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 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 attached.

Report attached.

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

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.

A notice of motion has been received from the following Councillors: A Arif,  Bayley, Boles, Boroda, Cummins, Farooq, Fitzgerald, Frith, Gold, Green, Grimshaw, Haroon, Hayes, Ibrahim, McGill, Morris, Moss, O'Brien, Pilkington, Quinn Alan, Quinn Deborah, Rafiq, Rizvi, Rubinstein, Ryder, Smith Lucy Staples-Jones Gareth, Tariq, Thorpe, Walmsley, Whitby.

Entitled Let’s Fix It”: Bury Demands a Fair Deal On Funding

This Council notes that:

1. Since the beginning of austerity in 2010, local government funding has seen the biggest departmental cut across government, with a 60% reduction.
2. In Bury, this has led to cuts of nearly £150m since 2010.
3. It also comes at a time when demand pressures for adult’s and children’s social care, SEND and inflation are at their highest levels in decades.
4. A recent BBC investigation has discovered a £5 billion “black hole” in local authority budgets, with the average Council facing a £33m gap by 2025-26, a rise of 60% from two years ago.
5. SIGOMA (Special Interest Group of Municipal Authorities) has reported that at least 26 member Councils are at risk of effective bankruptcy within the next two years.

This Council further notes that:

1.    A recent study by the Institute for Fiscal Studies, an independent economic think tank, concludes that Bury’s local government funding was underfunded by 8.5% compared to the national average – the equivalent of nearly £14m a year less to spend on services.

2.    A fair funding review of local government has been promised since 2016 but not happened and currently there is no indication of when it will be carried out and implemented.

This Council resolves to:

1. Launch a public campaign calling on the Government to fix the broken system of local government finance and give Bury what it needs and deserves.
2. Highlight as part of this campaign what the Council and residents can do to support reducing costs and demands on local services.
3. Write to our Members of Parliament, requesting they support our campaign and lobby Ministers for a fair deal for Bury.

Corporate Parenting in Bury

A MOTION HAS BEEN RECEIVED IN THE NAMES OF COUNCILLORS ARIF, BERNSTEIN, BROWN, DEAN, GARTSIDE, HARRIS, HUSSAIN, LANCASTER, McBRIAR, RYDEHEARD, VERNON

This Council notes that:

One of the most crucial roles which we as Elected Members and as a Council as a whole have is that of corporate parents.

This is a role with significant responsibility and through our decision making and actions the children and young people who are in our care, should always be at the forefront of our minds.

During the meeting of the Corporate Parenting Board, the Children In Care Council (CICC) often report that we as a council could do more to take a proactive approach for our looked after children.

The Council acknowledges that:

We take a more active role in the lives of our looked after children, providing them as much support as possible in fulfilling our duty as Corporate Parents.

As part of a more active role we must continue with participating in the lives of  ...  view the full agenda text for item 11.

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).