Agenda and draft minutes

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Venue: Elms Community Centre, Green Lane, Whitefield

Contact: Andrew Woods  Democratic Services

Items
No. Item

WUTF.599

Declarations of Interest

Members of Whitefield and Unsworth 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.

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interests made at the meeting.

WUTF.600

Minutes pdf icon PDF 95 KB

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 17 January 2017. Details of issues raised are attached.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting held on 17 January 2017 were submitted.

Two amendments were made to the minutes:

On the list of those present with the deletion of “Elms Estate” and the insertion of “Victoria”.

Minute number WUTF.479 Public Question Time – paragraph 12 delete “2000 houses” and insert “1000 houses”.

 

Delegated decision:

         

That, subject to the corrections made, the minutes of the meeting held on 17 January 2017 were approved as a correct record.

WUTF.601

Police Update

To receive an update on Police related matters in Whitefield and Unsworth.

Minutes:

An update was given relating to policing matters within the Whitefield and Unsworth area. PC Richard Garland attended the meeting and provided details of crimes committed since the last meeting. This included: domestic burglaries (20) including distraction thefts, patio window break-ins and shed lefts. This included seasonal trends with gardening items targeted. There had been 25 recorded motor vehicle thefts. An individual responsible for a number of thefts within the area had been sentenced and was currently in prison. This had made a noticeable reduction on the number of the crimes recorded.

 

In addition the person responsible for the theft of hand dryers from McDonalds restaurants had been caught and subsequently convicted.

 

The Police in partnership with other government departments had carried out roadside vehicle checks on HGV, mobile phone usage, vehicle insurance and use of red diesel. This had been a successful operation in view of the development of partnership working and had resulted in a number of prosecutions.

 

It was reported that the public reception at Whitefield Police Station was not in use due to cost savings measures. The number of people visiting the station in person had decreased due, in part, to the increase use of remote contacts such as telephone and online reporting.  The station building was in use by GMP officers 24 hours a day. A defibrillator had been installed at the front of the station and was accessible by using a code for use during emergencies.

 

The meeting was informed that there had been a reorganisation of the police divisional structure in Greater Manchester and Bury had a new Chief Superintendant (Stuart Ellison). The Bury division had been merged with Bolton and Wigan. It was unlikely that Bury would be the base of divisional operations in view of the expected demands in Bolton and Wigan.

 

A new Citizen Contract consultation was seeking the views of local people in order to shape the initiative. This will provide an opportunity to help shape policing in the next few years. Explanation cards were circulated explaining how to get involved with the consultation.

 

Mr Lott referred to the importance of the police having a visible presence for members of the public to be able to approach and speak to officers. Many older members of the community are used to this style of contact rather than using email or the internet to report crime or find out information. He suggested that officers could attend Bury town centre on market days.

 

The Chair thanked PC Garland for his presentation.

WUTF.602

Presentation - Phase 2 of the Library Review

The presentation will provide an update on the progress of the Library Review and options out for public consultation.

Minutes:

The Chair introduced Elizabeth Binns (Head of Libraries) and Klare Rufo (Assistant Director Learning and Culture) who had attended the meeting to give a presentation on the progress of the Library Review and the options for library service provision included in a public consultation.

 

Elizabeth Binns explained the financial position of the Council and the decisions required to ensure that a comprehensive Library Service continued to be provided within Bury. In making the decisions the Council was aware of the value the people of Bury have for libraries through the services they provide.

 

The two options being consulted on included:

 

Option 1: Retaining Bury, Ramsbottom and Prestwich Libraries plus a service wide team

 

Option 2: Retaining Bury, Ramsbottom, Prestwich and Radcliffe Libraries plus a smaller service wide team

The timetable for changes to be made to the Library Service is as follows:

 

·                    Public Consultation on proposed models / options for change ends 26 April 2017.

·                    Final report with decisions to Cabinet to be submitted on May 18 2017.

·                     Implementation of decisions from August 1 2017.

 

The Chair invited questions.

 

Could a library provision be made available from community buildings?

Yes collections could be provided although a library staff resource would not be included. It was hoped that community groups would take the responsibility to provide the service and lend the books to users. For those groups interested in setting up a service a register would be created.

 

Could the use of e-books be increased for lenders?

Yes Bury Library Service would be joining a Greater Manchester library consortium that would see a significant increase in the number of e-books being made available. This would involve the introduction of new library management system for users.

 

From the Libraries budget of £2.4 million, what does the £400,000 recharge pay for?

 

The recharge is calculated to cover a number of internal services needed to support the running of the Library Service such as financial, legal services, transport, waste collection, cleaning and human resources as well as other requirements such as insurance.

 

Are there any future proposals for the use of the Whitefield Library building if it is no longer used as a library?

No decisions have been made on the future uses of buildings.

 

In view of the 80% coverage that would provided by the four libraries identified within Option 2, could arrangements be made to provide a mobile library service for those residents living outside those areas?

A home delivery service currently provides a library service for residents who may find it difficult to travel to their local library.

 

Will provision be made to support groups providing social contact for residents through interest groups and societies?

The Council will work to help groups to locate accommodation. Also library users are being asked if they could become involved in helping people get to their library.

 

Councillor Jones reported that the Elms Community Centre could potentially provide the space for a supply of books and reading material.

 

Mrs Taylor used Oldham  ...  view the full minutes text for item WUTF.602

WUTF.603

Updates:

To receive updates on issues raised relating to: Whitefield - Health Centre Development (Bury CCG), Uplands, Former Town Hall, Hickory Grange, Porada, Pilsworth, Park66 and Boz Park.

 

Minutes:

Whitefield – Health and Care Development

The Chair reported that no representatives from the NHS BURY CCG were in attendance at the meeting and read a prepared statement from the CCG. The statement provided an update on the progress made on the Whitefield Health and Care Development scheme. Following a non-financial benefits appraisal selection process agreement had been made on three preferences:

 

·         Partial new build incorporating Uplands House refurbishment;

·         Total new build at rear of Uplands site; and

·         Total new build on the Wheatfield site.

 

Following a financial benefits appraisal for each option and an independent Transport Assessment Survey of patient travel to each site it was concluded that the current health centre site incorporating both; a new build element or the refurbishment of Uplands House was preferred. It was anticipated that work would begin on site during 2018.

             

Urgent Care Services in Bury

The meeting was informed that the current public consultation on urgent care services in Bury had been paused to allow the NHS Bury Clinical Commissioning Group to consider a new directive aimed at improving urgent and emergency care nationally.

 

Park66

Pam Taylor reported that the outline plans are now on the Council website Planning Portal. Pam had submitted comments about the development proposals on behalf of the Hollins Village Community Association.

           

Boz Park

It was reported that a Service Level Agreement would be produced between the Council and the community group involved. Community ‘tidy-ups’ would be organised to take place on the 1st Saturday of each month.

 

WUTF.604

Public Question Time

Questions are invited from members of the public present at the meeting about the work or performance of the Council or the Council’s services relevant to the Whitefield and Unsworth area.

 

Minutes:

The Chair invited questions from those members of the public present at the meeting about the work or performance of the Council or the Council’s services relevant to the local area. 

 

Bury Libraries – could the Council consider alternative funding such as sponsorship or a local trading company? This would involve charging a fee to borrow a book/CD.

 

People will find it difficult to travel and park to Prestwich Library because of the lack of parking and the congestion on Bury New Road.

 

Brierley Avenue Allotments – users of the allotments site are burning rubbish every weekend in including bank holidays contravening the rules of the allotment. Local residents have to keep their windows closed to prevent smoke/pollution/smells entering their homes. There may also be toxic materials being burnt. Lilyhill Street is close by and is predominantly a family area. Can the Council take action to stop this happening and encourage the allotment users to recycle the waste appropriately?

 

The reported that an environmental enforcement officer would be contact to visit the allotment and speak to the users on this practice.

 

Councillor Mallon reported that the allotments group concerned were looking to identify an area of the allotment furthest away from residential areas to burn waste.

 

Mr Haigh reported that the speed cushion located on Sunnybank Road had still not been given markings to prevent motorist from hitting it. The cushion needed to be painted to make it visible. There was a near collision recently involving an ambulance which could have ended in an accident.

 

Councillor Grimshaw requested that the road markings at the M60/M66 junction from Pilsworth had disintegrated and need to be renewed. Motorists were unaware of the junction and missing the turning onto the motorway because they could not see any markings.

 

The Township Forum was asked if benches could be removed that were being used as a meeting point for groups responsible for anti-social behaviour. The benches concerned are located on Livesy Street/ Bury New Road.

 

Reference was made to speeding motorists on the Elms estate area and the suggestion for a one way system to be used on Mather Road/Morton Avenue. A vehicle had been speeding on Morton Avenue and had struck a member of the public on the pavement 2 weeks ago. The vehicle did not stop.

 

WUTF.605

Funding Report pdf icon PDF 87 KB

Minutes:

A copy of the latest Funding Report was submitted.

                    

The Chair reported that two further applications for funding had been received since the report was circulated from: Whitefield Painting Group (£500) and Hollins Conservation Group (£430). These had been approved prior to the Township Forum meeting.

 

Delegated decision:

 

That the report submitted and applications submitted be noted.