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.

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

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

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

4.   Councillors Bayley, Black and Fitzgerald declared a personal interest in respect of the Notice of Motion relating to Public Sector Pay as public sector employees who are also members of a Trade Union campaigning on the issue.

5.   Councillor Shori declared a personal interest in respect of the Notice of Motion relating to Public Sector Pay as his partner is employed in the NHS.

6.   Councillor Pickstone declared a personal interest in respect of the Notice of Motion relating to Public Sector Pay as his partner is employed in in the public sector.

7.   Councillor Whitby declared a personal interest in respect of the Notice of Motion relating to Public Sector Pay a member of a Trade Union campaigning on the issue.

8.   Councillor Kelly declared a personal interest in respect of the Notice of Motion relating to Public Sector Pay and Leaders Question Time as an employee of the Care Quality Commission.

9.   Councillor Quinn declared a personal interest in respect of the Notice of Motion relating to Public Sector Pay as family members are employed in the public sector

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the last Meetings of the

Council held on 13 September 2017 and 17 October 2017 (Copies attached)

RESOLVED:

That the Minutes of the Meetings of Council held on 13 September 2017 and 17 October 2017 be signed by the Mayor as a true and correct record, subject to the inclusion of Councillor Susan Nuttall in the attendance list for the meeting held on 13 September 2017.

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 reported on the recent Twinning Visit organised by the Twinning   Committee to Shorndorf.

The Mayor congratulated the Borough for its Britain in Bloom North West award where Bury, once again for the 14th year, held the title best small large town and reported that special mention was made of Neil Long for his contribution to the contest over the years.

The Mayor placed on record her appreciation and thanks to all who were involved in the arrangements for the Special Council held last month to grant Freedom of the Borough to Lily Reid, Alan Matthews and the 207 Manchester Field Hospital.

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.

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

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

Meeting of the Cabinet held on 18 October 2017 – Risk Management Annual report 2016/17

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

RESOLVED:

That Council re-affirms its support for the Council’s approach to risk management, and note progress made throughout 2016/17 and actions planned for 2017/18.

Meeting of the Cabinet held on 15 November 2017 – Bury Growth Plan

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

RESOLVED:

That Council approve the Bury Growth Plan as a high level strategy setting out the Council’s vision and key priorities for embracing future growth in a managed way.

Meeting of the Cabinet held on 15 November 2017 – GM Waste Disposal levy Allocation Methodology

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

RESOLVED:

    I.        That, having considered the proposed revised methodology, the revised Levy Apportionment Methodology Agreement be approved, which is being applied in full from 2019/20 with transitional arrangements in place during 2018/19.

  II.        That authority be delegated to the Assistant Director - Legal and Democratic Services or her nominee to approve and/or make any minor amendments to the final Levy Apportionment Methodology Agreement, a current draft of which is appended to this report; and to enter into and finalise the Agreement, the transitional arrangements, and any associated documentation relating thereto.

Meeting of the Planning Control Committee held on 21 November 2017 – Development Management Scheme of Delegation

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

RESOLVED:

That the proposals set out in the report 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 Shori, 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 17 to 37 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)       Oral questions on Leader’s Speech and the work of the Cabinet since the last Council meeting (without Notice)

(A)        A report from the Council’s representative on the work of GM Police and Crime Panel, Councillor Tariq.

(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 Tariq, the Council’s representative on the Greater Manchester Police and Crime Panel 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.

Report attached.

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

RESOLVED:

1.     That full Council appoint Valerie Bracken as Independent Persons for a period of 4 years commencing 30 November 2017 and ending in 2021

2.     That full Council approve the allowance paid per annum to the Independent Persons, to be £500.00 each.

The following Notices of Motion have been received:-

(i)                 Dignity in Social Care - Improving Social Care Services and Jobs

This Council notes with alarm the continuing crisis of social care underfunding that makes it hard for local authorities and provider organisations to ensure decent jobs and quality services.   

This Council supports in principle the provisions of UNISON’s Ethical & Residential care charters. The Council intends to implement the charters at the earliest practicable opportunity, recognising that some aspects of the charters may require additional funding.

This Council welcomes the additional short term funding that the government pledged for social care in the 2017 budget but notes that this does not go far enough and does not represent a sustainable solution.

This Council welcomes UNISON’s Care Workers for Change campaign initiative which aims to expand union membership within the sector to give care workers the support and confidence to lead the public-facing campaign to increase central government funding, improve employee relations and raise standards within the sector. 

This Council undertakes to encourage those care providers that we currently commission or purchase provision from and to require those care providers that we commission or purchase provision from in future to:-

1)   Respect the right of care staff to organise a union in their workplace and do nothing to undermine the reasonable efforts of staff to organise a union.

2)   Allow access to accredited union representatives and officials for membership recruitment activity. Provider organisations should engage positively with union requests for access to staff and, where necessary, agree arrangements that do not disrupt service delivery

3)   Pursue a partnership approach to employment relations.  We would expect the provider to engage constructively with the union including a recognition and facilities agreement to underpin collective working.  

4)   Work with the providers and unions to pursue our shared objective of achieving the provisions of the UNISON Ethical and Residential Care Charters

The Council will write to all current providers of council-commissioned care services at the earliest opportunity to advise them of our expectation that they will comply positively with the above points (1-4). These principles will be enshrined in our future commissioning processes and procedures.

In the names of Councillors  P Adams, N Bayley, J Black, S Briggs, R Cathcart, A Cummings,  E FitzGerald, J Grimshaw, S Haroon, T Holt, M James, D Jones, J Kelly, S Kerrison, K Leach, A Mckay, J Mallon, E O’Brien, C Preston, A Quinn, R Shori, A Simpson, R Skillen, S Smith,  Sarah Southworth, Susan Southworth, T Tariq, J Walker, S Walmsley and M Whitby.

(ii)    Public Sector Pay

Council notes the freeze and then cap on public sector pay rises that meant most staff only received an increase of 4.4% from 2010 to 2016, compared to a cost of living increase of 22%. 

This Council Meeting believes that the continuation of the public sector pay cap is having an unreasonable effect on the living standards of many public sector staff, and that it is affecting recruitment and retention across  ...  view the full agenda text for item C. 295

(1)      Dignity in Social Care - Improving Social Care Services and Jobs

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

In the names of Councillors  P Adams, N Bayley, J Black, S Briggs, R Cathcart, A Cummings,  E FitzGerald, J Grimshaw, S Haroon, T Holt, M James, D Jones, J Kelly, S Kerrison, K Leach,  A Mckay, J Mallon, E O’Brien,  C Preston, A Quinn, R Shori, A Simpson, R Skillen, S Smith,  Sarah Southworth, Susan Southworth, T Tariq, J Walker, S Walmsley and M Whitby.                                                                                  

It was moved by Councillor Black and seconded by Councillor Whitby:

This Council notes with alarm the continuing crisis of social care underfunding that makes it hard for local authorities and provider organisations to ensure decent jobs and quality services.   

This Council supports in principle the provisions of UNISON’s Ethical & Residential care charters. The Council intends to implement the charters at the earliest practicable opportunity, recognising that some aspects of the charters may require additional funding.

This Council welcomes the additional short term funding that the government pledged for social care in the 2017 budget but notes that this does not go far enough and does not represent a sustainable solution.

This Council welcomes UNISON’s Care Workers for Change campaign initiative which aims to expand union membership within the sector to give care workers the support and confidence to lead the public-facing campaign to increase central government funding, improve employee relations and raise standards within the sector. 

This Council undertakes to encourage those care providers that we currently commission or purchase provision from and to require those care providers that we commission or purchase provision from in future to:-

1)        Respect the right of care staff to organise a union in their workplace and do nothing to undermine the reasonable efforts of staff to organise a union.

2)        Allow access to accredited union representatives and officials for membership recruitment activity. Provider organisations should engage positively with union requests for access to staff and, where necessary, agree arrangements that do not disrupt service delivery

3)        Pursue a partnership approach to employment relations.  We would expect the provider to engage constructively with the union including a recognition and facilities agreement to underpin collective working.  

4)        Work with the providers and unions to pursue our shared objective of achieving the provisions of the UNISON Ethical and Residential Care Charters

The Council will write to all current providers of council-commissioned care services at the earliest opportunity to advise them of our expectation that they will comply positively with the above points (1-4). These principles will be enshrined in our future commissioning processes and procedures.

On being put to the vote, with 31 voting for, 0 voting against and 16 abstentions including the Mayor, the Mayor declared the motion carried.

(2)     Public Sector Pay

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

Councillors D’Albert, Pickstone and S Wright

It was  ...  view the full minutes text for item C. 295

Report attached

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

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

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 Digest of Decision 3 published since the last ordinary meeting of the Council, providing four clear working days’ notices has been given of the question.

There were no written questions asked on the delegated decisions of the Committees or Scrutiny Committee contained in the Digest of Decision 3 (2017/18).