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.

Councillor Connolly declared an interest, due to his Partner being an employee with Bury Council.

Minutes of the meeting and matters arising from the meeting held on 21 January 2016 are attached.

        There were no matters arising from the minutes of the last meeting.

          Delegated decision:

That the minutes of the last meeting held on 21 January 2016, be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

Councillor Holt informed Bury East Township Forum that since the last meeting in January, Brenda Headley, a keen attendee at the Forum, had unfortunately passed away.  Councillor Holt expressed his deep sadness at the loss of Brenda and her enthusiastic contribution to the Forum and her help to the Councillors and Community within Bury East.

Brenda was the ‘meeter and greeter’ of the Forum and her participation within the local Community would be sorely missed.  Councillor Holt wanted to convey his thanks on behalf of Bury East Township Forum to Brenda’s wholehearted involvement within the local Community and his deep sorrow following her passing away

The next meeting of Bury East Township Forum is to be confirmed for the next Municipal Year.

                                                                                                                                                                                          The next meeting of Bury East Township Forum is to be confirmed and agreed at Annual Council on 6 April 2016 and notification of the dates will be sent out to all Members of the Forum.

Subject to availability, an Officer from Highways will be in attendance at the meeting.

                Dave Giblin, Head of Service (Engineering) attended the meeting to explain various issues relating to Highways within the Borough.  Dave informed the Forum that re-surfacing work would be carried out on the A58 Rochdale Road, Bury, between Angouleme Way and Wash Lane.  The works are planned to start towards the end of March 2016 and will last approximately 14 weeks, in 2 phases.  The first phase of resurfacing will be carried out overnight between the hours of 8.00 pm and 5.30 am, Monday to Friday.  This phase will require the full closure of the road between Angouleme Way and Heywood Street and diversion routes will be in place to direct traffic around the closure.  This phase will last around 7 weeks.

                The second phase will be carried out during the off peak period of 9.30 am and 3.00 pm Monday to Friday and will require the use of temporary signals and temporary side road closures.

                During both phases, lane closures will be required during off peak periods to carry out localised repairs to manhole covers in the road prior to the resurfacing works starting.

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

·      Following a question from a local resident within Redvales Ward on the number of potholes in the roads in that area, including Manchester Road, Dave explained that in relation to A, B and C roads, Bury is one of the better Authorities within Greater Manchester for the condition of the roads.  The Service has to give the greatest priority to the worst areas and the roads that will benefit Bury. There is an annual pre-set budget that cannot be exceeded.

·      Following a question on how much money the Council receive from Central Government, Dave explained that there are 2 types of expenditure; £1million for planned work to be carried out and approximately

£800,000 for reactive maintenance, which included street lighting, pavements, bridges etc.  It was explained that the Council received an allocation each year from Central Government and all work is planned, looking at all factors.  Some roads are more significant such as the roads leading to the hospitals and schools.  However, the allocation from the Government was decreasing year on year and that is why work has to be prioritised.

• Kath Bond complained of heavy goods vehicles on Willow Street, which she has reported to the Police and local Councillors.  Councillor Holt explained that although there is a weight restriction on the Street, it is being breached.  Kath asked why other streets, such as Parsonage Street, had not been limited to 20 miles speed restrictions.

Dave explained that these were enforcement issues but stated that all resources are stretched, in order to actually implement these limits.

Councillor Connolly explained there was a 3 year programme in which £750,000 was being spent to ensure that all residential streets in the area would be limited to 20 miles per hour.  Willow Street was already limited; however, Parsonage Street  ...  view the full minutes text for item 816.

An update on local Police issues will be provided at the meeting by an Officer of Greater Manchester Police.

                Prior to the start of the meeting,Sergeant Angela Freud, PC Tim Heap, PCSO Andy Bigland and PCSO Shaun Broughton  were in attendance in order to give advice on a 1 – 1 basis to members of the Public.  An update was then provided to Members of the Township Forum in respect of Policing issues within Bury East. The following information was reported:

·         PC Heap reported that following participatoryfunding bids, £20,000 was made available to support the issue of domestic violence and a very positive event took place at the Jinnah Centre to help make a difference. 

·         PC Heap explained how important ongoing engagements within the Community were and there are now 15/16 Surgeries throughout the Borough that people can attend to talk to the Police about any issues within the local Community.

·         PC Heap reported that various youth schemes are taking place in Bury East as a lot of young people want to be involved within the local Community.  PC Heap also explained to the Forum about Restorative Justice, which enables victims to meet with their offender to explain the real impact of the crime and is increasingly used in schools and Communities to prevent harm and activities are organised to help repair harm.

PC Heap then reported on current issues including:

·         In relation to Criminal damage and youths throwing stones, including off the bridge onto the motorway and damage to a vehicle in the Pimhole area, 7 youths have been caught and the Police will work with these youths to try and educate them on Restorative Justice.

·         There has been an issue with off road motorbikes and PC Heap requested that any members of the public contacting the Police over these vehicles, ensure as much information is reported on the appearance of the driver and motorbike and where it appeared to be going.

·         There are still issues with fly tipping around Bury East and the Police, Council and Environmental Health are investigating.

·         There have been a number of reports relating to cars speeding especially on the wider roads and PC Heap stated that if residents contact him in relation to this issue, he will be happy to go out with a speed gun to these areas.

Finally, PC Heap reported about several youth events that will be taking place over the Summer in conjunction with the Police and further information will be reported on these events.

It was agreed:

That the update be noted and the Police Officers thanked for their time and attendance at the meeting.

The Bury East Township Plan is attached for information.

The Township Co-ordinator, Dave Thomas, submitted a copy of the Bury East Township Plan setting out the key priorities and actions for the Township.

It was agreed:

That the report be noted.

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, Councillor Holt, 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 local resident asked how more money could be obtained for the North.  There seemed an obvious North/South divide in lack of funding.

Councillor Connolly replied that as Leader of the Council for the last 5 years this was an issue he had been arguing for Bury for all this time, even going to London to see Ministers.  Bury are not funded per head the same as other Authorities and are disadvantaged by the formula.  Residents could take up this issue with the Local MP.

·         Harry Reed asked in relation to an elected Mayor in Manchester and what money would be available to Bury.

Councillor Connolly stated that the 10 Councils, including Bury, that make up the Association of Greater Manchester Councils (AGMA) have now all agreed to a devolution deal with George Osborne to get its own directly elected Mayor with new powers and funding for transport, housing, social care, planning etc. which should be used to benefit everybody right across the Greater Manchester area. 

Currently, Tony Lloyd was the interim Mayor with the election taking place in 2017.

·         Jimmy Hill asked if there was an update on the Street signs in the Pimhole area and Councillor Holt stated that these would be fitted in the early Summer.

·         A local resident asked how successful the 3 weekly bin collection was and Councillor Connolly replied that re-cycling had increased from 28% to 60% across the Borough, making a large financial saving to the Council and no job losses.  A large amount was being paid to landfill tax and the re-cycling reduced this sum which could then be re-invested into front line services.

·         A resident stated there was an issue with rats especially in the Parkhills area where there were quite a few fast food establishments and Councillor Connolly stated he would get someone to follow up this issue.

·         A local resident reported that there was a lot of fly tipping in Brooke Street and Chesham Way but that it was an issue generally all around the area.  Was this because people could not afford to pay the Council to have their waste removed and therefore just dumped it?

Councillor Holt stated that unfortunately this seemed to be the attitude of people and they needed to be informed and educated on this matter.  Councillor Walmsley stated that generally fly tipping is bulky waste from businesses illegally dumping and not common rubbish that would normally be put in a household bin.  The Council was responsible if it was Council property but not if it was on private land.

Jimmy Hill reported that the issue of fly tipping is something he has been fighting for over 5 years but the cost to the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 819.

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

There was no other business raised under this item.

A funding report is attached for information.

A copy of the Community Funding Report for Bury East was submitted setting out details of the funding allocations to date in support of the work of local, voluntary and community groups.  The Township Co-ordinator provided clarification on the allocation of funding and the amounts available to the groups.

It was agreed:

That the report be noted.

        It was reported that there had been 3 successful applications to the Township Forum Funding Panel since the last meeting of Bury East Township Forum, as follows:-

·         Openshaw Greens Parks Management granted £250 towards maintenance of bowling greens

·         SupportiveStem Community Growth CIC granted £250 toward an Easter Fun Event at the Green

·         Association of Bury Allotments Societies granted £250 toward travel costs to Harrogate Spring Flower Show

         It was agreed:

         That the report be noted.

As this was the last meeting of the Municipal Year, Councillor Holt thanked everyone for their attendance and for the support of Dave Thomas, Township co-ordinator and Democratic Services and special thanks were noted for Councillor Cassidy who would not be seeking re-election as Councillor for Moorside Ward and for all her dedicated years of Service as a Councillor in Bury East