Decisions

To agree to extend the current contract with Jones Lighting Limited until the 31st of December 2020.

No objections were received following the advertisement of proposals for the extension of No Waiting at Any time and No Loading Monday – Friday 7.30 – 9.30am, 4.00 – 6.30pm restrictions on Brookwater Close, Tottington, therefore the proposal is to be introduced as advertised. The restrictions are proposed in order to remove double parking and aid access to properties.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.