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.

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 a personal 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.   Councillors Brown and Rydeheard declared personal interests in agenda Common Minimum Licensing Standards C.XXX as practicing solicitors who work representing the Taxi trade.

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

8.   Councillor LJ Dean declared a personal interest in agenda item Notice of Motion C.XXX as a family member works for Six Town Housing Association.

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the Meeting of the Council held on 28^th July 2021.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 28^th July 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 of the former Mayoress, Ruth Ramsey, the Mayor requested that his condolences and that of all Elected Members present be passed on to her family.

The Mayor reported that the 10^th September 2021 is World Suicide Awareness day, the Mayor’s Charity is the Bury Samarians and the Mayor will be in attendance at an event hosted by the charity to mark and raise awareness of this important day.

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 2 questions, due to the number of items scheduled for consideration, questions were only answered from those members of the public present at the meeting. The Leader gave an undertaking that copies of those questions and responses not taken at the meeting will be circulated to all Councillors. The Leader also gave an undertaking to make these available on the Council Web Site.

Meeting of Cabinet – 1^st September 2021 Treasury Management Outturn Report

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

Resolved:

That Council approves:

• 20/21 Prudential and Treasury Indicators
• Treasury Management 2020/21outturn report

Meeting of Licensing and Safety Committee – 2nd September 2021

It was moved by Councillor O’Brien and seconded by Councillor Walmsley and On being put, with 28 voting for, 13 voting against and the Mayor abstaining, it was:

RESOLVED:

That the Council adopts the recommendations presented in section 4 (Lead Officer Recommendations) for each proposed standard for implementation by 1 December 2021 unless an alternative date is specified, or a further report is required.

Report attached.

The Leader moved, and Councillor Rafiq seconded, that the report on the Housing Option Service Restructure report be approved,

That Council Approves

The capital costs associated with the proposed redundancy of the post of Service Manager – Accommodation as described in the report

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. (15 minutes)

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 12 to 32 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.

(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 nine to 16 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.

The following Notices of Motion have been received:-

(i)     Welcoming Refugees

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:

- The deeply concerning developments in Afghanistan along with recent political unrest and war in places such as Syria, Yemen and Hong Kong 

·         The responsibility the UK has to many citizens in countries like Afghanistan and Hong Kong

- That these developments are driving men, women and children in these locations to seek safety in the West, often willing to make perilous journeys, including by boat, to seek asylum in the UK

- The longstanding tradition the UK has had to welcoming refugees dating back to the Second World War and before, and that this commitment should remain now and going forwards 

·         The strong tradition the UK has in international aid, recently put in jeopardy by the cruel cut to International Aid 

·         The strong track record Bury has in welcoming refugees over many decades 

- That Local Authorities have a vitally important role to play in housing refugee families, and that this crisis can be managed successfully if all Council’s welcome their fair share of refugees over the coming months

This Council resolves to:

- Reaffirm our commitment that Refugees are very welcome in Bury 

·         Pledge a commitment to take at least our fair share of refugees, and encourage other Local Authorities to do the same

- Work with our public and voluntary sector and partners, and across Greater Manchester, to make that welcome a day to day reality 

- Write to the Government, directly, through your MPs and our city region Mayor asking them to:

- Provide the necessary support and funding to Council’s to facilitate the housing of refugees and care for refugee children 

- Reverse immediately the cut to International Development Aid and restore the 0.7% of GDP minimum

(ii) Stop The Cut to Universal Credit 

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, T Tariq, K Thomas, S Walmsley, C Walsh and M Whitby.

This Council Notes:

1) This autumn the Government plans to cut Universal Credit by £20 a week.

2) This cut would affect 15,300 people in the borough Bury. 

3) The Child Poverty Action Group have stated that the £20 uplift is essential to ensure “low-income families with children receive the support they need”. 

4) The Joseph Rowntree Foundation has warned that the cut could see another 200,000 children pushed into poverty.

This Council resolves to: 

1) Write to the Prime Minister and Chancellor of the Exchequer calling on them to stop the £20 a week cut to Universal Credit 

2) Write to the  ...  view the full agenda text for item C. 26

(i)   Welcoming refugees

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:

- The deeply concerning developments in Afghanistan along with recent political unrest and war in places such as Syria, Yemen and Hong Kong 

• The responsibility the UK has to many citizens in countries like Afghanistan and Hong Kong

- That these developments are driving men, women and children in these locations to seek safety in the West, often willing to make perilous journeys, including by boat, to seek asylum in the UK

- The longstanding tradition the UK has had to welcoming refugees dating back to the Second World War and before, and that this commitment should remain now and going forwards 

·         The strong tradition the UK has in international aid, recently put in jeopardy by the cruel cut to International Aid 

·         The strong track record Bury has in welcoming refugees over many decades 

- That Local Authorities have a vitally important role to play in housing refugee families, and that this crisis can be managed successfully if all Council’s welcome their fair share of refugees over the coming months

This Council resolves to:

- Reaffirm our commitment that Refugees are very welcome in Bury 

• Pledge a commitment to take at least our fair share of refugees, and encourage other Local Authorities to do the same

- Work with our public and voluntary sector and partners, and across Greater Manchester, to make that welcome a day to day reality 

- Write to the Government, directly, through your MPs and our city region Mayor asking them to:

- Provide the necessary support and funding to Council’s to facilitate the housing of refugees and care for refugee children 

- Reverse immediately the cut to International Development Aid and restore the 0.7% of GDP minimum

It was moved by Councillor N Jones and seconded by Councillor P Bernstein as an amendment to:-

DELETE

The strong tradition the UK has in international aid, recently put in jeopardy by the cruel cut to International Aid 

And DELETE

Reverse immediately the cut to International Development Aid and restore the 0.7% of GDP minimum

On being put, with 13 voting for, 28 voting against, and with the Mayor abstaining, the Mayor declared the motion lost.

On being put with 28 voting for, the Conservative Group and the Mayor abstaining the original motion was carried.

(ii) Stop The Cut to Universal Credit 

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, T Tariq, K Thomas, S Walmsley, C Walsh and M Whitby.

This Council Notes:

1) This autumn the Government plans to cut Universal Credit by £20 a  ...  view the full minutes text for item C. 26

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.