Agenda and minutes

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

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the Meeting of the Council held on 16 October 2013 in Digest 5 (2013/2014)

              RESOLVED:

              That the minutes of the Meeting of the Council held on 16 October 2013 be signed by the Mayor as a true and correct record. 

          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.

              1.  The Mayor referred to the recent Homecoming Parade of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers and the opening of “In Step”, a new support group for ex-Forces personnel and their families.

              2.  The Mayor thanked those who had supported her Civic Ball which had helped raise £735 for the Mayor’s Charities.

          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.

              The Mayor reported that there had been two questions received as follows:-

              The Mayor invited questions from members of the public present and the following issues were raised:-

              (1)    Minutes CA.566 of the meeting of the Cabinet on 27 November 2013 – Treasury Management Strategy – Mid Year Review 2013/14.

                        It was moved by Councillor Connolly and seconded by Councillor John Smith and it was:-

                        Resolved:

                        That in accordance with CIPFA’s Code of Practice on Treasury Management, the report be noted.

              (2)    Minute 7 of the meeting of the Corporate Parenting Board on 28 November 2013 – Corporate Parenting Board Annual Report.

                        It was moved by Councillor Heneghan and seconded by Councillor Campbell and it was:-

                        Resolved:

                        That the Annual Report of the Corporate Parenting Board              be endorsed.

To receive a Statement 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 and Cabinet Members 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.

Verbal questions on the work of the Cabinet since the last Council meeting will be allowed subject to a limit of one question per Councillor.

(a)         Written questions (Notice given)

              The Leader of the Council, Councillor Connolly, 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 11 to 19 inclusive, the Leader gave an undertaking that copies of the answers to those questions will be circulated to all Councillors.  The Leader also gave an undertaking to make these available on the Council Web Site.

              (b) Oral questions on the work of the Cabinet since the last Council meeting (without Notice)

         (A)     A report by the Council’s Representative on the work of the Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority, Councillor Cummings.

                   (B)     Questions (if any) on the work of the Joint Authorities to be asked by Members of the Council for which the necessary notice has been given in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 11.2.

              (a)     Councillor Cummings, the Council’s representative on the Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority, gave a verbal report on the work of the Committee to all Members of the Council.

              (b)     The following questions had been received in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 11.2.

              A report of the Independent Remuneration Panel was submitted which made recommendations  to introduce Special Responsibility Allowances for Deputy Cabinet Members and the Standards Independent Person.

              It was moved by Councillor Connolly and seconded by Councillor John Smith that the recommendations be approved.

              Prior to the vote on the motion, in excess of the required eight Councillors requested that voting be recorded to show how each Member cast their vote, in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 17.5.

              The result of the vote was a follows:-

              For the Motion:

              Councillors D Bailey, M Bailey, Bury, Campbell, Carter, Cassidy, Connolly, Cummings, FitzGerald, Fitzwalter, Grimshaw, Haroon, Holt, James, Jones, Lewis, Matthews, Parnell, Quinn, Rothwell, Shori, Simpson, J Smith, S Smith and Walmsley

              Against the Motion:-

              Councillors Bevan, Caserta, Daly, Gartside, Gunther, Hankey, Hussain, Nuttall, Vincent, Walker, Walton and Wright

              Abstaining from the Vote:

              The Worshipful the Mayor, Councillors O’Hanlon and Pickstone

              The Mayor declared the motion carried and it was

              Resolved:

              That the following additional Special Responsibility Allowances be approved:-

              1.     £1200 per annum for Deputy Cabinet Members;

              2.     £350 per annum plus £30 per hour for each Hearing Panel attended for Standards Independent Persons.

Report attached

              A report of the Cabinet Member for Finance and Corporate Affairs was submitted which provided Members with an up-date on the local Council Tax Support Scheme and set out recommendations to continue to deliver a local scheme within the available budget.

              It was moved by Councillor John Smith and seconded by Councillor Connolly and it was:-

              Resolved:

              1.     That the Scheme introduced with effect from 1 April 2013 be continued without change from 1 April 2014 to 31 March 2015.    

              2.     That agreement of the specific legal wording of the local Regulations enacting the Council Tax Support Scheme set out in the report be delegated to the Executive Director of Resources in consultation with the Leader of  the Council, the Cabinet Member for Finance and Corporate Affairs and the leaders of the two other political parties represented on the Council. 

1.  Domestic Abuse

“Council notes that domestic abuse affects every community in Bury: rich or poor, white or black, old or young, gay or straight.  Over the past 12 months, Greater Manchester Police dealt with 3,570 cases of domestic abuse in Bury.

This represents the tip of the iceberg. It is estimated that one in four women will experience domestic abuse at some point in their life. It doesn’t just affect women, 17% of the victims who report domestic abuse to police in Bury are men.  Domestic abuse isn’t just physical, many people suffer serious emotional turmoil at the hands of abusive partners.

Council notes that help and advice is available to victims of domestic abuse and those who fear their friends or loved ones may be victims at the www.endthefear.co.uk website.

This council resolves to make a stand against domestic abuse by:

 ·working with the Police and Crime Commissioner, Greater Manchester Police, the NHS, housing associations, other agencies and most importantly of all, local communities across Bury to make clear that domestic abuse in all its forms is unacceptable;

 · doing all we can to encourage people to report domestic abuse to the police;

 · instructing the Chief Executive to report back by April 2014 on progress made by this Local Authority and partner agencies to improve and enhance services provided to victims of domestic abuse.

The Council agrees to sign up to the Greater Manchester Police and Crime Commissioner’s promise to “say no to domestic abuse” at www.gmpcc.org.uk/endthefear and encourage as many Bury residents as possible to do the same.”

In the names of Councillors A Audin, K Audin, M Bailey, D Bailey, N Bayley, J Black, P Bury, G Campbell, S Carter, D M Cassidy, J Columbine, M Connolly, A J Cummings, E FitzGerald L Fitzwalter, J Frith, J Grimshaw, S Haroon, P Heneghan, T Holt, A Isherwood, M A James, D Jones, J S Lewis, A K Matthews, N A Parnell, A Quinn, K Rothwell, R Shori, A Simpson, S Smith, J Smith, S Southworth, T Tariq and S Walmsley.

2. Bury Library

“This Council notes the proposal to install a Sculpture Centre in part of the building presently occupying Bury Library. This Council believes Bury Library to be an invaluable and much loved community asset benefiting the residents of our Borough. This Council is opposed to any plan to reduce the present footprint of Bury Library believing there to be no culture, educational and economic argument to support this. We are further opposed to any reduction in books and other material presently held by Bury library and available for members of the public to borrow. This Council believes the facilities and services presently offered by Bury Library should be maintained at their current level.

THIS COUNCIL therefore resolves to:

1. Cease installation of a Sculpture Centre at Bury Library

2. Not to spend £75,000 or any sum of tax payers money carrying out renovations or alterations to the structure of the building at this  ...  view the full agenda text for item C. 617

              Two Notices of Motion have been received in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 12:-

              1.   Domestic Abuse

              A motion had been received and set out in the Summons in the names of:-

              Councillors A Audin, K Audin, M Bailey, D Bailey, N Bayley, J Black, P Bury, G Campbell, S Carter, D M Cassidy, J Columbine, M Connolly, A J Cummings, E FitzGerald, L Fitzwalter, J Frith, J Grimshaw, S Haroon, P Heneghan,
T Holt, A Isherwood, M A James, D Jones, J S Lewis, A K Matthews,
N A Parnell, A Quinn, K Rothwell, R Shori, A Simpson, S Smith, J Smith,
S Southworth, T Tariq and S Walmsley

              It was moved by Councillor Walmsley and seconded by Councillor Tariq:

“Council notes that domestic abuse affects every community in Bury: rich or poor, white or black, old or young, gay or straight.  Over the past 12 months, Greater Manchester Police dealt with 3,570 cases of domestic abuse in Bury.

This represents the tip of the iceberg. It is estimated that one in four women will experience domestic abuse at some point in their life. It doesn’t just affect women, 17% of the victims who report domestic abuse to police in Bury are men.  Domestic abuse isn’t just physical, many people suffer serious emotional turmoil at the hands of abusive partners.

Council notes that help and advice is available to victims of domestic abuse and those who fear their friends or loved ones may be victims at the www.endthefear.co.uk website.

This council resolves to make a stand against domestic abuse by:

·         working with the Police and Crime Commissioner, Greater Manchester Police, the NHS, housing associations, other agencies and most importantly of all, local communities across Bury to make clear that domestic abuse in all its forms is unacceptable;

·         doing all we can to encourage people to report domestic abuse to the police;

·         instructing the Chief Executive to report back by April 2014 on progress made by this Local Authority and partner agencies to improve and enhance services provided to victims of domestic abuse.

The Council agrees to sign up to the Greater Manchester Police and Crime Commissioner’s promise to “say no to domestic abuse” at www.gmpcc.org.uk/endthefear and encourage as many Bury residents as possible to do the same.”

(At this stage in the Proceedings it was moved by Councillor Gartside and seconded by Councillor Daly that the question be now put which was unanimously agreed.)

On being put, the motion was declared unanimously carried.

              2.   Bury Library 

              A motion has been received and set out in the Summons in the names of:-

              Councillors I Bevan, R Caserta, J Daly, I Gartside, D Gunther, M Hankey, K Hussain, S Nuttall, B Vincent, R Walker, J Walton and Y Wright

              It was moved by Councillor Daly and seconded by Councillor Walker:

“This Council notes the proposal to install a Sculpture Centre in part of the building presently occupying Bury Library. This Council believes Bury Library to be  ...  view the full minutes text for item C. 617

              There were no Scrutiny Review Reports or specific items “called in” by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee to be considered at this Council meeting.

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).

              There were no written questions on the work of the outside bodies or partnerships on which the Council is represented, submitted in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 11.2.

          Questions on the delegated decisions made by the Regulatory Committees and Scrutiny Committees contained in the Digests of Decisions 5 and 6 (2013/14) published since the last ordinary meeting of the Council, providing four clear working days’ notice has been given of the question. 

Members are asked to bring to the meeting their copy of Digests 5 and 6    (2013/14)

              There were no written questions asked on the delegated decisions of the Committees or Scrutiny Committee contained in the Digest of Decision No.d 5 and 6 (2013-2014).