Agenda item

(i)             Seeking dialogue with the Mayor of Greater Manchester regarding Places for Everyone

Members are asked to consider a notice of motion in the names of Councillors S.Arif, Bernstein, Brown, Gartside, Harris, Hussain, Lancaster, McBriar, Rydeheard, Vernon

THIS COUNCIL NOTES THAT:

The Places for Everyone (PfE) Joint Development Plan was an agreement between all Greater Manchester Authorities with the exception of Stockport.

The PfE Joint Development Plan Document and Policies Map was agreed following consultation with the eight other PfE authorities during March/April 2024.

The PfE has been the subject of ongoing legal action.

Progress is being made in relation to a Local Plan to compliment PfE   

THIS COUNCIL NOTES FURTHER:

On 12^th February 2025 one of the nine PfE authorities Oldham Council passed a motion instructing the Leader of the Council and the Acting Chief Executive (of Oldham Council) to write to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government requesting that they remove Oldham Borough from the Places for Everyone development plan.  The letter was sent to the Secretary of State on 19^th February 2025.

Speaking on BBC Radio Manchester on 13^th February 2025 the Mayor of Greater Manchester spoke that he would be reaching out to the opposition leaders and the of Leader of Oldham Council with a view to finding a compromise.

As all nine GM Authorities agreed PfE with a full understanding of its impact for each other it is our duty and responsibility to ensure we are not adversely impacted by any individual compromise between the Mayor of Greater Manchester and Oldham Council.

As such for issues of equity and fairness we need to ensure the principles being applied by the Mayor of Greater Manchester with Oldham Council are applied to ourselves. 

THIS COUNCIL RESOLVES TO:

Seek an urgent meeting to be attended by the Leader of the Council and Opposition Group Leaders with the Mayor of Greater Manchester to ensure any compromise being applied to Oldham Council does not adversely impact ourselves and if they do then the same principles are applied to ourselves.

A Special meeting of the Council to be held no later than 7 May 2025 to report back on the outcome of the meeting with the Mayor Greater Manchester. 

(ii) Cross Party Budget Setting

Members are asked to consider a notice of motion in the names of Councillors Carol Birchmore, Cllr Donald Berry, Cllr Andrea Booth, Cllr Des Duncalfe, Cllr Glyn Marsden, Cllr Ken Simpson, Cllr Mike Smith and Cllr Mary Walsh

It has been clear over the last few years that this Council along with many others has felt the effects of increasing pressures and financial demands in an environment of reduced budgets and an absence of a fair funding settlement.

We can all agree that only by pulling in the same direction as a Council to reduce the effects of future budget savings on all of our communities we must ensure constant and meaningful engagement so that we are clear on the needs and wants of the people ,and we can better communicate how we arrive at the decisions we believe are in the best interests of all in the borough.

We believe as was agreed at the last council meeting that cross party engagement is the only way to achieve this.

This Council resolves to:

• Set up a cross party working group to meet regularly to determine the demands in the system and the actions to be taken to balance the budget.
• Charge the group to engage in options for future service changes in order to ensure the financial sustainability of the Council in future years.
• Collaborate on delivering a Budget in future years that has been arrived at through cross party agreements.
• Work with councillors of all parties and interested Bury Stakeholders on a regular basis to produce a balanced Budget agreed by all.

(iii) Proposal to consult on extending BID (Business Improvement District) Boards to other towns in the Borough.

Members are asked to consider a notice of motion in the names of A Arif, Bayley, Boles, Cummins, Farooq, Fitzgerald, Frith, Gold, Green, Grimshaw, Haroon, Hayes, Hook, Ibrahim, McGill, Morris, Moss, O'Brien, Pilkington, Quinn Alan, Quinn Deborah, Rafiq, Rahimov, Rizvi, Rubinstein, Ryder, Smith Lucy, Southworth, Staples-Jones Gareth, Tariq, Thorpe, Walmsley.

This Council notes:

The serious and obvious decline of many of our high streets across the country over the past 14 years. From empty high streets, a rise in anti-social behaviour in our town centres, and the widespread withdrawal of access to cash from the closure of nearly 5,000 bank branches since 2010^[1].

Almost 50% of the UK's bank branches are gone - Which? News

This Labour Government plans to kickstart economic growth, and has focused our mission led government to achieve highest sustained growth in the G7, with good jobs and productivity growth in every part of the country making everyone, not just a few, better off.

As a local council we recognise the important role our town centres and high streets have in delivering on that ambition.

However all too often SME’s face significant challenges to open and maintain local stores. Whether this is a lack of access to advice and support, to innovative rating structures, or a lack of confidence in their local town centre.

Following on from the success of Bury BID, and this council’s success in securing significant investment for our town centres, this council wishes to work closer with local businesses to explore options about extending BIDs to other towns, should the businesses in those areas wish to explore the potential of creating a BID.

Business Improvement District boards would be able to effectively coordinate the wishes of local businesses, improve opportunities for residents to support said businesses and create a better method of communicating with the local authority across a range of issues.

A BID would seek to work on projects such as; hosting and supporting footfall generating events,  business specific training  potentially utilizing the new business enterprise centre being created in Radcliffe, hosting a dedicated promotional websites for said towns, creating dedicated social media platforms aimed at supporting visitors to respective towns, leading on promotional campaigns that support visitor footfall generation, dwell time and spend, and seasonal decorative displays such as Christmas lights.

A small annual levy based on the rateable value of the business premise would be contributed to the respective BID to help fund activities, with consideration given towards suitable exemptions from this levy.

The creation of BID’s would seek to expand on the significant investment this council has secured for town centre regeneration across the borough alongside creating safer streets and public transport for residents and visitors through the City regional sustainable transport scheme (CRSTS) .

This Council resolves to:

1) Consult with businesses across Borough of Bury to seek views on the creation of BIDs in their respective towns.

2) To prioritise and align the future work of any BIDs with the significant financial investment being made into town centres and local infrastructure by Bury Council.

(i)                      Seeking dialogue with the Mayor of Greater Manchester regarding Places for Everyone

Council considered a motion in the names S. Arif, Bernstein, Brown, Gartside, Harris, Hussain, Lancaster, McBriar, Rydeheard, Vernon.

The motion was moved by Councillor Bernstein and seconded by Councillor Harris following a request for a recorded vote from 8 Members present, on being put; with

CouncillorsS. Arif, Bernstein, Berry, Birchmore, Brown, Booth, Duncalfe, Gartside, Harris, Lancaster, Marsden, McBriar, Rydeheard, Simpson, M Smith, Vernon, Walsh and Y Wright voting for

And;

Councillors A Arif, Bayley, Boles, Cummins, Farooq, Fitzgerald, Frith, Gold, Green, Grimshaw, Hayes, Hook, Ibrahim, McGill, Morris, Moss, O'Brien, Pilkington, Quinn Alan, Quinn Deborah, Rafiq, Rizvi, Rahimov, Rubinstein, Ryder, Smith Lucy, John Southworth, Staples-Jones Gareth, Tariq, Thorpe, Walmsley voting against;

And the Mayor abstaining, the Mayor declared the Motion Lost.

(ii)                     Cross party budget setting

Council considered a motion in the names Booth, Berry, Birchmore, Duncalfe, Marsden, Simpson, M Smith, Walsh.

The motion was moved by Councillor Berry and seconded by Councillor M Smith and on being put with 18 members voting for and 30 members voting against and the Mayor abstaining, the Mayor declared the motion lost.

(iii)                    Extending Business Improvement District Boards

Council considered a notice of motion received in the names of Councillors: A Arif,  Bayley, Boles, Cummins, Farooq, Fitzgerald, Frith, Gold, Green, Grimshaw, Haroon, Hayes, Hook, Ibrahim, McGill, Morris, Moss, O'Brien, Pilkington, Quinn Alan, Quinn Deborah, Rafiq, Rizvi, Rahimov, Rubinstein, Ryder, Smith Lucy, John Southworth, Staples-Jones Gareth, Tariq, Thorpe, Walmsley.

The Motion was moved by Councillor Staples Jones and seconded by Councillor Morris and on being put with the majority of Members voting in favour, Council agreed to:

1) Consult with businesses across Borough of Bury to seek views on the creation of BIDs in their respective towns.

2) To prioritise and align the future work of any BIDs with the significant financial investment being made into town centres and local infrastructure by Bury Council.