Decisions

The training organisation (The Chamber of Commerce) have now supplied a virtual training
format which provides as much value as face to face delivery. The new method has also allowed
for more attendees. This has enabled the team to provide cross Directorate training for social
media handlers internally and also to associated stakeholders and partners. This will build upon
the relationships built during COVID and provide a much needed development resource.

Accept the lowest tender in the sum of £54,114.75 submitted by Pell Frichmann, Piccadilly House, 49 Piccadilly, Manchester, M1 2AP.

Taking into account the justification for the proposals for No Waiting at any time restrictions and the objection received to the proposal on Willow Road, to approve for implementation the proposal as advertised. The restrictions are proposed in order to assist delivery vehicles and facilitate turning movements at the junction.

Following a compliant procurement process it is recommended that the Council Award a supply and install contract for 2 x Boilers at the Town Hall for a total projected costs £126,224. Formal sign off is now required to proceed to contract award.

Proposed upgrade of existing signalised junction at the intersection of the A665 Bury Old Road with Heywood Road in Prestwich to feature push button pedestrian facilities. The proposed introduction of these facilities forms part of the Beelines Tranche 1 initiative that is being promoted by Transport for Greater Manchester to provide enhanced walking and cycling facilities in the borough.

Proposed upgrade of existing Pelican Crossing on the A665 Bury Old Road near St Margarets Road in to a Toucan crossing. The proposed introduction of these facilities forms part of the Beelines Tranche 1 initiative that is being promoted by Transport for Greater Manchester to provide enhanced walking and cycling facilities in the borough.

Bury Council to support the National Kickstart Scheme by creating 30+ additional vacancies across Council offering a broad variety of real work experience with ongoing support and exit preparation.

Approval of a bid for Air Quality Grant 2021 by Transport for Greater Manchester on behalf of the Greater Manchester Authorities.

Please see attached report regarding the bid for £393,761 for the Government’s Air Quality Grant 2021.

Approval to spend £220,356.55 from the allocated and approved Operations Capital Programme 2020/21 to contribute to phase 1 of Bury’s sustainable tennis development in partnership with the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA)

Also approval for the award of contract for the tennis court redevelopment and access control system for phase 1 at Hamilton Road Park, Openshaw Park, Nuttall Park, Bolton Road Park, Manchester Road Park and Whitehead Park for completion in 2020/21 as well as the remaining three elevations of fencing at St Mary’s Park.

The ICT/Bespoke Curriculum Quality Leader (CQL) left the service at the end of March. There was a delay in recruiting to the post due to the circumstances surrounding Covid 19. The post was advertised in July and interviews held. Three applicants were invited back for a second interview but it was not possible to appoint. The post was advertised again in September and all the three new applicants were rejected at shortlisting stage. This has left a significant gap in the management of the ICT/Bespoke programme which has been covered during lockdown by the Senior Adult Learning Manager (SALM) with overall responsibility for all curriculum areas across the service. As Adult Learning returns to the classroom together with the critical period of writing the annual Self-Assessment Report, Observations of Teaching and Learning etc., it is vital that arrangements are put in place to manage this work. Thought has been given in the interim to separate the two areas of work within this role. The Business Development work can in the medium term be supported by other team members however the management of the ICT area is key.

Approval of 10 temporary Direction Signs on street lighting columns. To be sited at various points around Ramsbottom.

Approval of 17 temporary Direction Signs on street lighting columns. To be sited at various points around Radcliffe and Whitefield.

Further to the recommendation of the Traffic Management Unit (minute number 4203) to approve for advertising the proposal to introduce no waiting at any time on Gardner Road, Greengate Lane and Clifton Road to alleviate visibility, access and obstruction problems.

Further to the recommendation of the Traffic Management Unit (minute number 4204) to approve for advertising the proposal to introduce no waiting at any time on Rectory Lane, Prestwich at its junctions with Deyne Avenue, The Drive and Oakhurst Gardens to alleviate visibility problems.

Further to the recommendation of the Traffic Management Unit (minute number 4201) to approve for advertising the proposal to introduce no waiting at any time on Throstle Grove near to its junction with Brandlesholme Road to alleviate visibility, access and obstruction problems.

Approval to the emergency closure under section 14(2) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, of Public Footpath 103RAM between Bury New Road and Manchester Road from Wednesday 22 September 2020 for a period of 21 days to facilitate works associated with a new residential housing development followed by a 6 months temporary closure under section 14(1) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act. The diversion route is via Bury New Road and Manchester Road and vice-versa.

Further to the decision of the Traffic Management Unit (item 3 (b) 28th July 2020) to approve for advertising the proposals to introduce prohibition of cycling movements at the two sites listed above so as to prevent conflict movements with pedestrians at the Shared Use Pedestrian & Cycle crossings which are proposed here. The proposals form part of TfGM’s Phase 1 MCF Tranche 6 Beeline proposals to improve connectivity for cyclists and walkers in the East ward area.

Approval to carry out the following works to be funded from existing Admin Building revenue This is towards ensuring COVID safe office accommodation, hot desks and agile working on the Town Hall ground floor.

All of the ground floor offices are nearing completion.

Further to the recommendation of the Traffic Management Unit (minute number 4200) to approve for advertising the proposal to introduce no waiting at any time in the Kersal Road/Kersal Vale Road area to alleviate visibility, access and obstruction problems.

On Wednesday 2 September 2020 a report detailing the Greater Manchester’s Clean Air Plan – Consultation was presented to Cabinet. The report gave delegated authority to Councillor Lucy Smith and Councillor Alan Quinn to approve the submission of the cases for measures to the Government's Joint Air Quality Unit to support the GM Clean Air Plan.

On Wednesday 2 September 2020 a report detailing the Greater Manchester’s Clean Air Plan – Consultation was presented to Cabinet. The report gave delegated authority to Councillor Lucy Smith and Councillor Alan Quinn to approve the GM Clean Air Plan consultation materials, to include the Equalities Impact Assessment on the consultation.

All libraries were closed to the public on the 23rd March. We are continuing to provide our online offer to customers. The Archive Service is now open for online enquiries and a limited number of appointments (the service is housed within Bury Art Gallery and Museum).

On 13th August Bury Library reopened to the public and as part of the phased reopening of the service plans have been developed to reopen the libraries in Ramsbottom, Prestwich and Radcliffe.

Risk Assessments for the safe reopening of each building have been submitted and approved by Health & Safety and the Corporate Landlord group.

The Department of Operations has three Chief Officers; Executive Director Operations, Assistant Director Operations, and Assistant Director Operations Strategy. An Executive Assistant has been employed on a fixed term basis since March 2019, providing executive support to the Executive Director. The Executive Assistant (full time) is fully occupied supporting the Executive Director.

All social landlords are required to produce an Annual Report to Tenants, which must be published by the 1st October each year, in accordance with Homes England Regulations. The Council, as landlord, has again delegated the production of these reports to its Arm’s Length Management Organisation (Six Town Housing).

These reports are intended to give a brief snapshot of service performance over the last financial year (2019/20).

The style of this year’s reports is in the same format as last year’s reports, showing performance results as icons for simplicity and easy reading. This format also allows for them to be displayed as posters.

The reports will be published on their own organisations websites and posters will be displayed on community noticeboards within managed neighbourhoods where possible. They will also be promoted through social media to tenants, customers and key stakeholders, including Ward Councillors and Chairs of Tenant and Resident Associations. Printed copies will be available upon request.

Approval is sought for the publication of these reports in the format detailed above (copies attached).

If this request is approved, it will enable these reports to be published by the 1st October 2020 and ensure compliance with Homes England Regulations.

Within fostering we have been promoting recruitment of new foster carers which will save money for the council if we provide in house placements rather than moving children to IFA’s often outside of the local area. We have funding remaining in the Transformation Fund and would like to recruit a SSW/Assessor on a temporary basis to support the assessment service so we are not keeping applicants waiting to be assessed and approved as foster carers. This post will help us to create more capacity within the team and move carers through to approval more efficiently. This post is in addition to the workers that we already have in the team it is not a vacant post.

A meeting has been held with Sue Harris, Emma Appleby and Lorraine Jones to discuss the funding that is being utilised in Fostering from the Transformation Fund. An agency Marketing manager is currently being paid out of this fund. Following a review of the Fostering Service it is now felt that the next stage of the recruitment and marketing strategy to recruit new foster carers would be to employ a level 6 recruitment assistant to support the recruitment officer currently in post. This would be cost effective and assist the service in promoting fostering in Bury. An apprentice who is currently working for Bury and has been interviewed as part of admin recruitment has been identified as a potential candidate for the role. We are therefore seeking permission to establish a recruitment officer post on a fixed term contract for 1 year. This would not be at any additional cost to the council.

Following a compliant procurement process it is recommended that the Council award a repair/replacement contract for the Town Hall balcony railings to Girling Engineering of Radcliffe at a total projected costs £25,650. Formal sign off is now required to proceed to contract award.

Self-isolation and COVID testing guidelines from the Government has increased level of staff absenteeism due to Self-Isolation and COVID testing. This could cause some of the schools kitchen’s workforce to drop below critical levels and result in the kitchen not being able to open.

Bury Council are currently working in partnership with Bury Athletics Club to refurbish and improve the athletics facility at Market Street, Bury, whereby the track and surrounding facility are close to the end of their current lifespan as highlighted through UKA’s TrackMark assessment conducted in November 2019 to January 2020.

To extend the employment of a consultant to fill the role of the GIS officer/LLPG Custodian until 31st March 2021.

To extend the employment of a consultant to fill the role of the GIS officer/LLPG Custodian until 31st March 2021.

A request has been received from Public Health to use the Old Baths car park in Radcliffe (the car park the served the former leisure centre at the top of Blackburn Street) for a COVID walk-in test site.

The Department for Health and Social Care are seeking a preliminary date of week commencing 28th September to install the site. There will be a minimum of 3 months use with a likelihood of 6 months (this will be dictated by need).

Informal Cabinet considered whether the national guidance and regulatory framework was sufficient to meet our obligations for creating a COVID-secure environment in the Borough and protecting public health when considering which events and social gatherings can take place.

The Council’s fleet of refuse collection vehicles (RCVs) is aging and increasingly unreliable, with the majority being more than 8 years old now. The original lease on them has expired and so they are working beyond their original life expectancy. Vehicle Workshops find it increasingly difficult to ensure that the Waste Management service has a sufficient number of vehicles available every day in order to operate a full service.

The request is to increase the hours of the Senior Adult Learning Manager Quality Improvement from 18.5 hours to 22.12 hours on a temporary basis to be reviewed on the 30th November

With the reopening of schools to all year groups, the catering teams have also returned to operation and are providing meals across all Primary and High Schools contracted to Bury’s Catering Service provision.

Due to the COVID19 situation and the need to follow social distancing and self-isolation, where possible, several risk assessments in line with current government guidance have been put into place to ensure that all catering staff, pupils and schools staff are kept safe.

Within the current risk assessments, if an instance of COVID19 occurs within a house hold or within the school, children may need to isolate. If however they are entitled to Free School Meals (FSM), they will need a continued access to this provision.

To vire £6775 from the Community Capital Climate fund into the Air Monitoring capital budget (code XE00002) to supplement the existing £9291 and fund essential new plinths, electrical work and enclosures for the air monitoring stations at Radcliffe and Prestwich.

The deputy mayor released grant funding in 2019 -20 to all 10 Localities specific to reducing youth violent crime. This year further additional funding has been provided to the 10 localities. A project plan, managed through the Community Safety Partnership is in place with much of the work being delivered across Rochdale and Bury (shared service arrangement) through the Youth Justice Service. This year it has been agreed that some of the additional funding should be used specifically for preventative work and alongside a number of other initiatives, some funding has been given to enhance the current Integrated Youth Offer.

Approval to the temporary closure under Section 14(1) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, Livsey Street, Whitefield, commencing on - 22/09/20 for a period of 3 months (Anticipated duration of works – 2 days). The closure is in place to enable excavation works in the carriageway. Diversion route via Clarendon St, York St, Bury New Rd and vice versa. Emergency access will be maintained if required, access will be available for residents in an evening and early morning.

Approval to carry out the following works to be funded from a specific revenue budget assigned for this purpose. This is towards ensuring COVID safe office accommodation including increased circulation space. The ground floor is to be set up as ‘Hot Desk’ areas with standard space saving furniture throughout. 44 desk spaces are already completed on the ground floor to the new standard.

The waste collection service has operated whereby no more than 2 staff are allowed in the cab of a bin wagon at any one time for some months now.
Full details on attachment.

Approval to the temporary closure under Section 14(1) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, of Public Footpath 105, Bury from the western end of Warth Road to the crossing over the River Irwell at the west side of St Gabriels Roman Catholic School and the Non-Definitive Footpath at Warth Road, Bury from the western end of Warth Road to the north end of Warth Fold Road, by the railway bridge from Thursday 24 September 2020 for a period of 6 months to facilitate flood defence works. Suitable diversions will be arranged if practical to do so.

Approval to the temporary one way under Section 14(1) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, of Wash Lane (between Rochdale Road and Bond Street, traffic permitted to travel in a north-westerly direction) and closure (between Willow Street and Rochdale Road) from Thursday 01 October 2020 for a period of 6 months to enable construction works for carriageway widening and retaining wall works (anticipated duration of works approximately 12-15 weeks). The diversion route for one-way working is via Bond Street and Rochdale Road for full closure via Bond Street and Rochdale Road and vice versa.

The proposed newf 2 x Toucan crossings on Ainsworth Road near Greenbank Road and Wilton Lane as part of Tfgm’s ‘Growth Deal’ initiative have been advertised and one objection has been received regarding the proposals. The attached report has been prepared which considers the issues raised by one objector. The recommendations of the report are that the scheme should progress to the construction stage as the objections raised do not raise any issues of enough evidential gravitas that should delay construction of the scheme.

The proposed Tfgm ‘Growth Deal’ Toucan crossings are therefore proposed to be introduced as advertised on Ainsworth Road.