Oldham Borough Council Council Meeting 21St April 2010
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Oldham Borough Council Council Meeting 21st April 2010 COUNCIL 03/02/2010 at 18:00 PRESENT The Mayor (Councillor McArdle) Councillors: Akhtar, Alcock, Ali, Barker, Barrow, Bashforth, Ball, Beeley, Bell, Blyth, Buckley, Butterworth, Chadderton, Dawson, Dean, J Dillon, P Dillon, Dinoff, Heffernan, Hibbert, Hindle, Holley, Hudson, E Hulme, J Hulme, Hussain, Iqbal, Jabbar, Judge, Knowles, Knox, Larkin, Lord, Martin, Masud, McCann, McClaren, McMahon, Miah, Pendlebury, Quinn, Qumer, Rogers, Roughley, Salamat, Sedgwick, D Shaw, G Shaw, Stanton, Sykes, Thompson, Uddin, Ur Rehman, Wheeler, Williamson, Wingate and Wrigglesworth Apologies for absence had been received from Councillors D Jones and J Jones. Item 2 URGENT BUSINESS There was no urgent business. Item 3 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST Councillor Hindle declared a personal interest in relation to item 12 (Cabinet question time - specifically the question in relation to the proposed housing stock transfer), as his wife was an employee of First Choice Homes Oldham. Councillor Dean declared a personal and prejudicial interest in relation to item 13 (minutes of the meetings of Cabinet on 9 and 23 December 2009 - specifically item nine of the minutes of 23 December) but did not state the reason. He left the meeting during this item's consideration. Councillor J Dillon declared a personal interest in relation to item 17, but did not state the reason. Item 4 MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 16 10010174 DECEMBER 2009 RESOLVED 1. The minutes of the meeting held on 16 December 2009 be approved as a correct record, subject to Councillor Wingate seconding the amendment to the motion on unclaimed benefits in Oldham, instead of Councillor Dawson. Item 5 TO RECEIVE COMMUNICATIONS RELATING TO 10010175 THE BUSINESS OF THE COUNCIL 1. The Mayor announced with sadness the recent death of former Councillor and Mayor Alwyn McConnell 1 and noted he would be a great loss to his family, friends and the community. Councillors Ball, J Hudson and Knowles also took the opportunity to speak. A short silence was observed. 2. The Mayor advised, and Council noted in accordance with the time limits set for Council meetings, the guillotine would take effect at 3 hours and 30 minutes after the start of the meeting, unless agreed otherwise by Council. 3. The Mayor reported the Commander of the Oldham Police Division, Chief Supt Caroline Ball was taking up a new job in North Manchester and extended a vote of thanks to her for her services to the Borough. Councillors J Hulme, Knox, McMahon, Ur Rehman and Sykes expressed their thanks for her work. Chief Supt Ball responded. Item 6 TO NOTE PETITIONS RECEIVED RELATING TO 10010176 THE BUSINESS OF THE COUNCIL RESOLVED 1. The list of petitions received since the last meeting of Council be noted as follows: Executive Director, Economy, Place and Skills 1. Residents Only Parking - Durden Mews, Shaw (received 21/12/2009) (64 signatures) 2. Child Friendly Area in Higher Failsworth Memorial Park (received 04/01/2010) (333 signatures) Item 7 TO DEAL WITH ANY TOPICAL ISSUES AGREED BY 10010177 THE MAYOR There were no topical issues. Item 8 TO RECEIVE AND CONSIDER QUESTIONS AND 10010178 RELATED COMMENTS FROM RESIDENTS OF THE BOROUGH ABOUT ANY MATTERS RELEVANT TO THE FUNCTIONS OF THE COUNCIL The following public question was raised: From Mr Steven Fairbrother: "As a resident and Council Tax payer of the Borough, I have some concerns about the number of questions submitted to the Council by Parish Councillor Ken Hulme over the last year to 18 months. "Whilst I believe in and, support his democratic right to put his questions, there does nevertheless appear to be have been rather a large number of questions over that period and as a result, there must be significant cost implications to the Council and, therefore the Council Taxpayers of this Borough, from the production of responses to his questions. 2 "Could the Council please inform the citizens of this Borough: 1. How many questions Mr Hulme has submitted to the Cabinet/Council since May 2008? 2. What number and also proportion - as a percentage - is the number of questions submitted to Council and Cabinet by Mr Hulme of the overall figure submitted by the public during this period? 3. How many times has he failed to be present at the meeting to ask his submitted question(s)? 4. What is the average amount of Officer time each question has taken up in order to provide a reply? 5. What would you estimate is the average amount of councillors each question has taken up in order to provide a reply? 6. What therefore is the average cost per question in both officers' time and pounds? 7. What is the total cost to the Council (and thereby the Council taxpayer) in responding to Mr Hulme's questions?" Councillor Sykes responded as Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for External Relations as follows: "1. Since May 2008 Parish Councillor Mr Hulme has submitted 9 questions to Cabinet and 8 questions to Council. “2. Mr Hulme has submitted 9 questions out of 13 questions asked at Cabinet (a percentage of 69%). He has submitted 8 questions out of 15 questions asked at Full Council (a percentage of 53%). “3. Mr Hulme has failed to attend to ask the questions on two occasions (according to records retained by Constitutional Services), wasting more than £170 of Council Tax payers money, plus the hidden opportunity costs. “4. It is estimated that the officer time spent on providing the information to these questions is approximately 51 hours 30 minutes (a very conservative estimate). “5. It is estimated that the councillor time spent on providing the information to these questions is 20 hours. “6. The average cost per question based on the officer time is £82. The average cost for councillors is £5 in monetary value, the opportunity cost in terms of other useful activities that could be undertaken is great but unquantifiable. “7. We have calculated a median charge rate for the 3 response due to the fact that work has been undertaken by officers at various levels within the organisation from Executive Directors down to Principal Officers and below. The median rate is PO 49 - including on costs this works out at a rate of £27 per hour. The cost therefore of the officer time spent preparing answers is £1,390 a notional £85 for councillors making a total of £1,475 to date." Item 9 OUTSTANDING BUSINESS FROM THE LAST 10010179 MEETING 1. Councillor Alcock MOVED and Councillor Sedgwick SECONDED the following notice of motion: "This Council: (a) Notes the excellent work of the Royal British Legion in campaigning on behalf of our Armed Forces. (b) Welcomes and supports the principles of the Legion Manifesto which are set out below :- 1. Service Personnel and their Families "'Keep the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme under continual, independent review and: (i) change the standard of proof so that where evidence is inconclusive, the benefit of the doubt is given to the injured Service person; (ii) remove the link between lump-sum awards and ongoing payments to reflect the fact that they are paid for different reasons; allow claims relating to injuries or illnesses caused by medical treatment; (iii) remove the time limits to lodge a claim; and exempt payments when carrying out means-testing for State benefits. "'Stop breaches of harmony guidelines (deployment rates) in order to reduce family separation and breakdown. "'Bring all single and family accommodation up to the highest standard within the lifetime of the next parliament and ensure that the Ministry of Defence publishes full details of the funding and timescales needed to upgrade Armed Forces housing. "'Introduce health screening and monitoring for Service personnel and vulnerable dependants and ensure priority is given to those deployed for extended periods, their partners and those medically downgraded. "'Introduce more effective prevention and treatment strategies to tackle mental health problems, binge drinking and drug abuse. 4 "'Assess the impact of mobility on Armed Forces families, especially in relation to health, employment and education.” 2. Bereaved Armed Forces Families "'Fund an independent legal advice service to provide bereaved Armed Forces families with support and guidance through the inquest process. "'Introduce an Independent Advisory Committee on Military Deaths to provide advice, review recommendations from coroners and to give families a voice. "'Introduce mandatory training in Armed Forces policies and procedures to better equip coroners to investigate operational or training related Armed Forces deaths. "'Give the Service Complaints Commissioner additional powers to investigate complaints made by bereaved Armed Forces families. "'Create specialist bereavement counselling services for Armed Forces families, including parents and children. 3.Veterans and their Families "'Make the NHS priority treatment system work for veterans with injuries caused by Service in the Armed Forces or consider privately funded alternatives. "'Tackle poverty among veterans and their families by increasing incomes through: (i) doubling the Personal Expenses Allowance for those receiving residential care; (ii) making the disregarding of all War Pension payments for means-testing for Council Tax Benefit and Housing Benefit a statutory requirement; and (iii) developing an automated payment system for Council Tax Benefit. "'Ensure that local authorities meet their obligations to provide Disabled Facilities Grants to veterans who need adaptations to their homes. "'Exempt all veterans who require a Disabled Facilities Grant from the current means test if the adaptation is needed because of a Service related injury. "'Fund comprehensive research and provide additional compensation for duty of care breaches to veterans suffering from legacy health issues, including Gulf War and nuclear test veterans. "'Provide all Service leavers with an effective mental health education programme at the point of resettlement, so those at high risk know where to go for 5 help.