Trehy to ask whether the water feature part of the Urn could be switched back on as it hadn’t been running for a number of years.

Mr Trehy had stated that the pipework etc needed regular servicing and maintenance work before the water could be switched  back on. Once it was running the water needed treatments adding and testing done regularly. The Council did not have staffing capacity to cover this. Dr Binns explained that she had volunteered to carry out the treatment and testing required.

It was also explained that the pump needed replacing and some work to faulty pipes would have to be undertaken. The pump had been researched and the original pump manufacturers were still in business so a new one could be commissioned through them.

Dr Binns asked if this issue could be reviewed further with a view to getting the water running in the summer months.

It was agreed:

That a meeting between Mr Trehy, Dr Binns and David Thomas be arranged to carry the issue forward.

The Draft Township Plan for Ramsbottom, Tottington and North Manor will be presented to the Forum for comment and approval.

The Draft Plan is attached.

David Thomas presented the Draft Township Plan to the Forum.

It was explained that the Plan set out how local and community issues would be tackled and how priorities had been identified across Ramsbottom, Tottington and North Manor Township Wards.

The Plan promotes better outcomes for the social, health, economic and environmental wellbeing of people within the community and works alongside Bury Council’s key objectives of reducing poverty and its effects, supporting our most vulnerable residents, making Bury a better place to live.

·         Councillor Gartside referred to the current status of some of the issues set out within the Plan and asked how these had been graded as he felt that they didn’t correspond with progress made.

It was explained that the document would be monitored  and updated as progress on each objective was made.

·         Councillor Gartside referred to the Issue regarding access to High Speed Broadband in rural villages and stated that he felt this issue was not at an amber stage as it hadn’t progressed any further forward. Councillor Gartside stated that the status should be red.

It was agreed:

That the Draft Plan be approved.

A police representative will report at the meeting (Police attendance is subject to officer availability at the time of the meeting).

Inspector Vicky Shaw and PC Chris Boardman attended the meeting to introduce themselves and give an update on the work being carried out by the Police across the three wards within the Township.

It was explained that Vicky had taken over responsibilities for Inspector Eddison on a temporary basis.

·         Councillor Fitzwalter explained that there had been a number of reports of dogs being poisoned in Nuttall Park. Councillor Fitzwalter explained that the poison was being left in treats around the park and the dogs were eating them. She had been made aware of one dog that had died and four others that had been poisoned.

PC Boardman stated that he wasn’t aware of any reported incidents of this type but he would speak with the local beat officers.

·         It was suggested that notices could be put up in the area to warn dog owners using the park that this was happening.

Inspector Shaw stated that this would not be recommended as it could scaremonger. Once an investigation had been carried out, the best course of action could then be agreed.

Inspector Shaw asked Councillor Fitzwalter to ensure that the incidents were reported to the police so that they could be investigated.

·         Mr Booth referred to the incidents of youth nuisance in Summerseat and asked if this had been dealt with.

It was explained that the Police and Council security services had worked together to try to reduce the incidents of anti social behaviour in the area. The residents had also had an input into this and it had seen a reduction in reported incidents.

It was also explained that joint ‘Be Safe, Be Cool’ projects would be carried out with Community Safety and the schools in the run up to Halloween and Bonfire night.

·         Dr Binns reported that there had been incidences of cars driving onto fields around Holcombe late at night and the occupants then letting their dogs run around in the fields. There had also been 6 to 8 wheelie bins knocked over and rubbish strewn all over. Dr Binns reported that registration numbers had been recorded and she had also reported the incident herself.

·         Councillor Gartside asked what was happening about including PACT meetings in the Township Forum Meetings.

It was explained that this would be something that would be incorporated into future meetings. It was anticipated that a drop in session/market place would be held half an hour or an hour prior to the start of the Township Forum meetings. Other services and partners would be invited to attend these sessions to set up stalls which would provide the opportunity for residents to have an input into consultations or to ask questions. No minutes would be recorded during this time to allow any issues of concern to be raised. There would still be a public question time/open forum in the body of the meeting to allow for questions and comments relating to council services.

·         Councillor Fitzwalter referred to the Ramsbottom PACT meetings and stated that there  ...  view the full minutes text for item RTNM.319

Report attached

Dave Thomas introduced the funding report which set out the funding that had been allocated to the six Township Forums. The report also gave details of cross township applications and funding.

·         Councillor Daly referred to the allocations that had been made and asked how this had been agreed as he was aware that he had not been consulted.

Dave explained that the last applications had been decided by the Small Grants Panel but all future decisions would be put to the sub group of the Forum.

·         Councillor Gartside referred to the fact that the application made by Tottington Sports Club for ‘Tottington’s Big Day Out’ had been refused and asked whether this decision could be reviewed.

It was explained that all future applications would be decided by the Sub Group of the Forum which would include Councillor Members.

It was agreed:

That the contents of the report be noted.

Those present were given the opportunity to ask questions of the Council and the services provided. The following points were raised:

·         Mr Booth asked how often Councillors held their surgeries.

It was explained that all Councillors were different and there was no requirement to hold surgeries. Most Councillors were contactable via other means such as e-mail, telephone, text and social media. It was much easier for Councillors to be contacted and arrange to meet with the constituent than the other way round.

For those that did hold surgeries, details would usually be advertised around the ward to promote these.

·         Dr Binns referred to a highways issue that she had reported at a previous meeting of the Forum in relation to the junction at Factory Street and Ramsbottom Lane. This junction was dangerous and nothing had been done about it since it was reported. Dr Binns asked why the council had not acted.

·         Mr Jonathan Ali explained that he had complained to the Council about the blocked gulley on Hawkshaw Lane. His mother had also complained about the same issue.  Neither he nor his mother had ever received a response following their complaints which had been submitted over 12 months ago.

·         Mr Ali also referred to the Village Link information which provided maps of walking routes around Bury and its surrounding villages. One of the walks included a route up Hawkshaw Lane which was a de-restricted road without a footpath in some places and was so dangerous for pedestrians that local residents would not walk up it. Mr Ali pointed out that there was currently a borough wide initiative to lower speed limits to 20mph in residential areas. Could Hawkshaw Lane be included within this initiative.

Members requested that the Chief Executive be informed of the issues raised; It was felt that receiving no response following complaining to the Council was not acceptable. It was also felt that the recommendation that people walk up Hawkshaw Lane as part of the I Will if You Will fitness initiative should be withdrawn as it was dangerous due to the speeds in which vehicles travelled and the lack of a footpath on the Lane.

·         Councillor Fitzwalter reported that there was a survey being carried out in relation to parking in Ramsbottom. She asked that as many people as possible take the time to fill them out so that plenty of views were collected.