Agenda item

(time limit 15 minutes)

Greater Manchester Transport Committee                      14 August 2020

Greater Manchester Waste and Recycling                     22 July 2020

Committee

Greater Manchester Combined Authority                        2 September 2020

                                                                                                25 September 2020

AGMA Executive Board                                                      31 July 2020

                                                                                                9 September 2020

Police, Fire and Crime Panel                                             20 July 2020

Commissioning Partnership Board                                   23 July 2020

                                                                                                24 September 2020

MioCare Board                                                                     23 July 2020

Council was 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 Joint Authorities and Partnerships were submitted as follows:

Greater Manchester Transport Committee                      14 August 2020

Greater Manchester Waste and Recycling                     22 July 2020

Committee

Greater Manchester Combined Authority                        2 September 2020

                                                                                                25 September 2020

AGMA Executive Board                                                      31 July 2020

                                                                                                9 September 2020

Police, Fire and Crime Panel                                             20 July 2020

Commissioning Partnership Board                                   23 July 2020

                                                                                                24 September 2020

MioCare Board                                                                     23 July 2020

Members raised the following questions:

1.         Councillor Murphy asked the following question on the Greater Manchester Waste and Recycling Committee minutes, 22 July 2020, Minute WRC 20/40, Communications and Behavioural Change Action Plan Progress:

“Members may recall that at a meeting of Oldham Council in July 2016, the Liberal Democrats brought a motion asking for a local bin app which was almost unanimously supported across the Chamber. The motion was approved by Council and it was pleasing that two years later the then Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority introduced the R4GM app.  The R4GM bin app for mobile phones contained information such as ‘Where’s my nearest…?’, ‘When’s my bin collected?’, ‘What do I do with…?’, ‘What can I recycle at home?’ and a Contact Us.  I have used the app and found it really helpful and the feedback I have received from local residents, when I have directed them to it, has been positive. When we are looking to reduce the amount of waste going to landfill the app can only be a good thing.  It was quick and easy to use, and the information you needed was at your fingertips.  We need to use such technology in our fight to increase ‘re-use’ and ‘recycling’ and therefore save cash for much need community projects.  I understand that GMCA are looking at procuring a new app – therefore, could I ask the relevant Cabinet member for GMWRC spokesperson firstly if they were aware of the decommissioning of the app; secondly to support the procurement of the new app and thirdly when can we expect the new app to go live?”

Councillor Ur-Rehman, Council spokesperson for the Greater Manchester Waste and Recycling Committee responded that it was agreed at the GMCA Waste Committee on 12 March 2020 that the R4GM app was to be decommissioned and that he was aware of this.  The app had ceased, however, all of the information on the app could be found on the Oldham Council and Recycle for Greater Manchester website.  The procurement of a new app was fully supported.  GMCA had not provided definitive timelines in terms of the date for the app, but the Council has asked for information and this will be forwarded to the elected member as soon as the information was available.

2.         Councillor Roberts asked the following question submitted by Councillor S. Bashforth on the Greater Manchester Combined Authority minutes, 2 September 2020, GMCA 144/20, Approval of the Variation to the Working Well Work and Health Programme Contract:

“The working well work and health programme has been expanded to support those in Greater Manchester who have recently become unemployed.  What was the previous focus of this programme and will its ability to deliver on its original objectives be compromised by this expansion?”

Councillor Fielding, Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Economy and Skills responded that the Working Well Work and Health Programme was not just something that was featured in the GMCA minutes but was part of the Leader’s brief on GMCA regarding Work, Skills and Digital.  The Working Well Work and Health Programme was something that was outperforming its requirements in the contract and these requirements were to support those who either recently found themselves unemployed or were at risk of finding themselves unemployed due to vulnerabilities they experienced themselves.  It was a comprehensive package of support that not only got people back to work or supported them to remain in work but provided mental health and wellbeing support too.  It was a holistic package and it was nationally leading in its own way.  As it was overperforming it had not been considered unreasonable to expand the scope given the challenges more people were likely to face because of the Covid-19 pandemic and there had been sufficient resource put into the contract and the provider so that the work they originally carried out around those who were the most vulnerable at falling out of the labour market could still continue and deliver on the same objectives whilst the additional stream of work to support those who had been affected by Covid was ongoing so there did not need to be any concern that the expansion of the Working Well Work and Health contract would have a detrimental impact on its original piece of work.

3.         Councillor Harrison asked the following question on the Greater Manchester Combined Authority minutes, 25 September 2020, GMCA 164/20, Local Growth Deal (1, 2 and 3) – Six Monthly Progress Update and Expenditure Approvals:

“It is good news that funding of up to £1.355 million of growth deal funding has ben approved for regeneration projects in Oldham Town Centre.  This is just one of many successful external funding bids that will support investment and regeneration in our Borough.  Could it be confirmed what this particular grant is being used for?”

Councillor Fielding, Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Economy and Skills responded that the funding was part of the Growth Deal 3 allocation of £6 million for the Accessible Oldham Town Centre scheme which was a programme of interventions that would improve connectivity to and around Oldham Town Centre, particularly for pedestrians and cyclists and supported the regeneration of the town.  The £1.355 million approved by GMCA would be released to Transport for Greater Manchester and allowed Oldham to recover the money it had invested so far in developing the Accessible Oldham Programme, subject to meeting certain conditions which the Council was on with.  The funding also covered the cost of works already carried out on Retiro Street, improvements underway on Hunters Lance and the junction improvement at Waterloo Street / Rhodes Bank, which would seen new traffic lights installed and crossing facilities provided for pedestrians with work due to start before Christmas.  The remainder of the £6 million was earmarked for public realm works around Albion Street / Henshaw Street and for a new access junction into the Southlink development site and would be released by GMCA at a later date once the detail of these schemes had been firmed up.

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.