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.   Councillors S. Arif, Hussain and Walsh declared personal interests in all matters under consideration as governors at Schools in the Borough.

2.   Councillor Tariq declared a personal interest in all matters under consideration as a manager at Healthwatch, Oldham.

3.   Councillor Morris declared a personal interest in all matters under consideration in relation to Prestwich regeneration as her partner works for Font Comms.

4.   Councillor Tegolo declared a pecuniary and prejudicial interest in the Conservative Notice of Motion and left the meeting during consideration of that item.

The minutes of the meeting held on the 21^st September be approved as a 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 thanked all those across the Borough, involved in organising events for Remembrance Sunday and wished all a Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and Happy Hanukah.

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 7 questions. 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.

To receive and consider the recommendations to the Council:

Meeting of Youth Cabinet – Changes to the Terms of reference

It was moved by Councillor D Quinn and seconded by Councillor Thorpe and it was agreed that:

Council approves the Youth Cabinet revised Terms of Reference.

Meeting of Democratic Arrangements Forum – Amendment to the Constitution

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

Section 4.1.34.1 of the constitution be amended to:

Amendments will be considered in the order in which they are received. An amendment to a Notice of Motion must be delivered to the Monitoring Officer by midday on the day prior to the meeting. Following consideration by the Monitoring Officer the content of the amendment will be shared, other than amendments made in advance of Budget Council; unless the Group Leader or their representative provides express permission to do so.

Meeting of Cabinet – Freedom of the Borough nominations

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

All five nominations be progressed and an expediated ceremony be arranged for former Councillor, Roy Walker in December 2022 and a further ceremony for the remaining nominees, including Kieran Trippier, in January 2023

Meeting of Audit – Contract Procedure Rules

It was moved by Councillor Whitby and seconded by Councillor Gold and it was agreed that:

The revised Contract Procedure Rules be approved and implemented from 1 February 2023.

Meeting of Employment Panel – Appointment of the Chief Executive

It was moved by Councillor O’Brien and seconded by Councillor Bernstein and supported by Councillor M Smith and it was agreed that:

Lynne Ridsdale be appointed the Chief Executive and Place Based Lead for Bury Council.

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 13 to 17 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:

(i)           School Meals in the Borough

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

Councillors;  Birchmore, Berry, Booth, Duncalfe, Marsden, Mason, Cllr Mike Smith and Cllr Mary Walsh

This Council Notes:

All schools in the Borough have policies around school meals regarding nutritional balance, variation and dietary requirements as per the legislative requirements.

It is noticeable that what is missing from these policies is the balance between the number of students attending cafeteria facilities and the time available to them to queue, choose, purchase and consume their meals. What is not clear from these policies is the available choice readily available to the students who are at the back of that queue.

Analysis has shown that Bury MBC does not have a specific policy for the management of the school meals, such as a Mealtime Management Plan for the distribution and consumption of the meals. From the all the non-feeing paying High schools within the Borough of Bury, only one of those schools does in fact, have a policy for the management of school meals.

We believe there is a need for such an overarching policy for Bury MBC to review the management of lunches and produce a Policy, that can be recommended for adoption and implementation to each High School, as either a separate policy to suit their own students and school circumstances or as part of the Whole School Food Policy. 

We call upon the Council to recognise that as part of the healthy eating aspect of school meals, that there should be time to purchase and consume such a meal. We believe this action is required to avert potential issues of hunger, ineffective learning and digestive ill-health issues that may emanate from consuming lunches in a fast-paced and hurrying manner.  

The Council resolves to -

Commission an internal review of meal management at Bury Schools and that the findings of the review inform a policy which can be commended to all Schools.

(ii)  Fair Tax

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

Councillors: A. Arif, N Bayley, C Boles, N Boroda, C Cummins, U Farooq, E FitzGerald, N Frith, R Gold, D Green, J Grimshaw, S Haroon, M Hayes, G McGill, C Morris, E Moss, E O’Brien, K Peel, T Pilkington, A Quinn, D Quinn, T Rafiq, I Rizvi, L Smith, T Tariq, S Thorpe, S Walmsley, and M Whitby.

This Council notes that:

1.         The pressure on organisations to pay the right amount of tax in the right place at the right time has never been stronger.

2.         Polling from the Institute for Business Ethics finds that “corporate tax avoidance” has, since 2013, been the clear number one concern of the British public when it comes to business conduct.

3.         Almost two-thirds (63%) of the public agree that the Government and local councils should consider a company’s ethics and how they pay their tax as well as value for money and quality of  ...  view the full agenda text for item C. 35

(i)           School Meals in the Borough

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

Councillors;  Birchmore, Berry, Booth, Duncalfe, Marsden, Mason, Cllr Mike Smith and Cllr Mary Walsh

This Council Notes:

All schools in the Borough have policies around school meals regarding nutritional balance, variation and dietary requirements as per the legislative requirements.

It is noticeable that what is missing from these policies is the balance between the number of students attending cafeteria facilities and the time available to them to queue, choose, purchase and consume their meals. What is not clear from these policies is the available choice readily available to the students who are at the back of that queue.

Analysis has shown that Bury MBC does not have a specific policy for the management of the school meals, such as a Mealtime Management Plan for the distribution and consumption of the meals. From the all the non-feeing paying High schools within the Borough of Bury, only one of those schools does in fact, have a policy for the management of school meals.

We believe there is a need for such an overarching policy for Bury MBC to review the management of lunches and produce a Policy, that can be recommended for adoption and implementation to each High School, as either a separate policy to suit their own students and school circumstances or as part of the Whole School Food Policy. 

We call upon the Council to recognise that as part of the healthy eating aspect of school meals, that there should be time to purchase and consume such a meal. We believe this action is required to avert potential issues of hunger, ineffective learning and digestive ill-health issues that may emanate from consuming lunches in a fast-paced and hurrying manner.  

The Council resolves to -

Commission an internal review of meal management at Bury Schools and that the findings of the review inform a policy which can be commended to all Schools.

On being put with 8 Members voting for and 34 members voting against and the Mayor and Councillors Gartside and Tegolo abstaining

The Mayor declared the motion was lost.

(ii)  Fair Tax

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

Councillors: A. Arif, N Bayley, C Boles, N Boroda, C Cummins, U Farooq, E FitzGerald, N Frith, R Gold, D Green, J Grimshaw, S Haroon, M Hayes, G McGill, C Morris, E Moss, E O’Brien, K Peel, T Pilkington, A Quinn, D Quinn, T Rafiq, I Rizvi, L Smith, T Tariq, S Thorpe, S Walmsley, and M Whitby.

This Council notes that:

1.         The pressure on organisations to pay the right amount of tax in the right place at the right time has never been stronger.

2.         Polling from the Institute for Business Ethics finds that “corporate tax avoidance” has, since 2013, been the clear number one concern of the British public when it comes to business conduct.

3.         Almost two-thirds (63%) of  ...  view the full minutes text for item C. 35

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

For information

There are no scrutiny review reports or specific items called in by the scrutiny committee.

There were no scrutiny reports or specific items called in.

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 the outside partnerships