Questions are invited from members of the public about the work of the Cabinet.
Notice of any question must be given to Democratic Services by midday on Monday, 30 May 2022. Approximately 30 minutes will be set aside for Public Question Time, if required.
Minutes:
The following question was submitted in advance of the meeting by a member of the public, Philip Smith-Lawrence:
As the Prestwich Regeneration project moves into the public consultation phase, and to enable the public to make more informed comments during this public consultation phase, will the council publish the exact details of the Joint Venture between Bury Council and Muse Developments Ltd, i.e. full and exact details including, but not limited to; financials, joint venture partner responsibilities, process of mediation in the event of any contractual disputes between the joint venture parties, and any financial responsibilities, including any financial penalties, relevant to both parties of the joint venture?
Responding, Councillor Eamonn O’Brien reported that the potential Joint Venture Agreement between Bury Council and Muse Developments Ltd is still subject to ongoing negotiations and thus it is not possible to share the details of this agreement, at this time. A more detailed response to your question, in the form of a written reply, will be provided once the agreement has been completed.
However, the Council is not able to provide the financial information requested, as it involves the affairs of a third party (Muse) and therefore has to be kept confidential. Confidentiality has to be preserved in any joint venture arrangement. Paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended) provides exemption in relation to, “Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).”
A further supplementary question was submitted:
Taken some £20 million plus of public money has already been spent to date on the Prestwich Regeneration project, can the Council advise the public exactly from whom the publicly stated figure of £100 million to complete the Prestwich Regeneration project, is being provided from, and what the exact terms of the funding are?
Councillor O’Brien reported that the source of the funding to complete the Prestwich Regeneration project, is dependent on the outcome of the ongoing joint venture negotiations between Bury Council and Muse Developments Ltd. Therefore, a more detailed response will be provided once the agreement has been completed.
The following question was submitted in advance of the meeting by a member of the public, Judith Sheppard:
Within the documents relating to the plans for Radcliffe you clearly refer to ‘listening to what is important to residents & using local insights to help achieve outcomes’. Can the leader of the council explain, in detail, the community engagement that has taken place, bearing in mind that there’s a high percentage of residents that are ‘blocked’ from any engagement with Labour groups on social media. Furthermore, there is a group known as Radcliffe Labour Party, seeing that there are no Labour councillors in Radcliffe, why are derogatory & misleading comments being published by an unidentified person representing Radcliffe Labour, comments & information which could be considered harassment or intimidation.
Responding, Councillor Eamonn O’Brien reported that pages 6-8 of the Radcliffe People and Communities plan provide an overview of the local engagement that has, and continues, to take place.
This has included engagement in-person through the presence of the Radcliffe Regeneration Office in the heart of Radcliffe town centre; pop-up stalls with staff from the regeneration office, including at Radcliffe Market and most recently at Radcliffe Football Club as part of partnership activity during Operation Avro last Thursday (26th May); and through attendance at community forums and networks.
These have included conversing with local residents through
· the Let’s Do It! Radcliffe Neighbourhood Pitch event in Radcliffe Market (5th March 2022);
· multiple sessions in Radcliffe town centre on community safety (including two Community Forum events on 15th November 2021);
· a race listening event at New Life Church
· Specific engagement activity with resident-led community days and attendance at local networks such as Growing Together Radcliffe where Council officers have talked through the opportunities of the Strategic Regeneration Framework and means to shape future plans.
The Community Hub team and broader network of public service practitioners have shared opportunities to invite community members including local faith groups, health settings, sports groups and community networks, to visit the Regeneration Office to talk through all elements of the plans, including the offer of appointments at times to best suit and an offer from members of the Business Growth and Infrastructure team and Hub team to come out to groups to listen to views and shape plans accordingly. This has included specifically to outline requirements and considerations for community spaces within the proposed civic hub development.
The Community Hub Manager and Community Engagement Champion have engaged residents and community groups in their daily business, including in conjunction with Ward Councillors, and with public service partners.
This has included sessions with:
· Chapelfield Community Group
· Diggle Lane Allotments
· Women of Worth
· Local Pilot Steering Group
· Spirit Of A Place textile project
· Radcliffe Carnival organisers.
In addition engagement has taken place through a volunteering session with the Bury Voluntary and Community Faith Alliance (23rd February 2022), Economic Strategy development session at Radcliffe Library (24th March 2022) and specific active outreach with young people through Children’s Services (April 2022).
Online engagement has taken place through the www.bury.gov.uk/radclifferegeneration website, which includes a frequently asked questions section developed through queries raised during the engagement activities. Alongside this has been insight from Radcliffe based consultation via the One Community site, such as on the Move More pilot.
There will be continued engagement in the coming weeks and months to inform and further shape the delivery of Strategic Regeneration Framework to ensure opportunities are taken to maximise the investment in Radcliffe. For further information on how to get involved please contact radclifferegeneration@bury.gov.uk, or visit the Radcliffe Regeneration Office between 10am and 3pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 4 Dale Street, Radcliffe, M26 1AB, to speak to a member of the team.