Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber, Civic Centre, Oldham, West Street, Oldham, OL1 1NL

Contact: Liz Drogan 

Items
No. Item

1.

To receive apologies for absence

Minutes:

Apologies were received from Councillor Curley.

2.

To order that the Minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 10th July 2019 be signed as a correct record pdf icon PDF 292 KB

Minutes:

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Council meeting held on 10th July 2019 be approved as a correct record.

3.

To receive declarations of interest in any matter to be determined at the meeting

Minutes:

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

 

Councillor M. Bashforth declared a personal interest in Item 8d by virtue of her appointment to the MioCare Board.

Councillor S. Bashforth declared a personal interest in Item 8d by virtue of his appointment to the MioCare Board.

Councillor Chauhan declared a personal interest in Item 8d by virtue of his appointment to the MioCare Board.

Councillor Hamblett declared a personal interest in Item 8d by virtue of his appointment to the MioCare Board.

Councillor F. Hussain declared a personal interest in Item 8d by virtue of his appointment to the MioCare Board.

4.

To deal with matters which the Mayor considers to be urgent business

Minutes:

There were no items of urgent business.

5.

To receive communications relating to the business of the Council

Minutes:

The Mayor made reference to the recent death of former Councillor Raymond Mallinson.

 

Councillors Harrison and Sykes paid tribute to the work of former Councillor Mallinson.

 

Council held a minute’s silence.

6.

To receive and note petitions received relating to the business of the Council

(time limit 20 minutes)

 

There are no petitions to note.

Minutes:

There were no petitions received to be noted.

7.

Youth Council

(time limit 20 minutes)

 

There is no Youth Council business to consider.

Minutes:

There were no items submitted by the Youth Council.

8.

Question Time

8a

Public Questions

(timelimit 15 minutes)

Minutes:

The Mayor advised that the next item on the agenda was Public Question Time.  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, the question would be read out by the Mayor.

 

The following questions were submitted:

 

1.         Question received from Eddie Keating via email:

 

           I have been campaigning for over 5 years on behalf of the residents of the estate off Godson St Coldhurst which contains Overdale Close, Downhill Close, Underhill Road and others.  Initially Michael Meacher took an active part in the discussions regarding the ongoing and increasing problems caused by local hospital staff and visitors (which on numerous occasion have been rude and aggressive) and are making this estate their go to area where they are causing all sorts of issues i.e. double parking, blocking residents driveways, making emergency vehicles and council vehicles access impossible, pedestrians being unable to use pathways etc, etc, etc.  The surrounding areas one by one has been given residents parking which has only pushed the hospital staff and visitors further into the estate and surrounding streets where there are no restrictions.  Myself and the residents would like a question to be raised at the next council meeting regarding this ongoing problem as the councillors Abdul Jabbar and Abdul Malik have not been very helpful in resolving this issue despite promises years ago that this problem would be resolved and residents parking would be given to at least the affected estate.

            Once again we find ourselves fighting to achieve residents parking only status and despite the council actually stating there would be no more areas given this status what happens, Godson St and surrounding streets are given residents parking which as stated made the estate the hospital staff and visitors go to area.  Jim Mc Mahon who has been as helpful as he can be contacted the hospital CEO who literally fobbed us off with no real solutions.  We managed to arrange a meeting with Zaiem Khan (once again no sign of a councillor) the district coordinator who was extremely helpful and sympathetic to our cause but once again could not really help in moving this issue forward or offer any real solutions. So if we could ask the question on behalf of the residents at the next council meeting it would be most appreciated.  Question being how do we achieve residents only parking for the residents of the estate as mentioned?

 

            Councillor Ur-Rehman, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhood Services responded that there was an ongoing increased high demand for on-street parking around Royal Oldham Hospital.  Due to the volumes, at this time adding additional residents only parking areas on an estate-by-estate basis could not be seen as a solution as it would result in displacing parking to other nearby residential streets.  Local residents were consulted on a scheme and were not in favour of it.  Councillors Jabbar and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8a

8b

Questions to Leader and Cabinet

(time limit 30 minutes)

Minutes:

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

 

Question 1:  OAP Tram Charge

 

“I want to bring to your attention the rather unpleasant and underhand news that the Greater Manchester Combined Authority are planning to tax the elderly residents of this Borough before they can even board a tram.  Pensioners who currently enjoy free travel on public transport across Greater Manchester are being forced to pay an annual fee if they want to travel from A to B on Metrolink.  The new Charge will be £10, whereas before it was free.  This new tax will be live as early as January 2020.  I hope we plan to communicate this to our elderly residents in the Borough?  We must also think about if this new strategy should be means tested and not rolled out to everyone regardless of their own personal circumstances.  The national law states free travel for the over sixty fives on buses, but from next year any pensioner wanting to claim free travel on the Greater Manchester Train and Metrolink Tram network will be forced to pay an annual administration charge.  This £10 charge is simply a hidden Labour stealth tax on our elderly.  OAPs now must pay for TV licences and struggle with heating and other bills in winter.  Information freely available on the NHS website says hundreds of thousands of elderly people are cut off from society and suffer from loneliness.  This applies especially to the over 75s as over one million of these older people live alone.  This begs the sad question, why did the Labour party at the last full council meeting in July say they want to maintain free TV licences for the over 65s but now plan to charge pensioners for claiming their rightly entitled free travel?  Please explain this to me because I know a lot of people will be just as puzzled as I am.”

 

Councillor Fielding, Leader of the Council, responded that it was dishonest to claim the charge was a stealth tax.  It was correctly referred to later in the question as the £10 administration charge.  The charge was for the additional benefit of travelling for free on Metrolink trams and trains within the Greater Manchester conurbation.  Free bus travel remained free and despite the way it had been spun in the media, free bus travel remained free and there was no charge for the pass to gain that travel.  The administration charge was the cost of loading on the additional benefits for free travel on the Metrolink and heavy rail network in Greater Manchester.  The £10 administration charge brought this charge into line with the administration charges the holders of other passes throughout the Greater Manchester conurbation also had to pay such as the new ‘Our Pass’ which provided free bus travel and additional benefits in terms of a leisure and cultural offer as designed by the Greater Manchester Mayor, Andy Burnham.  ‘Our Pass’ carried a £10 administration charge.  The WASPI Pass  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8b

8c

Questions on Cabinet Minutes pdf icon PDF 185 KB

(time limit 15 minutes)

 

24th June 2019

22nd July 2019

 

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Council were requested to note the minutes of the Cabinet held on the undermentioned dates and to receive any questions on any items within the minutes from members of the Council who were not members of the Cabinet and receive responses from Cabinet Members.  The minutes of the Cabinet meetings held on 24th June 2019 and 22nd July 2019 were submitted.

 

Members raised the following questions:

 

1.         Councillor Murphy, Cabinet Minutes, 24th June 2019, Item 12, Highways Improvement Programme 2019/20 – 2021/22 Update.  Councillor Murphy asked if the Cabinet Member was aware that Highways England were funding trials into rubber roads made from waste tyres and could a submission be made.

 

            Councillor Ur-Rehman, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods Services welcomed any opportunity for funding which had not already been explored and would discuss this with officers.

 

2.         Councillor H. Gloster, Cabinet Minutes, 24th June 2019, Item 12, Highways Improvement Programme 2019/20 – 2021/22 Update.  Councillor H. Gloster asked if there was a maintenance regime in place for signage.  Some signage had become obscured by moss and lychen.

 

            Councillor Ur-Rehman, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods Services responded that there was an annual maintenance budget and an annual inspection.  Councillor H. Gloster was asked to send the particular signs which were an issue to Councillor Ur-Rehman.

 

RESOLVED that:

1.         The minutes of the Cabinet meetings held on 24th June 2019 and 22nd July 2019 be noted.

2.         The questions and responses provided be noted.

 

8d

Questions on Joint Arrangements/Partnerships pdf icon PDF 447 KB

(time limit 15 minutes)

 

                                   

Greater Manchester Health and Care Board

31st May 2019

 

Greater Manchester Transport Committee

12th July 2019

 

Greater Manchester Waste and Recycling Committee

14th March 2019

 

National Park Authority

5th July 2019 (AGM)

19th July 2019

 

Mio Care Board

11th March 2019

 

Greater Manchester Combined Authority

28th June 2019

 

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Council were asked to note the minutes of the following Joint Authority and Partnership meetings and the relevant spokespersons to respond to questions from Members.

 

The minutes of the following Joint Authorities and Partnerships meetings were submitted as follows:

 

Greater Manchester Health and Care Board                              31st May 2019

Greater Manchester Transport Committee                                  12th July 2019

Greater Manchester Waste and Recycling Committee             14th March 2019

National Park Authority                                                                   5th July 2019

(AGM)

19th July 2019

MioCare Board                                                                                 11th March 2019

Greater Manchester Combined Authority                                    28th June 2019

 

Members raised the following questions:

 

1.            Councillor Hamblett, Greater Manchester Health and Care Board, 31st May 2019, Item HCB 28/19, Chief Officers Report.  Councillor Hamblett asked about the Primary Care Networks and Trent Road Surgery. The CCG had paused on the decision and asked if the Council would use the opportunity to signpost residents to join the nearby Crompton Health Centre instead of travelling to Royton and have sustainable health care in local areas?

 

Councillor Fielding, Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Economy and Enterprise referred the question to Councillor Chauhan, Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing.  Councillor Chauhan responded that patients had a free choice to sign up to surgeries and could sign up to any surgery.  It was a patient’s choice.

 

2.            Councillor Murphy, Greater Manchester Waste and Recycling Committee, 14th March 2019, Item WRC 18/70, Interim Services Contract Update.  Councillor Murphy referred to the position on overall diversion rates to landfill which had continued to increase to over 90% achieved by increased recycling rates, production of Refuse Derived Fuel and less waste sent to landfill. Councillor Murphy asked if reassurances could be provided that one problem wasn’t being solved by another and air pollution issues being created?

 

Councillor Hewitt, Spokesperson for the Greater Manchester Waste and Recycling Committee responded that technology was in place.  Material in furnances was very pure, most the smoke was recycled similar to clear burn fires in homes with 95% of the fuel combusted and provided assurance that the atmosphere was not being polluted.

 

RESOLVED that:

1.            The minutes of the Joint Authorities and Partnership meetings as detailed in the report be noted.

2.         The questions and responses provided be noted.

9.

Notice of Administration Business

(time limit 30 minutes)

 

Motion 1

Councillor Shah to MOVE and Councillor Chauhan to SECOND:

 

Kashmir

This Council notes with concern

(i)             the Indian Government’s decision to remove Article 370 and 35A from the Indian Constitution, which grants special status to Indian-controlled Kashmir, the recent movement of troops into Kashmir and the imposition of travel restrictions and a communications blackout affecting landlines, mobile phones and the internet.

(ii)            The Human Rights abuses in both Indian and Pakistani administered Kashmir as detailed in the United Nations Human Rights Commission reports of 2018 and 2019

This Council recognises that this unilateral action affects many Oldham residents with family and friends living in Kashmir who are concerned for their safety and well being.

This Council believes that the UK Government and international community should use all diplomatic and economic measures at their disposal to influence the Indian and Pakistan Governments to:

1.Ensure that democracy is respected and that the Kashmiri people are at the heart of any negotiation or settlement of this issue

2.Ensure that United Nations Security Council resolutions on Kashmir are respected, including UNSCR 47 which refers to the people of Jammu and Kashmir having the right to self-determination.

3. Respect the 1972 Simla Agreement which refers to the future of Jammu and Kashmir being determined by peaceful means.

4. Ensure that the rule of law is upheld and human rights are protected by lifting the telecommunications black out and allowing independent, international observers to the region.

5. Support the assistance of a United Nations Special Envoy for Kashmir in facilitating a peaceful and sustainable future for Kashmir and all its peoples.

 

Council resolves to ask the Chief Executive to write to

  1. the Prime Minister registering the Council’s concern at the action of the Indian Government and urging the UK Government to press for a resolution of the crisis based on the principles outlined in this motion
  2. the Borough’s three MPs thanking them for the action that they have already taken and ask them to use all parliamentary measures at their disposal to support the principles outlined in this motion.

 

Motion 2

Councillor Jabbar to MOVE and Councillor Hulme to SECOND:

 

Oldham’s Urban Forest

This Council notes the following results from the i-Tree eco projects as detailed in the report “Valuing Oldham’s Urban Forest”:

-          There are over 465,000 trees in the Borough of Oldham.

-          The Borough’s trees remove around 65 tonnes of pollution from Oldham’s air each year.

-          Oldham’s trees store more than 65,000 tonnes of Carbon and sequester a further 3000 tonnes per annum.

-          Trees in Oldham help cause 200,000m3 of stormwater runoff to be avoided.

Council further notes that Oldham is located in the proposed Northern Forest, an area spanning the whole of the North of England where it is proposed to plant 50 million new trees to increase tree cover from 7.6%, a figure which is well below the European average.

 

Recognising the benefits of trees to our Borough and our  ...  view the full agenda text for item 9.

Minutes:

Motion 1 – Kashmir

 

The Chief Executive had been notified of a change to the Mover and Seconder to the Motion.

 

Councillor Shah MOVED and Councillor Chauhan SECONDED the following MOTION:

 

In moving the Motion the MOVER requested an alteration to the motion to add the following at paragraph 3:

“6.  Allow essential aid such as food and medicine to be provided to residents of Jammu and Kashmir under the supervision of the United Nations and international charities.”

 

“This Council notes with concern

(i)            The Indian Government’s decision to remove Article 370 and 35A from the Indian Constitution, which grants special status to Indian-controlled Kashmir, the recent movement of troops into Kashmir and the imposition of travel restrictions and a communications blackout affecting landlines, mobile phones and the internet.

(ii)          The Human Rights abuses in both Indian and Pakistani administered Kashmir as detailed in the United Nations Human Rights Commission reports of 2018 and 2019

This Council recognises that this unilateral action affects many Oldham residents with family and friends living in Kashmir who are concerned for their safety and well being.  This Council believes that the UK Government and international community should use all diplomatic and economic measures at their disposal to influence the Indian and Pakistan Governments to:

1.         Ensure that democracy is respected and that the Kashmiri people are at the heart of any negotiation or settlement of this issue.

2.         Ensure that United Nations Security Council resolutions on Kashmir are respected, including UNSCR 47 which refers to the people of Jammu and Kashmir having the right to self-determination.

3.         Respect the 1972 Simla Agreement which refers to the future of Jammu and Kashmir being determined by peaceful means.

4.         Ensure that the rule of law is upheld and human rights are protected by lifting the telecommunications black out and allowing independent, international observers to the region.

5.         Support the assistance of a United Nations Special Envoy for Kashmir in facilitating a peaceful and sustainable future for Kashmir and all its peoples.

6.         Allow essential aid such as food and medicine to be provided to residents of Jammu and Kashmir under the supervision of the United Nations and international charities.”

Council resolves to ask the Chief Executive to write to

1.         The Prime Minister registering the Council’s concern at the action of the Indian Government and urging the UK Government to press for a resolution of the crisis based on the principles outlined in this motion.

2.         the Borough’s three MPs thanking them for the action that they have already taken and ask them to use all parliamentary measures at their disposal to support the principles outlined in this motion.”

 

Councillor Mushtaq spoke in support of the Motion.

Councillor Akhtar spoke in support of the Motion.

Councillor Sykes spoke in support of the Motion.

 

Councillor Chauhan exercised his right of reply.

 

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

 

RESOLVED that:

 

1.         The Chief Executive be asked to write to the Prime  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

10.

Notice of Opposition Business

(time limit 30 minutes)

 

Motion 1

Councillor Harkness to MOVE and Councillor Murphy to SECOND:

 

Declaring a Climate Emergency

This Council notes:

·       That the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) holds that climate change represents ‘an urgent and potentially irreversible threat to human societies and the planet.’

·       That the overwhelming weight of scientific evidence points to climate change being man-made.

·       The harmful effect that climate change has on our lives, natural habitats and eco-systems.

·       The IPCC’s call to governments and civil society to take urgent action to address climate change.

·       The resolutions made by over 100 UK local authorities and the UK Parliament in declaring climate emergencies.

·       The commitment under the 5-Year Environment Plan by the ten Greater Manchester authorities to become carbon-neutral by 2038.

·       Rochdale, Wigan, Bury, Salford, Manchester city, Trafford & Stockport Metropolitan Boroughs have all declared a climate change emergency, Oldham Brough should too.

 

This Council welcomes:

·       The ambitious commitment at the July 2019 Council of the Deputy Council Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance and Corporate Resources and Low Carbon to make the Council carbon-neutral by 2025.

·       The opportunity provided by the expiry of the Council’s current Climate Change strategy in 2020 to make new and more ambitious commitments to achieve carbon-neutrality by 2025.

 

This Council therefore resolves to:

·       Declare a Climate Emergency and publicise why this declaration has been made to the people of our Borough, our media outlets and our statutory, voluntary and business sector partners to enlist their support in taking collective action in addressing climate change.

·       Solicit the views and ideas of our staff, elected members, our partners and the general public in helping to craft a new Climate Change Strategy to replace our current strategy in 2020.

·       Identify clearly within this Strategy the ambition for this Council to become carbon-neutral by 2025.

·       Sign up to the UK100 Pledge to commit to consuming energy from renewable sources, including renewable energy generated by the Council itself.

·       Re-establish a cross-party Climate Change Strategy Group to oversee the delivery of the new strategy in partnership with the Deputy Council Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance and Corporate Resources and Low Carbon.

·       Ask the Chief Executive to write to the relevant Ministers, the Mayor of Greater Manchester and the Leaders of the other Greater Manchester authorities seeking their endorsement of our Climate Emergency declaration and our ambition to become carbon-neutral and requesting of central government the powers and financial resources to enable us to become carbon-neutral.

 

Motion 2

Councillor Williamson to MOVE and Councillor C Gloster to SECOND:

 

Closing the Loophole

This Council believes that our duty to protect our young people is paramount. Any chance of a slippage in the law that leaves young people unsafe or at threat of exploitation must be rectified.

Council notes that:

·       The NSPCC (the National Society for the Protection of Children against Cruelty) has recently reported that in the last four years police in England have recorded 1,025 crimes of Abuse of Position of Trust of a Sexual Nature

·       The  ...  view the full agenda text for item 10.

Minutes:

Motion 1 – Declaring a Climate Emergency

 

Councillor Harkness MOVED and Councillor Murphy SECONDED the following MOTION:

 

“This Council notes:

·         That the intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) holds that climate change represents ‘an urgent and potentially irreversible threat to human societies and the planet.’

·         That the overwhelming weight of scientific evidence points to climate change being man-made.

·         The harmful effect that climate change has on our lives, natural habitats and eco-systems.

·         The IPCC’s call to governments and civil society to take urgent action to address climate change.

·         The resolutions made by over 100 UK local authorities and the UK Parliament in declaring climate emergencies.

·         The commitment under the 5-Year Environment Plant by the ten Greater Manchester authorities to become carbon neutral by 2038.

·         Rochdale, Wigan, Bury, Salford, Manchester city, Trafford & Stockport Metropolitan Boroughs have all declared a climate change emergency, Oldham Borough should too.

This Council welcomes:

·         The ambitious commitment at the July 2019 Council of the Deputy Council Leader and the Cabinet Member for Finance and Corporate Resources and Low Carbon to make the Council carbon-neutral by 2025.

·         The opportunity provided by the expiry of the Council’s current Climate Change strategy in 2020 to make new and more ambitious commitments to achieve carbon-neutrality by 2025.

This Council therefore resolves to:

·         Declare a Climate Emergency and publicise why this declaration has been made to the people of our Borough, our media outlets and our statutory, voluntary and business sector partners to enlist their support in taking collective action in addressing climate change.

·         Solicit the views and ideas of our staff, elected members, our partners and the general public in helping to craft a new Climate Change Strategy to replace our current strategy in 2020.

·         Identify clearly within this Strategy the ambition for this Council to become carbon-neutral by 2025.

·         Sign up to the UK100 Pledge to commit to consuming energy from renewable sources, including renewable energy generated by the Council itself.

·         Re-establish a cross-party Climate Change Strategy Group to oversee the delivery of the new strategy in partnership with the Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Finance and Corporate Resources and Low Carbon.

·         Ask the Chief Executive to write to the relevant Ministers, the Mayor of Greater Manchester and the Leaders of the other Greater Manchester authorities seeking their endorsement of our Climate Change declaration and our ambition to become carbon-neutral and requesting of central government the powers and financial resources to enable us to become carbon-neutral.”

 

AMENDMENT

 

Councillor Jabbar MOVED and Councillor Judd SECONDED the following AMENDMENT:

 

“Insert before Section 1; ‘The impact of climate change is already causing serious damage around the world and all governments (national, regional and local) have a duty to act.  Strong policies to cut emissions have associated health, wellbeing and economic benefits.  This council therefore declares a ‘Climate Emergency’.

Section 1 – This Council Notes:

Insert after bullet point 4;

·         ‘That Oldham has signed the UK100 Pledge to commit to consuming energy from renewable sources, including renewable energy generated  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.

11.

Update on Actions from Council pdf icon PDF 102 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

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

 

RESOLVED that the update on Actions from Council be noted.

12.

Brexit Update pdf icon PDF 289 KB

Minutes:

Councillor Fielding MOVED and Councillor Sykes SECONDED a report of the Director of Legal Services which provided the anticipated impact of leaving the EU and what Greater Manchester and Oldham could do to mitigate against any likely negative consequences.

 

The report provided an overview of the potential impact of a ‘no deal’ scenario on Oldham.  The Greater Manchester Combined Authority had published briefings on Brexit Preparations.  The report outlined EU Exit Planning in Oldham which included work of an officer led project group.  The group had been working to:

·         Ensure that the impact of Brexit had been considered on the context of service-level Business Continuity Planning.

·         Identify potential risks to the Council of a ‘no-deal’ Brexit scenario.

·         Review policies relevant to the management of these risks, to ensure they are fit for purpose in the new environment.

·         Monitor staffing issues following a review of services which could be most affected.

·         Monitor the impact and implications of any future agreement between the UK and EU.

·         Update elected members regarding the major categories of risk as appropriate.

·         Make recommendations to Executive Officers on how the EU Exit mitigation funding should be allocated.

 

Oldham had been provided and allocation of £0.210m between the financial years 2018/19 and 2019/20.  To date £20k of the funding had been allocated to support Oldham’s Emergency Food Provision Sector (EFPS). 

 

The report also detailed economic impact, social impact, community cohesion, supply chain resilience and organisational impact implications.  At GM level there was ongoing activity to support GM businesses and raise awareness of the need to ensure preparations were underway for the changes resulting from Brexit.  A multi-agency Economic Resilience Taskforce had been established which brought together key GM bodies to try to ensure a coherent and comprehensive package of support.

 

Councillor Hudson spoke on the report.

Councillor Roberts spoke on the report.

Councillor Chauhan spoke on the report.

Councillor Hamblett spoke on the report.

Councillor Shuttleworth spoke on the report.

Councillor Al-Hamdani spoke on the report.

Councillor Hulme spoke on the report.

 

Councillor Fielding exercised his right of reply.

 

RESOLVED that:

1.         The ongoing work to help Oldham plan and mitigate for a ‘no-deal’ EU Exit be noted.

2.         Future report provided further detail on the impact on community cohesion.

13.

Treasury Management Review 2018/19 pdf icon PDF 706 KB

Minutes:

Councillor Jabbar MOVED and Councillor Fielding SECONDED a report of the Director of Finance on the Treasury Management Review for 2018/19.  The report had been commended to Council by Cabinet at its meeting held on 22nd July 2019.

 

The Council was required by regulations issued under the Local Government Act 2003 to produce an annual review of treasury management activities together with the actual prudential and treasury indicators for 2018/19.  The report met the requirements of both the CIPFA Code of Practice on Treasury Management (The Code) and the CIPFA Prudential Code for Capital Finance in Local Authorities (The Prudential Code).

 

During 2018/19 the minimum reporting requirements were that full Council should receive the following reports:

·         An annual treasury strategy in advance of the year (approved 28 February 2018)

·         A mid-year (minimum) treasury update report (approved 12 December 2018)

·         An annual review following the end of the year describing the activity compared to the strategy (this report).

The regulatory environment placed responsibility on members for the review and scrutiny of treasury management policy and activities.  The report was, therefore, important in that respect as it provided details of the outturn position for treasury activities and highlighted compliance with the Council’s policies previously approved by Members.

The Council confirmed it had complied with the requirements under the Code to vie prior scrutiny to all of the above treasury management reports.  The Audit Committee was charged with the scrutiny of treasury management activities in Oldham and was, therefore, requested to review the content of the report prior to its consideration by Cabinet and Council.  A programme of Treasury Management training had been developed in conjunction with Link Asset Services, the Council’s Treasury Management advisors and a session for leading Members and senior officers had already been delivered and further training was arranged to assist Members of the Audit Committee with their scrutiny role.

 

The Audit Committee had scrutinised the Treasury Management Review at its meeting on 25th June 2019.  In addition, the report had also been presented to and approved by Cabinet at its meeting on 22nd July 2019.  Both the Audit Committee and Cabinet were content to commend the report to Council.

 

During 2018/19, the Council complied with its legislative and regulatory requirements.  The key actual prudential and treasury indicators, which detailed the impact of capital expenditure activities during the year were detailed in the report.  The actual capital expenditure was less than the revised budget estimate for 2018/19 presented within the 2019/20 Treasury Management Strategy report considered at the Council meeting on 27 February 2019.

 

The outturn position was significantly less than the £8.658m original capital budget for 2018/19 as approved at Budget Council on 28 February 2018.  During the course of the year, the Capital Programme saw substantial rephrasing.  A number of major schemes including the Eastern Gateway Improvement Regeneration scheme and the Coliseum Theatre project were re-phased or re-aligned into future years to allow for either a review of the scheme to be undertaken (as  ...  view the full minutes text for item 13.

14.

Organisational Framework : Update pdf icon PDF 100 KB

Minutes:

Consideration was given to a report of the Chief Executive.  Oldham had driven changes to the arrangements, structures and models of its delivery in order to ensure the Council continued to deliver against each key plan.  There was a requirement to have appropriate Executive Leadership arrangements in place to respond to statutory services and priorities.  Oldham continued to demonstrate its move from an organisation-centric structure to more integrated provision which focussed on achieving outcomes for people and places.  A priority was to ensure Oldham was a place where Children and Young People thrived. 

 

In 2018, interim arrangements had been put in place for the statutory role of Director of Children’s Services(DCS) and Full Council had agreed a level of remuneration for the post within a salary banding up to £120k per annum.

 

Since then, the organisation had taken steps to move from interim arrangements to a permanent position of Managing Director, Children and Young People.  As part of the recruitment process, a review of national ay rates had been undertaken and as a result it was recommended that the level of remuneration banding for the post be extended to £130k per annum. 

 

RESOLVED that the remuneration for the post of Managing Director Children and Young People (DCS) be approved.

15.

Overview and Scrutiny Annual Report pdf icon PDF 195 KB

Minutes:

Consideration was given to the Overview and Scrutiny Annual Report for 2018/19.  The report outlined the purpose of Overview and Scrutiny, the roles and responsibilities of the Overview and Scrutiny Board, the Performance and Value for Money Select Committee and the Health Scrutiny Sub-Committee.  The report contained a summary of the work undertaken in 2018/19 and outlined how individuals could get involved in Overview and Scrutiny.

 

In moving the report, Councillor McLaren thanked members and officers for their support.

 

Councillor Williams spoke on the report.

Councillor Williamson spoke on the report and sought clarification that Movers and Seconders of motions referred to Overview and Scrutiny be invited to attend workshops / task and finish groups.

 

Councillor McLaren exercised his right of reply.

 

RESOLVED that the Overview and Scrutiny Annual Report for 2018/19 be approved.