A) Community Governance Review
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
This Council notes :-
Bury MBC has powers to conduct a Community Governance Review (CGR) for a
specific area within the Borough.
The Council notes the establishment of a Town Council may promote community
engagement, effective local government and the provision of local services for
local people that Bury Council may be unable to sustain due to resource
pressures.
In addition, Government guidance states that it is good practice for principal
councils to conduct a community governance review every 10-15 years, except
in areas with very low populations.
The Council acknowledges -
In undertaking this review the Council will have regard to the Guidance on
Community Governance Reviews issued in March 2010 by the Secretary of State
for Communities and Local Government and will comply with Part 4 of the Local
Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 (‘the 2007 Act’), the
relevant parts of the Local Government Act 1972 and regulations issued under
those acts.
The Boundary commission guidance states that terms of reference set out the aims of the review, the matters that it will
address and policies that the Council considers relevant to the review. The
terms of reference will be published on the Council’s website and in hard copy
and will be made available at the Council offices and at other venues within the
area under review.
The Council itself will agree the draft and final
recommendations and make any Reorganisation of Community Governance
Order.
In coming to its recommendations in the review, the Council will take account of
the views of local people and stakeholders. Legislation requires the Council to
consult the local government electors for the area under review and any other
person or body who appears to have an interest in the review, and to take the
representations that are received into account by judging them against the
criteria in the 2007 Act.
The Council will promote community engagement and transparency in decision making. In relation to the review the Council will:-
- Publish these terms of reference;
- Publicise the review as widely as possible using printed and electronic means
and seek to engage the local media in reporting the issues under review;
- Consult residents, business organisations, community groups, other local
organisations, political parties and elected representatives for the areas under
review;
- Make key documents available at the Council offices and at other venues in the
areas under review;
- Accept submissions by post or via e-mail or the Council’s website;
- Take into account representations received in connection with the review; and
- Publicise the draft and final recommendations and the outcome of the review.
Publication of a terms of reference formally begins the review, which must then
be completed within six months.
If the review results in any changes to community governance, at the conclusion
of the review the Council will make a Reorganisation of Community Governance
Order. Copies of this order, the map(s) that show the effects of the order in
detail, and the document(s) which set out the reasons for the Council’s decisions
(including where it has decided to make no change following the review) will be
deposited at the Council’s offices, published on its website.
This Council therefore resolves :-
review’) of the whole of the Borough following the completion of the Electoral
Review by the Boundary Commission.
The review will consider whether any changes should be made to existing
community governance arrangements within the Six Towns that make up the Borough including whether a new Town Council should be created and the electoral arrangements for this Town Council.
In accordance with regulations issued under the Local Government Act 2000,
functions relating to Community Governance Reviews are not to be the
responsibility of an authority’s executive.
appointed by the Director of Law & Governance.
B) Support Bury Mortgage Holders Now
This Council believes that:
1) Following the latest announcement of a hike in interest rates from the Bank of England, with the prospect of even higher interest rates to follow, there is a crisis facing mortgage holders in our borough and across the UK.
2) This crisis will not stop at those with mortgages, it will, and already is, hitting those in the private rented sector too.
3) Action must be taken now to support our residents with this mortgage cost crisis.
This Council notes that:
1) A report into the matter by the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) concluded that 19% of households, amounting to 1.4 million UK mortgage holders, would lose a fifth of their disposable income as their fixed-rate mortgage deal ended.
2) For our borough, this would be approximately 28,513 people impacted by the mortgage cost crisis.
3) The IFS report warned that the biggest impact would be felt by those under the age of 40 with larger mortgages, and worst for those in their 30s, for whom payments will rise by £360 a month, or 11% of disposable income.
4) Overall, average mortgage costs will rise by £2,900 per year, with new mortgages now costing a typical household over £2,000 more per year than in comparable countries like France.
This Council resolves to:
1) Support the Labour Party’s 5-point plan to respond to the mortgage cost crisis, which includes:
· requiring banks to allow borrowers to switch to interest-only mortgage payments;
· requiring banks to allow borrowers to lengthen the term of their mortgage period;
· requiring lenders to reverse any support measures when the borrower requests;
· requiring lenders to wait a minimum of six months before initiating repossession proceedings;
· instructing the FCA (Financial Conduct Authority) to urgently issue consumer guidance to prevent the changes from impacting credit scores.
2) Write to the Bury North and Bury South Members of Parliament, asking them to support the above 5-point plan in response to the mortgage cost crisis facing their constituents.
3) Promote further the provisions within the Bury Labour budget amendment around cost-of-living support, especially the £100k discretionary Council Tax Support Fund for those not traditionally eligible for financial support.
C) Promoting a Safe and Drug-Free Environment in Schools
A MOTION HAS BEEN RECEIVED IN THE NAMES OF COUNCILLORS BERNSTEIN, BROWN, DEAN, GARTSIDE, HARRIS, HUSSAIN, LANCASTER, McBRIAR, RYDEHEARD, VERNON
This Council notes that:
The Council acknowledges that:
This Council resolves to:
Minutes:
Community Governance Review
Members considered the motion received, as set out 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
This Council notes :-
Bury MBC has powers to conduct a Community Governance Review (CGR) for a specific area within the Borough.
The Council notes the establishment of a Town Council may promote community engagement, effective local government and the provision of local services for local people that Bury Council may be unable to sustain due to resource pressures.
In addition, Government guidance states that it is good practice for principal councils to conduct a community governance review every 10-15 years, except in areas with very low populations.
The Council acknowledges –
In undertaking this review the Council will have regard to the Guidance on Community Governance Reviews issued in March 2010 by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government and will comply with Part 4 of the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 (‘the 2007 Act’), the
relevant parts of the Local Government Act 1972 and regulations issued under those acts.
The Boundary commission guidance states that terms of reference set out the aims of the review, the matters that it will
address and policies that the Council considers relevant to the review. The terms of reference will be published on the Council’s website and in hard copy and will be made available at the Council offices and at other venues within the area under review.
The Council itself will agree the draft and final recommendations and make any Reorganisation of Community Governance Order.
In coming to its recommendations in the review, the Council will take account of the views of local people and stakeholders. Legislation requires the Council to consult the local government electors for the area under review and any other
person or body who appears to have an interest in the review, and to take the representations that are received into account by judging them against the criteria in the 2007 Act.
The Council will promote community engagement and transparency in decision making. In relation to the review the Council will:-
- Publish these terms of reference;
- Publicise the review as widely as possible using printed and electronic means and seek to engage the local media in reporting the issues under review;
- Consult residents, business organisations, community groups, other local organisations, political parties and elected representatives for the areas under review;
- Make key documents available at the Council offices and at other venues in the areas under review;
- Accept submissions by post or via e-mail or the Council’s website;
- Take into account representations received in connection with the review; and
- Publicise the draft and final recommendations and the outcome of the review.
Publication of a terms of reference formally begins the review, which must then be completed within six months.
If the review results in any changes to community governance, at the conclusion of the review the Council will make a Reorganisation of Community Governance Order. Copies of this order, the map(s) that show the effects of the order in detail, and the document(s) which set out the reasons for the Council’s decisions
(including where it has decided to make no change following the review) will be deposited at the Council’s offices, published on its website.
This Council therefore resolves :-
· Bury Council (‘the Council’) to undertake a community governance review (‘the review’) of the whole of the Borough following the completion of the Electoral Review by the Boundary Commission.
· The review will consider whether any changes should be made to existing community governance arrangements within the Six Towns that make up the Borough including whether a new Town Council should be created and the electoral arrangements for this Town Council.
· That Radcliffe should be the Township pilot for this review which may then be extended across the other five Towns that make up the whole.
· In accordance with regulations issued under the Local Government Act 2000, functions relating to Community Governance Reviews are not to be the responsibility of an authority’s executive.
· The management of the review will be the responsibility of a project manager appointed by the Director of Law & Governance.
· Establish a cross party Community Governance Review Working Party.
Prior to consideration of this item the Monitoring Officer, issued the following guidance. Further to consultation with the Chair of the Standards Committee, Madam Mayor and in accordance with legislative requirements, the Monitor Officer is authorised to issue a general dispensation to all Elected Members present in respect of the following notice of motion:
B) Support Bury Mortgage Holders Now
Members considered the motion received, as set out in the summons in the names of: 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.
This Council believes that:
Following the latest announcement of a hike in interest rates from the Bank of England, with the prospect of even higher interest rates to follow, there is a crisis facing mortgage holders in our borough and across the UK.
This crisis will not stop at those with mortgages, it will, and already is, hitting those in the private rented sector too.
Action must be taken now to support our residents with this mortgage cost crisis.
This Council notes that:
A report into the matter by the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) concluded that 19% of households, amounting to 1.4 million UK mortgage holders, would lose a fifth of their disposable income as their fixed-rate mortgage deal ended.
For our borough, this would be approximately 28,513 people impacted by the mortgage cost crisis.
The IFS report warned that the biggest impact would be felt by those under the age of 40 with larger mortgages, and worst for those in their 30s, for whom payments will rise by £360 a month, or 11% of disposable income.
Overall, average mortgage costs will rise by £2,900 per year, with new mortgages now costing a typical household over £2,000 more per year than in comparable countries like France.
This Council resolves to:
· Support the Labour Party’s 5-point plan to respond to the mortgage cost crisis, which includes:
1. requiring banks to allow borrowers to switch to interest-only mortgage payments;
2. requiring banks to allow borrowers to lengthen the term of their mortgage period;
3. requiring lenders to reverse any support measures when the borrower requests;
4. requiring lenders to wait a minimum of six months before initiating repossession proceedings;
5. instructing the FCA (Financial Conduct Authority) to urgently issue consumer guidance to prevent the changes from impacting credit scores.
· Write to the Bury North and Bury South Members of Parliament, asking them to support the above 5-point plan in response to the mortgage cost crisis facing their constituents.
· Promote further the provisions within the Bury Labour budget amendment around cost-of-living support, especially the £100k discretionary Council Tax Support Fund for those not traditionally eligible for financial support.
On being put; with 37 Members voting for, 9 Members voting against and the Mayor abstaining, the Mayor declared the motion carried.
C) Promoting a Safe and Drug-Free Environment in Schools
Members considered the motion received, as set out in the summons in the names of: BERNSTEIN, BROWN, DEAN, GARTSIDE, HARRIS, HUSSAIN, LANCASTER, McBRIAR, RYDEHEARD, VERNON
This Council notes that:
Substance abuse, including the use of drugs and alcohol, poses significant risks to the health, well-being, and educational outcomes of students.
· Since 2015, young people aged 14-17 increasingly believe it is “normal to get drunk” to where now 55% of young people believe it is normal.
· Maintaining a safe and drug-free environment is crucial for providing a conducive learning environment and ensuring our duty of care for all students in our schools.
· Schools play a critical role in educating students about the dangers of substance abuse and promoting healthy behaviours.
The Council acknowledges that:
· Our current zero-tolerance approach to drugs or illicit substances is recognised as an important deterrent and principle which sends a strong message that substance abuse in our schools will not be tolerated.
· Collaborative efforts between schools, parents, the Council, GMP; community organisations continue to be essential in addressing substance abuse issues effectively and they must be rigorously and consistently followed up and impact monitored.
· Recent studies have revealed that 37% of young people in Bury are not worried about the long-term health effects of alcohol, indicating a need for increased awareness and education on the risks associated with alcohol consumption and substance use.
· Our schools are places that every student deserves and needs to feel safe in; students should not feel unsafe and feel pressurised due to peers bringing illicit substances into schools.
This Council resolves to:
· Reiterate our zero-tolerance approach to drugs and illicit substances in our Borough's schools, emphasising the need for the strictest disciplinary action for any violations.
· Write to all school Head Teachers in the borough, highlighting the need to proactively address the weakening stance young people in Bury take on the long-term health effects of alcohol consumption.
· Provide digital resources to schools for regular awareness campaigns to engage students, parents, and the wider community in promoting a safe and drug-free environment.
· Encourage the involvement of student groups, youth organisations, and student councils to actively participate in awareness campaigns and share their perspectives on substance abuse prevention.
· Review the impact of the actions outlined by no later than the end of 31 July 2024.
Members considered an amendment, moved by Councillor Thorpe and seconded by Councillor L Smith that:
This Council notes that:
· Substance abuse, including the use of drugs and alcohol, poses significant risks to the health, well-being, and educational outcomes of students.
· Since 2015, young people aged 14-17 increasingly believe it is “normal to get drunk” to where now 55% of young people believe it is normal.
· Liver disease is the only major cause of death where rates are rising. The number of people dying prematurely from liver disease and liver cancer has increased by almost two-thirds (64%) in the last 20 years, and 6 in 10 cases are related to alcohol consumption, according to the British Liver Trust.
· NHS figures for 2021 show that 9% of 11-15 year olds used e-cigarettes (vapes) and it is thought this figure has risen rapidly to an estimated 15%.
· Maintaining a safe and drug-free environment is crucial for providing a conducive learning environment, mitigating long term health issues and ensuring our duty of care for all students in our schools.
· Schools play a critical role in educating students about the dangers of substance abuse and promoting healthy behaviours, supported by the council and other agencies.
The Council acknowledges that:
· Our current zero-tolerance approach to drugs or illicit substances is recognised as an important deterrent and principle which sends a strong message that substance abuse in our schools will not be tolerated.
· Collaborative efforts between schools, parents, the Council, GMP; community organisations continue to be essential in addressing substance abuse issues effectively and they must be rigorously and consistently followed up and impact monitored.
· Recent studies have revealed that 37% of young people in Bury are not worried about the long-term health effects of alcohol, indicating a need for increased awareness and education on the risks associated with alcohol consumption and substance use.
· Sales of e-cigarettes and vaping liquids, including disposable vapes is illegal to anyone aged under 18 years yet usage has drastically increased in recent years.
Our schools are places that every student deserves and needs to feel safe in; students should not feel unsafe and feel pressurised due to peers bringing illicit substances into schools. Schools have a duty to educate their students on the dangers of social consumption of narcotic substances, alcohol and tobacco related products.
This Council resolves to:
· Reiterate our zero-tolerance approach to drugs and illicit substances in our Borough's schools,
DELETE
emphasising the need for the strictest disciplinary
action for any violations.
ADD
as part of our Inclusion strategy to ensure consistency of approach to sanctioning young people.
· Write to all school Head Teachers in the borough, stating our resolve to support initiatives to highlight
· DELETE
the need to proactively addressthe weakening stance young people in Bury take
on
· the long-term health effects of alcohol consumption,
· ADD
· drugs use and vaping, together with the environmental impact of the disposal of vaping materials and nitrous oxide paraphernalia.
· The Council works with public health to ensure schools have access to all relevant and effective materials and resources to support schools.
· Ask police and Council enforcement to work within communities to identify and prosecute retail outlets selling vaping materials and e cigarettes to young people under 18.
· DELETE
·
Provide digital resources to schools for
regular awareness campaigns to engage students, parents, and the
wider community in promoting a safe and drug-free
environment
· Encourage the involvement of student groups, youth organisations, and student councils to actively participate in awareness campaigns and share their perspectives on substance abuse prevention.
· Council to write to Bury MPs to examine the case for an outright ban on disposable vapes.
· Review the impact of the actions outlined by no later than the end of 31 July 2024.
Members moved to vote on the amendment:
On being put with 38 voting for, 9 voting against and the Mayor abstaining, the amendment was carried.
The amendment is now the substantive motion, on being put: with 38 voting for, 9 voting against and the Mayor abstaining, the motion was carried.