Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Dawson.

Urgent business, if any, introduced by the Chair.

The Chair agreed to consider an Item of Urgent Business – Petition for residents parking, Beech Street, Failsworth, as a matter of urgency in order to avoid delays in dealing with the petition.

The Item was considered at Item 8 on the agenda.

To Receive Declarations of Interest in any Contract or matter to be discussed at the meeting.

There were no declarations of interest received.

The District Executive is asked to elect a Vice Chair for the Municipal year 2013-2014. The Vice Chair will chair the District Executive meeting in the absence of the Chair.

RESOLVED that Councillor Ames be elected Vice Chair of the Failsworth & Hollinwood District Executive for the Municipal Year 2013/14.

To receive Questions from the Public, in accordance with the Council’s Constitution.

One public question had been received from Warren Bates regarding safety improvements to the road layout at Failsworth District Centre.

The Chair and Councillor Briggs responded that proposals for improving the pedestrian safety and vehicle movements were being prepared and delays were related to land not in Council ownership. The Chair also informed the questioner that he would receive a written response within 5 working days.

RESOLVED that the question raised and the response given be noted.

The minutes of the Failsworth & Hollinwood District Partnership, and Failsworth & Hollinwood District Partnership Finance Sub Committee, held on 21^st March 2013 are attached for approval.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Failsworth & Hollinwood District Partnership and the Finance Sub-Committee meetings held on 21^st March 2013 be approved as a correct record.

Members are asked to note the Constitutional amendments for District Executive working.

The District Executive received a report that outlined the Constitutional changes that related to District Executives. Areas highlighted included the changes to the format of the meeting, the Community Call-In Pilot, the Petition Process and Traffic Regulation Order approvals. 

RESOLVED that the report be noted.

This is a standing item relating to Petitions received relating to the Failsworth & Hollinwood District Executive area for consideration by the District Executive in accordance with the Council’s Petition Scheme. One petition has been received.

The District Executive considered two petitions in line with the petitions protocol:

• Pole Lane, Failsworth: Request for permanent road closure.
• Beech Street, Failsworth: Request for residents parking.

RESOLVED that:

1. The petition for permanent road closure at Pole Lane, Failsworth, be referred to the Executive Director, Neighbourhoods, to investigate the request and produce a report for the District Executive.

2. The petition for residents parking at Beech Street, Failsworth, be referred to the Executive Director, Neighbourhoods, to investigate the request and produce a report for the District Executive, ensuring the surrounding streets be taken into account.

To advise the District Partnership of the budget spend in 2012/2013, funding available to spend during 2013/14, and to consider funding applications.

The District Executive considered a report advising of the breakdown of funding expenditure during 2012/13; the funding available to spend during 2013/14, and; sought consideration of funding for a number of projects and areas of work. Revised financial implications were circulated at the meeting.

Members expressed concern that both the original and revised financial figures in relation to Councillor’s individual budgets were incorrect.

RESOLVED that:

1. The funding allocations made by the District Partnership in 2012/13 be noted.

2. The funding available for the District Executive for 2013/14 be noted.

3. The allocation of £1,100 for the provision of a Christmas Tree in Hollinwood be approved.

4. The allocation of £1,100 for the provision of a Christmas Tree in Failsworth be approved.

5. The allocation of £300 for the provision of a refreshments in Hollinwood be approved.

6. The allocation of £600 for the provision of a refreshments in Failsworth be approved.

7. The allocation of £400 for the dressing and undressing of Christmas Tree in Hollinwood be approved.

8. The allocation of £400 for the dressing and undressing of Christmas Tree in Failsworth be approved.

9. The allocation of £1,000 for the dressing and undressing of Christmas Lights at Failsworth Pole be approved.

10. The allocation of £1,000 for the dressing and undressing of Christmas Lights at District Town Hall be approved

11. The allocation of £1,210 for the potential provision of utilities to a new Christmas Tree site in Hollinwood be approved

12. The allocation of £3,200 to support one Apprentice in a placement within the District Team be approved.

13. The allocation of £3,200 to support one Apprentice in a placement within the District Environmental Team be approved.

14. The allocation of £2,000 to the Failsworth & Hollinwood District Team for event organisation, refreshments and associated costs be approved.

15. The allocation of £3,000 for material costs for minor work programmes for Failsworth & Hollinwood be approved.

16. The allocation of £13,000 for the continuation of the Citizens Advice Bureau ‘Make the most of your money’ project be approved.

17. The allocation of £5,000 for supervision costs to support the work of Community Payback within the Failsworth & Hollinwood District be approved.

18. The funding request of £600 to the Hollinwood Together Festival for marquee, chairs and tables hire be approved.

The District Executive is asked to nominate representatives to the following outside bodies of the Council, and also a Youth Champion:

• Contour (2 places)
• Failsworth Old People’s Welfare Association (1 place)
• Youth Champion (1 place)

RESOLVED that:

1. Councillors Stretton and Williams be appointed to Contour.

2. Councillor Battye be appointed to Failsworth Old People’s Welfare Association

3. Councillor Fielding be appointed as Youth Champion.

The following updates are attached for Members of the District Executive to note:

• Highways
• Police
• Citizens Advice Money Matters Project
• Regeneration

The District Executive considered district updates relating to Highways, Police, Regeneration and the Citizens Advice Money Matters Project.

Discussions took place regarding:

• Highways: It was reported that there were schemes to be identified from the Ward allocations, and that Ward Members would meet to agree a way forward regarding the funding. A request was also made to include updates on suggested schemes, even if they were still being looked into. Councillor McMahon verbally outlined a need for funding to be allocated to the Norman Street / Wesley Street Social Regeneration Pilot in Failsworth.
• Police: The Chair reported that regular briefings would be arranged with the Chair and the District Inspector with an open invitation to members of the District Executive to attend and raise concerns. It was requested that the format of the police report changes to reflect concerns raised by members, and it would be agreed with the Chair prior to being included on the agenda. Concern was also raised regarding the relationship between the District Inspector and the police in the area.
• Citizens Advice Money Matters Project: Concerns were raised regarding the venue since the Citizens Advice Bureau in Newton Heath had closed, and a request was made for a breakdown in the figures of Manchester residents compared with Oldham Borough residents.
• Regeneration: The Chair reported that he would be meeting with regeneration staff to discuss report content going forward. It was suggested that sites within and around Failsworth Mill and Phoenix industrial estate could be used for alternative community use as part of future re-development. Councillor Briggs was to take up the issue of signage to connect residential areas to the Metrolink.

RESOLVED that

1. The District Updates be noted.

2. The allocation of £15,000 for the Norman Street / Wesley Street Social Regeneration Pilot in Failsworth, be approved.

3. The Chair write a letter on behalf of the District Executive to the District Inspector, with a copy to the Superintendent, expressing concern about community policing and the ongoing relationship with elected members.

The dates and times for the Failsworth & Hollinwood District Executive for the Municipal Year 2013 – 2014 are as follows:

• Thursday, 1^st August 2013 at 7.00 p.m.
• Thursday, 10^th October 2013 at 7.00 p.m.
• Tuesday, 5^th November 2013 at 7.00 p.m.
• Tuesday, 21^st January 2014 at 7.00 p.m.
• Thursday, 20^th March 2014 at 7.00 p.m.

Members raised that the meeting scheduled for 5^th November 2013 had the potential to clash with bonfire night celebrations in the Borough.

RESOLVED that:

1. The dates and times of District Executive meetings for the municipal year 2013/14 be noted.

2. That the Chair, in consultation with Constitutional Services, be delegated to rearrange the date of the meeting scheduled for 5^th November 2013.