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.

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.

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

5.     Councillor Quinn declared a personal interest in Minute C.860, “Notice of Motion – Employment for the Disabled,” as he is a member of the Downs Syndrome Association.

6.     Councillor Rothwell declared a personal interest in Minute C.856 (3), “Pay Policy Statement,” and Minute C.860, “Notice of Motion – Employment for the Disabled,” as he is a Life Retired Member of UNISON.

7.     Councillor Walmsley declared a Prejudicial Interest in Minute C.857, “Leader’s Statement and Cabinet Question Time,” in the event of any discussion regarding Minute CA.700 of the meeting of Cabinet on 11 February 2015, “Chesham Primary School – Extension and Remodelling – Capital Project Stage 2 Approval,” as she is a Governor of that School.

          To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of the Budget Council held on 25 February 2015.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the Meeting of the Budget Council held on 25 February 2015 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.

The Mayor thanked and paid tribute to Councillors Bury, Campbell, Cummings, Frith, Rothwell, John Smith and Walton who were not seeking re-election; reported that over £500 had been raised for the Mayoral Charities at a Quiz Night on 22 March 2015; informed members of Gallipoli 100 and arrangements for Gallipoli Sunday.

          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 the receipt of four written questions as set out below:-

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

1.   Minute CA.696 of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 11 February 2015 – Changes to the Anti-Fraud and Corruption Strategy

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

RESOLVED:

That approval be given to accept the report containing the changes to the Anti - Fraud and Corruption Strategy Including the Whistleblowing Policy;

2. That approval be given to delegate authority to the Executive Director of Resources and Regulation, in consultation with the Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member (Finance), to make minor changes to the Anti-Fraud and Corruption Strategy as required. 

3. Minute CA.698 of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 11 February 2015 – Proposal for Mayor of Bury 2015/2016

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

RESOLVED:

That Councillor Stella Smith be congratulated on being proposed as the Mayor of Bury for 2015/2016.

4. Minute HRA.02 of the meeting of the Human Resources and Appeals Panel held on18 March 2015 – Pay Policy Statement

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

RESOLVED:

That the Pay Policy Statement for 2015/2016 be approved.

          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 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.

He also paid tribute to the Mayor for the way in which she had chaired Council meetings during the current Municipal Year; and to Councillor John Smith who was standing down after serving in a number of roles, including Deputy Leader.

Councillor Gartside paid tribute to Councillor Walton who was standing down after serving as a local government officer and councillor for 55 years. 

Councillor John Smith responded by thanking political colleagues and officers for their support.

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 17 to 34 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  ...  view the full minutes text for item C. 857

          (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 Panel to all Members of the Council.

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

A report of the Leader was submitted which asked members to consider the Timetable of Meetings for 2015/2016.

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

RESOLVED:

That the timetable of meetings for the 2015/2016 Municipal Year, as set out in the report, be approved.

The following Notice of Motions have been received:-     

1.   Employment for the Disabled

“That this Council recognises the increasing social and economic hardship experienced by people with disabilities in our communities & specifically the lack of     employment opportunities in comparison to those people without disabilities.

This Council Notes that nationally only 46.5% of people with a disability of working age are in employment compared to 76% of those without a disability (Source DWP & Office of Disability Issues).

This Council accepts it has a duty to use the powers available to it (including but not limited to regulation, commissioning and procurement) to generate         employment opportunities and work with our partners in both the public and        private sector to create a ‘level’ playing field of opportunity for those with a disability living within the Borough.

This Council resolves to:-

·       Hold a Jobs Summit within the next municipal year, with invitees including public sector employers, Bury Chamber of Commerce, The Best of Bury and the borough’s Colleges with the aim to produce a 3 year-plan to improve awareness of individual disabilities, offer training and create employment opportunities. The 3 year plan will be monitored by the Borough’s Health & Wellbeing Board.

·       Lead by example with regard to its own recruitment & procurement processes to actively remove the cultural barriers to employing a person with a disability.”

          In the names of Councillors  R Shori, M Connolly, A Simpson,    T Tariq, D Jones, A Cummings, J Grimshaw, A Quinn, J Black,       P Adams,  E O’Brien and N Parnell.

2. Bus Lanes

“THIS COUNCIL notes that traffic congestion on the approaches to, and in Bury town centre has become a serious issue for residents in recent months and that the bus lanes are contributing to the problem.

THIS COUNCIL RESOLVES TO:

1.            Undertake both a detailed assessment study of the impacts of the suspension of, and possible removal of, bus lanes in and around the town centre, and a wider review of transport issues and opportunities along the key bus corridors into the town centre.

2.            Review the financial implications of removing the bus lanes on both a temporary and a permanent basis.

3.            Report back to full Council within 6 months with the findings of the study.”

           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

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

1.      Employment for the Disabled

A motion had been received and set out in the Summons in the names of Councillors P Adams, J Black, A J Cummings, J Grimshaw, D Jones, E O'Brien, N A Parnell, A Quinn, R Shori, A Simpson and T Tariq.

It was moved by Councillor Shori and seconded by Councillor Quinn:-

“That this Council recognises the increasing social and economic hardship experienced by people with disabilities in our communities & specifically the lack of employment opportunities in comparison to those people without disabilities.

This Council Notes that nationally only 46.5% of people with a disability of  working  age are in employment compared to 76% of those without a disability (Source DWP & Office of Disability Issues).

This Council accepts it has a duty to use the powers available to it (including but not limited to regulation, commissioning and procurement) to generate  employment opportunities and work with our partners in both the public and private sector to create a ‘level’ playing field of opportunity for those with a disability living within the Borough.

This Council resolves to:-

·         Hold a Jobs Summit within the next municipal year, with invitees including  public sector employers, Bury Chamber of Commerce, The Best of Bury and the borough’s Colleges with the aim to produce a 3 year-plan to improve awareness of individual disabilities, offer training and create employment opportunities. The 3 year plan will be monitored by the Borough’s Health & Wellbeing Board.

·         Lead by example with regard to its own recruitment & procurement processes to actively remove the cultural barriers to employing a person with a disability.”

On being put, with no-one voting against and no abstentions, the Mayor declared the motion carried unanimously.

2.      Bus Lanes

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.

It was moved by Councillor Walker and seconded by Councillor Gartside:-

“THIS COUNCIL notes that traffic congestion on the approaches to, and in Bury town centre has become a serious issue for residents in recent months and that the bus lanes are contributing to the problem.

THIS COUNCIL RESOLVES TO:

Undertake both a detailed assessment study of the impacts of the suspension of, and possible removal of, bus lanes in and around the town centre, and a wider review of transport issues and opportunities along the key bus corridors into the town centre.

Review the financial implications of removing the bus lanes on both a temporary and a permanent basis.

Report back to full Council within 6 months with the findings of the study.”

On being put, with no-one voting against and no abstentions, the Mayor declared the motion carried unanimously.

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 questions received 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 6 and 7 (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 6 and 7 (2014/15).

There were no written questions asked on the delegated decisions of the Committees or Scrutiny Committee contained in the Digests of Decisions 6 and 7 (2014-2015).