Questions are invited from Members of the public present at the meeting on any matters about the work or performance of the Council or the Council services.
Minutes:
The Chair, Councillor Southworth invited those present to ask questions relating to Council services or raise any issues in open forum:-
· Mrs Anderton representing Bury Croquet Club explained that the Club had recently taken over the old bowling greens at Whitehead Park in order to expand. The Club still had the original site located at Coronation Road in Radcliffe but had found that they had needed to expand in order to offer more opportunities to those wanting to play.
Mrs Anderton explained that the club had relayed all of the grass on the bowling greens which had given them 3 full size croquet lawns and the flower beds had all been replanted.
The club house would be redesigned to allow for storage of mowers and the provision of a kitchen and changing rooms.
New members were welcome and the club currently had 8 teams in the North West League and the opportunity to take part in tournaments all over the country.
There would be open days held in the near future as well as coaching sessions. The Croquet Club website contained all of the information about these events as well as membership details.
A member of the public present asked Mrs Anderton what security was like at the site in Whitehead Park and it was explained that the lawns were fenced in and there were locked gates. The security was very good.
Councillor Southworth asked what ages were catered for. Mrs Anderton stated that all age groups were welcome and all heights were able to play with different sized mallets available.
Councillor Walker suggested that the club apply for a community grant as there was still some funding available.
Councillor Walker also stated that he had been sorry to see the bowlers leave the park but happy that the site had been taken over.
· A member of the public referred to ongoing issues with the 98 bus service and the 472/4 service. The services had improved in the past but there were once again issues of timing. Sometimes people were having to wait for over half an hour for a bus - particularly on the 472/4 routes. It was asked whether there were any Council representation that could take these issues forward.
It was explained that Councillor Bayley was the Councils representative on the TfGM Committee and the concerns raised would be passed on to him to carry forward.
· A member of the public explained that he had read a letter in the Bury Times stating that some other local authorities were recycling the plastic pots and containers that Greater Manchester were not and asked when this would be rectified.
Councillor Southworth explained that when she researched these reports she usually found that this was not the case or the Councils concerned had trialled a scheme and then given up a few months later. Councillor Southworth explained that the types of pots concerned were manufactured very cheaply using PVA and PVC based plastics which were not recyclable. It was also explained that there was a large amount of unnecessary packaging used which was not recyclable and the supermarkets should be encouraged to move away from this practice.
· A member of the public referred to the issue of potholes across the area and explained that where some had been patched up in the past they were starting to recur. Newington Drive was particularly bad at the moment.
It was explained that all pot holes should be reported to the 0161 253 5353 number so that the Council had a record and would patch them up as soon as was possible. It was also explained that in emergencies the potholes were repaired by hand and these did not last as long as the ones that were repaired using the new equipment. Where possible the new equipment would be used.
· A member of the public referred to gas works that had been carried out on Throstle Grove and asked whether there was any agreement or scheme in place relating to the repair to the highway after the work was completed.
It was explained that the ten Greater Manchester Local Authorities and Transport for Greater Manchester had introduced the Greater Manchester Road Activities Permit Scheme (GMRAPS) which covered road works undertaken by a range of organisations including utilities companies, highways authorities and local councils’ highways departments. The scheme allows for greater control on the works carried out on all highways across the Greater Manchester conurbation.