Agenda and draft minutes

Council - Wednesday, 22nd March, 2023 6.45 pm

Please let us know if you are planning to attend and have any access requirements or other needs which we need to take account of.

Venue: Bury Town Hall

Contact: Julie Gallagher  Democratic Services

Items
No. Item

C. 10

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

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

Minutes:

Councillor S Arif declared a prejudicial interest in item Common Minimum Licensing Standards and left the meeting during consideration of this item.

C. 11

MAYORAL COMMUNICATIONS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

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.

Minutes:

The Mayor invited Members to join with her in celebrating Gallipoli, attend her Civic Lunch and also a “Big Lunch” to celebrate the Kings Coronation.

C. 12

MINUTES pdf icon PDF 400 KB

Minutes of the meeting held on 22nd February 2023 are attached.

Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting held on 22nd February 2023 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Mayor.

C. 13

PUBLIC QUESTION TIME pdf icon PDF 290 KB

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.

Minutes:

Questioner

Topic

Responding

J Williams

Highways Infrastructure

Cllr O’Brien

D Holland

OfCom

Cllr O’Brien

A Law

Broadband Infrastructure

Cllr O’Brien

C Bernstein

Derelict Buildings in Radcliffe

Cllr O’Brien

D Judge

Member Allowances

Cllr O’Brien

B Marland

Council Tax

Cllr Gold

S Francis

Bin Collections

Cllr Quinn

D Mihell

Roadworks

Cllr O’Brien

A Hay

Cllr Connolly

Cllr O’Brien

 

C. 14

RECOMMENDATIONS OF CABINET AND COUNCIL COMMITTEES pdf icon PDF 376 KB

Recommendation

 

Democratic Arrangements Forum –

3rd November 2022

Meetings Timetable

That the timetable of meetings for the 2023/24 Municipal Year, as set out, be approved.

(Recommended Option)

 

To consider alternative meeting arrangements.

Employment Panel – 24th January 2023

Amendments to Officer Employment Procedure Rules and Disciplinary Procedure for Head of Paid Service, Monitoring Officer and Chief Finance Officer

 

Following consideration and agreement by Employment Panel, Council is asked to agree the revised Officer Employment Procedure Rules.

 

The Monitoring Officer be authorised to make consequential changes to the Council Constitution

Employment Panel – 1st March 2023

Annual Pay Policy Statement

 

Commend the proposed Pay Policy Statement for 2023/2024 for approval by full Council.

 

Corporate Parenting Board – 8th March 2023

Terms of Reference

Approval of the revised terms of reference.

Cabinet – 15th March 2023

Finance restructure

 

That Cabinet commends approval of the costs associated with the proposed redundancy of the post of Service Development Manager, Revenues and Benefits to Council for approval.

Licensing and Safety Committee – 16th March 2023

Common Minimum Licensing Standards

 

It is recommended that the Licensing and Safety Committee considers and adopts the following amendments to the Minimum Licensing Standards and recommends to Full Council that the amendments are approved:

For existing vehicle licence proprietors:

that the transitional arrangements in relation to age and emissions standards are extended from 1 April 2024 to 1 April 2026 - This will assist hackney carriage and private hire vehicle owners to transition to the new requirements, whilst allowing them the ability to take advantage of the funding support package (Clean Air funding) once it is available. In order to achieve this compliance date, the amended policy will state that from 1 April 2025 a vehicle licence will not be renewed if the vehicle does not meet the above standards.

 

the implementation date for the written-off vehicle standards is extended to 1 April 2026. The amendment of to the written off policy is to permit vehicle licence holders who are currently licensed in Bury with a previously written off vehicle prior to the implementation of the Stage 2 of Common Minimum Standards in November 2021 to continue to be able to licence the vehicle until the 1 April 2026. In order to achieve compliance, the amended policy will state that from 1 April 2025 a vehicle licence will not be renewed if the vehicle has been previously written off. There will be no change to Council Policy relating to new vehicle licence applications in relation to this standard.

 

For new applications for vehicle licences

 

the minimum age requirement for new vehicles coming onto fleet is removed for hackney carriages and private hire vehicles - the current policy in relation to hackney carriage and private hire vehicles has a coming on age (new to fleet) as follows:-

PHV – under 5 years on to fleet and 10 years off

PHV WAV – under 7 years on to fleet and 15 years off

Purpose built  ...  view the full agenda text for item C. 14

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Meeting of Democratic Arrangements Forum – Meetings Timetable

 

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

RESOVED, that:

That the timetable of meetings for the 2023/24 Municipal Year, as set out, be approved.

 

Meeting of Employment Panel – Amendments to the Officer Employment Procedure rules

 

It was moved by Councillor Rafiq and seconded by Councillor Moss and it was,

RESOLVED, that:

The revised Officer Employment Procedure Rules be approved.

 

Meeting of Employment Panel – Annual Pay Policy Statement

It was moved by Councillor Rafiq and seconded by Councillor Moss and it was,

RESOLVED, that:

The Pay Policy Statement for 2023/2024 be approved.

 

Meeting of Corporate Parenting Board – Terms of Reference

 

It was moved by Councillor L Smith and seconded by Councillor D Quinn and it was,

RESOLVED, that:

The Corporate Parenting Board Terms of Reference be approved.

 

Meeting of Cabinet – Finance Restructure

 

It was moved by Councillor Rafiq and seconded by Councillor Gold and it was,

RESOLVED, that

The costs associated with the proposed redundancy of the post of Service Development Manager, Revenues and Benefits to Council for approval

 

Meeting of Licensing and Safety Committee – Common Minimum Licensing Standards

 

It was moved by Councillor Morris and seconded by Councillor Walmsley and it was,

RESOLVED that:

It is recommended that the Licensing and Safety Committee considers and adopts the following amendments to the Minimum Licensing Standards and recommends to Full Council that the amendments are approved:

For existing vehicle licence proprietors:

·         that the transitional arrangements in relation to age and emissions standards are extended from 1 April 2024 to 1 April 2026 - This will assist hackney carriage and private hire vehicle owners to transition to the new requirements, whilst allowing them the ability to take advantage of the funding support package (Clean Air funding) once it is available. In order to achieve this compliance date, the amended policy will state that from 1 April 2025 a vehicle licence will not be renewed if the vehicle does not meet the above standards.

 

·           the implementation date for the written-off vehicle standards is extended to 1 April 2026. The amendment of to the written off policy is to permit vehicle licence holders who are currently licensed in Bury with a previously written off vehicle prior to the implementation of the Stage 2 of Common Minimum Standards in November 2021 to continue to be able to licence the vehicle until the 1 April 2026. In order to achieve compliance, the amended policy will state that from 1 April 2025 a vehicle licence will not be renewed if the vehicle has been previously written off. There will be no change to Council Policy relating to new vehicle licence applications in relation to this standard.

 

For new applications for vehicle licences

 

·         the minimum age requirement for new vehicles coming onto fleet is removed for hackney carriages and private hire vehicles - the current policy in relation to hackney carriage and private hire vehicles has a coming  ...  view the full minutes text for item C. 14

C. 15

APPOINTMENT OF DEPUTY ELECTORAL REGISTRATION OFFICER pdf icon PDF 121 KB

Report atached.

Minutes:

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

RESOLVED:

That:

 

The Council appoints the Elections and Land Charges Manager, as a Deputy Electoral Registration Officer with the power to sign temporary Voter Authority Certificates.

 

C. 16

LEADER' STATEMENT AND CABINET QUESTION TIME pdf icon PDF 295 KB

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)

 

Additional documents:

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:                                

 

 

Questioner

Cabinet Member

Topic

1

Cllr Pilkington

Cllr O’Brien

Ramsbottom Town Plan

2

Cllr Moss

Cllr Rafiq

Real Living Wage

3

Withdrawn

4

Cllr Whitby

Cllr Gold

Cost of Living Community Grants

5

Cllr Rizvi

Cllr L Smith

Radcliffe School

6

Cllr Lancaster

Cllr L Smith

Governance arrangements for new school in Radcliffe

7

Cllr Hayes

Cllr A Quinn

Electric Vans

8

Cllr Farooq

Cllr Gold

Tackling Violence against women

9

Cllr Gartside

Cllr A Quinn

Island Lodge

10

Cllr S Arif

Cllr O’Brien

Bus lane on Bolton Road

11

Cllr LJ Dean

Cllr Boroda

CPR

 

Due to the lack of time to answer questions 12 to 15 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

 

Questioner

Cabinet Member

Topic

Cllr Bernstein

Cllr O’Brien

Neighbourhood Policing

Cllr D Duncalfe

Cllr O’Brien

Derelict Building in Radcliffe

Cllr Morris

Cllr A Quinn

Tree Maintenance

Cllr Rydeheard

Cllr O’Brien

Safeguarding Issues

Cllr Birchmore

Cllr L Smith

School Places in Radcliffe

Cllr Pilkington

Cllr O’Brien

Plans for Ramsbottom

Cllr Lancaster

Cllr A Quinn

Road calming measures in Ainsworth

Cllr S Walmsley

Cllr Gold

GMP

 

 

 

 

C. 17

COMBINED AUTHORITY REPORT AND QUESTIONS TO THE COUNCIL'S COMBINED AUTHORITY REPRESENTATIVES pdf icon PDF 195 KB

 

(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.

 

Additional documents:

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:

 

Questioner

Combined Authority Member

Topic

Cllr Bayley

Cllr A Quinn

Holding train companies to account

Cllr McBriar

Cllr Gold

Knife Crime

Cllr Harris

Cllr A Quinn

Bus replacement costs

Cllr R Brown

Cllr O’Brien

Trailblazer devolution deal

 

 

C. 18

NOTICES OF MOTION

(i)         ANTI SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR

 

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

Councillors S. Arif, Bernstein, Brown, Dean, Gartside, Harris, Lancaster, Hussain, Jones, McBriar, Rydeheard, Vernon

 

This Council are keen to do all in its power to make the Borough a first choice for people to live in, for businesses to invest in and for children and young people to be educated in. As part of this approach the Council are determined to eradicate as far as possible any form of anti-social behaviour that could impact on this strategic vision.

While the more serious criminal behaviour such as knife crime will understandably receive more financial resources and multi- agency responses some of the perceived less serious though still challenging behaviours such as flytipping, noise and antisocial behaviour related drug activity require robust responses to send a clear message that this Borough has a zero tolerance for all such behaviour that blights our neighbourhoods.

 

This Council resolves to;

 

·         Identify the level of such activity within each Neighbourhood Hub

·         Call for a Bury Team Event to be held as a priority to discuss this matter with all partners with a view to creating an action plan to eradicate these issues

·         To include in the Community Strategic Plan definite actions by which the Council and its Partners will be measured by in their contribution to reductions in anti-social behaviour

 

(ii)        Promotion of Council reporting system to help identify hotspots for rat infestations and production of a report identifying ways of reducing the problem.

 

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

Councillors Carol Birchmore, Cllr Donald Berry, Cllr Andrea Booth, Cllr Des Duncalfe, Cllr Glyn Marsden, Cllr James Mason, Cllr Mike Smith and Cllr Mary Walsh

 

 

A recent Manchester Evening News article identified Bury MBC as being ranked sixth out of the 10 local authorities in Greater Manchester in terms of rat problems. This article however misses important facts that may lead to a misrepresentation of the true picture. Further research shows that the two local authorities at the top of the list have some of the lowest pest control call out rates and probably more significantly Tameside, ranked at the bottom has the highest rates. As councillors many of us hear anecdotal reports of rat sightings from residents. In part, due to call out costs, many residents, especially in poorer areas will opt to treat the problem themselves and so these incidents will go unreported through official channels. It is thought that rat infestations are more likely to occur in areas of high-density housing and in older terraced properties it is true that travel from property to property is often easier. The Council does offer a pest reporting system for public places, but many residents are not aware of it. The best way to get a true picture of the problem in Bury is to gather information on sightings and produce a map identifying report hotspots. To  ...  view the full agenda text for item C. 18

Minutes:

(i)         ANTI SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR

 

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

Councillors S. Arif, Bernstein, Brown, Dean, Gartside, Harris, Lancaster, Hussain, Jones, McBriar, Rydeheard, Vernon

 

An altered motion was moved, seconded and agreed by the meeting:

 

This Council are keen to do all in its power to make the Borough a first choice for people to live in, for businesses to invest in and for children and young people to be educated in. As part of this approach the Council are determined to eradicate as far as possible any form of anti-social behaviour that could impact on this strategic vision.

While the more serious criminal behaviour such as knife crime will understandably receive more financial resources and multi- agency responses some of the perceived less serious though still challenging behaviours such as flytipping, noise and drug activity require robust responses to send a clear message that this Borough has a zero tolerance for all such behaviour that blights our neighbourhoods.

This Council resolves to;

Delete:

Identify the level of such activity within each Neighbourhood Hub

Add:

1.    Ensure an ongoing review of the level and nature of ASB activity within each neighbourhood.

Delete:

Call for a Bury Team Event to be held as a priority to discuss this matter with all partners with a view to creating an action plan to eradicate these issues

2.         Hold a Team Bury event as a priority on ASB in order to:

A. Discuss how Team Bury partners can contribute to combating ASB and

B. Feed back Team Bury partners' comments on tackling ASB to the Community Safety Partnership

Delete:

To include in the Community Strategic Plan definite actions by which the Council and its Partners will be measured by in their contribution to reductions in anti-social behaviour

 Add:

3.    Ensure that measurable activities and outcomes are included in the CSP delivery plan on tackling ASB.

On being put with all Members present voting in favour, 0 Members voting against and the Mayor abstaining, the Mayor declared the motion carried.

 

(ii)        Promotion of Council reporting system to help identify hotspots for rat infestations and production of a report identifying ways of reducing the problem.

 

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

Councillors Carol Birchmore, Cllr Donald Berry, Cllr Andrea Booth, Cllr Des Duncalfe, Cllr Glyn Marsden, Cllr James Mason, Cllr Mike Smith and Cllr Mary Walsh

 

 

A recent Manchester Evening News article identified Bury MBC as being ranked sixth out of the 10 local authorities in Greater Manchester in terms of rat problems. This article however misses important facts that may lead to a misrepresentation of the true picture. Further research shows that the two local authorities at the top of the list have some of the lowest pest control call out rates and probably more significantly Tameside, ranked at the bottom has the highest rates. As councillors many of us hear anecdotal reports of rat sightings  ...  view the full minutes text for item C. 18

C. 19

AMENDMENTS TO NOTICES OF MOTION pdf icon PDF 175 KB

Amendments attached

Additional documents:

C. 20

COUNCIL MOTION TRACKER pdf icon PDF 122 KB

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

Minutes:

For information only.

C. 21

SCRUTINY REVIEW REPORTS AND SPECIFIC ITEMS "CALLED IN" BY SCRUTINY COMMITTEES

C. 22

QUESTIONS ON THE WORK OF OUTSIDE BODIES OR PARTNERSHIPS

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).