Agenda

Members of the Council are requested to declare any interests which they have in any items or issues before the Council for determination.

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 minutes of the meeting held on 7^th December are attached.

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.

Report attached.

Report attached.

Report attached.

Report attached.

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)

(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.

(i)  Scrap Voter I.D. Requirement for Local Elections 2023

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

Councillors: A. Arif, N Bayley, C Boles, N Boroda, C Cummins, U Farooq, E FitzGerald, N Frith, R Gold, D Green, J Grimshaw, S Haroon, M Hayes, G McGill, C Morris, E Moss, E O’Brien, K Peel, T Pilkington, A Quinn, D Quinn, T Rafiq, I Rizvi, L Smith, T Tariq, S Thorpe, S Walmsley, and M Whitby.

This Council notes:

·         With the passage of the Elections Act last April, voters will now have to present identification when they go to vote in person.

·         If an eligible voter does not have or cannot present identification, they will be turned away.

·         According to government-issued research, 2% of eligible voters have no form of photo ID, and 4% of eligible voters have no form of recognisable ID. For Bury, this means thousands of eligible voters would be at risk of not being able to vote.

·         The 344-page legal guidelines setting out how the system will operate were only put before parliament in November 2022 and have only just come into effect, giving election officials minimal time to respond.

·         The Association of Electoral Administrators has said it is already concerned about the tightness of timescales and recruiting enough temporary staff for polling stations.

·         The Electoral Commission, the official watchdog that will oversee the rollout of voter ID, has said the timetable could affect some eligible voters’ ability to vote in the May 2023 local elections, saying there was a risk of confusion and of valid voters being turned away, which could damage wider confidence in elections.

·         The Local Government Association (LGA) has also shared concerns that there is insufficient time ahead of the May 2023 elections to introduce the requirement to show photo ID and are calling for a delay of the process.

This Council resolves to:

·         Write to the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities expressing our opposition to the new requirements and calling for a delay to the introduction of voter I.D. requirements for the local elections in May 2023.

·         Write to the Members of Parliament for Bury South and Bury North requesting that they also write to the Secretary of State expressing opposition to the new requirements and call for a delay to the introduction of voter I.D. requirements for the local elections in May 2023.

·         In the situation where our resolutions are ignored or rejected,  to call on the Returning Officer to  run a comprehensive voter registration campaign and voter I.D. awareness campaign in the run up to the local elections in May 2023. This would include, but not be limited to:

1.    Correspondence to all households about the new requirements

2.    Targeted communication to those most likely not to have accepted identification

3.    Engagement with schools and colleges encouraging younger people to register to vote

(ii)        Withdrawal of Bury Council from the Places for Everyone Plan

A motion has been received and  ...  view the full agenda text for item 14.

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

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).