Agenda and minutes

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

Before the start of the meeting the Mayor’s Chaplain Rev Jez Hackett conducted prayers and held a moment of thought with Members of the Council present at the virtual meeting.

The following declarations of interest were made at the meeting in relation

to items on the agenda.

1. Councillor Quinn declared a personal interest as relatives worked for the NHS, CAB and he was a member of Unite.

2. Councillors Vernon, Hussain, Rafiq and Susan Southworth declared a

personal interest in the Lib Dem motion as they owned rental properties.

3. Councillors L. Smith declared a personal interest in the Lib Dem motion as she owned a rental property and a relative worked for the NHS.

4. Councillor Black declared a personal interest as she was a member of Bury Met Arts Board.

5. Councillor D Jones declared a personal interest for the joint authority

policing questions as he received a pension from GMP.

6. Councillor Whitby declared a personal interest in the Lib Dem motion as she owned a rental property and was a Member of a trade union.

7. Councillor Silberger declared a personal interest in the Lib Dem motion and would not be voting on it.

8. Councillor Simpson declared a personal interest on a motion as she was an NHS employee.

9. Councillor S. Wright declared a personal interest as a relative worked for a school in the Borough.

10. Councillor Leach declared a personal interest on a motion as she was an NHS employee.

11. Councillor Holt declared a personal interest on a motion as he was tenant in the private rented sector.

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the Annual Meeting of the Council held on 20 May 2020. (Copy attached).

RESOLVED:

That the Minutes of the Meeting of Council held on the 20^th May 2020 be

signed by the Mayor as a true and correct record.

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 was sad to report on the recent death of former Councillor, Barry Theckston and Mr Mervyn Magnall.

Former Councillor Theckston served as a Conservative Member on the

Council in 1992 to 1996 and again in 1999 to 2012. 

Mr Magnall was the driving force behind creating links between Bury and Woodbury in the US, a town established by a Bury resident Henry Wood in 1682 and named after the ‘Wood family from Bury’. Mervyn’s work led to the towns becoming twinned in 2007, for which he was later

made an Honorary Life Citizen of Woodbury.

As a mark of respect, Members of Council observed a one minute silence.

The Mayor reported that a Council Officer had been awarded the prestigious Greater Manchester High Sheriff Special Recognition Award. Dominic Press, the Council’s Senior Dispute Resolution Officer within Legal Services, had been recognised for his outstanding activity and contribution to the community during the coronavirus pandemic.

The Mayor was also pleased to report that two Bury voluntary groups had received the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service: DCaff by Greenmount Village Community, a dementia friendly café, and Eagles Wings, a mutual support group for asylum seekers and local people. The award had also been received by local HIV charity, George House Trust, which the Mayor

would be supporting as one of the charities in his Mayoral year.

The Mayor thanked all those Council staff who had been working during the current Covid 19 pandemic and councillors expressed their appreciation with a round applause held virtually.

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.

There had been no questions received in advance of the meeting however,

one member of the public was in virtual attendance at the meeting and

asked a verbal question.

The member of the public asked a question to the Leader of the Council and as this had not been submitted in advance within the required notice period, no supplementary question was permitted

If any.

No recommendations were reported.

To receive a Statement 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 and Cabinet Members 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.

The Leader of the Council, Councillor O’Brien, made a statement on the work undertaken by himself and the Cabinet 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 10 to 26 inclusive, the Chair gave an undertaking that copies of those questions and responses would be made available to all Councillors via the Council meeting page in the website.

The Council Constitution now allows each Councillor to ask one verbal question on the work of the Cabinet since the date of the last Council meeting, or on issues contained in the Leader’s Statement.

The Chair asked Members to refrain from asking questions which they have submitted to this evenings meeting as a written question.

A report from the Leader is attached.

It was moved by Councillor O’ Brien and seconded by Councillor Tariq.

RECOMMENDATION

That the Council noted the Executive Key Decisions that had been taken as urgent items and which were exempted from call-in.

Report from the Deputy Monitoring Officer attached.

It was moved by Councillor O’ Brien and seconded by Councillor Tariq.

RECOMMENDATION

(1)That Council approved the revised membership, voting and quoracy arrangements for the Strategic Commissioning Board as set out in the attached report to the Board on 8 June 2020; and

(2)That Council approved the revised Strategic Commissioning Board Terms of Reference.

Report of the Deputy Chief Executive.

It was moved by Councillor Pickstone and seconded by Councillor O’ Brien

RECOMMENDATION

That Janet Witkowski be designated as the Council’s Interim Monitoring Officer and Council Solicitor with immediate effect until a new Assistant Director of Legal and Democratic Services is appointed.

(i)            COVID-19 Recovery:

The Council Notes:

COVID-19 has had an adverse effect on the communities here in Bury. This Council needs to place on record its thanks to the key workers, residents, businesses and organisations for going above and beyond. This Borough owes you a debt of gratitude. Now is the time to plan for the recovery phase, to support our residents and local businesses, in the changing need for public services.

Bury Council requires a plan to prepare and kickstart the economic recovery following the impact of COVID-19 and provide our residents and businesses with a strategic vision for the future. The plan should involve all stakeholders in order to develop the best possible forward plan for the council, our residents and businesses.

The Council resolves:

The Council therefore resolves to create “The Bury MBC COVID-19 Recovery Plan”.

The Bury MBC COVID-19 Recovery Plan will focus on:

? Economic impact, recovery & growth for our high streets, Bury Market and businesses

? Residents - improving the skills-base to lift wages for lower income residents and adapt to the changing needs of local businesses

? Health and Social Care delivery

? Financial resilience and ensuring minimal waste of taxpayers' money to ensure money reaches frontline council services such as bins, highways and tackling flytipping which saw an increase over lockdown.

? Transformation of Bury MBC to ensure that we deliver services efficiently and more accessible to residents.

• A review in to the spatial framework and our environment - with an inevitable economic slowdown, there will be less of a need for housing. Lockdown has made us appreciate the environment we have around us and the council should recognise what we can do to enhance it to deliver health benefits for our residents.

Progress updates should be provided to the Joint Executive team on a weekly basis and the Cabinet as a standing item each month. A report will be presented at the September Full Council Meeting.

A cross-party working group will be established to monitor and track the progress of the recovery. The Group will remain in operation as long as there is a need for a recovery response to COVID-19. The plan will be evidence based and will closely monitor the impacts and the effectiveness of the responsiveness of Bury Council in a post-COVID world.

In the names of Councillors R Caserta, P Cropper, J Daly, I Gartside, D Gunther, J Harris, S Hurst, K Hussain, N Jones, G Keeley, O Kersh, I Schofield, D Silbiger,  D Vernon, R Walker, and Y Wright

(ii)          Securing a Fair Deal for Private Renters and Selective Licensing

This Council Notes:

1.       The significant contribution that private-rental property makes to the borough’s housing market.

2.       That poor housing management and low standards in the sector can lead to the failure of a local housing market. Low demand and antisocial behaviour can result in unsettled communities, along with other social and economic problems.

3.       That private renters spend a higher proportion of their income on housing than with other tenures,  ...  view the full agenda text for item C. 66

(i)        COVID-19 Recovery

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

Councillors R Caserta, P Cropper, J Daly, I Gartside, D Gunther,

J Harris, S Hurst, K Hussain, N Jones, G Keeley, O Kersh,

I Schofield, D Silbiger,  D Vernon, R Walker, and Y Wright

It was moved by Councillor N. Jones and seconded by Councillor Caserta that:-

This Council Notes:

COVID-19 has had an adverse effect on the communities here in Bury. This Council needs to place on record its thanks to the key workers, residents, businesses and organisations for going above and beyond. This Borough owes you a debt of gratitude. Now is the time to plan for the recovery phase, to support our residents and local businesses, in the changing need for public services.

Bury Council requires a plan to prepare and kickstart the economic recovery following the impact of COVID-19 and provide our residents and businesses with a strategic vision for the future. The plan should involve all stakeholders in order to develop the best possible forward plan for the council, our residents and businesses.

This Council resolves:

The Council therefore resolves to create “The Bury MBC COVID-19 Recovery Plan”.

The Bury MBC COVID-19 Recovery Plan will focus on:

? Economic impact, recovery & growth for our high streets, Bury Market and businesses

? Residents - improving the skills-base to lift wages for lower income residents and adapt to the changing needs of local businesses

? Health and Social Care delivery

? Financial resilience and ensuring minimal waste of taxpayers' money to ensure money reaches frontline council services such as bins, highways and tackling flytipping which saw an increase over lockdown.

? Transformation of Bury MBC to ensure that we deliver services efficiently and more accessible to residents.

? A review in to the spatial framework and our environment - with an inevitable economic slowdown, there will be less of a need for housing. Lockdown has made us appreciate the environment we have around us and the council should recognise what we can do to enhance it to deliver health benefits for our residents.

Progress updates should be provided to the Joint Executive team on a weekly basis and the Cabinet as a standing item each month. A report will be presented at the September Full Council Meeting.

A cross-party working group will be established to monitor and track the progress of the recovery. The Group will remain in operation as long as there is a need for a recovery response to COVID-19. The plan will be evidence based and will closely monitor the impacts and the effectiveness of the responsiveness of Bury Council in a post-COVID world.

On being put, with 19 voting for, 28 voting against and with the Mayor abstaining, the Mayor declared the substantive motion lost.

(i)        Securing a Fair Deal for Private Renters and Selective Licensing

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

Councillors M Powell, T Pickstone, C Tegolo and S Wright  ...  view the full minutes text for item C. 66

If any

There were no items reported.

Questions, if any.

The Chair reported due to the lack of time this item could not be dealt with.

Councillor Gold who was a Council representative on the combined authority board would circulate copies of those questions raised along with the responses which would also be made available to all Councillors via the Council meeting page on the website.

Questions on the delegated decisions made by the Regulatory Committees and Scrutiny Committees published since the last ordinary meeting of the Council, providing four clear working days’ notices has been given of the question.

No questions were asked on the delegated decisions made by the Regulatory Committees and Scrutiny Committees published since the last ordinary meeting of the Council.

THE WORSHIPFUL THE MAYOR

Note:

The meeting started at 7.00 pm and ended at 10.16pm