Agenda

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

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.

Minutes of the meeting held on 22^nd February 2023 are attached.

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.

Report atached.

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)         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.

(i)         ANTI SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR

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

Councillors S. Arif, Bernstein, Brown, Dean, Gartside, Harris, Lancaster, Hussain, Jones, McBriar, Rydeheard, Vernon

This Council are keen to do all in its power to make the Borough a first choice for people to live in, for businesses to invest in and for children and young people to be educated in. As part of this approach the Council are determined to eradicate as far as possible any form of anti-social behaviour that could impact on this strategic vision.

While the more serious criminal behaviour such as knife crime will understandably receive more financial resources and multi- agency responses some of the perceived less serious though still challenging behaviours such as flytipping, noise and antisocial behaviour related drug activity require robust responses to send a clear message that this Borough has a zero tolerance for all such behaviour that blights our neighbourhoods.

This Council resolves to;

·         Identify the level of such activity within each Neighbourhood Hub

·         Call for a Bury Team Event to be held as a priority to discuss this matter with all partners with a view to creating an action plan to eradicate these issues

·         To include in the Community Strategic Plan definite actions by which the Council and its Partners will be measured by in their contribution to reductions in anti-social behaviour

(ii)        Promotion of Council reporting system to help identify hotspots for rat infestations and production of a report identifying ways of reducing the problem.

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

Councillors Carol Birchmore, Cllr Donald Berry, Cllr Andrea Booth, Cllr Des Duncalfe, Cllr Glyn Marsden, Cllr James Mason, Cllr Mike Smith and Cllr Mary Walsh

A recent Manchester Evening News article identified Bury MBC as being ranked sixth out of the 10 local authorities in Greater Manchester in terms of rat problems. This article however misses important facts that may lead to a misrepresentation of the true picture. Further research shows that the two local authorities at the top of the list have some of the lowest pest control call out rates and probably more significantly Tameside, ranked at the bottom has the highest rates. As councillors many of us hear anecdotal reports of rat sightings from residents. In part, due to call out costs, many residents, especially in poorer areas will opt to treat the problem themselves and so these incidents will go unreported through official channels. It is thought that rat infestations are more likely to occur in areas of high-density housing and in older terraced properties it is true that travel from property to property is often easier. The Council does offer a pest reporting system for public places, but many residents are not aware of it. The best way to get a true picture of the problem in Bury is to gather information on sightings and produce a map identifying report hotspots. To  ...  view the full agenda text for item 10.

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

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).