Agenda and minutes

1. To elect the Mayor for the Municipal Year 2025/2026

2. To elect a Deputy Mayor for the Municipal Year 2025/2026

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

There were no declarations of interest.

Minutes attached.

That the minutes of the Council meeting held on 19^th March 2025 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Mayor.

A report from the Council Solicitor, Jacqui Dennis is attached.

It was moved by Councillor Rafiq, and seconded by Councillor O’Brien and Council agreed to:

Members of Council are asked to -

1.    Adopt the proposed changes at appendix 1 to the Officer Scheme of Delegation.

2.    Ask the Standards Committee to review the proposed changes to the Corporate Governance Code as detailed at Appendix 2.

3.    Adopt the proposed changes to the Probity in Planning Guidance at Appendix 3.

4.    Approve the establishment of a Joint Planning Committee with Rochdale Council and approve the Terms of Reference at Appendix 4.

5.    Note the selections reviewed during the 2024/25 municipal year; and

6.    Note the selections proposed for review during the 2025/26 municipal year.

Please find attached a report from the Council Solicitor, Jacqui Dennis.

It was moved by Councillor O’Brien and Seconded by Councillor L Smith and Council agreed:

1.         That the Strong Leader arrangements adopted by the Council in 2011/12, be confirmed for 2025/2026.

2.         That the appointments of the Political Groups’ Leaders and Deputy Leaders as set out in Appendix A to this report be received.

3.         That the appointment of the Cabinet Members and Deputy Cabinet Members for the 2025/2026Municipal Year, as set out in Appendix B to this report be noted.

4.         That the appointment of the Regulatory Committees, Overview and Scrutiny Committees and other bodies covered by the Political Balance Rules, including the appointment of Chairs, where stated, for the 2025/2026Municipal Year, as set out in Appendix C to this report, be approved.

5.         That the appointment of other bodies not covered by or exempted from the Political Balance Rules, including the appointment of Chairs, where stated, for the 2025/2026Municipal Year, as set out in Appendix D to the report, be approved.

6.         That the appointments to the Combined Authority and Greater Manchester Joint Authorities for the 2025/2026Municipal Year, as set out in Appendix E to the report, be approved.

7.         That the appointments to the various other internal bodies, including the appointment of Chairs, where stated, for the 2025/2026Municipal Year, set out in Appendix F to the report, be approved.

8.         That the appointments to outside bodies for the 2025/2026Municipal Year as set out in Appendix G to the report, be approved.

9.         That the Member Allowance as agreed in 2022 be noted.

10.       That the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Leaders of the political groups on the Council, be authorised to determine any appointments to bodies which remain to be filled and any changes in appointments or any new appointments to be made during the 2025/2026Municipal Year and that any such appointments be reported to the Cabinet for information.

11.      That the Monitoring Officer be authorised to make consequential changes to the Constitution.

12.     Council agrees to the updates to the Meetings timetable, appendix H.

A report from the Chairs of the three Scrutiny Committees, Councillor Boles, Councillor FitzGerald and Councillor Vernon is attached.  

It was moved by Councillor Vernon and seconded by Councillor FitzGerald, supported by Councillor Boles and it was agreed, that Council:

Notes the contents of the report and progress made by the Council’s Scrutiny Committees over the municipal year 2024.25.

A report from the Leader of the Council is attached. 

Councillor Eamonn O’Brien, Leader of Bury Council, delivered a comprehensive statement on the State of the Borough for 2024/2025, highlighting both the achievements and the ongoing challenges faced by the Council.

You are also summoned to attend Part 2 of the Annual Meeting of the Council which will be held on the above date at 4.00 pm in the Council Chamber, Town Hall, Bury.  See separate agenda.