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.

There were no declarations of interest made at the meeting.

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 as Bury’s first citizen updated Members of the Council on work undertaken since the last meeting.

Minutes attached.

The minutes of the meeting held on 17 September 2025 were approved as correct record 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.

Notice had been received of the following questions:

Questions without notice:

Report of the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance and Transformation is attached.

It was moved by Councillor Thorpe and seconded by Councillor O’Brien and on being put, with 48 Members voting for, the Mayor abstaining; that, Council, approves:

· Agree the deletions of the following posts within the schools finance team through accepting voluntary early retirement applications, support the payment of voluntary early retirement and capital costs associated

· Schools finance officer proposed end date 31 October 2025.

· Senior schools finance officer proposed end date 30 June 2026

Report of the Leader and Cabinet Member for Strategic Growth is attached.

It was moved by Councillor O’Brien and seconded by Councillor M Smith and on being put, with 48 Members voting for, and 1 member abstaining; that, Council, approves:

·         both nominations be progressed and a ceremony to be arranged for January 2026

A report from the Executive Director (Corporate Core) is attached.

It was moved by Councillor Morris and seconded by Councillor Rafiq and on being put, with 48 Members voting for, and the Mayor abstaining; that, Council, approves:

· It is recommended that the attached draft statement of licensing policy be accepted without amendment. Widespread consultation has not revealed any major problems with the existing policy.

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)             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:                                   

 b)         Verbal Questions

The Leader received verbal questions from the following:

(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.

The Council received a report on the work of the Combined Authorities. The following questions had been received in accordance with Council Procedure Rules:

Due to the lack of time to answer questions 6 to 9 inclusive, the Mayor gave an undertaking that copies of those questions and responses will be circulated to all Councillors. The Mayor also gave an undertaking to make these available on the Council Web Site.    

(i)             Pride in Place Programme

Council considered a motion in the names of Bernstein, Lancaster, McBriar and Vernon

The motion was moved by Councillor Vernon and seconded by Councillor McBriar and on being put; with 39 members voting for; 1 member voting against and the Mayor and 8 members abstaining, the Mayor declared the motion carried.

(ii)            Affordable Housing

Council considered a motion in the names of Birchmore, Berry, Booth, Duncalfe, Marsden, Simpson, M Smith, and Walsh

The motion was moved by Councillor Birchmore and seconded by Councillor M Smith and on being put; with 48 members voting for; and the Mayor abstaining, the Mayor declared the motion carried.

(iii)          Community Cohesion

Council considered a motion in the names of A Arif, Bayley, Boles, Cummins, Farooq, Fitzgerald, Frith, Gold, Green, Grimshaw, Haroon, Hayes, Hook, Ibrahim, McGill, Morris, Moss, O'Brien, Pilkington, A Quinn, D Quinn, Rafiq, Rahimov, Rizvi, Rubinstein, Ryder, L Smith, Southworth, Staples-Jones, Tariq, Thorpe, Walmsley

The motion was moved by Councillor Walmsley and seconded by Councillor Rubenstein and on being put; with 49 members voting for, the Mayor declared the motion carried.

(iv)          Armed Forces

Council considered a motion in the names of S Arif, Brown, Gartside, Harris, Hussain

The motion was moved by Councillor Harris and seconded by Councillor S Arif and on being put; with 49 members voting for; the Mayor declared the motion carried.

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

Attached for information only.

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.