Agenda item

(time limit 15 minutes)

Greater Manchester Combined Authority          27^th November 2020

AGMA Executive Board                                   30^th October 2020

Police, Fire and Crime Panel                            29^th September 2020

Peak Park District Authority                             4^th September 2020

                                                                      2^nd October 2020

Health and Wellbeing Board                             21^st July 2020

Greater Manchester Transport Committee        9^th October 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 Combined Authority                        30 October 2020

AGMA Executive Board                                                      30 October 2020

Police, Fire and Crime Panel                                             29 September 2020

Peak Park District Authority                                               4 September 2020

                                                                                                2 October 2020

Health and Wellbeing Board                                              21 July 2020

Greater Manchester Transport Committee                      9 October 2020

Councillor Williamson asked the following question on Police, Fire and Crime Panel 29th September 2020 Minute PCFP/08/20 – 2020 Officer Uplift:

Please can I ask how many of the new 246 police officers allocated to local policing roles will be allocated to police the Borough of Oldham?

And can we have a breakdown please, as I have asked for previously, of the officers who have been recruited, specifically how many of these new officers are from BME communities and how many are women?

Councillor Steve Williams, Deputy Cabinet Member for Covid-19 Response and Oldham Council representative on the Police and Crime Panel responded that a report had been produced on the allocation of police in Greater Manchester, which he would send out to all Councillors. Increasing the numbers of officers had been made difficult as the training facilities were no longer there. Currently Greater Manchester was 1,300 short of its quota before austerity.

Councillor Al-Hamdani asked the following question on Police, Fire and Crime Panel 29th September 2020 Minute PCFP/09/20 – GMP Crime Data – 2020:

As this reported reduction came before the acknowledgement of 80,000 crimes which were not included in the crime figures, what would be the impact on this if those 80,000 crimes were to be included?

Also, given that reports suggest that many cases are being closed too quickly – in particular with 70% of domestic violence cases concluded out of court, and 80% of victims not consulted on that – what would be the impact of this on the crime figures if they were not closed too quickly?

And finally, given the regular complaints in addition to this from residents that it often takes hours to get through on 101 to report crimes, with the resulting impact in reducing reporting rates, does this mean that crime figures are being artificially reduced even further?

Councillor Steve Williams, Deputy Cabinet Member for Covid-19 Response and Oldham Council representative on the Police and Crime Panel responded that the 80,000 crimes had now been collated into the system. GMP had been criticised on inspection for their crime recording and, at the meeting of the Police and Crime Panel that afternoon, the Assistant Chief Constable had acknowledged there had been failings and apologised for them. Councillor Williams would find out what difference timely recording would have made and provide Councillor Al-Hamdani with this information.

In relation to the 101 number, in the month of December 2018, 3,500 calls were recorded as having been made to that number on matters that were nothing to do with the police. Add to these all the legitimate calls and it could not be surprising, of the fault of the police, that the demand could not be met.

Councillor Davis asked the following question on Greater Manchester Transport Committee 9^th October 2020 GMTC 75/20 - Forthcoming Changes To Bus Services:

Councillor Fielding was offered a conversation on how to mitigate the effects of the loss of the 396 bus service between Park Cakes and Newton Heath, which served Failsworth. Could councillor Fielding provide an update on the outcome?

Councillor Fielding, Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Economy and Skills responded that in addition to the conversation, a local campaign had been run in Failsworth and he thanked Councillor Davis for his assistance with this. Many local residents had signed a petition to see the bus service reinstated. Unfortunately, the cuts to the 396 service had gone ahead and the re had been no connection from Newton Heath to Ashton for a couple of weeks. Through the efforts of the local Councillors in galvanising opposition to the cut, the bus service had been reinstated as the 397, which connected Newton Heath to Ashton via a more-direct route through Failsworth. Councillor Fielding thanked the local Councillors and stated he had personally had more thank-you letters from Failsworth residents on this issue than any other.

Councillor Hulme asked the following question in relation to Greater Manchester Combined Authority 30^th October 2020 GMCA 178/20 GM Brownfield Housing Fund ("BHF") Tranche 1 Spend Allocation (Key Decision):

The complexity of some of the Oldham brownfield sites meant the benefit from this fund was limited due to tight timescales. Had revenue or officer support been forthcoming from GMCA to assist with bids for Tranche 2?

Councillor Fielding, Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Economy and Skills responded that significant funds were required to remediate brownfield sites in Oldham to enable them to be developed for housing and avoid development of greenbelt sites. An offer had been made of financial support to assist with capacity to bid for funds in Tranche 2 to remediate brownfield sites, which had not yet been forthcoming. There was some good news as, even without this additional capacity, an ambitious bid for various sites had been submitted in December.

Councillor Byrne asked the following question in relation to Greater Manchester Transport Committee 9^th October 2020 GMTC 72/20 - Impact Of Road Safety Schemes and GMTC 73/20 - Cycling And Walking Update And Forward Look Report:

Is there a way of circumventing national speed limits on rural lanes such as those in the Saddleworth wards, which are narrow and have no footpaths? There are several very busy roads in the area with speed limits of 40 and 50 miles per hour, with no footpaths and limited visibility, that are regularly used by walkers and recreational users. Can Councillor Fielding ask the Greater Manchester Transport Committee to look at the particular problems with rural roads and walking routes which are being developed.

Councillor Fielding, Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Economy and Skills responded that this was a matter to be directed to the relevant cabinet Member outside of the meeting. Concerns about speed limits on rural roads were understood, especially as modern vehicles could reach speeds more quickly than those around when national speed limits were set. He would find a way for Councillor Byrne to take her concerns to where action could be considered and could offer personal support for her comments.  

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.