Agenda and minutes

Members of Bury East 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.

No declarations of interest were made in relation to any items considered at the meeting.

Minutes of the meeting on 21 July 2014 and the matters arising are attached.

Delegated decision:

                              That the minutes of the last meeting held on 21 July 2014, be approved as a correct record.

                         Jimmy Hill highlighted previous concerns in relation to Cook Street and Heywood Street and Mick Ainsworth stated he was still awaiting feedback regarding the traffic lights on Walmersley Road and a response on whether the Council had a mobile air quality monitor.

                  The Chair, Lesley Wildeman, reported that she had requested of Dave Thomas, the Township Co-ordinator, actions asked for by residents over the last 12 months and it was also stated that a request would be made to Highways and the Police to attend the next Bury East Township Forum meeting in November to try and address these issues.

Information to follow and an update will be given on the evening.

Dave Thomas, the Township Co-ordinator, explained that he had circulated to all Elected Members and Advisory Group Members of the Township Forum, the revised Bury East Town Plan 2012 – 2015, including all suggestions and ideas following the last meeting.

        It was agreed

        That Bury East Township Forum accept the revised Plan.

 A presentation will be given on the evening.

Sharon Martin, Head of Commissioning and Deputy Chief Officer of Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and Claire Wilson, Chief Finance Officer (CCG) attended the meeting to explain the current Healthier Together consultation and to ask those present for their comments and feedback on the proposals.

        It was explained that the way in which healthcare was provided across Greater Manchester was changing and the vision was to provide the best health and care in the Country.  Sharon explained that Healthier Together was about improving GP Services, Health and Social Care and making sure the sickest patients receive the best care in hospitals. 

        It was explained that Services would be working together to provide the best care for patients.  General hospitals deliver care locally for the majority of patients, with all hospitals having A&E and acute medicine departments.  Specialist hospitals would provide the same general hospital care to the local population and also care for the very small number of very sick patients across a wider area of Greater Manchester.  This would mean that residents would receive the majority of care from their local hospital but also be able to access the very best specialist care at an appropriate hospital.

        The question was how many specialist hospitals throughout Greater Manchester should there be – 4 or 5?  There are currently 3 hospitals that already provide specialist care, which are Manchester Royal, Salford Royal and Royal Oldham and these hospitals would stay as such.  The options with 4 specialist sites were:

Ø  Royal Bolton

Ø  Royal Albert Edward, Wigan

Ø  Wythenshawe

Ø  Stepping Hill, Stockport

Or with 5 specialist sites:

Ø  Royal Albert Edward, Wigan and Stepping Hill

Ø  Royal Alert Edward and Wythenshawe

Ø  Royal Bolton and Wythenshawe

Ø  Royal Bolton and Stepping Hill, Stockport

Fairfield General Hospital would stay as it was but the consultation is asking the public what is important to them; quality and safety, travel and access, affordability and value for money or transition.  The CCG have already liaised with Councillors, hospital staff, GP’s and Paramedics and all responses will be collated at the beginning of October with a decision by hopefully the end of the year or the very start of 2015.  It was really important to get people’s views in relation to this consultation.

Those present were given the opportunity to ask questions and make comments and the following points were raised:

·         Would this include ambulance drivers?

  Yes, the North West Ambulance Service has been involved with the design of the   consultation.

·         Who runs the North West Ambulance Service?

 It is an organisation in its own right with a board of Directors, which is part the NHS,  emergency response.

·         What specialist areas were the hospitals short of?

 Emergency and high risk general surgery and intensive care for complex patients – these are areas that looking at centralising.

·      What assurances was there that Fairfield would continue as a General Hospital and how will the re-structure impact on the NHS Funding Formula which is already £20 million  ...  view the full minutes text for item 286.

A presentation will be given on the evening.

Councillor Susan Southworth, Deputy Cabinet Member for a Sustainable Borough attended the    meeting and was accompanied by Glenn Stuart, Head of Waste Management.  Councillor Southworth explained that the way bins would be collected across the Borough from the second week of October would be different and this presentation was to explain why.

                  The Council have to find savings of £16 million for the 2015/2016 financial year.  Although re-cycling has improved from 2011 and is up to 47%, it was hoped that by encouraging residents to re-cycle more, that could rise to 60%, in line with other areas in Greater Manchester and add to the savings.

                  The Council are paid £25 per tonne of blue bin (glass, plastics and metal) and green bin (paper and card) waste.  The Council paid £61 per tonne to process waste from the brown bins (garden and food waste) which is composted and available for residents to buy.  However, the Council has to pay £284 per tonne to get rid of waste from the grey bins for landfill.  Most households can recycle 75% of their waste and it was important people were aware of the cost implications in not doing so.

                  The main concern from residents seemed to be vermin and maggots if waste was not collected often enough.  However, the brown bin, which all food waste should be put in, would be emptied every 2 weeks.  With regards to nappies etc. as long as these items are wrapped well, there should be no smell in the grey bin and a public health officer has assured the Council this should pose no risk.

                  Councillor Southworth also explained that if residents require an additional grey bin then they will be assessed and advised on re-cycling and if it is deemed one is required, then a fee of £30 will be payable for admin and delivery fees.  Additional blue and green bins will be available for those who need one.

                  Those present were given the opportunity to ask questions and make comments and the following points were raised:

·         A local resident asked why it cost £284 to get rid of waste to landfill, as he ran a small company and currently paid £115 per tonne to get rid of waste.

Glenn Stuart explained that this was a 25 year contract with Virridor, who had bid and won the contract and were the most economical of all and it was not just Bury but 9 Councils in total, only Wigan Council did not use Virridor.  It was owned by Greater Manchester Waste Authority and Glenn would ask for further information and report back to the next meeting to further explain the contract and what would happen at the end of the 25 years.

·         Mr Ainsworth asked how much Wigan Council paid?

Glenn stated that they had just awarded a 25 year contract but it was unknown how much they would pay.  Wigan were an ‘oddity’ and not with the other 9 LA’s.

·    Councillor Cassidy asked if the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 287.

A presentation will be given on the evening.

The Township Co-ordinator explained that the report would be presented at the next meeting of Bury East Township Forum.

Questions are invited from members of the public present at the meeting on issues of concern relating to the provision of local services.

Approximately 30 minutes will be set aside for Public Question Time if required.

The Chair, Lesley Wildeman, 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.

·         A local resident, who lived on Arley Avenue, explained that a group of youths were becoming a nuisance within the area and asked if there could be a Police presence, to deter the group.

The Township Co-ordinator explained that he worked with the Anti Social Behaviour Team and he would take this complaint to them.

·         Harry Reed complained of a grid flooding at the top of Pimhole Road. Councillor Holt was aware of this and asked if this issue could be addressed.

Bury East Township Forum, 18 September 2014

·         Harry Reed placed his thanks on record for the replacement of the swings on Openshaw Park.  Harry also explained that due to the very bad weather, unfortunately, the Party in the Park which had been organised for 10^th August, had to be cancelled.  However, there was to be a penalty shootout taking place on Hoyle Park, involving the Police and members of the community and he would report back with the date of this event.

·         Mr Ainsworth complained that the grids at the roundabout on Bell Lane, near the nursing home, were also flooding and there was a broken grid on Sanderson Street.

·         A local resident stated that the lights in the car park of the Seedfield Centre, off Parkinson Street, were lit up for 4 hours in the morning and the afternoon, which were not necessary as they came on when it was light.

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

There was no other business to report.

A funding report is attached for information.

The Bury East Funding Report had been included in the Agenda for Members’ information. 

The next meeting of Bury East Township Forum is Monday 24 November, 2014 at the Mosses Centre, Cecil Street, Bury.

The next meeting of Bury East Township Forum will be held on 24 November 2014 at the Mosses Centre, Bury.