Agenda and minutes

(15 minutes for public questions and 25 minutes for Councillor questions)

The Mayor advised the meeting that the first item on the agenda in Open Council was Public Question Time.  The questions had been received from members of the public and would be taken in the order in which they had been received.  Council was advised that if the questioner was not present, then the question would appear on the screens in the Council Chamber.

The following questions had been submitted:

1.       Question received from Syed Maruf Ali via email:

          “What duties do Oldham authorities have to children and young people with SEN/Disabilities?  I would like to know how many EHC needs assessments have been carried out by the Oldham Authority?  How many young people in Oldham has been referred for EHC plan but the panel decided not to assess for EHC plan? How many has been successful in getting a EHC plan? What percentage of young people in west oldham area are on EHC plan compared to other wards? Can you please break this down by age, gender and ethnicity. Once special educational provision has been specified in an EHC plan, the LA has a legal duty to provide it. This cannot be overruled by the LA’s SEN funding policy or internal funding arrangements including banding, matrixes, or notional SEN spending levels such as £6,000 or £10,000.  Can you please share with the public the amount of resources/monies spent/used in west oldham compared with other wards in Oldham?”

          Councillor Chadderton, Cabinet Member for Education and Early Years responded that under Part 3 of the Children and Families Act 2014, legal duties were placed on Local Authorities (LAs) to identify and assess the special education needs (SEN) of children and young people for whom they were responsible.  This, together with the Special Educational Needs and Disability Regulations 2014 provided the legal framework for Oldham Council and partners in respect of Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND).  Since September 2014, 716 assessments had been carried out, 151 had been referred for EHC plan which were not progresed and 705 had been successful in getting an EHC plan.    The local authority did not currently collect data in a way that would allow comparisons between wards on EHCP data, resources or monies.  The matter would be kept under review and reconsidered in the light of efficient use of resources and usefulness of the comparator data.

2.       Question received from Paul Turner via email:

          “I was shopping late last week in Shaw when the temperature was below zero and noticed a poor soul sleeping in a doorway on Market St. After buying food for him asked if he could not find shelter he told me he didn't know anywhere. Does OMBC have shelters & are they advertised?”

          Councillor Brownridge, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods and Cooperatives responded that the Council did not have any specific shelters within the borough but did have cold weather provision in place for people who were sleeping rough in Oldham.  During periods of very cold weather, short term accommodation would  ...  view the full minutes text for item 1.

Apologies were received from Councillors Ames, Dearden, Fielding, Garry, Hudson, Kirkham, Klonowski and Shuttleworth.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Council meeting held on 8^th November 2017 be approved as a correct record.

In accordance with the Code of Conduct, elected members declared the following interests:

Councillor G. Alexander declared a personal interest in Item 14b by virtue of her appointment to the MioCare Board.

Councillor Harrison declared a personal interest in Item 14b by virtue of her appointment to the MioCare Board.

Councillor Chauhan declared a personal interest in Item 14b by virtue of his appointment to the MioCare Board.

Councillor McCann declared a personal interest in Item 14b by virtue of his appointment to the MioCare Board.

Councillor Gloster declared a pecuniary interest by virtue of his employment by Greater Manchester Police in Item 8 and at Item 14a, Police and Crime Panel Minutes.  Councillor Gloster left the room during Item 8 and did not vote or take part in the discussion thereon.

There were two items of urgent business. 

As a result of the adjournment earlier in the Council meeting, the Council meeting guillotine would be extended by 15 minutes.  On being put to the vote, this was AGREED.

Following the resignation of Rod Blyth, a political review had taken place.  The report would be considered at Item 24 of the agenda.

There were no communications related to the business of the Council.

(time limit 20 minutes)

There are no peititions to note.

There were no petitions to be noted.

(time limit 15 minutes).

Councillor Ali to MOVE and Councillor Jacques to SECOND:

This Council notes with great concern that Greater Manchester Police’s budget has been reduced by £180m since 2010, reducing nearly a quarter of its front-line officers and 1,000 support staff as government austerity budgets sought to reduce the cost of Britain’s public services.

With 6,200 officers, reduced from 8,000 a decade ago, GMP is so stretched that officers from specialist divisions are being drafted in to help with community policing.  Officers are being directed away from the Serious Crime Unit, which usually deals with robbery, kidnapping and drug dealers.

In Oldham, 4,839 more crimes were reported per annum in 2017 than in 2011, an increase of 27%.  This reflects the regional picture, with crime up across Greater Manchester by 13% in the same period.  Oldham performs worse in 11 of the 17 categories identified by official police and crime statistics which include huge rises in categories identified by official police and crime statistics which include huge rises in violence (131%), shoplifting (75%) and public order offences (244%). 

The Government has not protected police budgets as promised.  Home Office Figures in England and Wales between September 2010 and September 2016 record that the number of police officers fell by 18,991, or 13%.  The problem is compounded by sickness absence rates.  Nearly 2,500 officers – about 2% of the total workforce – were classified as being on long term sick leave, an 11.5% increase on 2015.  Overall police budgets, excluding counter-terrorism grants, fell by 20% between 2010 and 2015 which is completely unsustainable.

This Council condemns these cuts in policing in the strongest possible terms threatening as they do the excellent policing we have in Oldham and putting at risk the safety and security of our local diverse community.

This Council resolves to:

-        Instruct the Chief Executive to convey this Motion and the Council’s strong concerns about these matters to the Mayor of Greater Manchester and the Home Secretary.

-        Instruct the Chief Executive to write to the Home Secretary asking her to increase Police numbers in order to safeguard our residents and communities.,

The Mayor informed the meeting that there was one item of outstanding business from the previous meeting:

Motion 1

Councillor Ali MOVED and Councillor Jacques SECONDED the following motion:

“This Council notes with great concern that Greater Manchester Police’s budget has been reduced by £180m since 2010, reducing nearly a quarter of its front-line officers and 1,000 support staff as government austerity budgets sought to reduce the cost of Britain’s public services.

With 6,200 officers reduced from 8,000 a decade ago, GMP is so stretched that officers from specialist divisions are being drafted in to help with community policing.  Officers are being directed away from the Serious Crime Unit, which usually deals with robbery, kidnapping, and drug dealers.

In Oldham, 4,839 more crimes were reported per annum in 2017 than in 2011, an increase of 27%.  This reflects the regional picture, with crime up across Greater Manchester by 13% in the same period.  Oldham performs worse in 11 of the 17 categories identified by official police and crime statistics which include huge rises in violence (131%), shoplifting (75%) and public order offences (244%).

The Government has not protected police budgets as promised.  Home Office Figures in England and Wales between September 2010 and September 2016 record that the number of police officers fell by 18,991, or 13%.  The problem is compounded by sickness absence rates.  Nearly 2,500 officers – about 2% of the workforce – were classified as being on long term sick leave, an 11.5% increase on 2015.  Overall police budgets, excluding counter-terrorism grants, fell by 20% between 2010 and 2015 which is completely unsustainable.

The Council condemns these cuts in policing in the strongest possible terms threatening as they do the excellent policing we have in Oldham and putting at risk the safety and security of our local diverse community.”

Councillor Mushtaq spoke in support of the motion.

Councillor Haque spoke in support of the motion.

Councillor Bates spoke in support of the motion.

Councillor Ali exercised his right of reply.

On being put to the vote, the MOTION was CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

RESOLVED that:

1.       The Chief Executive be instructed to convey this Motion and the Council’s strong concerns about these matters to the Mayor of Greater Manchester and the Home Secretary.

2.       The Chief Executive be instructed to write to the Home Secretary asking her to increase Police numbers in order to safeguard our residents and communities.

(time limit 20 minutes)

There is no Youth Council business to consider.

There were no items submitted by the Youth Council.

The Leader of the Opposition, Councillor Sykes, raised the following two questions:

Question 1:

“For my first question tonight I would like to refer the Leader to an initiative launched in connection with the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework (GMSF) by the Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham on the 17^th of last month.

Mayor Burnham announced that he wanted to move away from the ‘developer-led, green belt approach of the past’.

This is an announcement that both I and my ward colleagues in Shaw and Crompton, as well as thousands of our constituents, will welcome, as in the original GMSF proposals Shaw and Crompton stood to be swamped by almost 3,000 new homes, other tracts of land were designated for industrial development, and our green belt and green spaces would be decimated.

After his election, the Oldham Liberal Democrats wrote to Andy Burnham to ask for the (and I quote) ‘opportunity to work with you to establish a revised plan that is acceptable to local ward members and our constituents, which mirrors our aspirations for housing and economic development in Greater Manchester’.

It has always been our view that there is no justification for the construction of a large number of properties (or indeed any properties) on Green Belt or Other Protected Open Land (OPOL) before new homes are first built on Brownfield sites, on sites where planning permission for housing development has already been granted and upon many derelict and the unloved site in our town centres and districts.

We also believe that every empty mill and factory should be converted and use for housing and that the large number of empty homes across Greater Manchester should be brought back into use.

Mayor Burnham has now invited all ten Leaders of the Greater Manchester authorities to nominate a town for inclusion in his Town Centre Challenge.

The Mayor is proposing to work with each council to bring together housing providers, public and private landowners, developers, community groups and other key stakeholders in a concerted effort to unlock the potential in these town centres, particularly to deliver ‘viable housing markets and sustainable communities.’

At his launch event, Mayor Burnham promised to use new planning powers and Mayoral grants ‘to build a new future for those towns through higher density mixed and affordable housing, with local retail and leisure facilities and supported by transport and digital connectivity.’

This sounds like potentially heady stuff, for we are not ‘Luddites’, Mr. Mayor, we recognise we need to release more land for more homes for more people.

What we do not believe in is concreting over the green bits!

His plan appears to hold that promise – with an emphasis seemingly placed upon Brownfield development in towns, rather than the ‘death of Green Belt by concrete’ approach we saw previously.

Mayor Burnham has asked Oldham to bring forward a town centre of its choice to be his development partner so Mr Mayor I would like to ask the Leader tonight whether Oldham will  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.

(time limit 20 minutes):-

a) 23^rd October 2017

The minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 23^rd October 2017 were submitted.

Members raised the following questions:

Councillor Gloster, Cabinet Minutes, 23^rd October 2017, Item 8 – Homelessness Pressures – Councillor Gloster asked that if there was an increase in Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMOs),would stringent planning requirements in order to facilitate good living conditions still be applied.

Councillor Brownridge, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods and Cooperatives responded – “Yes”.

Councillor Williamson, Cabinet Minutes, 23^rd October 2017, Item 13 – Homelessness Pressures – Councillor Williamson asked about the establishment of the Bond Scheme Officer and fund established and asked if the scheme set up in 2009 had been abolished? 

Councillor Brownridge, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods and Cooperatives, responded that she was not sure but would find out and respond to the question.

Members raised the following observations:

Councillor Dean, Cabinet Minutes, 23^rd October 2017, Item 8 – Homelessness Pressures - Councillor Dean made the observation that the legislation around Homelessness had put another burden on the Council with no additional funding at a time of financial constraint due to austerity and lack of housing plans over the last couple of years which had caused distress.  There were a lot of families in and out of homelessness and suffering in many ways.

Councillor Harkness, Cabinet Minutes, 23^rd October 2017, Item 8 – Homelessness Pressures made the observation the issues related to Universal Credit sanctions with a deliberate attempt to put people in hardship.  If sanctioned, applicants could lose housing benefits.  Councillor Harkness asked for assurance that universal credit sanctions were looked at in Oldham.

Councillor Jabbar, Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Finance and HR responded that this was a serious issue.  There had been motions to Council, the Leader had written to ministers and Overview and Scrutiny Board had addressed the issue. The agencies did not address the issues put to them.   The Council would be doing something about it.  As Cabinet Member he looked at the issues every week and there seemed to be an issue in Oldham where Job Centre staff penalised claimants.  Councillor Akhtar was also monitoring the situation.  Councillor Jabbar offered to provide an update on the issue.

Councillor Bates, Cabinet Minutes, 23^rd October 2017, Item 8 – Homelessness Pressures.  Councillor Bates thanked the Council for caring for the homeless and congratulated Councillor Brock on providing a party for lonely people in Failsworth.

Councillor Mushtaq, Cabinet Minutes, 23^rd October 2017, Item 8 – Homelessness Pressures.  Councillor Mushtaq made the observation of aligning work ongoing within portfolios, groups and voluntary initiatives.

RESOLVED that:

1.       The minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 23^rd October 2017 be noted.

2.       The questions and responses provided be noted.

3.       The observations and responses provided be noted.

(time limit 30 minutes)

Motion 1

Councillor Akhtar to MOVE and Councillor Jacques to SECOND:

Council notes that:

-        Research conducted in 2015 by New Economy found that labour productivity as in Gross Value Added (GVA) per employment in Greater Manchester was lower than the national average in 14 of our 15 market sectors.

-        National productivity has only grown by an average of 0.2% per annum, far below the ONS prediction of 1.6% per annum.

-        It is estimated that the downgrading of national forecasts will cost the Treasury around £18 billion by 2021.

-        The United Kingdom spends 0.5% of GDP on labour market programmes compared to Denmark and Ireland who spend over 3% and whose productivity levels have risen over the last 5 years.

Council further notes that:

-        The Oldham Strategic Investment Framework, Local Economic Assessment and Work and Skills Strategy all demonstrate the need to develop a skilled, educated and dynamic workforce. The Skills deficit for citizens at Level 3 and/or 4 is 10 percentage points between Oldham and England Average

-        Consequently, Oldham residents earn £5k a year less than the England average (£23k vs £28k)

-        The GM economy will see double digit growth in Professional and Technical occupations with 50% of future jobs growth being office based.

-        Re-skilling the workforce is vital if Oldham is to close the productivity gap which currently demonstrates a gap of nearly £10k between Oldham and Greater Manchester and £15k per head between Oldham and the England average.

-        According to the Strategic Investment Framework, a 1% reduction in income inequality within Oldham could result in additional GVA growth in Greater Manchester up to £100m by 2035.

-        Reskilling the workforce is a vital step to tackling these skills shortages across the city region.

Council is concerned that:

-        The latest Government report into the impact of Further Education Reforms shows that there are 6.6% fewer learners entering further education per year since 2010, with nearly 9% reduction in the over 25s

-        Since the introduction of Advanced Learning Loans, overall learner volumes in the years that loans were introduced, between 2012/13 and 2013/14, fell by -7.7%. Further, the fall in the number of learners aged 25 or older was steeper at -10.4%

-        58% of Further Education loans funding, amounting to almost £1billion, has not been spent since 2013.

-        That the advanced learner loan system, without improved marketing and wraparound support, is not fit for purpose.

-        That without changes to the system the UK and Oldham’s productivity levels will suffer.

Council resolves to ask the Chief Executive to write to the Rt. Hon. Anne Milton, Minister of State for Apprenticeships and Skills, outlining the Council’s request to reshape how Advanced Learner Loans operate, informing the Minister of our Careers Advancement Service as an example as to how citizens need support to access skills funding, with a more flexible approach to the loan fund account management. Oldham Council also believes that employers should  ...  view the full agenda text for item 12.

Motion 1

Councillor Akhtar MOVED and Councillor Jacques SECONDED the following MOTION:

“Council notes that:

-        Research conducted in 2015 by New Economy found that labour productivity as in Gross Value Added (GVA) per employment in Greater Manchester was lower than the national average in 14 of our 15 market sectors.

-        National productivity has only grown by an average of 0.2% per annum, far below the ONS prediction of 1.6% per annum.

-        It is estimated that the downgrading of national forecasts will cost the Treasury around £18 billion by 2021.

-        The United Kingdom spends 0.5% of GDP on labour market programmes compared to Denmark and Ireland who spend over 3% and who productivity levels have risen over the last 5 years.

Council further notes that:

-        The Oldham Strategic Investment Framework, Local Economic Assessment and Work and Skills Strategy all demonstrate the need to develop a skilled, education and dynamic workforce.  The Skills deficit for citizens at Level 3 and/or 4 is 10 percentage points between Oldham and England Average.

-        Consequently, Oldham residents earn £5k a year less than the England average (£23K vs £28K)

-        The GM Economy will see double digit growth in Professional and Technical occupations with 50% of future jobs growth being office based.

-        Re-skilling the workforce is a vital step to tackling these skills shortages across the city region.

Council is concerned that:

-        The latest Government report into the impact of Further Education Reforms shows that there are 6.6% fewer learners entering further education per year since 2010, with nearly 9% reduction in the over 25s

-        Since the introduction of Advanced Learning Loans, overall learner volumes in the years that loans were introduced, between 2012/13 and 2013/14, fell by -7.7%.  Further, the fall in the number of learners aged 25 or older was steep at -10.4%

-        58% of Further Education loans funding, amounting to almost £1billion, has not been spent since 2013.

-        That the advanced learner loan system, without improved marketing and wraparound support, is not fit for purpose.

-        That without changes to the system, the UK and Oldham’s productivity levels will suffer.”

Councillor Harkness spoke in support of the motion.

Councillor Haque spoke in support of the motion.

Councillor Akhtar exercised his right of reply.

On being put to the VOTE, the MOTION was CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

RESOLVED that the Chief Executive be asked to write to the Rt. Hon. Anne Milton, Minister of State for Apprenticeships and Skills, outlining the Council’s request to reshape how Advanced Learner Loans operated, informing the Minister of our Careers Advancement Service as an example as to how citizens needed support to access skills funding, with a more flexible approach to the loan fund account management.  Oldham Council also believed that employers should be able to take the lead in designing new mechanisms for employees to widen the choice to include non-apprenticeship pathways and flexible part-time qualification to suit employer and sector needs.

Motion 2

Councillor Moores MOVED and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 12.

(time limit 30 minutes)

Motion 1

Councillor McCann to Move and Councillor Sykes to SECOND:

Council notes that planning officers do not notify Ward Members when the conditions attached to planning approvals are satisfactorily discharged by the applicant.

In order to establish greater transparency in the planning process and to keep Ward Members better informed and engaged, Council resolves that best practice be created by requiring planning officers to give such notification and that opportunities be provided for Ward Members to engage with members of the public on planning matters in the spirit of co-operation.

Council resolves to ask the Chief Executive as Head of Paid Service to liaise with the Head of Planning and Infrastructure to ensure that planning officers are made aware of these requirements and ensure that they happen.

Motion 2

Councillor Turner to MOVE Councillor Gloster to SECOND:

This Council notes that:

• An amendment (New Clause 30) to the EU Withdrawal Bill, proposed by Caroline Lucas MP, was recently defeated by the Government in Parliament. This amendment sought to transfer the EU Protocol on animal sentience set out in Article 13 of Title II of the Lisbon Treaty into UK law, so that animals continue to be recognised as sentient beings under domestic law.
• Widespread concern has been expressed by animal welfare groups, members of parliament and the public that the defeat of this clause will lead to a weakening of the laws protecting animals.
• Gudrun Ravetz, Senior Vice-President of British Veterinary Association, the professional body for practicing veterinarians in the UK, stated: “Enshrining animal sentience in UK law would have acknowledged that we consider animals as being capable of feelings such as pain and contentment and, so, deserving of consideration and respect. It is a founding principle of animal welfare science, and for the way that we should treat all animals. There is now an urgent need for clarity from Government on how the provisions in Article 13 will be enshrined in UK law to ensure we do not fall short of the high standards we expect as a nation of animal lovers.”
• In recognition of this concern, the Environment Secretary Michael Gove said in a ministerial statement that: “This Government is committed to the very highest standards of animal welfare. As the Prime Minister has set out, we will make the United Kingdom a world leader in the care and protection of animals.” In his statement, the Minister promises to increase the jail sentence for humans who abuse animals to five years, improve CCTV monitoring in slaughterhouses, and strengthen the ban on the ivory trade and ban microbeads in products.

This Council:

• Recognises that animals are sentient beings and deserving of the highest standards of legal protection.
• Shares the widespread public concern that the defeat of New Clause 30 may represent a threat to the legal protection of animals.
• Wishes to see this Government live up to its promise to “make the United Kingdom a world leader in the care and  ...  view the full agenda text for item 13.

Motion 1

Councillor McCann MOVED and Councillor Sykes SECONDED the following motion:

“Council notes that planning officers do not notify Ward Members when the conditions attached to planning approvals are satisfactorily discharged by the applicant.

In order to establish greater transparency in the planning process and to keep Ward Members better informed and engaged, Council resolves that best practice be created by requiring planning officers to give such notification and that opportunities be provided for Ward Members to engage with members of the public on planning matters in the spirit of co-operation.

Councillor McCann did not exercise his right of reply.

On being put to the vote, the MOTION was CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

RESOLVED that the Chief Executive as Head of Paid Service be asked to liaise with the Head of Planning and Infrastructure to ensure that planning officers were made aware of these requirements and ensured that they happened.

Motion 2

Councillor Turner MOVED and Councillor Gloster SECONDED the following MOTION:

“This Council notes that:

·       An amendment (New Clause 30) to the EU Withdrawal Bill, proposed by Caroline Lucas MP, was recently defeated by the Government in Parliament.  This amendment sought to transfer the EU Protocol on animal sentience set out in Article 13 of Title II of the Lisbon Treaty into UK Law, so that animals continue to be recognised as sentient being under domestic law.

·       Widespread concern has been expressed by animal welfare groups, members of parliament and the public that the defeat of this clause will lead to a weakening of the laws protecting animals.

·       Gudrun Ravetz, Senior Vice-President of British Veterinary Association the professional body for practicing veterinarians in the UK, stated: ‘Enshrining animal sentience in UK law would have acknowledged that we consider animals as being capable of feelings such as pain and contentment and, so, deserving of consideration and respect.  It is a founding principle of animal welfare science, and for the way that we should treat all animals.  There is now an urgent need for clarity from Government on how the provisions in Article 13 will be enshrined in UK law to ensure we do not fall short of the high standards we expect as a national of animal lovers.’

·       In recognition of this concern, the Environment Secretary Michael Gove said in a ministerial statement that: ‘This Government is committed to the very highest standards of animal welfare.  As the Prime Minister set out, we will make the United Kingdom a world leader in the care and protection of animals.’  In his statement, the Minister promises to increase the jail sentence for humans who abuse animals to five years, improve CCTV monitoring in slaughterhouses, and strengthen the ban on the ivory trade and ban microbeads in products.

This Council:

·       Recognises that animals are sentient beings and deserving of the highest standards of legal protection.

·       Shares the widespread public concern that the defeat of New Clause 30 may represent a threat to the legal protection of animals.

·       Wishes to see this Government live  ...  view the full minutes text for item 13.

(time limit 8 minutes):-

The minutes of the Joint Authorities were submitted as follows:

Transport for Greater Manchester                              10^th November 2017

Greater Manchester Combined Authority                    27^th October 2017

(GMCA)

Association of Greater Manchester                  27^th October 2017

Authorities (AGMA)

National Peak Park Authority                            6^th October 2017

Police and Crime Panel                                    31^st October 2017

Greater Manchester Health and Social             28^th July 2017

Care Partnership Board

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Joint Authority meetings as detailed in the report be noted.

(time limit 7 minutes)

The minutes of the Partnership meetings were submitted as follows:

MioCare Group                                                         18^th September 2017

Oldham Leadership Board                                         2^nd November 2017

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Partnership meetings as detailed in the report be noted.

Consideration was given to the report of the Director of Legal Services which informed members of actions that had been taken following previous Council meetings and provided feedback on other issues raised at the meeting.

RESOLVED that the Update on Actions from Council be noted.

Consideration was given to a report of the Chief Executive which sought approval for the nomination of Reverend Jean Hurlston to receive the Civic Appreciation Award.

The nomination was in recognition of Reverend Hurlston’s significant voluntary contribution and dedication to the community and borough of Oldham.

RESOLVED that:

1.       The nomination for Reverend Jean Hurlston to receive the Civic Appreciation Award 2018 be agreed.

2.       The ceremony for the award would take place at the Council meeting to be held on 28^th March 2018.

Council gave consideration to the Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Levy Allocation Methodology and approval of a revised Levy Allocation Model Agreement. 

Following the decision to terminate the Recycling and Waste Management PFI Contract arrangements it was necessary for all constituent Districts to agree a new Levy which would replace the existing Inter Authority Agreement (IAA) with a revised Levy Allocation Methodology Agreement (LAMA) that reflected the revised financial arrangements to apply fully from the 2019/20 financial year onwards with a year of transitional arrangements for the financial year 2018/19.

The current arrangements for the disposal of household waste in Greater Manchester (save for Wigan) were established in 2009 with the signing of the Recycling and Waste Management (PFI) Contract (the PFI Contract) with Viridor Laing (Greater Manchester) Limited (VLGM).  The Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority (GMWDA) acquired VLGM (for £1) in October 2017.  This allowed existing arrangements to be formally terminated so as to address issues that had arisen with the operation of the Contract and to enable significant efficiency savings to be released.  The current IAA, which was signed by all Districts in 2009, fell away with the termination of the PFI Contract and it was, therefore, necessary to reconsider the Levy apportionment within GM and for all Districts to approve and enter into a revised Levy Allocation Methodology Agreement (LAMA) which reflected the new arrangements.  That Agreement was designed for an application of 10 years and would be applied in full for the 2019/20 financial year onwards, with transitional arrangements being proposed for the financial year 2018/19.

The issue had been presented to Cabinet on 11 December 2017 and commended to Council to approve the proposed Levy Apportionment Methodology Agreement.

RESOLVED that:

1.               Having considered the proposed revised methodology, the revised Levy Apportionment Methodology Agreement be approved and be applied in full from 2019/20 with transitional arrangements in place during 2018/19.

2.               Authority be delegated to the Director of Legal Services or his nominee to approve and/or make any minor amendments to the final Levy Apportionment Methodology Agreement, a current draft of which was appended to the report and to enter into and finalise the Agreement, the transitional arrangements and any associated documentation related thereto.

Council gave consideration to a report of the Director of Finance which provided details of the performance of the Treasury Management function of the Council for the first half of 2017/18 and provided a comparison of performance against the 2017/18 Treasury Management Strategy and prudential indicators. 

The Council was required to consider the performance of the Treasury Management function in order to comply with the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) Treasury Management Revised Code of Practice.

The report set out key Treasury Management Issues and outlined:

·       An economic update for the first six months of 2017/18;

·       A review of the Treasury Management Strategy Statement and Annual Investment Strategy;

·       The Council’s capital expenditure (prudential indicators);

·       A review of the Council’s investment portfolio for 2017/18;

·       A review of the Council’s borrowing strategy for 2017/18;

·       Why there had been no debt rescheduling undertaken during 2017/18; and

·       A review of compliance with Treasury and Prudential Limits for 2017/18.

The Treasury Management Half-Year Review 2017/18 report had been presented to and approved by Cabinet at its meeting on 20 November 2017 and commended the report to Council.

RESOLVED that:

1.       The Treasury Management activity for the first half of the financial year 2017/18 and the projected outturn position be approved.

2.       Amendments to both Authorised and Operational Boundary for external debt as set out in the table at Section 2.4.5 of the report be approved.

3.       Amendments to the Capital Financing Requirement (CFR) as set out at Section 2.4.4 of the report and in the table at Section 2.4.5 of the report be approved.

Council gave consideration to a report of the Director of Finance which sought approval of the Council Tax Reduction Scheme for 2018/19.  There was a requirement to have a Council Tax Reduction Scheme to support residents who qualified for assistance in the payment of Council tax.  The Local Government Finance Act 2012 placed a requirement that each year a Billing Authority must give consideration as to whether to revise its Council Tax Reduction (CTR) Scheme or replace it with another scheme.  Any changes to the 2018/19 scheme must be agreed by full Council no later than 31 January 2018.

The Council’s CTR Scheme had been largely un-amended since April 2015 when the Council introduced the scheme that limited CTR to a maximum of 85% of a Band A Property and removed second adult rebate for those of working age. 

The following options/alternatives were set out for consideration within the report:

Option 1: Maintain the present level of support i.e. limiting the level of support at 85% of a Band A Property as the maximum amount available.

Option 2:  Limit the maximum level of support from 2018/19 to 82.5% of a Band A Property

Option 3:  Align the Council Tax Reduction Scheme to reflect some or all of the changes made to Housing Benefit since April 2016

Option 4:  Change the method of assessment for Universal Credit Council Tax Reduction cases

Option 5:  Introduce a minimum income floor for self-employed Council Tax Reduction claimants.

After evaluation of the proposed options, it was recommended that no change be made to the current CTR scheme.  This recommendation had been presented to Cabinet at its meeting on 20^th November 2017 where Cabinet commended approval of this recommendation to Council.

RESOLVED that the continuation of the current Council Tax Reduction (CTR) Scheme for 2018/19 be approved and that the 2018/19 scheme was therefore the same as that operating in 2017/18.

Please note the appendices to this report are available at Access Oldham, Civic Centre, Civic Entrance, Civic Centre West Street and Group Rooms.

Council gave consideration to an update on the potential implications of the “leave” result for Oldham and Greater Manchester.  The update set out a summary of implications of leaving the European Union (EU).  Scenario planning and impact modelling had been undertaken by leading organisations which included the London School of Economics and Oxford Economics.  The report looked at the anticipated impact of leaving the EU and what Greater Manchester and Oldham could do to mitigate against the likely economic shock of leaving.

RESOLVED that the update on the Impact on Oldham and Greater Manchester of the European Union Referendum be noted.

Council gave consideration to a report of the Director of Finance which sought approval to the authorisation limits for write-offs in the Financial Procedure Rules of the Council’s Constitution.

RESOLVED that the write-off approval limits be amended as follows for debts which included Council Tax, Business Rates, Sundry Deb and Housing Benefit Overpayments:

a)       Individual debts up to £60                      Unity Partnership Ltd.

b)       Individual debts up to £2,500                 Head of Service

c)       Individual debts up to £5,000                 Director of Finance

d)       Individual debts over £5,000                  Cabinet

Council gave consideration to a report of the Director of Legal Services regarding the appointment of independent members on the Independent Remuneration Panel and independent persons on the Standards Committee.  The current independent persons had agreed to continue beyond their existing term and it was requested that appointments be reconfirmed to ensure consistency and continuity.  There was a vacancy on both the Independent Remuneration Panel and the Standards Committee and it was proposed to advertise the posts.

RESOLVED that:

1.       The Independent Members on the Independent Remuneration Panel and on the Standards Committee be reappointed for three years.

2.       A recruitment process be commenced to fill the vacancies as detailed in the report with a report to Full Council to make the appointment.

Council gave consideration to a report of the Director of Legal Services which sought approval of the draft Calendar of Meetings for the 2018/19 Municipal Year.

RESOLVED that:

1.       The Council’s Calendar of Meetings for the Municipal Year 2018/19 as set out in Appendix 1 of the Report be approved.

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

Council gave consideration to an urgent report of the Director of Legal Services which detailed a Political Balance Review following the resignation of Rod Blyth as a Councillor.  A review of the allocation of seats to political groups was required at, or as soon as practicable when notice was received of a change in the composition of a political group and changes to committee membership related to political groups.

RESOLVED that:

1.       The review of political balance and committees as detailed within the report be agreed.

2.       The composition of the political groups as outlined in the report and that Councillor Gloster filled the Liberal Democrat Group vacant position on the Planning Committee with Councillor Murphy as second substitute and that Councillor Harkness filled the Liberal Democrat Vacant position on the Performance and Value for Money Select Committee be agreed.

3.       The appointment to the Labour Group Vacancy on the Audit Committee be delegated to the Chief Executive and three Group Leaders.