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.

Councillor Tariq declared a personal interest in all items under consideration in light of recent appointments to the LGA and North west employers and his work for Healthwatch Oldham  including as co-opted member of the Oldham Scrutiny Committee and Health and Wellbeing Board.

Councillor Farooq declared a personal interest in all items under consideration in light of her appointment as Secretary of the Bury Faith Forum.

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 to those present, duties undertaken as Bury’s first citizen since the last Council meeting.

Minutes attached.

The Minutes of the meeting held on the 19^th July be approved and signed by the Mayor.

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.

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

1. That the compulsory polling district and places review commences on Monday 2 October 2023.
2. That the outline table for the review is approved
3. That approval is granted to follow the review process described in this report.
4. That the ERO (Electoral Registration Officer) is authorised to take the necessary measures as soon as possible to give effect to parliamentary constituency changes, ensuring that the register reflects existing and new constituencies until the boundaries are fully in force. 
5. That the Electoral Registration Officer is authorised to take the necessary measures to give effect to any new or amended polling districts on completion of the polling district review, ensuring that the register reflects existing and new boundaries until the boundaries are fully in force.
6. That power to designate polling places in accordance with section 18 and 18B of the representation of the People Act 1983 is delegated to the Chief Executive, in their role as Returning Officer and Electoral Registration Officer. 

Report attached.

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

The Council appoints the Chief Executive, Lynne Ridsdale as the Returning Officer for Bury Council at the Combined Authority Mayoral elections.

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

It was moved by Councillor Whitby and seconded by Councillor Gold; on being put with all Members voting for and Councillors A Booth, D Berry, G Marsden, C Birchmore, D Duncalfe, M Smith, M Walsh and the Mayor abstaining; that:

Council agrees the proposed amendments to the Constitution in relation to the authorised debt write-off thresholds as set out 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. (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 15 to 18 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:

A notice of motion has been received from the following Councillors: A Arif,  Bayley, Boles, Boroda, Cummins, Farooq, Fitzgerald, Frith, Gold, Green, Grimshaw, Haroon, Hayes, Ibrahim, McGill, Morris, Moss, O'Brien, Pilkington, Quinn Alan, Quinn Deborah, Rafiq, Rizvi, Rubinstein, Ryder, Smith Lucy Staples-Jones Gareth, Tariq, Thorpe, Walmsley, Whitby.

Entitled Let’s Fix It”: Bury Demands a Fair Deal On Funding

This Council notes that:

1. Since the beginning of austerity in 2010, local government funding has seen the biggest departmental cut across government, with a 60% reduction.
2. In Bury, this has led to cuts of nearly £150m since 2010.
3. It also comes at a time when demand pressures for adult’s and children’s social care, SEND and inflation are at their highest levels in decades.
4. A recent BBC investigation has discovered a £5 billion “black hole” in local authority budgets, with the average Council facing a £33m gap by 2025-26, a rise of 60% from two years ago.
5. SIGOMA (Special Interest Group of Municipal Authorities) has reported that at least 26 member Councils are at risk of effective bankruptcy within the next two years.

This Council further notes that:

1.    A recent study by the Institute for Fiscal Studies, an independent economic think tank, concludes that Bury’s local government funding was underfunded by 8.5% compared to the national average – the equivalent of nearly £14m a year less to spend on services.

2.    A fair funding review of local government has been promised since 2016 but not happened and currently there is no indication of when it will be carried out and implemented.

This Council resolves to:

1. Launch a public campaign calling on the Government to fix the broken system of local government finance and give Bury what it needs and deserves.
2. Highlight as part of this campaign what the Council and residents can do to support reducing costs and demands on local services.
3. Write to our Members of Parliament, requesting they support our campaign and lobby Ministers for a fair deal for Bury.

Corporate Parenting in Bury

A MOTION HAS BEEN RECEIVED IN THE NAMES OF COUNCILLORS ARIF, BERNSTEIN, BROWN, DEAN, GARTSIDE, HARRIS, HUSSAIN, LANCASTER, McBRIAR, RYDEHEARD, VERNON

This Council notes that:

One of the most crucial roles which we as Elected Members and as a Council as a whole have is that of corporate parents.

This is a role with significant responsibility and through our decision making and actions the children and young people who are in our care, should always be at the forefront of our minds.

During the meeting of the Corporate Parenting Board, the Children In Care Council (CICC) often report that we as a council could do more to take a proactive approach for our looked after children.

The Council acknowledges that:

We take a more active role in the lives of our looked after children, providing them as much support as possible in fulfilling our duty as Corporate Parents.

As part of a more active role we must continue with participating in the lives of  ...  view the full agenda text for item C. 30

Council considered a notice of motion received from Councillors: A Arif,  Bayley, Boles, Boroda, Cummins, Farooq, Fitzgerald, Frith, Gold, Green, Grimshaw, Haroon, Hayes, Ibrahim, McGill, Morris, Moss, O'Brien, Pilkington, Quinn Alan, Quinn Deborah, Rafiq, Rizvi, Rubinstein, Ryder, Smith Lucy Staples-Jones Gareth, Tariq, Thorpe, Walmsley, Whitby.

Entitled Let’s Fix It”: Bury Demands a Fair Deal On Funding

This Council notes that:

1. Since the beginning of austerity in 2010, local government funding has seen the biggest departmental cut across government, with a 60% reduction.
2. In Bury, this has led to cuts of nearly £150m since 2010.
3. It also comes at a time when demand pressures for adult’s and children’s social care, SEND and inflation are at their highest levels in decades.
4. A recent BBC investigation has discovered a £5 billion “black hole” in local authority budgets, with the average Council facing a £33m gap by 2025-26, a rise of 60% from two years ago.
5. SIGOMA (Special Interest Group of Municipal Authorities) has reported that at least 26 member Councils are at risk of effective bankruptcy within the next two years.

This Council further notes that:

1.    A recent study by the Institute for Fiscal Studies, an independent economic think tank, concludes that Bury’s local government funding was underfunded by 8.5% compared to the national average – the equivalent of nearly £14m a year less to spend on services.

2.    A fair funding review of local government has been promised since 2016 but not happened and currently there is no indication of when it will be carried out and implemented.

This Council resolves to:

1. Launch a public campaign calling on the Government to fix the broken system of local government finance and give Bury what it needs and deserves.
2. Highlight as part of this campaign what the Council and residents can do to support reducing costs and demands on local services.
3. Write to our Members of Parliament, requesting they support our campaign and lobby Ministers for a fair deal for Bury.

An amendment was moved by Councillor Bernstein and seconded by Councillor Vernon to:

This Council notes that:

1. Since the beginning of austerity in 2010, local government funding has seen the biggest departmental cut across government, with a 60% reduction.
2. In Bury, this has led to nearly £150m in reduced core funding since 2010.  However since 2019 in excess of £100 million has been allocated to Bury to spend on agreed projects as well as Bury Council received in excess of $79 million additional support during the COVID pandemic.
3. It also comes at a time when demand pressures for adult’s and children’s social care, SEND and inflation are at their highest levels in decades.
4. A recent BBC investigation has discovered a £5 billion “black hole” in local authority budgets, with the average Council facing a £33m gap by 2025-26, a rise of 60% from two years ago.  However it should be noted that some BBC investigations historically have not followed best practice.
5. SIGOMA (Special Interest Group of Municipal Authorities), (whose leadership  ...  view the full minutes text for item C. 30

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

There were no scrutiny review reports and 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.