Agenda and minutes

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Items
No. Item

C. 111

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.

       

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.

 

C. 112

MINUTES OF THE COUNCIL pdf icon PDF 59 KB

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the Annual Meeting of the Council held on 20 May 2015

Minutes:

RESOLVED:

 

That the minutes of the Meeting of the Annual Meeting of Council held on 20 May 2015 be signed by the Mayor as a true and correct record. 

 

C. 113

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:

1.   The Mayor thanked those who had attended the Mayoral Sunday Service held on 7 June at Guardian Angels Church.

 

2.   The Mayor paid tribute to Colonel Eric Davidson, Michael Jelley and Yvonne Moore who were recently awarded the Freedom of the Borough at a Special Council ceremony.

 

3.   The Mayor informed Members of the recent death of ex- Councillors Sally Ancill and Julie Higson. Members stood in silence as a mark of respect and remembrance.

 

C. 114

PUBLIC QUESTION TIME

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 that no written questions had been received in advance of the meeting.

 

On inviting questions from members of the public present, no issues were raised

 

C. 115

RECOMMENDATIONS OF CABINET AND COUNCIL COMMITTEES pdf icon PDF 123 KB

Committee/Date

Subject

Recommendation

1. Minute CA.04 -  Cabinet – 10 June 2015

Council Vision, Purpose and Values 2015-2020

(Report attached)

1.           That the Council be recommended to adopt the plan.

 

 

2.           That by adopting the plan the Council amends the Council’s Constitution by replacing the previously approved Bury Plan with the plan submitted.

3.           That the Council agrees the draft indicators (Appendix 1 of the report submitted) as the basis for corporate monitoring and that further work be undertaken to develop and refine the measures to reflect progress on the work programme.

4.   4.    That a financial Strategy and People Strategy be developed to underpin the direction of travel set out in the Visions, Purpose and Values document.

 

2. Minute CA.09 -  Cabinet – 10 June 2015

Township Forums

1.           That Council be recommended to approve the amendment of the Operating Framework for Township Forums to incorporate the proposals as detailed in the report submitted

 

2.           That Council be recommended to reduce the number of meetings of Township Forums from six to four per year. 

 

3.           That Council be recommended to implement the proposals during the 2015/16 municipal year. 

 

 

 

3. Minute HRA      - Human Resources & Appeals Panel – 24 June 2015

Local Authorities (Standing Orders) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2015

 (Report attached)

The Council is required to put in place the amendment to the Standing Orders.  It is therefore recommended that the necessary adjustments are made to the Officer Employment Procedure Rules as set out in the Council Constitution.

 

4. Minute 1 of Democratic Arrangements Forum – 16 June 2015

Petitions Procedure

Support the following recommendation of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee of 24 March 2015:

1. The Petition Scheme be included in the Council Constitution;

2. Any future changes be promptly notified and explained to organisers of live petitions, with changes not coming into effect until the Council’s website is updated.

5. Minute HRA      - Human Resources & Appeals Panel – 30 June 2015

Appointment of Chief Executive

Minute to be tabled.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

1. Minute CA.74 of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 10 June 2015 – Council Vision, Purpose and Values 2015-2020

 

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

 

   RESOLVED:

 

    That approval be given to adopt the Council Vision, Purpose and Values 2015-2020.

 

2. Minute CA.79 of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 10 June 2015 – Township Forums

 

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

 

   RESOLVED:

 

    (i)  That the Operating Framework for Township Forums be amended to incorporate the proposals detailed in the report.

 

   (ii) That the number of meetings of Township Forums be reduced from six to four  per year.

 

   (iii) That the proposals referred to in (i) and (ii) above be implemented during to  2015/16 Municipal Year.

 

3. Minute HRA.02 of the meeting of the Human Resources and Appeals Panel held on 24 June 2015– Local Authorities (Standing Orders England Amendment)

 

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

 

   RESOLVED:

 

   That, in order to comply with the amendment, necessary adjustments be made to the Officer Employment Procedure Rules as set out in the Council Constitution.

 

1.  Minute 1 of the Democratic Arrangements Forum held on 16 June 2015

 

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

 

    RESOLVED:

 

(i) That the Petition Scheme be included in the Council Constitution.

 

(ii) That any future changes be promptly notified and explained to organisers of live petitions, with changes not coming into effect until the Council’s website is updated.

 

2.Minute HRA.03 of the meeting of the Human Resources and Appeals Panel held on 30 June 2015

 

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

 

   RESOLVED:

 

    That this Council approves the appointment of Mike Owen to the post of Chief Executive.

 

 

C. 116

LEADER'S STATEMENT AND CABINET QUESTION TIME pdf icon PDF 61 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.

Financial Outturn 2014/15

Councillor Mallon

Councillor Shori

2.

Foster Carers

Councillor Parnell

Councillor Heneghan

3.

Planning Approvals

Councillor Bayley

Councillor Shori

4.

Email correspondence  - Scout Moor

Councillor Gunther

Councillor Walmsley

5.

Cuts to Public Health Budgets

Councillor Black

Councillor Simpson

6.

Domestic Violence.

Councillor O’Brien

Councillor Tariq

7.

Children in Care

Councillor Black

Councillor Heneghan

8.

Bury Hospice

Councillor Caserta

Councillor Simpson

 

9.

Midwife Services within Children’s Centres

Councillor Pickstone

Councillor Heneghan

10.

Visit of Lyn Romeo

Councillor Grimshaw

Councillor Simpson

11.

Visit from Chief Executive of Public Health England

Councillor Tariq

Councillor Simpson

12.

Planning Inspectorate Inquiry

Councillor Fitzwalter

Councillor Walmsley

13.

Skills Agency Funding

Councillor Nuttall

Councillor Kelly

14.

Universal Credit

Councillor Holt

Councillor Walmsley

15.

Bury Art Museum

Councillor Tariq

Councillor Heneghan

16.

Primary School Admissions

Councillor Whitby

Councillor Heneghan

17.

Core Strategy

Councillor Bevan

Councillor Walmsley

18.

I Will if You Will

Councillor D’Albert

Councillor Simpson

19.

Bus Access to Radcliffe Pool

Councillor J Walker

Councillor Isherwood

20.

Government Budget

Councillor Preston

Councillor Shori

21.

Radcliffe Works

Councillor Preston

Councillor Walmsley

22.

On-line Council Meetings

Councillor Gartside

Councillor Connolly

23.

Community Cohesion

Councillor Jones

Councillor Tariq

24.

S106 monies

Councillor Whitby

Councillor Walmsley

25.

Agency Staff

Councillor Gunther

Councillor Holt

26.

I Will if You Will

Councillor Gartside

Councillor Simpson

27.

Public Health Budget Cuts

Councillor Pickstone

Councillor Simpson

28.

Primary School Admissions

Councillor Hankey

Councillor Heneghan

29.

Highways Compensation Claims

Councillor D’Albert

Councillor Isherwood

 

 

 

        Due to the lack of time to answer questions 16 to 29 inclusive and in the absence of Councillor Nuttall for question 13, 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) Oral questions on the work of the Cabinet since the last Council meeting (without Notice)

 

1.

Township Forum – Bus Lane Removal

Councillor Gartside

Councillor Connolly

2.

Township Forums – Changes to Grant Funding

Councillor Pickstone

Councillor Shori

3.

Parklife Event

Councillor Quinn

Councillor Connolly

4.

Leisure Facility Radcliffe

Councillor J Walker

Councillor Connolly

 

C. 117

JOINT AUTHORITIES - REPORT BY THE COUNCIL'S REPRESENTATIVE AND QUESTIONS pdf icon PDF 33 KB

 

          (A)     A report by the Council’s Representative on the work of the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Authority, Councillor Matthews.

 

          (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 Matthews, the Council’s representative on the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Authority, gave a verbal report on the work of the Authority to all Members of the Council.

 

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

 

No.

Issue

Questioner

Answered by

1.

Greater Manchester Cycling Grants

Councillor Pickstone

Councillor Noel Bayley (Representative on the Greater Manchester Transport)

2.

Relocation of ambulances to Whitefield Fire Station

Councillor Pickstone

Councillor Matthews (Representative on the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Authority)

3.

Fare Avoidance on Metrolink

Councillor D’Albert

Councillor Noel Bayley (Representative on the Greater Manchester Transport)

 

 

C. 118

NOTICES OF MOTION

The following Notice of Motions have been received: -

 

1   Scout Moor

 

This Council notes the current planning applications to Rossendale and Rochdale Councils for 16 additional wind turbines on Scout Moor. Most of the cluster will shortly be determined by the Rossendale Planning Committee on July 21st, 2015 (At the time of writing, Rochdale have yet to set a date for the two turbines to be determined within the boundary of their authority).

Therefore, this motion requests Councillors who oppose this new development write to Rossendale and Rochdale’s planning departments before the decisions are taken, expressing their opposition (on a personal basis and not on behalf of the Council).  This could be for the following reasons :-

 

1)   The application contradicts the latest Government guidance regarding on-shore wind turbines which now acknowledges further expansion on these sites should be curtailed.

2)   The proposed site is largely un-obscured, and many residents in Ramsbottom, Tottington and the villages of Summerseat, Holcombe, Greenmount and Brandlesholme would no longer be able to enjoy the wonderful countryside that currently exists.

3)   An additional cluster of turbines, in the words of the Government Planning Inspector who approved the current wind farm, “would cause much more serious harm”.

4)   In comparison to the current wind farm, the energy benefits are significantly diminished, meaning that they do not outweigh the visual impact on the landscape.

5)   The allowable size of up to 115 metres tall is significantly higher than the existing ones.

6)   The adverse effect upon leisure and tourism in our borough, for example, the views from the Peel Monument and areas of Holcombe Moor will be adversely affected.

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

 

 

2. Benefit Sanctions

 

This Council is concerned and appalled at how this government continues to use benefit sanctions against some of our most vulnerable citizens. This regime of sanctions appears to be used more and more. DWP figures from April 14 to March 15 show 918.600 JSA claimants alone were sanctioned a 410% rise on the same period in the previous year. 

This council notes that when a pass-ported benefit has been sanctioned for what can be up to four months, other entitlements to benefits stop.

This practice is causing a massive strain on claimants and their families plunging   many into poverty and spiralling debt. 

This council call for a letter to be sent on behalf of this council and residents to The      Rt. Hon Iain Duncan Smith outlining our concerns and demanding he stops this cruel, and arbitrary use of sanctions.”

In the names of Councillors  P Adams, N Bayley, J Black, S Briggs,  D Cassidy, M Connolly, E FitzGerald, L Fitzwalter, J Grimshaw, S Haroon, P Heneghan, T Holt, A Isherwood, M James, D Jones, J Kelly, S    Kerrison, J Lewis, J Mallon, A Matthews, E O’Brien, N Parnell,  ...  view the full agenda text for item C. 118

Minutes:

Three Notices of Motions were received and set out in the

Summons.

 

1.   Scout Moor

 

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, M Hankey, J Harris, R Hodkinson, K Hussain, S Nuttall, R Walker, and Y Wright

 

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

 

      “This Council notes the current planning applications to Rossendale and Rochdale Councils for 16 additional wind turbines on Scout Moor. Most of the cluster will shortly be determined by the Rossendale Planning Committee on July 21st, 2015 (At  the time of writing, Rochdale have yet to set a date for the two turbines to be   determined within the boundary of their authority).

 

Therefore, this motion requests Councillors who oppose this new development write to Rossendale and Rochdale’s planning departments before the decisions are taken, expressing their opposition (on a personal basis and not on behalf of the Council).  This could be for the following reasons :-

 

1)  The application contradicts the latest Government guidance regarding on-shore wind turbines which now acknowledges further expansion on these sites should be curtailed.

 

2)  The proposed site is largely un-obscured, and many residents in  Ramsbottom, Tottington and the villages of Summerseat, Holcombe, Greenmount and Brandlesholme would no longer be able to enjoy the wonderful countryside that currently exists.

 

3)   An additional cluster of turbines, in the words of the Government Planning Inspector who approved the current wind farm, “would cause much more serious harm”.

 

4)   In comparison to the current wind farm, the energy benefits are significantly diminished, meaning that they do not outweigh the visual impact on the landscape.

 

5)  The allowable size of up to 115 metres tall is significantly higher than the existing ones.

 

6)  The adverse effect upon leisure and tourism in our borough, for example, the views from the Peel Monument and areas of Holcombe Moor will be adversely affected.”

 

      The motion on being put with 14 voting for, 19 against and 11 abstentions was declared lost.

 

      2.  Benefit Sanctions

 

      A motion had been received and set out in the summons in the names of Councillors  P Adams, N Bayley, J Black, S Briggs, , D Cassidy, M Connolly, E FitzGerald, L Fitzwalter, J Grimshaw, S Haroon, P Heneghan, T Holt, A Isherwood, M James, D Jones, J Kelly, S Kerrison, J Lewis, J Mallon, A Matthews, E O’Brien, N Parnell, C Preston, A Quinn, R Shori, A Simpson, R Skillen, Sarah Southworth, Susan Southworth, T Tariq, J Walker, S Walmsley and M Whitby.

     

      It was moved by Councillor Parnell and seconded by Councillor Simpson:-

      This Council is concerned and appalled at how this government continues to use benefit sanctions against some of our most vulnerable citizens. This regime of sanctions appears to be used more and more. DWP figures from April 14 to March 15 show 918,600 JSA claimants alone were sanctioned a 410%  ...  view the full minutes text for item C. 118

C. 119

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. 120

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. 121

DELEGATED DECISIONS OF THE COUNCIL COMMITTEES

Questions on the delegated decisions made by the Regulatory Committees and Scrutiny Committees contained in the Digests of Decisions 8 (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 8 (2014/15).

Minutes:

There were no written questions asked on the delegated decisions of the Committees or Scrutiny Committee contained in the Digests of Decisions 8 (2014/15) and Digest 1 (2015/16).