Agenda and minutes

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

There were no declarations of interest.

In respect of minute BWTF.214 Councillor Walker reported that the Lidl planning application will be considered at the next meeting of the planning committee due to be held on the 17^th September 2013.

It was agreed.

That the minutes of the meeting held on the 15^th July 2013 would be approved as a correct record.

A verbal presentation from Neil Long, Assistant Director, Operations, Department for Communities and Neighbourhood, will be given at the meeting.

The Bury West Township Forum considered a verbal presentation from the Assistant Director, Operations, Department for Communities and Neighbourhoods, with regards to Dow Lane Park. 

The Assistant Director reported that the Council has had to make significant savings to the grounds maintenance budget.  As a result of which, the Council have agreed that some park areas would not continue to be as heavily maintained and instead would be naturalised.  In respect of Dow Lane the Council have reached an agreement with a local farmer to remove the grass cuttings and reduce the number of times the grass is cut.

The Assistant Director reported that he had visited this park this week and the park compares well, with other parks in the local areas.  The Assistant Director reported that it would however, be necessary to undertake some ground stabilisation work.

The Assistant Director reported that the Council employs seasonal gardeners in the majority of its parks and the number of gardeners has been reduced.

Questions were invited from those present at the meeting and the following points were raised:-

Mr.Griffin, a member of the public reported that Dow Lane Park has had its funding cut from £6000 to £3000, a significant and disproportionate amount of money.  There are a number of broken fences and the footpaths have been reduced in size.  There also continues to be a problem with large holes in the footpaths caused by horses and no park benches.

The Assistant Director reported that in the east field the Council are considering separating and segregating the bridal path, to alleviate some of the problems caused by horses on the public footpath.

The Assistant Director reported that a number of parks across the Borough had established ‘friends of’ groups and that residents of Dow Lane may consider doing the same.

Councillor Walker asked that the legal position in relation to the bridal path at Dow Lane Park be clarified.

Mr. Griffin submitted a petition to Democratic Services on behalf of members of the public.

It was agreed:

1.     The Council would consider progress in relation to work on Dow Lane Park at a future meeting of the Township Forum.

2.     The legal status of the bridal path in Dow Lane Park would be clarified.

3.     Democratic Services would register the Dow Lane Park petition submitted on behalf of members of the public and residents of the Dow Lane Park area.

Shiela Blackman; Manager Bury Carers Centre will be in attendance.

The Township Forum received a presentation from Sheila Blackman Manager Bury Carers, regarding the services provided by the Bury Carers Centre.

The Centre provides help and support to Carers within Bury.  The help and support provided would include:

•          One to One support

•          Referral for a Carers Assessment

•          Carers Support Groups

•          Drop in facilities at the centre

•          Outreach support across Bury.

•          Social events and activities

•          Training courses and sessions

•          Access to counselling services.

•          Information relating to Carers Rights and legislation.

•          Relaxation and Holistic therapy.

The Centre manager reported that the Carers Centre is based on Silver Street, Bury and there is a second information point within Fairfield General Hospital.

The Centre manager reported that the Carers Centre works in partnership with Bury Council, NHS Bury Clinical Commissioning Group and other voluntary organisations.

It was agreed:

That Sheila Blackman, Manager Bury Carers Centre be thanked for her attendance.

Fran Smith; Senior Planning Officer, Planning Policy and Projects will provide an overview of Bury’s first local Flood Risk Management Strategy.

The Township Forum received a presentation from Fran Smith, Senior Planning Officer, Planning Policy and projects.  The presentation provided an overview of Bury’s First Local Flood Risk Management strategy.

The Strategy is a document that contains various policies that will be used as the basis for making decisions on flood risk management.  The Document sets out the roles and responsibilities of risk management within the Borough.

The Senior Planning Officer reported that the Strategy would aim to improve the understanding of flood risk from all sources in Bury and manage the likelihood of flooding within the Borough. 

The Senior Planning Officer reported that she wanted to ensure that the Council’s analysis of flood risk matches local experience.

Questions were invited from those present at the meeting and the following points were raised:-

The Senior Planning Officer reported that responsibility for surface water flooding had transferred from the Environment Agency to the Local Authority. There are no concerns in relation to surface water flooding in the Bury west Township Area.

The area surrounding Our Lady of Lourdes had been indentified as a potential area of concern, and this would be investigated further.

CouncillorFrith left the meeting.

The Senior Planning Officer reported that a planning application would only be allowed in a flood plain in exceptional circumstances.  Every development above a hector would have to undergo a flood risk assessment.

Members of the public expressed concern in relation to disused, under ground water culverts around the site of an old paper mill in Church ward.  The Senior Planning Officer asked members of the public to get involved and complete comment cards as part of the consultation process.

The senior Planning Officer reported that the consultation on the Draft local Flood Risk Management Strategy would run from the 2^nd September until the 14^th October 2013.

It was agreed:

The Senior Planning Officer be thanked for her attendance.

A report from the Township Co-ordinator is attached.

Christine Maksymowski, Township Co-ordinator, provided an overview of the Bury West Township Forum Area Plan. The plan outlines how the Council and its partners will continue to make progress towards the vision for Bury West to promote better outcomes for the social, health, economic and environmental wellbeing of people in the community.

The Township Co-ordinator reported that a police partnership meeting had taken place, the main item of discussion was anti-social behaviour.

It was agreed:

The Bury West Area Plan would be a standing agenda item.

Questions are invited from members of the Public present at the meeting on any matters about the work or performance of the Council or the Council’s Services.

The Chair, Councillor M Hankey, invited questions, comments and representations from members of the public present at the meeting.  Questions were asked and comments made on the issues detailed below.  The Township Forum Co-ordinator undertook to obtain a reply to matters which could not be dealt with at the meeting.

·               A Member of the public raised concerns that the speed limit on Bury/Bolton road had not been reduced from 40pmh to 30mph.  The Assistant Director reported that changes to speed limits were being coordinated at a Greater Manchester level and this is causing delays in implementation within Bury.

·               A member of the public reported that new signage and road markings reducing the speed limit from 30 mph to 20mph on Rudgewick and Purpeck Drive had almost been completed.

A report is attached.

To consider any business, which by reason of special circumstances, the Chair agrees may be considered as a matter of urgency

A representative from the Brandlesholme Residents Association provided members of the Township Forum with an update on the Association’s plans for Whitehead Park.  Mr.McGarry reported that the Association has applied to Viridor for a grant of £200,000 to fund the work.  The funding requirements stipulate that the Residents Association must in the first instance raise £20,000.  The Residents Association would like to use the money for children’s play area, improved footpaths, fitness equipment, sensory garden and water feature.

Mr.McGarry reported that the Residents Association would meet with Viridor again in September to discuss the funding.

It was agreed:

Representatives from Brandlesholme Residents Association would provide members of the Township Forum with a further update in relation to Whitehead Park at a future meeting.

Lesley Marsh informed members of the Township Forum of a Community Café she is trying to establish within the Pavilion at Purpeck Park.  The purpose of the café is to provide a social centre that is an affordable facility, run be volunteers and owned by the community.

The Community Café would be self funding and dependent on interest could be further developed to include additional activities.  The café would provide volunteering opportunities for children/young adults on the autistic spectrum.  Lesley Marsh raised concern that as part of the development of the Pavilion she is being asked to self manage the Bowling Green at an additional cost to the venture.

It was agreed:

A representative from the Communities and Neighbourhoods Department would liaise with Lesley Marsh to discuss the Pavilion at Purpeck Park and the development of a business case.