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.

1 Councillor McGill declared a personal interest in respect of CA.XXX Budget Conservative Amendment 2021/22, as a member of the Trade Union Unite.

2. Councillors Harris, Cathcart and Susan Southworth declared personal interests in respect of minute CA.XXX Housing Revenue Account 2021/22 as Board Members of Six Town Housing.

3. Councillor Simpson declared an interest in any item which related to Health as she works for the NHS, as does her son.

4. Councillor S Wright declared a personal interest in any item which related to staffing in schools as his wife is employed by a school in the Borough.

5. Councillor Quinn declared a personal interest in relation to all items under consideration as his wife is employed by the Citizens Advice Bureau, both his son and daughter in law work for the NHS, he is also a member of Unite the Union and his also a member of the Downs Syndrome Association.

6. Councillor Leach declared an interest in any item which related to Health as she works for the NHS.

Minutes of the meeting held on the 25^th November 2020 are attached.

RESOLVED:

That the Minutes of the Meeting of Council held on 25^th November 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.

There were no mayoral announcements.

To answer questions from members of the public, notice of which has been given, on any matter relevant to the Budget business to be transacted.  Up to 30 minutes will be set aside for this purpose.

Notice had been received of the following 3 questions:

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

(A)              Meeting of the HRA held on 18 January 2021 – Appointment of the Director of Law and Democratic Services

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

Resolved:

That Jacqui Dennis would be appointed to the post of Director of Law and Democratic Services

(B)         Meeting of the Cabinet held on 20 January 2021 – Appointment of Mayor and Deputy Mayor 2021/22

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

RESOLVED:

That Councillor Tim Pickstone be proposed as Mayor of Bury for the Civic Year 2021/22.

It was moved by Councillor Tariq and seconded by Councillor Hussain and it was:

RESOLVED:

That Councillor Shaheena Haroon has been proposed as Deputy Mayor of Bury for the Civic Year 2021/2.

(C)          Meeting of the HRA held on 28 January 2021 – Appointment of the Chief Finance Officer

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

Resolved:

That Samantha Evans would be appointed to the post of Chief Finance Officer.

(D)         Recommendation of the cabinet as agreed on 23 February 2021 relating to the Council Tax Support Scheme

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

RESOLVED:

That Council approves:

·         The Council Tax Support Scheme continues in its current form for the year 2021/22;

·         The current disregard of all War Widow’s/Widower’s Pension or

War Disablement Pension is continued;

·         The performance of the Council Tax Support Scheme continues to be closely monitored and will be reviewed and amended as appropriate on an annual basis.

(E)         Housing Revenue Account 2021/2022

At the invitation of the Mayor, Councillor O’Brien, Cabinet Member for Finance and Housing, made a statement on the Housing Revenue Account 2020/2021.

It was moved by Councillor O’Brien and seconded by Councillor T Tariq and it was:-

RESOLVED:

That Council following a recommendation from Cabinet agrees to:

·         An increase the Rents for all HRA social rent formula and affordable rent dwellings by 1.5% from the first rent week in April;

·         An increase Garage rents by 1.5% from the first rent week in April;

·         An increase Sheltered Management and Amenity Charges by 1.5% from the first rent week in April;

·         Approves that Sheltered support and heating charges remain unchanged from the first rent week in April;

·         Approves that Furnished Tenancy charges remain unchanged from the first rent week in April;

·         An increase pitch fees at the Fernhill Caravan Site by 1.5% from the first rent week in April.

(F)    Budget 2021/22

At the invitation of the Mayor, Councillor O’Brien, Leader Cabinet Member for Finance and Housing, made a statement on the Budget for 2021/22.

(i)          It was moved by Councillor O’Brien and seconded by Councillor T Tariq that the recommendations contained in Minute CA.XXX of the Cabinet meeting held on 23rd February 2021 be approved subject to the following alterations:

Recommendations:

o   Approve the medium-term financial strategy and the assumptions regarding resources and spending requirements;

o   Note the Council Tax  ...  view the full minutes text for item C. 367

Questions on the delegated decisions made on the Budget made at the following meetings:

·         Overview and Scrutiny Committee (10^th February 2021) Attached

·         Joint Consultative Committee Corporate (11^th February 2021) Attached

·         Joint Consultative Committee with Teachers (11^th February 2021) Attached

·         Cabinet (23^rd February 2020) To be circulated.

There were no questions asked on the delegated decisions of the Cabinet, the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, Joint Consultative Committee (Corporate) and Joint Consultative Committee (Teachers).