Decisions

Councillor Eamonn O’Brien, the Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Finance and Growth, presented the report which provided an update of progress against the strategy including some revision to the forecast financial savings.

In response to Members’ questions, it was noted that the risk register reflected an increase in severity of risk as well as an increase in likelihood. Red ratings for digital services had been flagged at Audit Committee and work was underway with external partners to minimise the risks, with follow up actions for PSN accreditation being reported to Audit Committee in the new year. With regards to budget implications from the reduction in expected savings, it was noted that targets were now in line with original estimates and still delivered what was set out in the Medium Term Financial Strategy. Savings were still able to be delivered, it was the timescales that were changing and mitigations were being explored.

Decision:

Cabinet:

1.   Approved the “digital-first” contact strategy, roadmap and associated IT operating principles;

2.   Noted that alternative options have been considered and rejected;

3.   Approved the proposed digital-first customer service standards;

4.   Agreed access to agreed investment funding as described in section 6.2;

5.   Noted the revised financial forecast including two new proposals to mitigate some slippage in savings delivery; and

6.   Agreed that the recommendations achieve the savings requirement within the MTFS in accordance with available resources and wider corporate strategy and reasons for recommendation(s).

Reasons for the decision:

The multi-year internal transformation programme has the objectives of both improving the quality of provision and delivering financial savings by reducing costs and driving digital.

Other options considered and rejected:

None.

Councillor Eamonn O’Brien, the Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Finance and Growth, presented the report which detailed the proposed expenditure required to complete the prescribed design development and technical works for the Radcliffe Hub and Bury Flexi Hall projects. Full detailed breakdown of the costs and programme were in Part B of this report. In response to Members’ questions, it was noted governance proposals for the projects were anticipated to come to Cabinet in January 2022.

Decision:

Cabinet:

1.   Approved entering into Pre Construction Service Agreements with Vinci Construction for the design and technical development of the Radcliffe Hub and Bury Flexi Hall projects, in accordance with the delivery strategy submitted as part of the Levelling Up applications and detailed in Part B of this report; and

2.   Approved the additional expenditure to support the delivery of both Levelling Up funded projects as detailed in the capital expenditure forecast submitted as part of the Levelling Up applications and detailed in part B of this report.

Reasons for the decision:

To support the delivery of both Levelling Up funded projects.

Other options considered and rejected:

None.

Councillor Eamonn O’Brien, the Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Finance and Growth, presented the report which presented the report which set out the draft Bury Town Centre Plan and detailed the six-week consultation period.

Members discussed the report, noting the importance of being in control of changes to Bury and remaining forward-looking. With regards to “minor modifications” to the masterplan, these would be typos or factual errors. In response to questions it was noted that numbers couldn’t be estimated at this point, but the ambition was to secure as much housing as possible on brownfield land in line with the brownfield first policy. This would hopefully provide the basis for a strong argument to the government and planning inspectorate to protect as much green space as possible.

With regards to a recent petition, the Leader advised that exiting the Places for Everyone (PfE) plan would remove the Council’s control over the type and quality of houses being built and leave the Council exposed to government action, potentially tripling the housing requirement, as well as negating the 2000 units that had been displaced through the PfE plan. Instead, this plan and the hard work to identify and create further brownfield sites was the best way forward to protect as much green space as possible.

Decision:

Cabinet:

1.   Endorsed the draft Bury Town Centre Masterplan attached as Appendix 1 as the basis for a six-week public consultation commencing on 4th January 2022; and

2.   Delegated approval to the Executive Director of Place and the Chief Executive to make minor modifications to the draft Bury Town Centre Masterplan before consultation commences.

Reasons for the decision:

To ensure that all stakeholders have the opportunity to have their say on the draft Bury Town Centre Masterplan and its proposals to guide the role, function and physical development and regeneration of Bury town centre and its peripheral areas over the next 15 to 20 years.

Other options considered and rejected:

None. It is important that stakeholder engagement continues in order to seek the views and inputs from the wider public, key businesses and other key partners to ensure that the final Masterplan is fit for purpose.

Councillor Eamonn O’Brien, the Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Finance and Growth, presented the report which set out the draft Ramsbottom Town Centre Plan and detailed the six-week consultation period.

Members discussed the report, noting the positive reception from local residents so far and welcoming the consultation. In response to questions, it was noted that it was hoped targeted social media ads would run for the full consultation period though this wasn’t guaranteed, and it was agreed that hard copies would be available in all partner buildings. Councillor O’Brien advised that he welcomed funding from the government but recognised the hard work from Councillors and Officers to achieve this.

Decision:

Cabinet:

1.   Endorsed the draft Ramsbottom Town Centre Masterplan attached as Appendix 1 as the basis for a six-week public consultation commencing on 4th January 2022; and

2.   Delegated approval to the Executive Director of Place and the Chief Executive to make minor modifications to the draft Bury Town Centre Masterplan before consultation commences.

Reasons for the decision:

To ensure that all stakeholders have the opportunity to have their say on the draft Ramsbottom Town Centre Plan and its vision for the centre and the series of physical proposals that have been identified to enhance the town centre.

Other options considered and rejected:

None. It is important that stakeholder engagement continues in order to seek the views and inputs from the wider public, key businesses and other key partners to ensure that the final Town Plan is fit for purpose.

Councillor Eamonn O’Brien, the Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Finance and Growth, presented the report regarding the proposal to develop a Business Improvement district (BID). Councillors agreed this was an exciting opportunity to strengthen business partnerships in Bury.

Decision:

Cabinet:

1.   Approved a ‘Yes’ vote in the Business Improvement District (BID) ballot; and

2.   Delegated the exercising of the Council’s vote to the Monitoring Officer.

That, in the event of an overall ‘Yes’ vote in the BID Ballot, Cabinet:

1.   Note the Council’s role in the collection of the annual BID levy on behalf of the BID Company;

2.   Instruct the Monitoring Officer to undertake the legal arrangements for the Council to entering into the Operating Agreement between Bury Council and the Bury BID Company; and

3.   Approve the intention for the Council to be represented on the Bury BID Board of Directors by the Executive Director of Place.

Reasons for the decision:

The benefits that a BID would bring to the town centre include:

·         Helping to enhance and promote the town centre to visitors, residents and investors by generating additional resources to support activity that would otherwise not be delivered and which would work alongside the Council’s own investment in the regeneration programme.

·         Helping to deliver key Council ambitions, such as those expressed through the ‘Let’s Do It’ Strategy and the emerging Bury Town Centre Masterplan.

·         The establishment of a Town Centre Management function, including a BID Manager and associated staff to provide an onsite resource for businesses and town centre users.

·         Enabling formal partnership working between stakeholders in the BID area to support the more effective use of these additional resources.

It is considered that the benefits that the BID will bring to Bury town centre will outweigh the financial cost to the Council.

Other options considered and rejected:

For the Council not to vote in favour of the BID. However, this option has been

discounted on the basis that it would not deliver the considerable benefits identified above.