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 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 Gareth Evans via email:

            “Are the council any clearer on who was the successful bidder to take over the running of Chapel Road Synthetic Pitch. The bids where submitted nearly a month ago and the new season is imminent and both existing tenants are getting nervous about the future.”

          Councillor Fielding, Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Economy and Enterprise responded that letters had been sent out to named tenders on 3^rd September 2018.  It was noted that Mr. Evans was not named as the main contact on this tender and, therefore, was advised to liaise with the party it was proposed to work with.  After looking at the 2018/19 football requirements officers had discussed this and arranged access to the facility on a temporary basis until the tender process had been concluded.  This would be facilitated using OCL as a key holding party.

2.       Question received from James Allen via letter:

          “After attending Oldham West District Executive on the 25/7/18 in the Crompton Suite as an observer, I listened to a presentation by the appropriate officers on Item 6 (discussion on high school provisions).  This was a good item but 1 item was not taken into account, this is disabled students of all criteria in all disability.  I raised this after the meeting had finished with the Councillors present who advised me to put this to full Council.  I would like to ask:

          1)a) How many high schools or academies to date have adequate facilities to take on disabled people in whatever forum it is.

          b) How is the Council going to address this if found that the schools no matter if it’s under (Council remit, Free school or academies) who are not achieving this.

          2) Any new high school that is to be built within Oldham have to comply in access to all normal and disabled students in getting to their classes, also disabled toilets, etc are in place.

          3) Will there be adequate classes for disabled people to take up physical exercise and games infrastructure adapted to their needs

          I ask after this is taken up at full Council and then put forward onto the Health and Wellbeing Board to fully look at the findings also to Health Scrutiny.”

          Councillor Jacques, Cabinet Member for Education and Culture, responded that all high schools and academies that admitted disabled pupils must have adequate facilities in place for those students including provision for physical education.  Should the Council become aware of any schools which did not have such facilities in place, swift  ...  view the full minutes text for item 1.

Apologies were received from Councillors Akhtar, Ball, S. Bashforth and Brock.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Council meeting held on 11^th July 2018 be approved as a correct record.

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

Councillor M. Bashforth declared a personal interest at Item 14a, MioCare Board, by virtue of her appointment to the Miocare Board.

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

Councillor F. Hussain declared a personal interest at Item 14a, MioCare Board, by virtue of his appointment to the MioCare Board.

Councillor Murphy declared a personal interest at Item 8, “Tyred” Campaign Motion, by virtue of being a nominated MOT tester.

Councillor Heffernan declared a personal interest Item 6, Cabinet Minutes from 25^th June 2018, Fees for Adult Social Care Services for 2018/19 by virtue of being a client and at Item 41A, MioCare Board, by virtue of his appointment to the MioCare Board.

There were no items of urgent business.

There were no communications.

The Mayor advised that three petitions had been received for noting by Council:

Objections to Car Boot Sale at Oldham Athletic Football Ground (Royton South Ward) received on 11^th July 2018 with 91 signatures (Ref: 2018-10)

Objections to Greengate Street Masjid Becoming a Full Time School or College (St. Mary’s Ward) received on 11^th July 2018 with 77 signatures (Ref: 2018-11)

Lifting of Tree and Preservation Order on Cemetery Road (Royton North Ward) received on 6^th June 2018 with 67 signatures (Ref: 2018-14)

RESOLVED that the petitions received since the last meeting of Council be noted.

(time limit 15 minutes).

Tyred Campaign

“On Monday 10 September 2012 a coach bound for Liverpool carrying 53 people from the Bestival music festival on the Isle of Wight, left the road and crashed into a tree instantly killing Michael Molloy (18), Kerry Ogden (23) and the coach driver, Colin Daulby (63), and left others with life-changing injuries. The inquest into the crash found that the front nearside tyre which was actually older than the coach itself, at 19 years, was responsible for the crash. In 2014, Liverpool City Council unanimously agreed on a motion in support of Michael’s mother Frances calling for a change in the law requiring a ban on tyres older than six years on commercial vehicles. Despite the widespread public and political support for this campaign, no change in the law has been made, shamefully leaving others at risk from faulty and dangerous tyres.

Council notes that Frances Molloy has launched “Tyred” – the official campaign to pressure Government – to change the law to ban the use of tyres older than ten years on commercial vehicles.

Council wholeheartedly supports “Tyred” and asks the Leader of the Council to write to the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition asking them to commit to cross-party support for a change in the law.

Council further resolves to support the “Tyred” campaign until such a change in the law is achieved and to draw the attention of the Local Government Association, especially its Environment and Transport Board, to this Council’s view that the concerns should be fully addressed. Council requests that the Leader copies the Chair of the LGA’s Environment and Transport Board into the letter to the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition.

Finally, Council asks the Chief Executive to write to all schools in the Borough asking them to require coach and bus operators that they use for school trips etc to adhere to the provisions set out in the Tyred campaign. Council should also ask officers to look at our own procurement procedures with a view to inserting an appropriate clause in any contracts with commercial operators and to also ensure that this standard applies to our own vehicle fleet.”

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

“Tyred” Campaign

Councillor Stretton MOVED and Councillor Haque SECONDED the following motion:

“On Monday 10 September 2012 a coach bound for Liverpool carrying 53 people from the Bestival music festival on the Isle of Wight, left the road and crashed into a tree instantly killing Michael Molloy (18), Kerry Ogden (23) and the coach driver, Colin Daulby (63), and left others with life-changing injuries. The inquest into the crash found that the front nearside tyre which was actually older than the coach itself, at 19 years, was responsible for the crash. In 2014, Liverpool City Council unanimously agreed on a motion in support of Michael’s mother Frances calling for a change in the law requiring a ban on tyres older than six years on commercial vehicles. Despite the widespread public and political support for this campaign, no change in the law has been made, shamefully leaving others at risk from faulty and dangerous tyres.
Council notes that Frances Molloy has launched “Tyred” – the official campaign to pressure Government – to change the law to ban the use of tyres older than ten years on commercial vehicles.
Council wholeheartedly supports “Tyred” and asks the Leader of the Council to write to the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition asking them to commit to cross-party support for a change in the law.
Council further resolves to support the “Tyred” campaign until such a change in the law is achieved and to draw the attention of the Local Government Association, especially its Environment and Transport Board, to this Council’s view that the concerns should be fully addressed. Council requests that the Leader copies the Chair of the LGA’s Environment and Transport Board into the letter to the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition.
Finally, Council asks the Chief Executive to write to all schools in the Borough asking them to require coach and bus operators that they use for school trips etc to adhere to the provisions set out in the Tyred campaign. Council should also ask officers to look at our own procurement procedures with a view to inserting an appropriate clause in any contracts with commercial operators and to also ensure that this standard applies to our own vehicle fleet.”

AMENDMENT

Councillor Murphy MOVED and Councillor C. Gloster SECONDED the following AMENDMENT:

“Insert new paragraph 3 to read as follows:

‘Council also notes that at this time there is no tyre age criteria which allows nominated MoT testers to issue a failure notice to the presenter of a vehicle for test, and no guidance notes are included in the inspection manual issued to MoT testers which could give relevant tyre age testing information.’

In the final paragraph in the original motion remove the word ‘Finally’ at the start of that paragraph.

Insert a new final paragraph to read as follows:  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

There was no business from the Youth Council to consider.

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

1.       Question 1:  Greater Manchester Spatial Framework

          “My first question tonight relates to a future decision which will be one of the most momentous in its impact on many of our Borough’s residents over the next two plus decades.  Namely the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework (GMSF) – the adoption of a 20-year housing and industrial land use development plan for Greater Manchester.  The revised proposals have been some time coming, but I understand that they will now be available for so called public consultation in October.  I also understand that a decision has recently been made by the ten Labour Council leaders and the Mayor of Greater Manchester who have decided that the ultimate decision to adopt, or not to adopt the final plans, will rest solely with them.  There will be no requirement to bring the plan to a full meeting of each of the ten Councils for debate and a full vote on formal adoption by all councillors.  This is a complete reversal of democracy.  Members will recall that many of our residents were outraged when the initial plans to build thousands of new homes on Green Belt land in Shaw, Crompton, Saddleworth, Royton and Chadderton were first unveiled.  Liberal Democrat colleagues, I and members from the seats opposite, joined them in opposing the proposals when responding to the consultation or attending demonstrations in Tandle Hill Country Park and in Albert Square.  Public sentiment is still the same across Greater Manchester – no to building new houses on our Green Belt and yes to local councillors as the people’s representatives ultimately making the decision where new homes are built.  Ward members are elected to lead, but also to represent the constituents and the communities we serve.  How can we do this if we are denied the final vote on the plan?  If we get this wrong, it will represent a disaster for our communities and for our Green Belt.  Yet the ten Labour Council Leaders and GM Mayor are saying ‘leave it to us, we know what is best for you’.  It is simply not right that such an important decision can be taken by so few people.  It is certainly not what I and many others envisaged but perhaps it is a sign of things to come with so called devolution to Greater Manchester.  I would like to ask the Leader tonight, whether despite this backroom deal, he will still be doing the honourable thing by bringing the final plan back to a meeting of the full Council for debate and adoption. 

          Councillor Fielding, Leader of the Council, refuted the suggestion of a back room deal.  A previous motion had been raised whether to withdraw from GMSF in its entirety and this motion was lost.  GMSF was a strategic plan for the allocation of land for homes and employment uses for the whole of Greater Manchester and it was appropriate for the decision  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.

(time limit 20 minutes):-

a) 25^th June 2018

b) 23^rd July 2018

The minutes of the Cabinet meetings held on 25^th June 2018 and 23^rd July 2018 were submitted.

Members raised the following questions:

Councillor H. Gloster, Cabinet Minutes 23 July 2018, Item 6, Clarksfield Primary School 1FE Expansion and Academy Conversion.  Councillor H. Gloster highlighted that Clarksfield was not a good school and required improvement and was rated inadequate according to inspectors of March of this year including leadership and management.  Why did this Administration choose the lowest quote and hope to improve the achievements of children by expanding inadequate provision?

Councillor Jacques, Cabinet Member for Education and Culture responded the school had undertaken a whole new leadership role.  The Regional Schools Commissioner was involved in determining the leadership.  It was felt the school would bring about the required improvements.

Members raised the following observations:

Councillor Harkness, Cabinet Minutes, 23 July 2018, Item 8, Ackers Farm Retaining Wall Reconstruction – Tender Acceptance Report.  Councillor Harkness expressed his thanks for the work on the retaining wall and hoped to see more.

RESOLVED that:

1.       The minutes of the Cabinet meetings held on 25^th June 2018 and 23^rd July 2018 be noted.

2.       The question and response provided be noted.

3.       The observation be noted.

(time limit 30 minutes)

Motion 1

Councillor Roberts to MOVE and Councillor Leach to SECOND:

Action on Social Housing

This Council notes the delayed publication of the  Government’s Green Paper ‘New deal for social housing’ which finally appeared in August 2018 and the promise that this would  be”the most substantial report of its kind for a generation” by the then-housing secretary Sajid Javid.

While this Council welcomes the stated commitment to improve access to social housing and some of the individual proposals in the Green Paper e.g. dropping the forced sale of high-value homes and the limitation of the introduction of Right To Buy for Housing Association tenants to a trial in the Midlands, we also believe that this is a missed opportunity falling far short of the action needed to address the housing crisis in Oldham and across the country. One significant contribution would be to suspend the ‘Right to buy’ legislation. Nor does the Green Paper offer any proposals to mitigate the adverse impact of Universal Credit on landlords and tenants.

Oldham Council remains committed to working in partnership with housing providers and using all the resources available to meet the urgent and increasing housing need in the borough. Work is underway to produce a revised and updated Housing Strategy for Oldham to be completed by March 2019.

Council resolves to:

1.     Continue to press the Government to provide additional resources to both replace the homes lost to social rent by ‘Right to buy’ and to provide badly needed new homes at a social rent both in our response to the Green Paper and through working with the GMCA and the LGA to bring forward proposals that meet local needs

2.      develop Oldham’s Housing Strategy to provide a comprehensive housing offer for local people with an emphasis on increasing the numbers of  homes available for social rent

3.     explore new ways of providing homes in partnership with local providers and including by investigating the option of setting up a Housing Development Company

Motion 2

Councillor Chauhan to MOVE and Councillor M Bashforth to SECOND:

Creating a healthy and thriving Oldham

Oldham Council notes:
• That good health is more than the lack of disease or illness.
• The World Health Organisation (WHO) has estimated that 13 million deaths annually are attributable to preventable environmental causes. WHO estimates that 24% of the global disease burden (healthy life years lost) and 23% of all deaths (premature mortality) are attributable to environmental quality.
• For Oldham residents to thrive good mental, physical and social wellbeing is essential.
• Health and wellbeing has an important relationship to income, quality employment, decent housing, access to basic services including education, physical activity, a good quality built environment, the natural environment and cultural and social fulfilment.
• That access to affordable, quality healthy food is essential to good health.
• The number of environmental factors locally, such as the sale of harmful products and unhealthy food, impacts directly on health in  ...  view the full agenda text for item 12.

Motion 1 – Action on Social Housing

Councillor Roberts MOVED and Councillor Leach SECONDED the following MOTION:

“This Council notes the delayed publication of the Government’s Green Paper ‘New deal for social housing’ which finally appeared in August 2018 and the promise that this would be ‘the most substantial report of its kind for a generation’ by the then-housing secretary Sajid Javid.

While this Council welcomes the stated commitment to improve access to social housing and some of the individual proposals in the Green Paper e.g. dropping the forced sale of high-value homes and the limitation of the introduction of Right to Buy for Housing Association tenants to a trial in the Midlands, we also believe that this is a missed opportunity falling far short of the action needed to address the housing crisis in Oldham and across the country. One significant contribution would be to suspend the ‘Right to buy’ legislation.  Nor does the Green Paper offer any proposals to mitigate the adverse impact of Universal Credit on landlords and tenants.

Oldham Council remains committed to working in partnership with housing providers and using all the resources available to meet the urgent and increasing housing need in the borough.  Work is underway to produce a revised and updated Housing Strategy for Oldham to be completed by March 2019.

Council resolves to:

1.       Continue to press the Government to provide additional resources to both replace the homes lost to social rent by ‘Right to buy’ and to provide badly needed new homes at a social rent both in our response to the Green Paper and through working with the GMCA and the LGA to bring forward proposals that meet local needs

2.       develop Oldham’s Housing Strategy to provide a comprehensive housing offer for local people with an emphasis on increasing the numbers of homes available for social rent

3.       explore new ways of providing homes in partnership with local providers and including by investigating the option of setting up a Housing Development Company”

AMENDMENT

Councillor Sykes MOVED and Councillor Williamson SECONDED the following AMENDMENT:

“In paragraph three, add two new sentences at the end after March 2019 to read as follows:

‘Council will look to consult widely with partner agencies, elected members and with groups which are disadvantaged within the housing market (for example, people with disabilities of working age wishing to live independently) to ensure that their views inform this policy.  However, Council also notes that the Head of Planning recently described the borough’s Affordable Housing Strategy as ‘not fit for purpose’, and recognises that this strategy needs urgent review to ensure that it contributes effectively to the borough’s affordable housing needs.’

In bullet point one of the resolution insert after ‘press’ in line 1 ‘this and future’ and change Government to Governments.

Insert a new bullet point two to read

‘Seek the support of the GMCA and the LGA in lobbying this and future Governments to grant local authorities the power to suspend the ‘Right to buy’  ...  view the full minutes text for item 12.

(time limit 30 minutes)

Motion 1

Councillor Heffernan to MOVE and Councillor Harkness to SECOND:

Keeping Our Villages and Rural Areas HGV Free

Council notes that:

·       HGVs and large vehicles can bring small villages and rural areas to a standstill when these vehicles are too large to navigate smaller roads.

·       This has happened most recently on April 26 in Delph when a large articulated lorry blocked the junction of Grains Road and King Street bringing chaos to the village for four hours.

·       These situations often occur because drivers of these vehicles chose to ignore displayed weight or width restrictions or fail to use a satnav system specifically designed for lorries.

·       The Police do not always have the resources to enforce these restrictions, yet Councils outside London and Wales are currently prevented from doing so because the Government has failed to bring Part 6 of the Traffic Management Act 2004 into force for Councils in the rest of England.

·       Lorry satnavs are like normal car satnavs, but they include bridge heights, narrow roads, and roads unsuitable for trucks. In addition, they allow the driver to enter the lorry’s dimensions – height, width, weight and load – so they are only guided along suitable roads. Their cost is slightly more than that of a standard car sat-nav.

Council further notes that, in several parts of England, Lorry Watch schemes have been established. These are run by local residents who record instances of vehicles flouting weight and width restrictions, and report them to a Parish Council Coordinator, the Police or their Council Trading Standards Department.

This Council:

·       Supports the position of the cross-party Local Government Association that the Government should bring Part 6 of the Traffic Management Act 2004 into force for all relevant English councils with immediate effect and legislate so all HGVs and large vehicles are required to install suitable satnavs designed for lorries and large vehicles.

·       Believes that establishing Lorry Watch Schemes in various parts of the Borough is worthy of consideration.

Council resolves to:

·       Ask the Chief Executive to write to the Secretary of State for Transport requesting the Government bring Part 6 of the 2004 Traffic Management Act into force and legislate to make the use of suitable satnavs for HGVs and other large vehicles mandatory.

·       Ask the Chief Executive to seek the support of our three local MPs and the Mayor of Greater Manchester for this position.

·       Ask the Overview and Scrutiny Board to examine the merits and practicalities of establishing a Lorry Watch scheme in various parts of the Borough, in conjunction with the District Executives, the Parish Councils, residents’ associations, and the Police.

Motion 2

Councillor Williamson to MOVE and Councillor Gloster to SECOND:

Period Poverty

This Council notes that:

·       A survey by Plan International UK found that 1 in 10 teenage girls had been unable to afford sanitary products;

·       56% of teenage girls said they would rather be bullied at school than talk to their parents about periods;

·       This is particularly problematic  ...  view the full agenda text for item 13.

Motion 1 – Keeping Our Villages and Rural Areas HGV Free

Councillor Heffernan MOVED and Councillor Harkness SECONDED the following MOTION:

“Council notes that:

·       HGVs and large vehicles can bring small villages and rural areas to a standstill when these vehicles are too large to navigate smaller roads.

·       This has happened most recently on April 26 in Delph when a large articulated lorry blocked the junction of Grains Road and King Street bringing chaos to the village for four hours.

·       These situations often occur because drivers of these vehicles chose to ignore displayed weight or width restrictions or fail to use a satnav system specifically designed for lorries.

·       The Police do not always have the resources to enforce these restrictions, yet Councils outside London and Wales are currently prevented from doing so because the Government has failed to bring Part 6 of the Traffic Management Act 2004 into force for Councils in the rest of England.

·       Lorry satnavs are like normal car satnavs, but they include bridge heights, narrow roads, and roads unsuitable for trucks.  In addition, they allow the driver to enter the lorry’s dimensions – height, width, weight and load – so they are only guided along suitable roads.  Their cost is slightly more than that of a standard car sat-nav.

Council further notes that, in several parts of England, Lorry Watch schemes have been established.  These are run by local residents who record instances of vehicles flouting weight and width restrictions, and report them to a Parish Council Coordinator, the Police or their Council Trading Standards Department.

This Council:

·       Supports the position of the cross-party Local Government Association that the Government bring Part 6 of the Traffic Management Act 2004 into force for all relevant English councils with immediate effect and legislate so all HGVs and large vehicles are required to install suitable satnavs designed for lorries and large vehicles.

·       Believes that establishing Lorry Watch Schemes in various parts of the Borough is worthy of consideration.

Council resolves to:

·       Ask the Chief Executive to write to the Secretary of State for Transport requesting the Government bring Part 6 of the 2004 Traffic Management Act into force and legislate to make the use of suitable satnavs for HGVs and other large vehicles mandatory.

·       Ask the Chief Executive to seek the support of our three local MPs and the Mayor of Greater Manchester for this position.

·       Ask the Overview and Scrutiny board to examine the merits and practicalities of establishing a Lorry Watch scheme in various parts of the Borough, in conjunction with the District Executives, the Parish Councils, residents’ associations, and the Police.”

Councillor A. Alexander spoke in support of the Motion.

Councillor Hudson spoke in support of the Motion.

Councillor Roberts MOVED and Councillor Jabbar SECONDED that the motion be put to the VOTE.  The MOVE to the VOTE was AGREED.

Councillor Heffernan exercised his right of reply.

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

RESOLVED that:

1.       The Chief Executive be  ...  view the full minutes text for item 13.

(time limit 7 minutes)

The minutes of the Partnership meetings were submitted as follows:

MioCare Board                                             14^th May 2018

Oldham Leadership Board                         12^th July 2018

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

(time limit 8 minutes):-

The minutes of the following Join Authority meetings were submitted as follows:

Transport for Greater Manchester                         15^th June 2018 (AGM)

                                                                                    15^th June 2018

Greater Manchester Combined Authority                        29^th June 2018 (AGM)

                                                                                    29^th June 2018

Association of Greater Manchester

Authorities (AGMA)                                                 29^th June 2018

National Park Authority                                          25^th May 2018

Greater Manchester Health and Care Board      11^th May 2018

Members raised the following questions:

Councillor C. Gloster: GM Health and Care Board, 11^th May 2018, Minutes 15/18 Diabetes Clinical Best Practice Strategy.  It was reported during Ramadan there was an increased risk of hypoglycaemia due to fasting.  Does Oldham advise more than family members about reducing the risk.

Councillor Chauhan, Cabinet Member for Health and Social Care, responded that a number of GPs held advice sessions, groups also ran sessions in mosques and this would be built upon.  It was difficult to tell people not to fast, Islam did make allowances for people not to fast.  People made the choices after receiving advice from practitioners.

RESOLVED that:

1.         The minutes of the Joint Authority meetings as detailed in the report be noted.

2.         The question and response provided be noted.

Council gave consideration 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 other issues raised at the meeting.

RESOLVED the update on Actions from Council be noted.

Consideration was given to the report of the Director of Finance which presented the Council’s recently approved audited Statement of Accounts for the Financial Year 2017/18 and the External Auditor (Grant Thornton UK LLP) Audit Findings Report.  The audited Statement of Accounts was approved by the Audit Committee on 16^th July 2018 and considered at the Cabinet meeting held on 20^th August 2018, whereby the accounts were noted and commended to Full Council.

The report highlighted:

·       The unqualified opinion in the External Auditors Findings Report on the Statement of Accounts and the positive value for money opinion.

·       The overall revenue outturn position for 2017/18 with a surplus of £0.150m before the final transfer to earmarked reserves to support the 2018/19 budget.  This was a marginal increase on the forecast outturn position of a £0.146m favourable variance reported on the Month 9 position.  Following the transfer to earmarked reserves to support the 2018/19 budget, the net General Fund movement was a decrease of £0.753m.

·       The Council spent £25.803m on its Capital Programme in 2017/18 compared to the forecast spending of £27.145m which resulted in a variance of £1.342m between the forecast and actual position. 

·       Capital receipts in year totalled £11.363m against a financing requirement of £6.780m.

·       Schools balances at the year-end totalled £5.545m but were offset by the deficit on the Dedicated Schools Grant of £3.031m leaving a net reserve of £2.514m.

·       The final Housing Revenue Account (HRA) balance was £20.162m.

·       The speed of the preparation of the accounts.

·       The performance of the Finance Team in closing the Council’s accounts and its focus on continuous improvement of its processes.

The Council had received an objection to the 2016/17 Statement of Accounts which had not yet been resolved.  Therefore, although the External Auditor had given an opinion on the accounts from both financial years, the formal review the objection must conclude before the audit can be formally closed.

In moving the report, Councillor Jabbar commented on the excellent report from the external auditors on how the accounts were managed and all green indicators.  Councillor Jabbar expressed his thanks to the Director of Finance and the Finance team and also expressed his appreciation to the Audit Committee on their scrutiny of the accounts.

RESOLVED that the 2017/18 Council’s Final Accounts, the Auditor’s report and the comments provided be noted.

Consideration was given to a report of the Director of Finance which provided details of the Treasury Management Review for 2017/18.  The Council was required by regulations issued under the Local Government Act 2003 to produce an annual treasury management review of activities and the actual prudential and treasury indicators for 2017/18.  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 2017/18 the minimum reporting requirements were that the full Council receive the following reports:

·       An annual treasury strategy in advance of the year which was approved on 1^st March 2017;

·       A mid-year (minimum) treasury update report approved on 13^th December 2017; and

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

The presentation of the report demonstrated full compliance with the requirements as it provided details of the outturn position for treasury activities and highlighted compliance with the Council’s policies previously approved by Members.

The regulatory environment placed responsibility on Members for the review and scrutiny of treasury management policy and activities.  The Audit Committee has this responsibility and it had already scrutinised the Treasury Management Review report at its meeting held on 16^th July 2018.  In addition, the report was also presented to and approved by the Cabinet at is meeting held on 20^th August 2018 and commended the report to Council.

The report summarised:

·       The Council’s Capital Expenditure and Financing During 2017/18

·       The Council’s Overall Borrowing Need

·       The Council’s Debt and Investment Position

·       The Strategy for 2017/18

·       The Economy and Business Rates

·       Borrowing Rates in 2017/18

·       Borrowing Outturn for 2017/18

·       Compliance with Treasury Limits

·       Investment Rates and Outturn.

Options/Alternatives

In order that the Council complied with the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy’s (CIPFA) Code of Practice on Treasury Management, the Council had no option other than to consider and approve the contents of the report. 

RESOLVED that:

1.       The actual 2017/18 prudential and treasury indicators presented in the report be approved.

2.       The annual treasury management report for 2017/18 be approved.

Consideration was given to a report on proposed changes to the Transport for Greater Manchester and updated Outside Bodies Grids. 

Following a governance review of Greater Manchester bodies, Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) at its meeting of 29^th June 2018 (GM Constitutional Review report is attached at appendix 1) agreed to propose changes to the Transport for Greater Manchester Committee to reflect the changes to the responsibilities of the Mayor and GMCA following devolution.

Proposal for the 10 Constituent Council to consider:

Transport

1.    That each GM Local Authority be requested to:

·         Agree the size of TfGMC as 23 members

·         Appoint 1 member to TfGMC, save for Manchester City Council to appoint 2  members, and nominate 1 member to be appointed by GMCA to ensure political balance

·         Note that the remaining 2 appointments are 1 member appointed by GMCA and 1 member appointed by the Mayor

·         Agree to amend the Operating Agreement to reflect these changes

·         Note that the Terms of Reference will be reviewed to ensure that they reflect the Mayor’s current transport powers with a further review in 2019/20 to reflect proposed powers.

Council was asked to make one appointment to the Committee, one Labour Member and one nomination to the Committee, one Liberal Democrat Member.

Further nominations to other outside bodies were outlined in the report.

RESOLVED that:

1.       The changes to the Transport for Greater Manchester Committee be agreed.

2.       Councillor A. Alexander be appointed and Councillor Sykes be nominated to the Transport for Greater Manchester Committee.

3.       Councillors Harrison, Stretton and Sykes be appointed to the Oldham Distress Fund.

4.       Councillor Briggs be nominated to the FCHO Main Board.

5.       Councillor S. Bashforth replace Councillor Larkin on the GM Housing, Planning and Environment Scrutiny Committee and Councillor Davis replace Councillor Phythian on the GM Scrutiny Substitutes pool.

6.       The updated Outside Bodies tables be noted.

Consideration was given to a report of the Director of Legal Services.  Notification has been received that two Borough Councillors were no longer members of the Labour Group.  A review of the allocation of seats had been undertaken and changes made to committee membership related to political groups.  Other committee changes required Council approval following the resignation of members from Committees.

RESOLVED that:

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

2.         The composition of the political groups as outlined in the report be agreed; and

·         Councillor Azad be allocated a place on the Audit Committee as an Independent Councillor.

·         Councillor Larkin be allocated a place on Overview and Scrutiny as an Independent Councillor.

·         Councillor Phythian be appointed to the vacant positon of Royton District Executive Chair.

·         Councillor Byrne replace Councillor Hudson on the Standards Committee and Councillor Leach replace Councillor Garry on the Standards Committee.

·         Councillor Dean replace Councillor Harrison on the Audit Committee.

·         Councillor Curley replace Councillor Sheldon on the Overview and Scrutiny Board.

·         The updated Committee Grids as detailed at Appendix 1 be agreed.

Consideration was given to a report of the Director of Legal Services to amend the Terms of Reference to the Charitable Trust Sub-Committee to include additional Charitable Trusts in order to keep the list up-to-date.  The Charitable Trust Committee had been established in July 2017 to discharge the Council’s common law/statutory duty to act as the charitable trustee.  A list of Trusts had been identified in the original report, however, over the past year further properties had been identified.

RESOLVED that the amended Charitable Trust Committee’s Terms of Reference be approved as outlined in the report.