Agenda and draft minutes

Members of the Council are requested to declare any interests which they have in any items or issues before the Council for determination.

Councillor S Arif declared a prejudicial interest in item Common Minimum Licensing Standards and left the meeting during consideration of this item.

To receive communications from the Mayor and any announcements by the Leader of the Council or the Chief Executive on matters of interest to the Council.

The Mayor invited Members to join with her in celebrating Gallipoli, attend her Civic Lunch and also a “Big Lunch” to celebrate the Kings Coronation.

Minutes of the meeting held on 22^nd February 2023 are attached.

The minutes of the meeting held on 22^nd February 2023 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Mayor.

To answer questions from members of the public, notice of which has been given, on any matter relevant to the Council or its services to the community. Up to 30 minutes will be set aside for this purpose. If time permits, further questions will be invited from members of the public present.

Meeting of Democratic Arrangements Forum – Meetings Timetable

It was moved by Councillor O’Brien and seconded by Councillor Tariq and it was:

RESOVED, that:

That the timetable of meetings for the 2023/24 Municipal Year, as set out, be approved.

Meeting of Employment Panel – Amendments to the Officer Employment Procedure rules

It was moved by Councillor Rafiq and seconded by Councillor Moss and it was,

RESOLVED, that:

The revised Officer Employment Procedure Rules be approved.

Meeting of Employment Panel – Annual Pay Policy Statement

It was moved by Councillor Rafiq and seconded by Councillor Moss and it was,

RESOLVED, that:

The Pay Policy Statement for 2023/2024 be approved.

Meeting of Corporate Parenting Board – Terms of Reference

It was moved by Councillor L Smith and seconded by Councillor D Quinn and it was,

RESOLVED, that:

The Corporate Parenting Board Terms of Reference be approved.

Meeting of Cabinet – Finance Restructure

It was moved by Councillor Rafiq and seconded by Councillor Gold and it was,

RESOLVED, that

The costs associated with the proposed redundancy of the post of Service Development Manager, Revenues and Benefits to Council for approval

Meeting of Licensing and Safety Committee – Common Minimum Licensing Standards

It was moved by Councillor Morris and seconded by Councillor Walmsley and it was,

RESOLVED that:

It is recommended that the Licensing and Safety Committee considers and adopts the following amendments to the Minimum Licensing Standards and recommends to Full Council that the amendments are approved:

For existing vehicle licence proprietors:

·         that the transitional arrangements in relation to age and emissions standards are extended from 1 April 2024 to 1 April 2026 - This will assist hackney carriage and private hire vehicle owners to transition to the new requirements, whilst allowing them the ability to take advantage of the funding support package (Clean Air funding) once it is available. In order to achieve this compliance date, the amended policy will state that from 1 April 2025 a vehicle licence will not be renewed if the vehicle does not meet the above standards.

·           the implementation date for the written-off vehicle standards is extended to 1 April 2026. The amendment of to the written off policy is to permit vehicle licence holders who are currently licensed in Bury with a previously written off vehicle prior to the implementation of the Stage 2 of Common Minimum Standards in November 2021 to continue to be able to licence the vehicle until the 1 April 2026. In order to achieve compliance, the amended policy will state that from 1 April 2025 a vehicle licence will not be renewed if the vehicle has been previously written off. There will be no change to Council Policy relating to new vehicle licence applications in relation to this standard.

For new applications for vehicle licences

·         the minimum age requirement for new vehicles coming onto fleet is removed for hackney carriages and private hire vehicles - the current policy in relation to hackney carriage and private hire vehicles has a coming  ...  view the full minutes text for item C. 14

Report atached.

It was moved by Councillor Rafiq and seconded by Councillor O’Brien and it was:

RESOLVED:

That:

The Council appoints the Elections and Land Charges Manager, as a Deputy Electoral Registration Officer with the power to sign temporary Voter Authority Certificates.

To receive a report from the Leader of the Council on the work of the Cabinet and to answer written questions from Members of the Council to the Leader, Cabinet Members and Chair of a Committee on any matter in relation to which the Council has powers or duties which affect the Borough, provided the necessary written notice has been given. (30 minutes)

A member may ask a verbal question of the Leader, any Member of the Cabinet or Chair of a Committee about any matter on the Council agenda and which the Council has powers or duties or which affects the Borough.  Only one verbal question per Councillor. (20 minutes)

(a)         Written question (Notice given)

The Leader of the Council, Councillor E O’Brien, made a statement on the work undertaken by him since the date of the last Council meeting.

The Leader and the relevant Cabinet Members answered questions raised by Councillors on the following issues:                                

Due to the lack of time to answer questions 12 to 15 inclusive, the Leader gave an undertaking that copies of those questions and responses will be circulated to all Councillors. The Leader also gave an undertaking to make these available on the Council Web Site. 

              b)      Verbal Questions

(A)         A Combined Authority update report is attached, for information

(B)         Questions (if any) on the work of the Combined Authority to be asked by Members of the Council for which the necessary notice has been given in accordance with Council Procedure Rules.

(a)         The Council received a report on the work of the Combined Authorities.

(b)     The following questions had been received in accordance with Council Procedure Rules:

(i)         ANTI SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR

A motion had been received and set in the summons in the names of:

Councillors S. Arif, Bernstein, Brown, Dean, Gartside, Harris, Lancaster, Hussain, Jones, McBriar, Rydeheard, Vernon

This Council are keen to do all in its power to make the Borough a first choice for people to live in, for businesses to invest in and for children and young people to be educated in. As part of this approach the Council are determined to eradicate as far as possible any form of anti-social behaviour that could impact on this strategic vision.

While the more serious criminal behaviour such as knife crime will understandably receive more financial resources and multi- agency responses some of the perceived less serious though still challenging behaviours such as flytipping, noise and antisocial behaviour related drug activity require robust responses to send a clear message that this Borough has a zero tolerance for all such behaviour that blights our neighbourhoods.

This Council resolves to;

·         Identify the level of such activity within each Neighbourhood Hub

·         Call for a Bury Team Event to be held as a priority to discuss this matter with all partners with a view to creating an action plan to eradicate these issues

·         To include in the Community Strategic Plan definite actions by which the Council and its Partners will be measured by in their contribution to reductions in anti-social behaviour

(ii)        Promotion of Council reporting system to help identify hotspots for rat infestations and production of a report identifying ways of reducing the problem.

A motion had been received and set in the summons in the names of:

Councillors Carol Birchmore, Cllr Donald Berry, Cllr Andrea Booth, Cllr Des Duncalfe, Cllr Glyn Marsden, Cllr James Mason, Cllr Mike Smith and Cllr Mary Walsh

A recent Manchester Evening News article identified Bury MBC as being ranked sixth out of the 10 local authorities in Greater Manchester in terms of rat problems. This article however misses important facts that may lead to a misrepresentation of the true picture. Further research shows that the two local authorities at the top of the list have some of the lowest pest control call out rates and probably more significantly Tameside, ranked at the bottom has the highest rates. As councillors many of us hear anecdotal reports of rat sightings from residents. In part, due to call out costs, many residents, especially in poorer areas will opt to treat the problem themselves and so these incidents will go unreported through official channels. It is thought that rat infestations are more likely to occur in areas of high-density housing and in older terraced properties it is true that travel from property to property is often easier. The Council does offer a pest reporting system for public places, but many residents are not aware of it. The best way to get a true picture of the problem in Bury is to gather information on sightings and produce a map identifying report hotspots. To  ...  view the full agenda text for item C. 18

(i)         ANTI SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR

A motion had been received and set in the summons in the names of:

Councillors S. Arif, Bernstein, Brown, Dean, Gartside, Harris, Lancaster, Hussain, Jones, McBriar, Rydeheard, Vernon

An altered motion was moved, seconded and agreed by the meeting:

This Council are keen to do all in its power to make the Borough a first choice for people to live in, for businesses to invest in and for children and young people to be educated in. As part of this approach the Council are determined to eradicate as far as possible any form of anti-social behaviour that could impact on this strategic vision.

While the more serious criminal behaviour such as knife crime will understandably receive more financial resources and multi- agency responses some of the perceived less serious though still challenging behaviours such as flytipping, noise and drug activity require robust responses to send a clear message that this Borough has a zero tolerance for all such behaviour that blights our neighbourhoods.

This Council resolves to;

Delete:

Identify the level of such activity within each Neighbourhood Hub

Add:

1.    Ensure an ongoing review of the level and nature of ASB activity within each neighbourhood.

Delete:

Call for a Bury Team Event to be held as a priority to discuss this matter with all partners with a view to creating an action plan to eradicate these issues

2.         Hold a Team Bury event as a priority on ASB in order to:

A. Discuss how Team Bury partners can contribute to combating ASB and

B. Feed back Team Bury partners' comments on tackling ASB to the Community Safety Partnership

Delete:

To include in the Community Strategic Plan definite actions by which the Council and its Partners will be measured by in their contribution to reductions in anti-social behaviour

 Add:

3.    Ensure that measurable activities and outcomes are included in the CSP delivery plan on tackling ASB.

On being put with all Members present voting in favour, 0 Members voting against and the Mayor abstaining, the Mayor declared the motion carried.

(ii)        Promotion of Council reporting system to help identify hotspots for rat infestations and production of a report identifying ways of reducing the problem.

A motion had been received and set in the summons in the names of:

Councillors Carol Birchmore, Cllr Donald Berry, Cllr Andrea Booth, Cllr Des Duncalfe, Cllr Glyn Marsden, Cllr James Mason, Cllr Mike Smith and Cllr Mary Walsh

A recent Manchester Evening News article identified Bury MBC as being ranked sixth out of the 10 local authorities in Greater Manchester in terms of rat problems. This article however misses important facts that may lead to a misrepresentation of the true picture. Further research shows that the two local authorities at the top of the list have some of the lowest pest control call out rates and probably more significantly Tameside, ranked at the bottom has the highest rates. As councillors many of us hear anecdotal reports of rat sightings  ...  view the full minutes text for item C. 18

Amendments attached

A report setting out progress in respect of Motions passed at the last meeting of Council is attached for information.

For information only.

Questions on the work of Outside Bodies or partnerships on which the Council is represented to be asked by Members of the Council (if any).