Agenda and minutes

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Items
No. Item

C. 648

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

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

 

Minutes:

1.    Councillor Connolly declared a personal interest in any item which related to staffing as his partner is an employee of Bury Council.

2.    Councillor Jones declared a personal interest in any item which related to staffing as his wife is an employee of Bury Council.

3.  Councillor Bevan declared a personal interest in any item which related to staffing as his wife is an employee within a Bury School.

 

C. 649

MINUTES OF THE COUNCIL pdf icon PDF 54 KB

          To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 10 December 2015

 

Minutes:

RESOLVED:

 

That the minutes of the Meeting of the Council held on 10 December2014 be signed by the Mayor as a true and correct record. 

C. 650

MAYORAL COMMUNICATIONS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

          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.

 

 

Minutes:

The Mayor congratulated the following whose contributions had been acknowledged in the Queen's New Years Honours List:

 

·         Diana Robinson - Awarded a British Empire Medal in recognition of her services to Bury Grammar School Kindergarten;

·         Sister Dee Smith - Awarded an MBE for her work in supporting people overseas with Aids and HIV.

 

The Mayor informed Members that a quiz in support of the Mayoral charities would take place on Sunday 22 March 2015 at 7.15 pm in the Elizabethan Suite.

C. 651

PUBLIC QUESTION TIME pdf icon PDF 61 KB

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.

 

Minutes:

The Mayor reported the receipt of ten written questions as set out below.  As they were unable to attend the meeting, questions from Mr R Taylor on Expenditure Cuts, Mr A Miller on Access to the Public Gallery of the Council Chambers and Mr B Hagan on the Bury Council Tenancy Agreement Charter, would be dealt with through being made available on the Council web-site:-

 

No.

Issue

Questioner

Answered By

1.

Traffic Congestion - Particularly around Croft Lane

Mr S Mahmood

Councillor Connolly

2.

Public Consultation

Mr RCahill

Councillor Connolly

3.

Six Town Housing Repairs

Ms T Kay

Councillor Connolly

4.

Bury Central Library and E-Learning

Mr I Henderson

Councillor Connolly

5.

Problems associated with inconsiderate parking around the Gigg Lane area on match days

Mr M Harling

Councillor Connolly

6.

Problems associated with trees on Moyse Avenue, Tottington

Mr W

Southworth

Councillor Connolly

7.

Residents parking and parking permits in Redvales

Ms S Smith

Councillor Connolly

 

On inviting questions from members of the public present, the following issues were raised:-

 

No.

Issue

Questioner

Answered By

8.

Contract for the Arms Length Management Organisation

Mr V Hagan

Councillor Connolly

9.

Future funding for Childrens Centres

Ms E Wheatley

Councillor Connolly

 

C. 652

PETITION

 

          A petition has been received which contains the following wording:

 

          “ Bury Council is trying to close Butterstile, Toodle Hill, Daisyfield,      High Meadow, Moorside, Stepping Stones and Ramsbottom          Children’s Centres.

          We the undersigned implore the Council to keep these crucial centres open.        Children’s Centres are lifelines for so many.  The         plans will cut children’s centres          from the most deprived areas.  This       will therefore hit the most vulnerable.  The plans state the           development of a “hub” service, i.e. a few centralised centres of        activity which will be inaccessible to most without a car.  More      families, mums,     dads and children will be far more isolated       leading to less contact with vital links to family wellbeing.  This can    only lead to a deterioration in the health and wellbeing of under 5’s     and their families.”

 

 

          As the petition contains in excess of 2,500 signatures from people     who live, work or study in Bury, the Cabinet Member for Children     and Young People has decided to refer the petition for consideration          at Council.

 

                    Under the petitions procedure, the petition organiser will be given 5   minutes to present the petition and then the Council will determine    a course of action. 

 

Minutes:

The Mayor reported that a petition has been received which contains the following wording:

 

"Bury Council is trying to close Butterstile, Toodle Hill, Daisyfield, High Meadow, Moorside, Stepping Stones and Ramsbottom Children's Centres.

 

We the undersigned implore the Council to keep these crucial centres open.  Children's Centres are lifelines for so many.  The plans will cut children's centres from the most deprived areas.  This will therefore hit the most vulnerable.  The plans state the development of a "hub" service, i.e. a few centralised centres of activity which will be inaccessible to most without a car.  More families, mums, dads and children will be far more isolated leading to less contact with vital links to family wellbeing.  This can only lead to a deterioration in the health and wellbeing of under 5's and their families."

 

As the petition contained in excess of 2,500 signatures from people who live, work or study in Bury, the Cabinet Member for Children and Young People had decided to refer the petition for consideration at Council.

 

Under the petitions procedure, the petition organiser Sian Crosby, was given five minutes to present the petition.

 

The Mayor asked Members if they supported the Petition and with 14 voting in favour, 34 against and one abstention, the petition was not supported.

 

It was moved by the Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, Councillor Campbell, and seconded by Councillor Heneghan that the decision taken by the Cabinet on 21 January 2015 be endorsed.

 

With 34 voting for, 14 against and one abstention the motion was declared carried.

C. 653

RECOMMENDATION OF CABINET AND COUNCIL COMMITTEES

Committee/Date

Subject

Recommendation

Minute CA.481-  Cabinet – 26 November 2014

Treasury Management Strategy – Mid Year Review 2014-2015

1. To note the report in accordance with the CIPFA Code of Practice on Treasury Management;

2. To approve the increase of the Counterparty investment limit for Barclays from £10m to £15m to reflect that Barclays will be the Authority’s main banker for 2015.

 

Minutes:

Minute CA.481 of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 26 November 2014 - Treasury Management Strategy - Mid Year review 2014 - 2015.

 

It was moved by Councillor Connolly and seconded by Councillor Shori and it was:-

 

RESOLVED:

 

1.     That the report be noted in accordance with the CIPFA Code of Practice on Treasury Management;

 

2.     That the increase of the Counterparty investment limit for Barclays from £10m to £15m to reflect that Barclays will be the Authority's main banker for 2015, be approved.

C. 654

LEADER'S STATEMENT AND CABINET QUESTION TIME pdf icon PDF 809 KB

          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.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

(a)       Written question (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:

 

No.

Issue

Questioner

Answered by

1.

Fair Deal for Bury

Councillor John Smith

Councillor Connolly

2.

Bus Station in Radcliffe

Councillor Parnell

Councillor Connolly

3.

Local Welfare Assistance

Councillor O'Brien

Councillor Walmsley

4.

Sculpture Centre Displays

Councillor Walker

Councillor Lewis

5.

Electoral Registration

Councillor Haroon

Councillor Walmsley

6.

Excess packaging by supermarkets and impact on recycling

Councillor Quinn

Councillor Southworth

7.

Maternity Wing at Fairfield Hospital

Councillor Quinn

Councillor Shori

8.

Dog Waste Bins

Councillor Wright

Councillor Isherwood

9.

Ofsted Report on Sexual Exploitation of children

Councillor Pickstone

Councillor Campbell

10.

Adult Safeguarding

Councillor Haroon

Councillor Simpson

11.

Bury Art Gallery and provision of Cafe

Councillor Carter

Councillor Lewis

12.

Impact of cold weather on homelessness provision

Councillor O'Brien

Councillor Shori

13.

Winter Gritting Service

Councillor Bevan

Councillor Isherwood

14.

Demolition of Former Police Headquarters

Councillor Walmsley

Councillor Fitzgerald

15.

Improvements to Council's Web Site

Councillor Holt

Councillor Black

16.

Government expenditure on road repairs

Councillor Gartside

Councillor Isherwood

17.

Personal Debt

Councillor Kerrison

Councillor Walmsley

18.

Ainsworth Nursing Home

Councillor Daisy Bailey

Councillor Shori

19.

Government rules regarding electronic communication

Councillor Jones

Councillor Walmsley

20.

Home to School Travel Escorts

Councillor Frith

Councillor Campbell

21.

Radcliffe Market and Regeneration

Councillor Bury

Councillor Walmsley

22.

Home to School Transport for SEN Children

Councillor Caserta

Councillor Campbell

23.

Planning Peer Review

Councillor Mallon

Councillor Walmsley

24.

Youth Unemployment

Councillor Whitby

Councillor Walmsley

25.

Transport problems and position of Bury within Greater Manchester

Councillor Walker

Councillor Connolly

26.

Recycling and Landfill

Councillor Bevan

Councillor Southworth

27.

Children's Centres - Consultation and Proposals

Councillor Matt Bailey

Councillor Campbell

28.

"Big Brother Watch" and local authority enforcement powers

Councillor Gartside

Councillor Walmsley

29.

Free School Meals

Councillor Pickstone

Councillor Campbell

 

Due to the lack of time to answer questions 15 to 29 inclusive, the Leader gave an undertaking that copies of 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)

 

30.

Fair Deal for Bury and discussions with Government

Councillors Gartside and Gunther

Councillor Connolly

31.

Government expenditure plans

Councillor Daly

Councillor Connolly

32.

Hate Crime and Council response

Councillor Tariq

Councillor Connolly

33.

Children's Centres and pressures on service provisions

Councillor James

Councillor Connolly

34.

Ramsbottom Children's Centre

Councillor Fitzwalter

Councillor Campbell

35.

Inter-faith communities and joint declaration

Councillor Hussain

Councillor Connolly

36.

Role and servicing of SACRE

Councillor Walker

Councillor Connolly

37.

Integration of communities through schools

Councillor Black

Councillor Connolly

38.

Role of Leader in community cohesion

Councillor Quinn

Councillor Connolly

 

C. 655

JOINT AUTHORITIES - REPORT BY THE COUNCIL'S REPRESENTATIVE AND QUESTIONS pdf icon PDF 16 KB

          (A)     A report by the Council’s Representative on the work of the Crime and Police Panel, Councillor Connolly.

 

          (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.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

(a)    Councillor Connolly, the Council’s representative, on the Crime and Police Panel, gave a verbal report on the work of the Panel to all Members of the Council.

 

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

 

No.

Issue

Questioner

Answered by

1.

Bus Services on Heywood Old Road

Councillor Pickstone

Councillor Noel Bayley (Representative on the Greater Manchester Transport)

2.

Plastic Waste - residual and Recyclable

Councillor Pickstone

Councillor Cummings (Representative on the Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority)

 

C. 656

THE GREATER MANCHESTER SPATIAL STRATEGY pdf icon PDF 163 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

A report of the Cabinet Member for Resource and Regulation was submitted which informed Members that on 29 August 2014, the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities (AGMA) Executive Board agreed to the preparation of the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework (GMSF) as a statutory joint Development Plan Document (DPD) that would principally seek to identify future housing numbers and employment floorspace requirements and associated infrastructure for each district within Greater Manchester.

 

On 28 November 2014, a joint meeting of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority and the AGMA Executive Board agreed to the necessary measures and actions to be undertaken by each of the GMSF as a statutory DPD and subsequently take the document forward to adoption.

 

It was moved by Councillor Walmsley and seconded by Councillor Black and it was:-

 

RESOLVED:

 

1.     That approval be given to the making of an agreement with the other nine Greater Manchester councils to prepare jointly the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework to cover housing and employment land requirements and associated infrastructure across Greater Manchester as a joint development plan document on terms to be approved by the Council;

 

2.     That the asking of the preparation of the GMSF to the AGMA Executive Board be delegated to the Cabinet;

 

3.     That the submission of further reports to full Council in respect of matters within the remit of full Council, including the approval of the GMSF be noted;

 

4.     That an amendment to Paragraph 13.2 of Schedule 1 to the AGMA Constitution by deleting (initially in terms of Waste and Minerals planning) be approved and an update to the AGMA Constitution to reflect this be authorised.

 

5.     That the asking of Cabinet to subsequently undertake the following be noted:

 

1)     Note that full Council has approved the making of an agreement to jointly prepare the GMSF as a DPD with the other nine Greater Manchester Councils;

2)     Delegate the formulating and preparation of the GMSF to the AGMA Executive Board;

 

3)     Note that there will be further reports to full Council in respect of matters within the remit of the full Council, including the approval of the GMSF; and

 

4)     Approve an amendment to Paragraph 13.2 of Schedule 1 to the AGMA Constitution by deleting '(initially in terms of Waste and Minerals planning)' and authorise an update to the AGMA Constitution to reflect this.

C. 657

NOTICES OF MOTION

          The following Notice of Motions have been received:-     

 

1.   Senior Management Structure

 

          “This Council notes the difficult challenges ahead in funding front-    line services with increasing expectations of service delivery. Therefore, this Council should continue to take every           opportunity to streamline its senior management team in order          make significant savings that can be put into improving front-line   services, in particular services to the most vulnerable people in        Bury.

          Once the post of Chief Executive becomes vacant in March 2015,      this Council resolves:-

          1) Not to fill the Chief Executive post in the short term
          2) To instruct the existing senior management team to jointly take    on the duties of the existing Chief Executive, including instructing       the Executive Director of Resources and Regulation to act as        "Head of Paid Service” for the next 6 months in addition to      their existing roles.
          3) That an all-party Committee be asked to consider the longer          term   alternatives for the Chief Executive post and report back to           Council within 6 months with detailed proposals for one of the        following recommendations:


          (i)   Appoint one of the 3 members of the existing senior          management team to become a “Managing Director” with    responsibilities for strategic direction of the Council and another to   take on the responsibility of “Head of Paid Service”;
          (ii)   Explore the possibility of sharing a Chief Executive and/or          other senior           management roles with other local authorities where       similar posts are currently vacant.
          (iii)  Appoint a Chief Executive on a part-time basis with revised         duties, with other           duties shared with the existing senior          management team;
          (iv)  Re-appoint a Chief Executive but with revised levels of      remuneration."

 

In the names of Councillors I Bevan, R Caserta, J Daly, I Gartside, D Gunther, R Hodkinson, K Hussain, S Nuttall, R Walker, J Walton and Y Wright

 

          2. Lowering the Voting Age

 

          This Council notes that:

          1. 16 and 17 year olds who can: consent to medical treatment,         work full-time, paytaxes, get married and join the armed         forces are currently denied the right to vote          in public elections in the UK.

          2. Under the current system, 16 and 17 years olds are required to     participate in compulsory citizenship education in schools but     denied their full rights as citizens in terms of voting.

          3. Moreover, in recent years the campaign for votes at 16 has become more prominent, including Bury’s Youth Cabinet           resolving     to support the policy in February 2014 and the Labour Party’s       manifesto commitment in 2010 and 2015. In addition, the huge        turnout of 16-17 year olds in the Scottish Independence   Referendum highlights the potential to engage more citizens in the         widerdemocratic process.

          This Council resolves to:-

          1. Support the National Labour party's position in relation to     introducing votes for 16 and 17-year-olds

          2. Write to the relevant Minister outlining the council's position

          3. Develop a strategy to engage younger voters to encourage participation in local and national elections following a changein       legislation.

 

In the names of Councillors  P  ...  view the full agenda text for item C. 657

Minutes:

Two Notices of Motions have been received and set out in the Summons. 

 

1.      Senior Management Structure

 

A motion had been received and set out in the Summons in the names of Councillors I Bevan, R Caserta, J Daly, I Gartside, D Gunther, R Hodkinson, K Hussain, S Nuttall, R Walker, J Walton and Y Wright.

 

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 14.7(a), permission was given for the motion as set out to be altered, and it was moved by Councillor Bevan and seconded by Councillor Gartside:-

 

“This Council notes the difficult challenges ahead in funding front-line services with increasing expectations of service delivery. Therefore, this Council should continue to take every opportunity to streamline its senior management team in order make significant savings that can be put into improving front-line services, in particular services to the most vulnerable people in Bury.

 

Once the post of chief executive becomes vacant in March 2015, this Council resolves to:-

 

1)     Not to fill the permanent Chief Executive post in the short term. 

 

2)     Set up an all-party Committee to consider the longer term alternatives for the Chief Executive post and report back to Council within 6 months with detailed proposals for one of the following recommendations:

 

(i)                  Appoint one of the 3 members of the existing senior management team to become a “Managing Director” with responsibilities for strategic direction of the Council and another to take on the responsibility of “Head of Paid Service”;

(ii)                 Explore the possibility of sharing a Chief Executive and/or other senior management roles with other local authorities where similar posts are currently vacant.

(iii)                Appoint a Chief Executive on a part-time basis with revised duties with other duties shared with the existing senior management team;

(iv)       Reappoint a Chief Executive but with revised levels of remuneration.

 

                    On being put with 11 voting for, 34 against and one abstention, the motion was declared lost.

 

2.      Lowering the Voting Age

 

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

 

Councillors P Adams, N Bayley, J Black, S Briggs, P Bury, G Campbell, S Carter, D M Cassidy, 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, S Kerrison, J S Lewis, A K Matthews, J Malloon, E O'Brian, N A Parnell, A Quinn, K Rothwell, R Shori, A Simpson, S Smith, J Smith, S Southworth, T Tariq, S Walmsley and M Whitby.

 

It was moved by Councillor O'Brien and seconded by Councillor Tariq:- 

 

This Council notes that:

 

1.     16 and 17 year olds who can: consent to medical treatment, work full-time, pay taxes, get married and join the armed forces are currently denied the right to vote in public elections in the UK.

 

2.     Under the current system, 16 and 17 years olds are required to participate in compulsory citizenship education in schools but denied their full rights as citizens in terms of  ...  view the full minutes text for item C. 657

C. 658

SCRUTINY REVIEW REPORTS AND SPECIFIC ITEMS "CALLED IN" BY SCRUTINY COMMITTEES

Minutes:

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

C. 659

QUESTIONS ON THE WORK OF OUTSIDE BODIES OR PARTNERSHIPS

          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).

 

 

Minutes:

There were no questions received in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 11.2.

C. 660

DELEGATED DECISIONS OF THE COUNCIL COMMITTEES

          Questions on the delegated decisions made by the Regulatory Committees and Scrutiny Committees contained in the Digest of Decisions 5 (2014/15) 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 Digest 5 (2014/15).

 

Minutes:

There were no written questions asked on the delegated decisions of the Committees or Scrutiny Committee contained in the Digest of Decisions 5 (2014-2015).