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

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

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

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.

As this was the last meeting before the all out Elections the Mayor invited Group Leaders to pay tribute and thank those Councillors stepping down.

Minutes of the meeting held on 23^rd February 2022 are attached.

That the minutes of the meeting held on the 23^rd February 2022 be approved as a correct record.

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.

To receive and consider the recommendations to the Council contained in the following minutes of the Cabinet:

Meeting of Democratic Arrangements Forum 5^th January 2022 Meetings Timetable 2022/23.

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

Resolved:

That the timetable of meetings for the Municipal Year 2022/23 as set out be approved.

Meeting of Cabinet 23^rd February 2022 Corporate Plan.

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

Resolved:

Council approves the Corporate Plan.

Meeting of Standards Committee 1^st March 2022 Member Safety and Social Media Policy.

It was moved by Councillor Whitby and seconded by Councillor Butler and it was:

Resolved:

That the amended Member Safety and Social Media Policy be approved.

Meeting of Employment Panel – 2^nd March 2022 Pay Policy Statement

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

RESOLVED:

The Council Agrees the Pay Policy Statement and pay structure for 2022/23.

Meeting of Cabinet 9^th March 2022 Community Safety Plan.

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

Resolved:

Council approves the Community Safety Plan for Bury 2022-2025.

Meeting of Audit Committee – 15^th March 2022 Annual Governance Statement

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

Resolved:

1. That Council approves the proposed final Annual Governance Statement, as set out in Appendix 1.

2.    That the Annual Governance Statement be signed by the Chief Executive and Leader of the Council .

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. (20 minutes)

(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 question 9, 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.

1)    Making Football a Fair Game

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

Councillors: M Powell, C Tegolo and S Wright

This Council recognises that:

1             Football, the national game in the UK, is currently in crisis. COVID-19 has devastated the revenue of many lower-league clubs, with the loss of some notable names, and dozens more clubs teetering on the brink of survival.

2             Too frequently, bad management has gone unnoticed or ignored and clubs are run unsustainably, putting at risk all the history, heritage, and economic benefit they bring to an area – often in pursuit of short-term gain.

3             Football clubs are not ordinary businesses; they are historic sporting institutions that are both a civic and community asset, and a source of pride and unity, in their hometown or city.

4             Bury has it’s own experience at the forefront of this crisis, losing our 134 year-old league football club, and the efforts of fans, the Council and the Government to return league football to the town.

This Council resolves to:

1     Put on record it’s support for ‘Fair Game’, a national campaign that seeks radical reform of the way football is managed and run, specifically its call for an independent regulator for the sport, and a refocus on ‘values’ rather than profit.

2     Support Fair Game’s calls for an establishment of a Sustainability Index, which will reallocate the payments made to clubs to reward those which are run well, respect equality standards and properly engage with their fans and their community.

3     Declare its support for the Fair Game manifesto, ‘Solutions for our National Game’, and call on other Councils to join us in our support.

4     Ask the Chief Executive to write to the Minister for Sport, our local Members of Parliament, and the Chair of the Local Government Association Culture, Tourism and Sport Board, asking them to support and work towards implementing Fair Game’s manifesto and the findings of the fan-led review led by Tracey Crouch MP

5     Ask the Council’s representatives to encourage other Authorities to support Fair Game

2)    Cost-of-Living and Food Insecurity

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

Councillors: C Boles, N Boroda, S Butler, C Cummins, U Farooq, R Gold, J Grimshaw, S Haroon, M Hayes, T Holt, K Leach, G McGill, C Morris, B Mortenson, E O’Brien, K Peel, T Pilkington, A Quinn, D Quinn, T Rafiq, A Simpson, L Smith, G Staples-Jones, T Tariq, K Thomas, S Walmsley, C Walsh and M Whitby.

This Council recognises with concern that households across our borough are bracing themselves for the biggest drop in living standards in thirty years.

This Council notes that the cost-of-living crisis includes steep price increases in everyday and essential food items, making the situation worse for the 10% of households already living in food insecurity across our borough and risking more people experiencing food insecurity.

This Council celebrates the incredible  ...  view the full agenda text for item C. 16

1)    Making Football a Fair Game

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

Councillors: M Powell, C Tegolo and S Wright

This Council recognises that:

1             Football, the national game in the UK, is currently in crisis. COVID-19 has devastated the revenue of many lower-league clubs, with the loss of some notable names, and dozens more clubs teetering on the brink of survival.

2             Too frequently, bad management has gone unnoticed or ignored and clubs are run unsustainably, putting at risk all the history, heritage, and economic benefit they bring to an area – often in pursuit of short-term gain.

3             Football clubs are not ordinary businesses; they are historic sporting institutions that are both a civic and community asset, and a source of pride and unity, in their hometown or city.

4             Bury has it’s own experience at the forefront of this crisis, losing our 134 year-old league football club, and the efforts of fans, the Council and the Government to return league football to the town.

On being put with 43 voting for 0 voting against and the Mayor abstaining, it was resolved, that

The Council;

1     Put on record it’s support for ‘Fair Game’, a national campaign that seeks radical reform of the way football is managed and run, specifically its call for an independent regulator for the sport, and a refocus on ‘values’ rather than profit.

2     Support Fair Game’s calls for an establishment of a Sustainability Index, which will reallocate the payments made to clubs to reward those which are run well, respect equality standards and properly engage with their fans and their community.

3     Declare its support for the Fair Game manifesto, ‘Solutions for our National Game’, and call on other Councils to join us in our support.

4     Ask the Chief Executive to write to the Minister for Sport, our local Members of Parliament, and the Chair of the Local Government Association Culture, Tourism and Sport Board, asking them to support and work towards implementing Fair Game’s manifesto and the findings of the fan-led review led by Tracey Crouch MP

5     Ask the Council’s representatives to encourage other Authorities to support Fair Game

2)    Cost-of-Living and Food Insecurity

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

Councillors: C Boles, N Boroda, S Butler, C Cummins, U Farooq, R Gold, J Grimshaw, S Haroon, M Hayes, T Holt, K Leach, G McGill, C Morris, B Mortenson, E O’Brien, K Peel, T Pilkington, A Quinn, D Quinn, T Rafiq, A Simpson, L Smith, G Staples-Jones, T Tariq, K Thomas, S Walmsley, C Walsh and M Whitby.

This Council recognises with concern that households across our borough are bracing themselves for the biggest drop in living standards in thirty years.

This Council notes that the cost-of-living crisis includes steep price increases in everyday and essential food items, making the situation worse for the 10% of households already living in food  ...  view the full minutes text for item C. 16

To be circulated at the meeting.

Following a receipt of a valid Emergency Motion in relation to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.  The Mayor agreed that it would not be practical to defer consideration of the motion:

The motion was received in the names of Councillors Powell, Tegolo and S Wright.

BURY STANDS WITH UKRAINE

This Council joins all residents across Bury in opposing Vladimir Putin’s barbaric war on Ukraine.

This Council notes that Bury has a proud history of providing sanctuary to those forced the flee their homeland.

This Council recognises that we must play our part in supporting Ukrainian people and communities affected by this terrible conflict.

This Council therefore resolves to:

1     Reach out to the Ukrainian Community in Bury and the wider city regionand offer the help and assistance they require during this heart-breaking period.

2     Note  the commitments already made by the government to house displaced Ukraine families and making it clear that the Borough will go over and above to offer sanctuary and shelter to those that need it

3     Support, promote and work in partnership with local charitable, community and religious organisations who are working to provide resources and assistance for those affected and displaced by the conflict in Ukraine.

4     Work with our local school community to urgently find placement for any school age children seeking refuge in Bury.

5     Support the local Russian community who are opposed to the violence and terror being wrought on Ukraine by a regime they do not support.

6     Promote opportunities to support other organisations working on the ground in Ukraine to provide humanitarian aid and shelter - these include but are not limited to the British Red Cross, UNICEF and the UN Refugee Council.

7     Ask the Chief Executive to raise with the Home Office the situation children without passports are experiencing at the UK Border. 

This Council also recognises it has a role to play to ensure Russian political and financial interests are not promoted in any of its activities and investments.

We welcome that the Council does not have any direct energy contracts with Russian firms and we will ensure this remains the case.

This Council therefore further resolves to:

1     Immediately request a report from the Greater Manchester Pensions Authority on the investments our Council’s Pension Fund currently has in Russian companies. Where these investments still exist, Council calls on the Pension Fund to make immediate arrangements to divest any shares in Russian companies.

2     Write to the Home Office to give Bury’s support to stricter sanctions on the Russian regime - and in particular to extend sanctions against Russian oligarchs with ties to Putin’s regime to fully block their access to financial operations in the UK.

This Council also resolves to ask all Group Leaders sign a joint letter to the Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary calling on the UK Government to;

1     Offer sanctuary to Ukrainian people in their hour of need and ensure there is a swift and efficient visa application process.

2     End  ...  view the full minutes text for item C. 17

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

The Council tracker was presented for information.

There were no scrutiny review reports or specific items called in by scrutiny committees.

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 on the work of outside bodies or partnerships.