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Q1 TWO TOWNS AREA FORUM MEETING, 13th January 2009 Present – 11 members of the public attended the meeting. Councillor Robert Ronson - Horwich North East Ward (Chair) Councillor Barbara Ronson - Horwich North East Ward Councillor Stephen Rock - Horwich North East Ward Councillor John Raymond - Horwich and Blackrod Ward Barrow Councillor Michael Hollick - Horwich and Blackrod Ward Councillor Pat Barrow - Horwich and Blackrod Ward Also in attendance John Shannon - Area Working Manager Nicole Buhagiar - Area Working Support Officer Ellen Miller - Assistant Director, Strategy and Commissioning, Adult Services Paul Round - Head of Sport, Health and Inclusion, Children’s Services Helen Williams - Principal Planning Officer John Sharrock - Environmental Services Manager Helen Dix - Environment Agency Esther Steel - Royal Bolton Hospital Shaun Vernon - Greater Manchester Police Ben Brookfield - Greater Manchester Police Rajesh Gohil - Greater Manchester Police David Sigh - Greater Manchester Police Andy Vernon - Greater Manchester Police Councillor Robert Ronson in the Chair. Page 1 of 10 Q2 15. INTRODUCTION Councillor Robert Ronson welcomed everyone and introduced himself, John Shannon, Area Working Manager and Ellen Miller, Assistant Director, Strategy and Commissioning. He then invited the Councillors for Horwich and Blackrod, Horwich North East and the Town Councillors to introduce themselves. He explained that the two main themes of the meeting would be the Bolton Council Budget 2009/10 and services to young people in Blackrod and Horwich. 16. BOLTON COUNCIL BUDGET 2009/10 Steve Arnfield, Director of Corporate Services, Bolton Council, gave a presentation on the Bolton Council Budget 2009/10. He explained that 75% of the income for the budget was determined by central Government, leaving 25% of income to be determined by the Council through Council Tax. The Director of Corporate Services also informed the meeting that inflation and increased costs are largely due to increased fuel costs. He then outlined the results of last year’s consultation explaining what was asked of the Council and how they allocated their budget: Priority Services for Extra Spend: You said: We did: 62% on Roads and Transport £1,000,000 31% on the Environment - 42% on Adult Services £500,000 44% on Children’s Services £700,000 Mr. Arnfield also stated that despite suggestions being put forward for a Council Tax increase of 2% or 3%, the tax remained the same, therefore there was a 0% increase. The Director of Corporate Services then outlined the major budget changes for 2009/10: Page 2 of 10 Q3 £M % Schools increase spend 6.4 4.4 One off funds not available in 2009/10 1.5 Other Services Inflation/increased costs 10.0 Capital Financing 1.0 Waste disposal/transport 1.9 Town centre swimming pool 0.3 New secondary schools 0.3 Less increase in Government grant 4.3 3.5 Mr. Arnfield explained that the Council’s current position was to find £10.9m from savings and Council Tax. For illustration this could be achieved by an increase in Council Tax of 4.5% and by making efficiency savings in services of 5%. The Director of Corporate Services then explained that a questionnaire would be distributed to all Forum attendees and urged residents to give their feedback as the Council would welcome their views. He clarified that he would attend a future Forum to report back on the progress made. Following the presentation several questions were put forward by Forum attendees: - Would the questionnaires be sent to all residents of Bolton? - Was there any money available to build new schools? - How do the Council determine how much will be spent on which services? - Was a reserve fund available in case of emergencies? Resolved – That the report be noted and the questions that have not been answered at the meeting be directed to the appropriate Council Department of external agency. Page 3 of 10 Q4 17. SERVICES TO CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE IN BLACKROD AND HORWICH Paul Round, Positive Contributions Lead Officer, Bolton Council, gave a presentation on the provision of services for children and young people aged 5 to 19 in the Forum area. He explained the Government initiatives to support young people: - Youth Strategy – to reform provision for children and young people 13 to 19 - Flexible and responsive services delivered by a range of groups and organisations - Young people’s involvement is central - Facilities and Services open/available when young people need them - Extended schools - The 5 hour PE and Sport Offer for schools The Positive Contributions Lead Officer then outlined how Bolton Council would respond to these initiatives: - 5 to 19 integrated service - Universal/targeted/specialist approach - Involvement of Partners – third sector, faith sector, elected Member input - Youth Service/Play Service/Sport, Health and Inclusion/Connexions teams to work on an area basis - Mapping of provision and production of Ward profiles for services Mr. Round explained in more detail how Bolton Council planned to tackle the issues and what the main concerns were. He explained how sport could not survive without the voluntary sector and the main focus at the moment was provision for young adults on Friday and Saturday evenings. He clarified that the idea of extended schools was to provide alternative activities in a school setting and the Ward Councillors needed information regarding the wants and needs of young people so they could make informed decisions regarding development for them. Page 4 of 10 Q5 Regarding physical activities in schools, Mr, Round stated that the National target was to ensure children were taking part in two hours of physical education per week. After investigations it was revealed that some schools were not even providing half an hour of physical education for their pupils. Following this, work was carried out and at least 90% of schools were now achieving the National target of two hours per week. It was also revealed that it was the Government’s aim to ensure that young people in schools and colleges would be taking part in five hours of physical activity per week. The Positive Contributions Lead Officer then outlined the next steps for the Two Towns Area Forum: - Indentify and develop existing provision - Consultation - Identify gaps in provision - Horwich and Blackrod Action Plan Following the presentation several questions and comments were put to Mr. Round which were answered at the Forum: - Would it be a sport orientated initiative or would other activities be available? - Some volunteers had left their posts as child protection and health and safety requirements had had an influence. - Could the churches be used as venues providing activities for young adults? Why was there such a stigma attached to churches? - Could fining be introduced to deter young adults from using bad language? - Could a music orientated activity be introduced? - Trust needs to be generated with young adults – false promises lead to disappointment. - Could we transform the attitude of society in general? Why was it thought of as “uncool” to use a church as a venue? Resolved – That the report be noted and the questions that have not been answered at the meeting be directed to the appropriate Council Department of external agency. Page 5 of 10 Q6 18. UPDATE ON BIG ISSUES Ellen Miller, Assistant Director, Strategy and Commissioning, gave a presentation regarding the progression of the Big Issues in the Two Towns Area Forum. Ms. Miller explained that the Big Issues in the area were: - Development of services and opportunities for young people. - To ensure that all parties involved in the operation and regulation of recycling facilities work closely together to minimise any impact on the area. - Development of Old Station Park. - Transport links between Blackrod and Horwich. - Misuse of alcohol and underage drinking - Development of market facilities in the Forum area. The Assistant Director, Strategy and Commissioning, clarified that these issues were being dealt with and residents of the Two Towns Ward would be kept updated at future Forum meetings. She stated that the Council thanked it’s partners such as Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue, Greater Manchester Police and Environment Agencies for their continued support. A question was raised regarding the bus service in Blackrod: - Why were the buses to Blackrod cancelled so frequently? Who could be contacted to discuss this? It was explained that all services were not franchised and were run privately. All bus services were licensed to the Traffic Commissioner and if services were failing to perform their licence could be cancelled. Resolved – That the report be noted 19. MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING The minutes of the previous meeting held on 21st October 2008 were submitted and approved as a correct record with the Page 6 of 10 Q7 exception of one query regarding the maintenance of the public art on Mansell Way. This would be looked into and the outcome would be reported at the next Two Towns Area Forum. 20. UPDATE ON BUDGETS DEVOLVED TO THE AREA FORUM John Shannon, Area Working Manager, gave a presentation on the subject of budgets and grants available to the Two Towns Ward. He explained that there were four areas to consider for the Horwich North East Ward: - Highways Maintenance Budget - £10,245 - Area Forum Budget - £25,000 - Area Based Grant - £4,820 - Voluntary Sector Grant - £2000 The budgets and grants available to the Horwich and Blackrod Ward were: - Highways Maintenance Budget - £10,245 - Area Forum Budget - £25,000 - Area Based Grant - £4,180 - Voluntary Sector Grant - £2000 Proposals were put forward to improve access to properties around the Dale Street area in the Horwich North East Ward. This was supported by the Ward Councillors and the whole of the Area Based Grant was allocated to this project. The Area Working Manager stated that support had been given to the Greater Manchester Police Residential Course at Hawse which was a residential weekend for young people and the police in the Horwich and Blackrod Ward.

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