Agenda and minutes

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

There were no declarations of interest made at the meeting.

Minutes attached.

That the Minutes of the last meeting of the Township Forum held on 19 November 2014 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

A presentation providing details of the new online community directory will be given at the meeting.

Heather Hutton, Social Development Manager and her colleague Katie Woods attended the meeting to give a presentation on the Bury Directory.  The Bury Directory is a new on-line one-stop information point for advice, support, activities and services in Bury. 

The meeting was informed that this community directory had been established as a result of the new statutory duty on council’s to provide easy access for information services for local residents.  In terms of the Bury Directory, this had been established from a social care and community perspective. The following key features of the Directory were presented:-

·                Market themed icons which would allow access to information, services, activities and support for either adults or children and families.

·                 Search option for services’ offers for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities.

·                Information and advice to help adults live independently within the

community and support for people when they need it the most.

·                Links to Bury Council’s website.

·                The ability to personalise contacts and information lists.

·                Postcode search facility to access health services

·                Map and distance calculator facility

·                Basic information about services including contact details

·                Review of services function including star ratings and comments page

·                Text language translation facility

·                Provider update function and community groups pages

The Chair invited questions/comments from the audience:-

The Social Development Manager reported that members of the public can register as users of the Directory, this information will be confidential.

In response to a question from a member of the public, the Social Development Manager reported that support for the Bury Directory is provided by Council staff. 

Annemari Poldkivi, Healthwatch Bury Research and Public Participation Co-ordinator will give a presentation at the meeting.

Barbara Barlow Chair of Healthwatch Bury gave a presentation on the new consumer champion for both health and social care, Healthwatch Bury.

The meeting was informed of the key objectives for Healthwatch Bury:-

·                                 To give adults, children and young people a stronger voice to influence and challenge how health and social care are provided in Bury and to help people get the best out of those services.

·                                 To provide advice and information services.

·                                 To collect resident’s views on local health and social care services. 

·                                 To work with a wide range of existing services and organisations in Bury.

·                                 To provide evidence and feedback to organisations responsible for commissioning or delivering local health and social care services.

·                                 To work with the Clinical Commissioning Group to help make sure that services really are designed to meet local people’s needs.

·                                 The Healthwatch chair is a member of the Borough’s Health and Wellbeing Board.

·                                 Provide information about what to do when things go wrong 

·                                 Signpost people to the Independent Complaints Advocacy Service.

The Healthwatch Chair reported that the organisation had been keen to develop links with different NHS bodies and partner organisations; links have been established with the Pennine Acute and Pennine Care NHS Trusts, the local health overview and scrutiny committee and the CCG.

       In response to a question from a member of the public the Healthwatch Chair report that the organisation had recently advertised and successfully appointed eight new Board members.  The appointment of a Chief Operating Officer is imminent.

It was agreed:

That the Chair of Healthwatch Bury be thanked for her attendance.

Councillor Frith left the meeting.

An update on local police issues will be provided at the meeting subject to the availability of an Officer from Greater Manchester Police.

PC Peachy GMP, attended the meeting in order to provide an update on key police issues in Bury West. It was reported that since Christmas there had been an increase in the number of burglaries to sheds/outhouses, but a reduction (due to the darker nights) in anti-social behaviour.

PC Peachy reported that reductions in police numbers have resulted in changes to policing duties within Bury.  A number of neighbourhood police officers have been re-directed from their local beat areas into the Town Centre, to police the night time economy.  Changes made to the shift patterns have recently been reviewed with a view to a return to more visible neighbourhood policing.

PC Peachy reported that he now has a twitter account and regular tweets information with regards to policing in the Bury West area.

          It was agreed:

          That the update be noted.

Councillor Southworth left the meeting.

Councillor Roy Walker, Chair of the Bury West Township Forum Highways sub group will provide an update at the meeting.

Councillor R Walker, Chair of the Highways sub group provided members of the Bury West Township Forum with a verbal update informing them of the issues considered at the meeting held on 12^th January 2015.  Issues considered included:

·         Extension of the 20mph street safe scheme within Bury West

·         Further consultation with GMP with regards to the reduction of the speed limit on Bury/Bolton Road

It was agreed:

That the update be noted.

Questions are invited from Members of the public present at the meeting on any matters about the work pr performance of the Council or the Council services.

The Chair, Councillor S Nuttall, 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 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 in relation to, the lack of street lighting on the M66 Motorway.  The resident was informed that the decision not to light that stretch of motorway was a decision for the Highways Agency and not the Council.

The same resident also raised concerns with regards to the poor state of the Boroughs roads, in particular, Rochdale Road, Angouleme Way and the roads surrounding Bury Grammar School.  The resident also expressed concern with regards to litter on Brandlesholme Road (near the newly installed railings) and Crostons Road. The Township co-ordinator reported that she would raise the concerns highlighted by the resident with the relevant Council Officers and provide him with an update.

In response to a question raised by a member of the public, Councillor Nuttall reported that she would raise concerns about pot holes on Trimmingham Drive with the Highways department.

It was agreed:

That the update be noted.

A report from the Township Co-ordinator is attached for information.

Christine Maksymowski, Township Manager, submitted a copy of the latest Bury West Township Plan for information.

It was agreed:

That the Plan be noted.

A report from the Programme Support Officer is attached, for information.

A copy of the Community Funding report for Bury West was submitted, setting out details of the funding allocations to date in support of the work of local voluntary and community groups.

It was agreed:

That the report be noted.

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

Councillor Walker reported that the Post Office will re-open on Mile Lane.

It was agreed:

The information be noted.

Nb; This item, which did not appear on the agenda was allowed by the Chair to be considered as a matter of urgency in order to update the residents of Bury West at the earliest opportunity.

The next meeting of Bury West Township Forum will be held on Thursday 12^th March 2015 at Bolton Road Methodist Church.

The next meeting of the Bury West Township Forum will be held on 12 March 2015 at Bolton Road Methodist Church.