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.

The following declarations of interest were made at the meeting in relation

to items on the agenda:

1.   Councillor A Quinn declared a personal interest in all matters under consideration as both his son and daughter-in law, work for the NHS, he is a member of the Trade Union, Unite and the Downs Syndrome Association.

2.   Councillor D Quinn declared an interest in all matters under consideration as an employee of the Citizens Advice Bureau and both her son and daughter-in law, work for the NHS

3.   Councillor T Pilkington declared a personal interest in all matters under consideration as an employee of the Manchester Foundation Trust.

4.   Councillor A Simpson declared a personal interest in all matters under consideration as both her and her son are employed by the NHS.

5.   Councillor S. Wright declared a personal interest in all matters under consideration as his wife works for a school in the Borough.

6.   Councillor Rydeheard declared a personal interest in all items on the agenda as he undertakes work representing the Taxi trade.

7.   Councillor Peel expressed an interest in all matters under consideration as a Trustee of Bolton and Bury Citizens Advice Bureau.

8.   Councillor LJ Dean declared a personal interest as a family member works for Six Town Housing Association and his a school governor.

9.   Councillors Lancaster, Brown and Rafiq declared personal interest in the Liberal Democrat Notice of Motion as private landlords.

10.Councillor J Lewis declared a personal interest in the Labour Notice of Motion as a Council Appointed to the CAB Board.

11.Councillors Farooq, Vernon, Leach and Pilkington declared personal interests in all items under consideration as employees of the NHS.

12.Councillor McGill declared a personal interest in the Conservative NOM as his wife is an Officer of the NAU Trade Union.

13.Councillor Grimshaw declared a personal interest in the Labour NOM as her daughter is employed by the CAB.

14.Councillor Boles declared a personal interest in the Conservative NOM as a teacher employed in the Borough.

Minutes attached.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 24^th November 2021 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Mayor.

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 the sad news of the death Wilf Oldham MBE and asked that his condolences be passed on to his family. 

The Mayor congratulated residents Maxine Grimshaw and Rochelle Gardner who both received New Years Honours.  

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.

Notice had been received of 5 questions. 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.

Meeting of Cabinet 12^th January 2022 Appointment of Mayor and Deputy Mayor.

It was moved by Councillor Tariq and seconded by Councillor Hussain and it was:

Resolved:

That Council appoint Councillor Shaheena Haroon as Mayor for the Civic year 2022/23.

It was moved by Councillor Holt and seconded by Councillor L Smith and it was:

Resolved:

That Council appoint Councillor Sandra Walmsley as Deputy Mayor for the Civic year 2022/23.

Meeting of Audit Committee – 12^th January 2022 External Audit Procurement

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

RESOLVED:

That the Council accepts the PSAA invitation to opt into the sector-led option for the appointment of external auditors to principal Local Government and Police Bodies for five financial years from 1 April 2023.

Report and appendix is attached.

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

RESOLVED:

That:

·            the scheme continues in its current form for the year 2022/23

·            the current disregard of all War Widow’s/Widower’s Pension or War Disablement Pension is continued

·            the performance of the scheme continues to be closely monitored and will be reviewed and amended as appropriate on an annual basis. 

To receive a report 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, Cabinet Members and Chair of a Committee 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. (30 minutes)

A member may ask a verbal question of the Leader, any Member of the Cabinet or Chair of a Committee about any matter on the Council agenda and which the Council has powers or duties or which affects the Borough.  Only one verbal question per Councillor. (20 minutes)

              (a)    Written question (Notice given)

The Leader of the Council, Councillor E O’Brien, 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 9 to 22 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)      Verbal Questions

(A)        A combined authority update report is attached, for information

(B)        Questions (if any) on the work of the Combined Authority to be asked by Members of the Council for which the necessary notice has been given in accordance with Council Procedure Rules (20mins)

(a)              The Council received a report on the work of the Combined Authorities.

(b)      The following questions had been received in accordance with Council Procedure Rules:

Due to the lack of time to answer questions 8 and 9 inclusive, the Mayor gave an undertaking that copies of the questions and responses will be circulated to all Councillors and made available on the Council Web Site.

(i)          OFSTED Report

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

Bernstein, Brown, Caserta, Cropper, Dean, Gartside, Harris, Lancaster, Hurst, Hussain, N Jones, Lewis, McBriar, Rydeheard, Vernon, Y Wright

The Council received a report from OFSTED on Friday 17th December 2021 following an inspection of Children’s Services between 25 October 2021 to 5 November 2021.

This Council is deeply concerned with the recent OFSTED report and notes that children are at risk in our borough now.

This Council notes:-

• The Conservative Group in December 2021 requested an Emergency Council Meeting to be held before New Year (2022) due to the reported risk to Children in Bury as it believed it was of upmost importance to address the report quickly.

• The Mayor of Bury passed the emergency request to the Chief Executive of Bury Council to consider the contents of the report published 17th December 2021 prepared by HM Inspector, Lorna Schlechte attached to this motion.

• The Council is required to submit an improvement plan to the Department for Education before 31 March 2022.

This Council resolves to:-

• Call on the Chief Executive to schedule briefings each week with Leaders of Political Groups to update on the progress.

• Conduct an urgent review of all cases to identify risk and ensure, as per the OFSTED report that they are not over-optimistic in their analysis.

• Instruct the Chief Executive and the relevant Executive Director to bring a report on the progress of the programme and updated risk register to the monthly Cabinet and ordinary Council meetings.

• Implement an Improvement Plan with progress of implementation to be monitored by the Council’s Children’s Scrutiny Committee as a standing agenda item until the completion of all actions.

(ii)               TACKLING FUEL POVERTY

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

CouncillorsM Powell, C Tegolo and S Wright

Council notes that:

Research from Friends of the Earth shows that 13% of households in Bury are living in fuel poverty – and heating homes accounts for 44% of local carbon emissions.

Rising energy prices will make this significantly worse, and the National Energy Action charity has warned that rising household energy bills could cause at least 2 million more homes to slip into fuel poverty

All housing in our borough should be insulated to a minimum of EPC C standard with good quality loft insulation, cavity wall insulation, double-glazing and draught exclusion.

The Government have set a target to upgrade all housing to the above standard by 2030. To meet this target a total of 5,859 homes in Bury would need insulation upgrades each year.

The scale of this challenge is significant but at the same time we must make a commitment to end fuel poverty and excess carbon emissions from poorly insulated homes and develop a strategy to achieve this goal.

Council therefore commits to:

1             Ensure that we are doing what we can as an  ...  view the full agenda text for item C. 52

(i)   OFSTED Report

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

Bernstein, Brown, Caserta, Cropper, Dean, Gartside, Harris, Lancaster, Hurst, Hussain, N Jones, Lewis, McBriar, Rydeheard, Vernon, Y Wright

The Council received a report from OFSTED on Friday 17th December 2021 following an inspection of Children’s Services between 25 October 2021 to 5 November 2021.

This Council is deeply concerned with the recent OFSTED report and notes that children are at risk in our borough now.

This Council notes:-

• The Conservative Group in December 2021 requested an Emergency Council Meeting to be held before New Year (2022) due to the reported risk to Children in Bury as it believed it was of upmost importance to address the report quickly.

• The Mayor of Bury passed the emergency request to the Chief Executive of Bury Council to consider the contents of the report published 17th December 2021 prepared by HM Inspector, Lorna Schlechte attached to this motion.

• The Council is required to submit an improvement plan to the Department for Education before 31 March 2022.

This Council resolves to:-

• Call on the Chief Executive to schedule briefings each week with Leaders of Political Groups to update on the progress.

• Conduct an urgent review of all cases to identify risk and ensure, as per the OFSTED report that they are not over-optimistic in their analysis.

• Instruct the Chief Executive and the relevant Executive Director to bring a report on the progress of the programme and updated risk register to the monthly Cabinet and ordinary Council meetings.

• Implement an Improvement Plan with progress of implementation to be monitored by the Council’s Children’s Scrutiny Committee as a standing agenda item until the completion of all actions.

On being put, with 43 voting for, 0 members voting against, and with the Mayor abstaining, the Mayor declared the motion carried. 

(ii)                 TACKLING FUEL POVERTY

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

Councillors: M Powell, C Tegolo and S Wright

Council notes that:

Research from Friends of the Earth shows that 13% of households in Bury are living in fuel poverty – and heating homes accounts for 44% of local carbon emissions.

Rising energy prices will make this significantly worse, and the National Energy Action charity has warned that rising household energy bills could cause at least 2 million more homes to slip into fuel poverty

All housing in our borough should be insulated to a minimum of EPC C standard with good quality loft insulation, cavity wall insulation, double-glazing and draught exclusion.

The Government have set a target to upgrade all housing to the above standard by 2030. To meet this target a total of 5,859 homes in Bury would need insulation upgrades each year.

The scale of this challenge is significant but at the same time we must make a commitment to end fuel poverty and excess carbon emissions from poorly insulated homes  ...  view the full minutes text for item C. 52

A report setting out progress in respect of Motions passed at the last meeting of Council is attached for information.

The Motion Tracker was circulated for information

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 Rules.