Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Councillors Ames, Chadderton, T. Larkin, McMahon and Wrigglesworth.

Councillor McCann MOVED, Councillor Ahmad SECONDED and Councillor Hudson SUPPORTED the election of Councillor Derek Heffernan as Mayor for the forthcoming Municipal Year.

On being put to the vote, the nomination was CARRIED.

Councillor Heffernan then made and signed the declaration required by law to enable him to act in the office of Mayor.

The retiring Mayor (Councillor Ateeque Ur-Rehman) invested the newly elected Mayor (Councillor Derek Heffernan) with the chain of office; the Mayoress was then presented with her chain.

(The Mayor, Councillor Heffernan, in the Chair.)

The Mayor then made a speech of acceptance of office.

Councillor Stretton MOVED, Councillor Sykes SECONDED and Councillor Hudson SUPPORTED a vote of thanks to the retiring Mayor and Mayoress.

RESOLVED that:

1.       Councillor Derek Heffernan be appointed Mayor of Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council for the 2016/17 Municipal Year.

2.       The sincere thanks and appreciation of the Council be recorded to Councillor Ur-Rehman for his valuable services during his term of office as Mayor of the Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council for the 2015/16 Municipal Year.

(At this juncture the Mayor will adjourn the meeting for lunch. It is anticipated that the meeting will reconvene at 3.30pm)

Councillor Stretton MOVED and Councillor Sykes SECONDED the election of Councillor Shadab Qumer as Deputy Mayor for the forthcoming Municipal Year.

On being put to the vote, the nomination was CARRIED.

Councillor Qumer then made and subscribed the declaration required by law to enable him to act in the office of Deputy Mayor.

RESOLVED that Councillor Qumer be appointed Deputy Mayor for the Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council for the forthcoming Municipal Year.

At this point in the meeting, the Mayor adjourned the meeting for lunch.

The meeting reconvened at 3.45 p.m.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Council meeting held on 23^rd March 2016 be approved as a correct record.

The Mayor informed the meeting that the Standards Committee had granted a dispensation to allow all Members to vote on Item 19 – Members Allowance Scheme 2016/17 – Report of the Director of Legal Services.  All members declared a disclosable pecuniary interest in this item, but the dispensation was applicable allowing Members to participate and vote on Item 19.

The Mayor informed the meeting that no items of urgent business had been received.

1.               The Mayor advised the meeting that the following members had notified their wish to speak about the retiring members:

Councillors Stretton, Ahmad and Williamson paid tribute to the work of Arooj Shah during her time served on the Council.

Councillors Roberts, Williamson and Steven Bashforth paid tribute to the work of Bernard Judge during his time served on the Council.

2.       The Mayor advised that Emma Alexander, former Executive Director Corporate and Commercial Services, had left the authority to take up a post at Keir. 

          Councillors Jabbar and Sykes paid tribute to the work of Emma Alexander.

NOTE:  Councillor Rehman left the meeting during this item.

Consideration was given to a report of the Returning Officer which informed Members of the results of the Local Election which had taken place on 5^th May 2016.

RESOLVED that the results of the Local Election be noted.

Consideration was given to a report regarding the appointment of the Leader of the Council in accordance with the provisions of the Local Government Act 2000 as amended.

RESOLVED that the appointment of Councillor Jean Stretton as the Leader of the Council from 27^th January 2016 and ending on the day when the Council holds its first annual meeting of the Leader’s normal day of retirement as Councillor as outlined at paragraph 1.2 of the report be noted.

Consideration was given to a report of the Leader of the Council which detailed the Cabinet portfolios and the appointments to Cabinet for the 2016/17 Municipal Year.

RESOLVED that the appointment of the Deputy Leader, Cabinet Members, Deputy Cabinet Members, the allocation of portfolios to Cabinet Members and the determination of delegations to executive functions for 2016/17 be noted as outlined below:

Councillor Jean Stretton                         Leader of the Council and Cabinet

                                                            Member, Economy and Skills

Councillor Abdul Jabbar                         Deputy Leader of the Council and

                                                            Cabinet Member, Finance & HR

Councillor Amanda Chadderton              Cabinet Member, Education &

                                                            Early Years

Councillor Shoab Akhtar                        Cabinet Member, Employment &

                                                            Skills

Councillor Jenny Harrison                      Cabinet Member, Social Care &

                                                            Safeguarding

Councillor Eddie Moores                        Cabinet Member, Health & Wellbeing

Councillor Barbara Brownridge               Cabinet Member, Neighbourhoods &

                                                            Cooperatives

Councillor Fida Hussain                         Cabinet Member, Environmental

                                                            Services

Councillor Fazlul Haque                         Deputy Cabinet Member, Economy

                                                            & Enterprise

Councillor Hannah Roberts          Deputy Cabinet Member, Education

                                                            & Early Years

Councillor Sean Fielding                         Deputy Cabinet Member,

                                                            Employment & Skills

Councillor Ginny Alexander                    Deputy Cabinet Member, Social Care

                                                            & Safeguarding

Councillor Vita Price                    Deputy Cabinet Member, Health

                                                            & Wellbeing

Councillor Cath Ball                               Deputy Cabinet Member,

                                                            Environmental Services

Councillor Shaid Mushtaq                      Deputy Cabinet Member,

                                                            Environmental Services

Councillor Ateeque Ur-Rehman              Deputy Cabinet Member, Finance

                                                            & HR

Councillor Stretton, Leader of the Council, outlined the Administration’s Priorities for 2016/17 and beyond.  She believed that the co-operative approach and ethos had delivered for Oldham and would continue to do so.  It was essential to deliver key priorities which were to improve the prospects of all residents, all business communities and the whole of the borough.  Doing all that could be done as a council and alongside partners to attract new investment, jobs, skills, economic growth and homes.  She thanked residents for their continued confidence in the administration.  The administration had given a clear vision and a regeneration programme which had and continued to deliver.  She highlighted the new Leisure Centres, schemes with partners and the Old Town Hall would reopen this year with a cinema and restaurants.  Work on Prince’s Gate was on track.

It had been five years since the Council declared the ambition to become a Co-operative Council and a Co-operative Borough and set out a new relationship between public services and residents, partners and businesses.  Everyone did their bit and everyone benefited.  There had been notable successes since 2011 which included Warm Homes Oldham with 3,300 people lifted out of fuel poverty, Get Oldham Working which created more than 3,800 work related opportunities and the Independent Quarter which was flourishing and attracting further investment and businesses. 

A key priority would be economic improvement for all residents.  There were significant issues of low economic activity, worklessness and poverty.  People needed new opportunities and pathways to get better skills and make genuine progress in their careers.  This would create mobility in the labour market and encourage new people into work. 

Another key priority would be education and the implementation of the findings of the Oldham Education and Skills Commission.  She reported that much important work was already being done especially at secondary school level.

A key priority would be the Council’s role in the Greater Manchester Devolution story and play the part of a proactive and positive partner.  The new powers for Greater Manchester were welcomed but details were yet to emerge.  It needed to be ensured that devolution did not just deliver for core areas near Manchester City Centre.  A challenge remained of a North South divide within Greater Manchester.  Oldham could not wait for the “trickle down” of prosperity.  A decent settlement was needed for towns and districts.  Working with GM partners, targeted interventions which could deliver better outcomes for people in health and social care, nurturing business growth and equipping residents with skills, knowledge and life chances would be looked at. 

The Council would respond, innovate and work hard to find solutions for essential local services.  Future priorities and approach would be based on the knowledge and wisdom of what had been learned over the last five years.  This administration would continue to move forward from today for delivery on priorities – investment, skills, jobs and homes.

RESOLVED that the Leader’s communication on the Administration’s Priorities for the 2016/17 Municipal Year be noted.

RESOLVED that the appointment of the Opposition Leader and the Shadow Cabinet as set out below be noted:

Councillor Howard Sykes             Shadow Cabinet Member, Economy and

                                                  Enterprise

Councillor Julie Turner                 Shadow Cabinet Member, Education and

                                                  Early Years

Councillor Garth Harkness           Shadow Cabinet Member, Employment and

                                                  Skills

Councillor Rod Blyth                    Shadow Cabinet Member, Social Care and

                                                  Safeguarding

Councillor Chris Gloster               Shadow Cabinet Member, Health and

                                                  Wellbeing

Councillor Diane Williamson         Shadow Cabinet Member, Neighbourhoods

                                                  And Cooperatives

Councillor Dave Murphy               Shadow Cabinet Member, Environmental                                                 Services

Councillor John McCann              Shadow Cabinet Member, Finance and HR

Councillor Stretton MOVED and Councillor Sykes SECONDED the report of the Director of Legal Services which sought approval to constitute the Council’s Committees and to appoint members to serve on them. 

RESOLVED that:

1.       The composition of the political groups as shown in paragraph 1.2 be noted.

2.       The several committees, detailed at paragraph 1.3, be constituted with the Terms of Reference and delegated powers as detailed in the Constitution.

3.       The number of seats on the various Committees for the 2016/17 Municipal Year as detailed in paragraph 1.7 be approved.

4.       the allocation of seats to the political groups, as set out in the report be confirmed.  Appointments to fill the seats in accordance with Sections 15 and 16 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989, as detailed in Appendix 1, be approved.

5.       the split of Oldham District Executive to Oldham West District Executive and Oldham East District Executive be agreed.  The requirement to appoint a District Executive Chair to both Oldham East and Oldham West District Executive be agreed and the consequential Constitutional amendments required be delegated to the Director of Legal Services.

6.       With the exception of Selection and Appeals Committees, the Chair and Vice Chair of each committee for the 2016/17 Municipal Year be appointed as set out in Appendix 1 to the report.

7.       The Co-opted Members as detailed at paragraph 1.10 of the report be appointed to the Overview and Scrutiny Board and the Statutory Co-optees be given full voting rights in respect of education matters only.

8.       The appointment of the District Executive Chairs for the 2016/17 Municipal Year as listed in Appendix 1 be agreed.

9.       the Traffic Regulation Order Panel remained outside political balance be confirmed.

10.     as in previous years, the waiving of political balance rules in relation to the Standards Committee to ensure appropriate representation be agreed.

11.     Any outstanding appointments be delegated to the Chief Executive in consultation with the Leader of the Council and the Leader of the Main Opposition Group.

Councillor Stretton MOVED and Councillor Sykes SECONDED a report of the Director of Legal Services which detailed the appointments to Outside Bodies for the Municipal Year 2016/17.

RESOLVED that:

1.               The appointments to the Outside Bodies for the Municipal Year 2016/17, as listed in Appendix 1 to the report, be approved.

2.               All other appointments to Outside Bodies for the Municipal Year 2016/17, as listed in Appendix 2 of the report, be delegated to the relevant District Executive.  Existing appointments for those bodies listed to remain until the first meeting of the relevant District Executive.

3.               Nominations to the AGMA/GMCA Outside Bodies listed in Appendix 3 for the 2016/17 Municipal Year be made.

4.               Any outstanding appointments be delegated to the Chief Executive in consultation with the Leader of the Council and the Leader of the Main Opposition Group.

a)    To confirm that the meetings of the Council will be held at the undermentioned dates in 2016/17 Municipal Year, commencing at 6.00pm unless otherwise shown.

13^th July 2016

7^th September 2016

9^th November 2016

14^th December 2016

1^st March 2017

22^nd March 2017

17^th May 2017

b)    To approve the Calendar of meetings for the 2016/17 Municipal Year.

Consideration was given to a report of the Director of Legal Services which set out the revised Calendar of Meetings for the 2016/17 Municipal Year.

RESOLVED that:

1.  the meetings of the Council be held on the following dates in the 2016/17 Municipal Year, commencing at 6.00 p.m. unless otherwise shown:

          13^th July 2016

          7^th September 2016

          9^th November 2016

          14^th December 2016

          1^st March 2017 (Budget)

          22^nd March 2017

          17^th May 2017 (Annual) at 12 Noon

2.       The amended version of the Council’s calendar of meetings for the Municipal Year 2016/17 be approved as circulated, the revised start time of 6.00 p.m. for the Shaw and Crompton District Executive be agreed and new dates for the Oldham East District Executive to be agreed.

3.       Approval of any outstanding dates or changes to dates be delegated to the Chief Executive in consultation with Group Leaders.

(time limit 30 minutes)

None Received.

There were no items of Administration Business.

(time limit 30 minutes)

None Received.

There were no items of Opposition Business.

Consideration was given to a report of the Director of Legal Services which detailed proposed constitutional amendments which would now be required.  This was as a result of a number of amendments as agreed by the Constitutional Working Group and Group Leaders.

RESOLVED that:

1.       The Constitutional amendments as outlined in Section 2 of the report be agreed.

2.       the amendment, as detailed in the report, be further amended at paragraph 2.7 and read “…which members have notified him that they are not returning as members…” be agreed.

3.       Approval of any consequential amendments be delegated to the Director of Legal Services.

2.       The Council’s existing Constitution be reaffirmed.

Consideration was given to a report of the Director of Legal Services which set out the recommendations of the Independent Remuneration Panel.

RESOLVED that:

1.       the recommendations of the Independent Remuneration Panel be noted.

2.       the Members’ Allowance Scheme for 2016/17, as circulated, be approved with the amendment which allowed the Oldham East District Executive Chair and the Oldham West District Executive Chair to receive an allowance which resulted from the agreement to split the Oldham District Executive.

Consideration was given to a report of the Executive Director – Economy, Skills and Neighbourhoods which outlined a recent review of the Land and Property Protocol that would streamline and drive efficiencies in the process.  It was proposed to reduce duplication and superfluous wording.  The key substantive proposed changes were outlined in Section 2.2 of the report. 

RESOLVED that:

1.               The revised Land and Property Protocol as detailed at Appendix 1 of the report be approved.

2.               Any consequential amendments arising from any decisions to be incorporated into the Constitutional be delegated to the Director of Legal Services.

Consideration was given to an amended report and appendix as circulated which provided an update on the status of the Cities and Devolution Act 2016 and the next steps to implementation.

The Cities and Local Government Devolution Act 2016 received Royal Asset on 28^th January 2016 and the provisions of the Act came into force on 28^th March 2016.  Council had received a report in January 2016 which detailed work that had commenced on the precise requirements of GMCA related to those orders which covered financial functions, including borrowing powers, Police and Crime Commissioner and Fire Authority functions; functions which enabled the implementation of the GM Spatial Development Strategy and Housing and development functions. 

Work was now underway to progress the Parliamentary process to ensure that all such orders and regulatory amendments were in place to ensure the GM Devolution settlement could be implemented in full. 

Consideration was also given to the Council’s response to the consultation on the new Devolution Powers to GM (Greater Manchester) appended to the report as circulated.  The proposals within the consultation regarded:

·       Housing, Regeneration and Planning

·       Franchising and Transport Powers

·       Highways

·       Culture

·       Data Sharing

·       Mayor’s Duties, Constitution and Governance

·       Finance and Borrowing:

o   100% Business Rate Growth Retention Pilot Scheme

o   Potential Introduction of a Business Rate Supplement

o   Land Commission

o   Mayoral Precept

o   Levy for Non-Mayoral Purposes

o   Borrowing Powers

·       Fire, Rescue and Police

·       Health

RESOLVED that:

1.       The progress of the Cities and Local Government Devolution Act 2016 and the next steps required for implementation be noted.

2.       Authority be delegated to the Leader of the Council in consultation with the Chief Executive to consent to the terms of any Order required to confirm the functions to be undertaken by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) and the elected Mayor.

3.       The Draft Response to the Consultation, as circulated, be approved.