(Public Pack)Agenda Document for Council, 02/04/2014 18:15

Public Document Pack CORPORATE SERVICES Deputy Chief Executive Linda Fisher

GOVERNANCE AND COMMITTEE SERVICES TEAM PO Box 15, Town Hall, Rochdale, OL16 1AB DX22831 ROCHDALE Tel: (01706) 647474 Fax: (01706) 924705 Website: www.rochdale.gov.uk Twitter: @rochdalecouncil To: All Members of Council Enquiries to: Peter Thompson e-mail: [email protected] Extension: 4715 Date: 25 th March 2014

Dear Councillor,

COUNCIL

You are requested to attend the meeting of Council to be held in the Council Chamber at Rochdale Town Hall on Wednesday, 2 nd April 2014 at 6.15 pm.

Deadlines for submissions in respect of this meeting are as follows –

Wednesday before Council Noon Motion pursuant to Council Procedure Rule 11. (26 th March 2014) Notification of question at Council by a resident or ratepayer of the Borough.

Tuesday before Council Noon Notification of questions to representatives on Joint (1 st April 2014) Authorities and Outside Bodies and to Portfolio Holders and Committee Chairs. Notification of amendments to proposals and recommendations being submitted to Council.

Notifications should be forwarded to Peter Thompson, Senior Governance and Committee Officer on behalf of the Chief Executive.

The agenda and supporting papers are attached.

If you require advice on any agenda item involving a possible Declaration of Interest which could affect your right to speak and/or vote, please contact staff in the Governance and Committee Services Team at least 24 hours in advance of the meeting.

Yours Faithfully

Linda Fisher Deputy Chief Executive

ROCHDALE METROPOLITAN BOROUGH COUNCIL

COUNCIL

2nd April 2014 at 6.15 pm

Council Chamber - Rochdale Town Hall

A G E N D A

Apologies for Absence 1. Mayor's Annoucements 2. Declarations of Interest Members are requested to indicate at this stage any items on the agenda in which they intend to declare an interest. Members are reminded that, in accordance with the Localism Act 2011 and the Council's adopted Code of Conduct, they must declare the nature of any personal or discloseable pecuniary interest required of them and, in the case of any discloseable pecuniary interest, withdraw from the meeting during consideration of the item, unless permitted otherwise within the Code of Conduct. 3. Minutes 1 - 9 To authorise the signing of the minutes of the two meetings of the Council held on 27 th February 2014. 4. Public Questions and Petitions To receive petitions and questions from members of the public, where these have been received in accordance with the Petitions Scheme and/or Council Procedure Rules. 5. Notices of Motion To consider Motions submitted in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 11. 6. Corporate Delivery Plan and Performance Management Framework 10 - 19 7. Members' Quarterly Reports To receive quarterly reports from Members of the Cabinet, Chairs of Township Committees and Chairs of Overview and Scrutiny Committees and to permit questions from Members of the Council. (a) The Leader of the Council

(b) Members' Quarterly Reports

(d) The Cabinet Member for Place and Regulation

(e) The Cabinet Member for Customers & Corporate Services and Townships (f) The Cabinet Member for Adult Care

(g) The Cabinet Member for Children, Schools and Families

(h) The Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Customer Services (i) The Chair of Heywood Township Committee

(j) The Chair of Middleton Township Committee

(k) The Chair of Pennines Township Committee

(l) The Chair of Rochdale Township Committee

(m) The Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee

(n) The Chair of the Health and Partnerships Overview and Scrutiny Committee 8. Representatives on Joint Authorities and Outside Bodies To permit questions to representatives on any Joint Authority or Outside Body, where received. (a) Report of the Representative to the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (b) Report of the Representative to the Armed/Reserve Forces

Public Document Pack Agenda Item 3

EXTRAORDINARY MEETING OF THE COUNCIL

MINUTES OF MEETING 27 th February 2014

PRESENT: The Mayor (Councillor Rush) (in the Chair); Councillors Farooq Ahmed, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shakil Ahmed, Shefali Ahmed, Daalat Ali, Sultan Ali, Beswick, Bethell, Cecile Biant, Surinder Biant, Boriss, Brett, Martin Burke, Philip Burke, Burns, Clegg, Danczuk, Darnbrough, Davison, Dearnley, Duckworth, Dutton, Neil Emmott, Susan Emmott, Farnell, James Gartside, Godson, Greenall, Hartley, Holly,, Hornby, Hussain, Joinson,, Kelly, Lambert, Linden, Martin, McCarthy, Mills, Mir, Mulgrew, Neilson, O’Neill, O’Rourke, Robinson, Hilary Rodgers, Sheerin, Stott, Sullivan, Wardle, Wazir, West, Williams, Winkler and Zaman.

OFFICERS: J. Taylor (Chief Executive), L. Fisher (Deputy Chief Executive), P. Kane (Director of Finance), S. Downey (Director of Adult Care Services), M. Widdup (Director of Economy and Environment), W. Meston (Interim Director of Public Health), V. Crossland, J. Murphy and H. Zammit (Finance Service), E Cunningham- Doyle, J. Hollamby, R. Miller, L. Settle and P. Thompson (Customer and Corporate Services)

ALSO IN ATTENDANCE: Two members of the public.

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE: Councillors Jane Gartside, Hobhouse, Murphy and Martin Rodgers.

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST 61 There were no declarations of interest.

APPOINTMENT OF HONORARY ALDERMAN 62 Councillor Dearnley moved, Councillor Lambert seconded and Councillor Kelly supported a Motion that the title of Honorary Alderman be conferred upon Mrs Patricia A. Flynn in recognition of her having rendered eminent services to the Borough as a past Member of the Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council, in accordance with Section 249 of the Local Government Act 1972.

Upon being put to the vote, the Motion was declared to be carried.

DECIDED – That Mrs Patricia A. Flynn, in recognition of her having rendered eminent services to the Borough as a past Member of Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council, be accorded the title of Honorary Alderman of the Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council.

The Mayor presented Mrs Flynn with a scroll marking of the award of the title. Mrs Flynn addressed the Council and thanked members for their award.

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COUNCIL

MINUTES OF MEETING 27 th February 2014

PRESENT: The Mayor (Councillor Rush) (in the Chair); Councillors Farooq Ahmed, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shakil Ahmed, Shefali Ahmed, Daalat Ali, Sultan Ali, Beswick, Bethell, Cecile Biant, Surinder Biant, Boriss, Brett, Martin Burke, Philip Burke, Burns, Clegg, Danczuk, Darnbrough, Dearnley, Duckworth, Dutton, Neil Emmott, Susan Emmott, Farnell, James Gartside, Godson, Greenall, Hartley, Holly, Hornby, Hussain, Joinson, Kelly, Lambert, Linden, Martin, McCarthy, Mills, Mir, Mulgrew, Neilson, O’Neill, O’Rourke, Robinson, Hilary Rodgers, Sheerin, Stott, Sullivan, Wardle, Wazir, West, Williams, Winkler and Zaman.

OFFICERS: J. Taylor (Chief Executive), L. Fisher (Deputy Chief Executive), P. Kane (Director of Finance), S. Downey (Director of Adult Care), M. Widdup (Director of Economy and Environment), W. Meston (Interim Director of Public Health), V. Crossland, J. Murphy and H. Zammit (Finance Service), E. Cunningham-Doyle, J. Hollamby, R. Miller, L. Settle, S. Walter-Browne and P. Thompson (Corporate Services)

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE: Councillors Davison, Jane Gartside, Hobhouse, Murphy and Martin Rodgers.

MAYOR'S ANNOUCEMENTS 63 The Mayor referred to the ongoing political situation in Ukraine and, on behalf of the Council, extended his best wishes to the people of Rochdale MBC’s twin town Lviv, in western Ukraine at this difficult time. The Mayor emphasised the longstanding close links between the peoples of the Rochdale Borough and Lviv and expressed support for the Ukrainian people’s quest for greater freedom and democracy.

The Mayor also referred to the problems that persistent heavy rain and flooding has caused for people living in the Midlands, the South and the South West of England, adding that the Portfolio Holder for Strengthening Communities, Councillor Sultan Ali, had written a letter to local authorities that have been so adversely affected offering support on behalf of the Council.

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST 64 There were no declarations of interest.

MINUTES 65 DECIDED – That the minutes of the meetings of the Council held on 22nd January 2014 be approved as correct records.

PUBLIC QUESTIONS 66 There were no matters for consideration under this item.

QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL 67 The Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holders responded to questions submitted by Councillors.

Page 2 NON DOMESTIC RATES RELIEF POLICY AMENDMENTS 68 The Council considered a report of the Director of Finance that requested Members to consider amendments to the Non Domestic Rates: Discretionary Rate Relief Policy in accordance with the amended powers available to the Council under Section 47 of the Local Government Finance Act 1988.

The changes to the Policy had been determined by the Government as part of the national initiatives to stimulate economic growth by supporting small businesses and town centres and to offer incentives to the construction industry. No alternatives were therefore considered as the amendments to the policy would be administered by the Local Authority under Government direction.

DECIDED – That (1) the Council notes and approves the amended discretionary rate relief policy attached at Appendix A of the submitted report; (2) the Council notes and approves the inclusion of Local Business Discounts Reliefs as determined by Government in the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement 2012 and 2013, provided at Section 5 of the Policy an such discounts will include, where eligible: a) New Build Empty Rate Relief; b) Rate Relief of £1,000; c) Reoccupation for retail properties. (3) the Council approves the amendments to the current Scheme of Delegation (Resources B2) to enable the award of non-domestic rate relief, as prescribed in Section 47 of the Local Government Finance Act 1988 and the Council’s Non Domestic Rates Relief Policy, to be delegated to the Head of Revenues and the Head of Benefits; (4) the Council approves the appeals process whereby appeals against decisions are to be submitted to the Director of Finance for final resolution; (5) the Council notes that an annual report of awards and appeals this under this Policy will be submitted to the Cabinet, where discretion can be exercised; (6) the Council authorises the Deputy Chief Executive to make any minor or consequential amendments to the Constitution required for clarification, consistency and compliance.

REVENUE BUDGET 2014/2015 – 2016/2017 – LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT 2003 REQUIREMENTS 69 The Council considered the report of the Chief Finance Officer, relating to the requirements under the Local Government Act 2003. The Council was required to consider the opinion of the Chief Finance Officer regarding the robustness of the budget as proposed and the adequacy of general balances and reserves prior to the setting of the budget. It was the opinion of the Chief Finance Officer that the proposed budget was robust and that the proposed level of balances and reserves were adequate.

DECIDED - That (1) the Council endorses the approach to General Balances detailed in the report; (2) the Council approves that the General Balances for 2014/2015 being set at £11,000,000.

REVENUE AND CAPITAL BUDGET AND COUNCIL TAX 70 The Council considered the report of the Cabinet presenting recommendations regarding the Revenue Budget and Council Tax 2014/2015. The Revenue estimates and the proposed Capital Programme were also presented within the submitted report.

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The Council noted the availability and consideration of an Equality Impact Assessment with regard to the revenue budget and Council Tax.

The Council received the relevant minutes of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and of the Township Committees that had considered budget related matters and which had been reported to the meeting of the Cabinet held on 3 rd February 2014.

It was moved by Councillor Lambert and seconded by Councillor Burns that:

“1) The revenue estimates for 2014/2015 as submitted in the Budget Report, be approved; 2) it be noted that, at its meeting on 16th January 2014, the Audit and Safeguarding Committee calculated the amount of 50,497 as its council tax base for the year 2014/2015 in accordance with Section 31B of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 (“the Act”), as amended by the Localism Act 2011; 3) the following amounts now be calculated by the Council for the year 2013/14 in accordance with Sections 30 to 36 of the Act:- a) £568,535,818.00 being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in Section 31A(2) of the Act. b) £501,356,629.00 being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in Section 31A(3) of the Act. c) £67,179,189.00 being the amount by which the aggregate under Section 31A(2) exceeds the aggregate under Section 31A(3), calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 31A(4) of the Act, as its council tax requirement for the year. d) 1,330.36 being the amount calculated under Section 31A(4), divided by the council tax base (50,158), in accordance with Section 31B of the Act, as the basic amount of its Council Tax for the year. e) Valuation Bands A B C D E F G H £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ 886.91 1,034.72 1,182.54 1,330.36 1,626.00 1,921.63 2,217.27 2,660.72

being the amounts given by multiplying the amount calculated in accordance with Section 31B by the number which, in the proportion set out in Section 5(1) of the Act, is applicable to dwellings listed in a particular band divided by the number which in that proportion is applicable to dwellings listed in Valuation Band D, calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 36(1) of the Act, as the amount to be taken into account for the year in respect of categories of dwellings listed in different Valuation Bands. 4) it be noted that for the year 2014/2015 the major precepting Authorities have stated the following amounts in precepts issued to the Council, in accordance with Section 40 of the Act, for each of the categories of dwellings shown below:-

Page 4 Precepting Valuation Bands Authority

A B C D E F G H £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ Greater Manchester Police & Crime Commissioner 101.53 118.46 135.38 152.30 186.14 219.99 253.83 304.60 Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Authority 38.43 44.83 51.24 57.64 70.45 83.26 96.07 115.28

5) having calculated the aggregate in each case of the amounts at paragraphs 3(e) and 4 above, the Council, in accordance with Sections 30 and 36 of the Act, hereby sets the aggregate amounts shown in the table below as the amounts of Council Tax for the year 2014/2015 for each part of its area and for each of the categories of dwellings.

Valuation Bands A B C D E F G H £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £

1,026.87 1,198.01 1,369.16 1,540.30 1,882.59 2,224.88 2,567.17 3,080.60

6) No discount be given in relation to the early payment of Council Tax bills for taxpayers paying the full 2014/2015 amount; 7) The decision regarding any changes to the final allocations for the Dedicated Schools Grant be delegated to the Portfolio Holders for Children’s Services and Finance in consultation with the Director of Children’s Services and the Director for Finance; 8) the Capital Programme as detailed within the Budget Report be approved; 9) no new spending proposals requiring additional resources be considered during the financial year except in extreme circumstances as determined by the Chief Executive and the Director of Finance in consultation with the Chair and Vice- Chair of the Cabinet. Any requests should be fully justified with the reasons why these could not be met from within existing budgets and explaining why they were not submitted for consideration as part of the annual budget process and any such proposals will need to be considered by full Council; 10) overspendings be not permitted without prior approval and consideration be given to taking appropriate action against any Officer responsible for committing expenditure leading to an overspending without approval or authorisation; 11) Pay Policy Statement – the Council be requested to approve the Pay Policy Statement, as outlined in the budget report to comply with the requiremnents of Section 8 of the Localism Act 2011.”

An amendment to the Motion was moved by Councillor Dearnley, seconded by Councillor Holly such that:-

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“The Motion be approved subject to the following amendment: -

Conservative Group Savings proposals ITEM 2014/15 £k Additional Funding Requirements:

The Green Team 184.0 Total Additional requirement 184.0 To be Funded by:

Withdrawal of funding provided to Trade Unions 109.5

To delete the Customer Feedback Team 74.5

Total Additional Saving 184.0 Net Variance 0.0

Prior to the vote, there was a requisition for a Recorded Vote on this matter.

Voting for the proposals were: Councillors Clegg, Darnbrough, Dearnley, Duckworth, James Gartside, Holly, Mills, Neilson, Stott, Sullivan and Winkler.

Voting against the proposals were: Councillors Farooq Ahmed, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shakil Ahmed, Shefali Ahmed, Daalat Ali, Sultan Ali, Beswick, Bethell, Cecile Biant, Surinder Biant, Boriss, Brett, Martin Burke, Philip Burke, Burns, Dutton, Neil Emmott, Susan Emmott, Farnell, Godson, Greenall, Hartley, Hornby, Hussain, Joinson, Lambert, Linden, Martin, McCarthy, Mir, O’Neill, O’Rourke, Robinson, Sheerin, Wardle, Wazir, West, Williams, and Zaman.

Abstaining were: Councillors Kelly, Mulgrew, Hilary Rodgers and Rush.

The amendment was declared to be lost.

A further amendment to the Motion was moved by Councillor Kelly and seconded by Councillor Mulgrew that:-

“The Motion be approved subject to the following amendment:-

Liberal Democrat Group Savings Proposals:

ITEM 2014/15 £k Additional Funding Requirements:

Reduce council tax for District purposes by 0.226% (Band 152.0 D from £1,330.36 to £1,327.35) Total Additional requirement 152.0 To be Funded by:

Reduction in Councillors from 60 to 40 and reduction in 0.0 number of elections as a consequence (see Note 1)

Page 6 Additional saving as a consequence of fallow year (see 0.0 Note 1) Cabinet Membership reduced by 2 22.1 Remove Assistant Portfolio Holder roles 20.4 Remove Council funding for Trade Union posts 109.5 Total Additional Saving 152.0 Net Variance 0.0

Note 1:- Savings from a reduction in Councillors and a fallow year would be subject to a review by the Local Government Boundary Commission of England (LGBCE) and therefore any financial savings would be not available until 2015/16 at the earliest.

Prior to the vote, there was a requisition for a Recorded Vote on this matter.

Voting for the proposals were: Councillors Darnbrough, Dearnley, Duckworth, James Gartside, Holly, Kelly, Mills, Mulgrew, Neilson, Hilary Rodgers, Rush, Stott, Sullivan and Winkler.

Abstaining was: Councillors Clegg.

The amendment was declared to be lost.

The Motion as previously moved and seconded was put to the vote, prior to the vote, there was a requisition for a Recorded Vote on this matter.

Voting for the proposals were: Councillors Farooq Ahmed, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shakil Ahmed, Shefali Ahmed, Daalat Ali, Sultan Ali, Beswick, Bethell, Cecile Biant, Surinder Biant, Boriss, Brett, Martin Burke, Philip Burke, Burns, Clegg, Darnbrough, Dearnley, Duckworth, Dutton, Neil Emmott, Susan Emmott, Farnell, James Gartside, Godson, Greenall, Hartley, Holly, Hornby, Hussain, Joinson, Kelly, Lambert, Linden, Martin, McCarthy, Mills, Mir, Mulgrew, Neilson, O’Neill, O’Rourke, Robinson, Hilary Rodgers, Rush, Sheerin, Stott, Sullivan, Wardle, Wazir, West, Williams, Winkler and Zaman.

There were no votes recorded against the proposals or abstentions.

The motion was declared to be carried.

DECIDED – That (1) the revenue estimates for 2014 - 2015 as submitted in the Budget Report, be approved; (2) it be noted that, at its meeting on 16th January 2014, the Audit and Safeguarding Committee calculated the amount of 50,497 as its council tax base for the year 2014/2015 in accordance with Section 31B of the

Page 7 Local Government Finance Act 1992 (“the Act”), as amended by the Localism Act 2011; (3) the following amounts now be calculated by the Council for the year 2013/14 in accordance with Sections 30 to 36 of the Act:- a) £568,53 5,818.00 being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in Section 31A(2) of the Act. b) £501,356,629.00 being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in Section 31A(3) of the Act. c) £67,179,189.00 being the amount by which the aggregate under Section 31A(2) exceeds the aggregate under Section 31A(3), calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 31A(4) of the Act, as its council tax requirement for the year. d) £1,330. 36 being the amount calculated under Section 31A(4), divided by the council tax base (50,158), in accordance with Section 31B of the Act, as the basic amount of its Council Tax for the year. e) Valuation Bands A B C D E F G H £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ 886.91 1,034.72 1,182.54 1,330.36 1,626.00 1,921.63 2,217.27 2,660.72

being the amounts given by multiplying the amount calculated in accordance with Section 31B by the number which, in the proportion set out in Section 5(1) of the Act, is applicable to dwellings listed in a particular band divided by the number which in that proportion is applicable to dwellings listed in Valuation Band D, calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 36(1) of the Act, as the amount to be taken into account for the year in respect of categories of dwellings listed in different Valuation Bands. (4) it be noted that for the year 2014/2015 the major precepting Authorities have stated the following amounts in precepts issued to the Council, in accordance with Section 40 of the Act, for each of the categories of dwellings shown below:-

Precepting Valuation Bands Authority

A B C D E F G H £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ Greater Manchester Police & Crime Commissioner 101.53 118.46 135.38 152.30 186.14 219.99 253.83 304.60

Page 8 Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Authority 38.43 44.83 51.24 57.64 70.45 83.26 96.07 115.28

(5) having calculated the aggregate in each case of the amounts at paragraphs 3(e) and 4 above, the Council, in accordance with Sections 30 and 36 of the Act, hereby sets the aggregate amounts shown in the table below as the amounts of Council Tax for the year 2014/2015 for each part of its area and for each of the categories of dwellings.

Valuation Bands A B C D E F G H £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £

1,026.87 1,198.01 1,369.16 1,540.30 1,882.59 2,224.88 2,567.17 3,080.60

(6) No discount be given in relation to the early payment of Council Tax bills for taxpayers paying the full 2014/2015 amount; (7) The decision regarding any changes to the final allocations for the Dedicated Schools Grant be delegated to the Portfolio Holders for Children’s Services and Finance in consultation with the Director of Children’s Services and the Director for Finance; (8) the Capital Programme as detailed within the Budget Report be approved; (9) no new spending proposals requiring additional resources be considered during the financial year except in extreme circumstances as determined by the Chief Executive and the Director of Finance in consultation with the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Cabinet. Any requests should be fully justified with the reasons why these could not be met from within existing budgets and explaining why they were not submitted for consideration as part of the annual budget process and any such proposals will need to be considered by full Council; (10) overspendings be not permitted without prior approval and consideration be given to taking appropriate action against any Officer responsible for committing expenditure leading to an overspending without approval or authorisation; (11) Pay Policy Statement – the Council be requested to approve the Pay Policy Statement, as outlined in the budget report to comply with the requiremnents of Section 8 of the Localism Act 2011.

Page 9 Agenda Item 6

Subject: Corporate Delivery Plan and Status: For Publication Performance Management Framework

Report to : Cabinet Date: 10 th March 2014 Overview and Scrutiny 27 th March 2014 Full Council 2nd April 2014

Report of Deputy Chief Executive Author Email: [email protected]

Author: Amy Foots Tel: 01706 925233 Cabinet Member: Councillor Burke Portfolio Holder for Corporate Services

Comments from Section 151 Officer Statutory Officers: Monitoring Officer Key Decision: Yes

Forward Plan/Notice General Exception Special Urgency

1. PURPOSE OF REPORT

1.1 To seek Member approval for the Corporate Delivery Plan and the refreshed Performance Management Framework.

2. RECOMMENDATIONS

2.1 Cabinet and Council Members to agree the Corporate Delivery Plan and that Service plan final sign off is delegated to Director and Portfolio Holder.

2.2 Township Plans are in the process of being signed off by the Township Committees

2.3 For Cabinet and Council Members to agree the Performance Management Framework.

2.4 For Overview and Scrutiny Committee Members to consider for consultative purposes.

MAIN TEXT INCLUDING ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED/CONSULTATION CARRIED OUT

3.1 A refreshed approach to Corporate Planning has been adopted, using the guiding principles of radical simplification, consistency and development and delivery within existing resources. The Corporate Delivery Plan is intended to be a public facing document, setting out the Council’s key priorities for the year ahead. Further details can be found in Appendix 2 of this report. Beneath the Corporate Delivery Plan sit the Directorate Plans, which contain details of those key delivery activities which will contribute to the achievement of the corporate priorities.

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3.2 Each Directorate has developed their own plan, ensuring those key transformational activities to be delivered are captured. Township Plans have also been developed in line with the Directorate Plan approach.

3.3 Alongside the work to develop the corporate planning documents, the Performance Management Framework (PMF) has been refreshed. The work undertaken to refresh the PMF has involved a full assessment of all existing performance measures and their reporting mechanisms, resulting in a reduced number of performance indicators which are relevant to the Council’s current delivery and ongoing effective management. We have significantly reduced the number of performance measures and indicators. Further details can be found in Appendix 1 of this report.

3.4 The same guiding principles of simplification, consistency and development and delivery within existing resources have also been used in developing the PMF. The framework proposes a core set of performance indicators which will be managed by Leadership quarterly, accompanied by relevant performance measures to be monitored weekly or monthly by Directors and Managers.

3.5 The PMF will ensure the right measures are being monitored at the appropriate level of management and that suitable accountabilities are in place. It is proposed the core set of indicators will be reported to Cabinet for discussion following Leadership, and further scrutiny provided by Overview & Scrutiny Committee. We are discussing this with the Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

Alternatives considered

3.6 Maintain the current performance management approach relating to longer timeframes, This was not deemed appropriate as the Council requires a clear vision and delivery objectives to ensure all activity is focused over the coming year and that our performance framework is fit for purpose.

3.7 To produce a Corporate Delivery Plan and Directorate content using the previous adopted approach used to develop previous versions of Aiming High, with the attendant in levels and complexity. This approach was not deemed proportionate to the task to produce one year documents, nor was it considered achievable within the staff resource available.

Reason for recommendation

3.8 To gain Members views and approval of the Corporate Delivery Plan and Performance Management Framework.

Consultation proposed/undertaken

3.9 Consultation has been undertaken with Leadership, Informal Cabinet Members, Township Chairs and all Directorates and Senior Management Teams. Consultation with partners has also taken place.

3.10 Consultation to be undertaken with Overview & Scrutiny Committee.

4. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

4.1 As the refreshed Performance Management Framework and Corporate Delivery Plan are to be delivered within existing Council resources, there are no additional financial implications arising from this report.

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5. LEGAL IMPLICATIONS

5.1 The Corporate Delivery Plan and PMF require Full Council approval they are listed as Policy and Budget Framework documents.

6. PERSONNEL IMPLICATIONS

6.1 There are no personnel implications arising from this report.

7. CORPORATE PRIORITIES

7.1 This report sets the corporate priorities.

9. RISK ASSESSMENT IMPLICATIONS

9.1 All the issues raised and the recommendation(s) in this report involve risk considerations as set out below:

Without a robust and effective Performance Management Framework in place the Council will not be able to manage current and future performance, resulting in considerable risks of future failure to deliver and reputational risk along with the likelihood of wasted time and money.

Without suitable corporate priorities and delivery objectives in place the Council is at risk of not delivering on those key areas we feel are priorities and must seek to achieve over the coming year.

Any specific Directorate / Township Plan risks identified will be logged and managed through the corporate risk register.

10. EQUALITIES IMPACTS

10.1 Workforce Equality Impacts Assessment

There are no (significant) workforce equality issues arising from this report, any specific issues will be identified through further impact assessments specific to each Directorate / Township plan.

10.2 Equality/Community Impact Assessments

There are no (significant) equality/community issues arising from this report. Any specific issues will be identified through further Equality Impact Assessments specific to each Directorate / Township plan.

Background Papers Document Place of Inspection Performance Management Framework Corporate Delivery Plan

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APPENDIX 1 – Performance Framework Summary

1. The Performance Management Framework is only one part of a group of frameworks which set out The Rochdale Way of Managing , relating to managing People, Risk, Activity and Money.

2. Performance information exists only in order to inform and trigger decisions. It is not needed simply for the sake of providing information or solely for comparison with others. 150 of the current PIs have been identified as potentially failing this test, with a further 120 providing annual snapshot information.

3. Service performance is best managed at the lowest possible level within the organisation and corrective action taken immediately. Therefore most of the new framework is devolved.

4. There are four questions that should determine what to collect and report – • What does the service manager need to know to stay on top of delivery? • What sub-set of that information does their manager need to know to stay on top of their group of services? • What sub-set of that information does the Director need to know to meet their accountability requirements? • What does LT need everyone to collect and report so that it can ensure that service delivery and corporate priorities are on track?

5. Service delivery must set performance standards for quality, quantity and frequency that set out what customers can expect from the service (and what the service expects from customers). This applies to both directly managed and commissioned services and should be part of all Service Plans.

6. The focus of what we choose to measure, record and report should capture current activity - set against these standards and targets - not rely on measures which are essentially backward-looking or where the time-lag means they provide no useful basis for decision- making.

7. A Core Set of Information for LT – reviewed and refreshed annually The quarterly Core Set for LT will include a summarised version of progress on – • Key Service Delivery Indicators • Board oversight of Business-Critical Programme Delivery • Organisational Health • Income and Expenditure (extracted from current Cabinet reports) & Savings Programme and • Risk Mitigation

The meetings of LT at the end of July, October, January and April which receive this report should have a 1 item agenda, with an exception only for genuinely urgent matters. This report is then presented to Cabinet at its next available meeting.

8. A more widespread adoption of portfolio-level governance as a way of streamlining arrangements, prioritising and managing Business-Critical Programmes (BCPs) should be adopted, exception reporting to LT every quarter. The creation of a small Programme Management Office within the Public Service Reform (PSR) team should be considered to support this approach.

9. Given the significance of Organisational Health and Organisational Development to the future success of the Council, it is proposed that a new set of indicators is put in place to

4 Page 13 support managing these issues at a strategic level as part of the LT Quarterly Performance report. A draft set of indicators related to vacancies, sickness/absence, training & PDRs, workforce diversity and complaints has been identified.

10. There should be a new approach to annual reporting - a multi-agency State of Rochdale (SoR) report – in keeping with the collaborative approaches to PSR, Community Safety and Public Health and published in the autumn. It should report on a range of information separated from ongoing performance management. The SoR report will focus on impacts and outcomes resulting from the services and programmes the council and partners deliver, not the details of how those services were managed.

11. Existing Boards like the Corporate Parenting Board, Governance Board and the Safeguarding Boards for children and adults and the Safer Communities Partnership will continue to use their agreed report card for reporting performance exceptions to LT.

12. The Performance Manager system should be the only platform used across the council for recording and reporting progress in relation to service, risk, programme and project delivery. Use of alternative platforms will require a specific business case justifying the exception. This will ensure transparency of performance right across the system.

SUMMARY DIAGRAM

LT Business- Core Plus what Directors Critical Set need Programm

(Quarterly (Monthly) es Boards ) and Plus what Service Group Managers Key or ADs need Contractor (Weekly or Monthly) s (Quarterly)

Plus what Service Unit Managers need

(Weekly and Monthly)

Exception Reporting

Related documents : Performance Framework detailed commentary (including list of indicators for potential removal and for annual reporting); a draft template for ELT Quarterly Reports and draft OH indicators.

5 Page 14

Draft LT Core Set

Indicator Ref No Indicator description ASC ASC 01 Proportion of people using social care who receive self- directed support ASC 02 Proportion of people using social care who receive self- directed support and take it as a cash budget. ASC 03 Nursing and residential admissions (over 65) ASC 04 Nursing and residential admissions (18 to 64) ASC 05 Number of clients reabled or returned home with a care package subsequent to a period of reablement or intermediate care ASC 06 Delayed Transfers of Care ASC 07 Annual service user experience survey

E & E EE 01 Residual household waste volumes (for landfill) EE 02 Recycling rate & volumes EE 03 JSA claimant numbers EE 04 JSA claimant numbers - under 24's EE 05 Council-owned industrial/commercial unit voids EE 06 Number of businesses supported to grow (a) start-ups and (b) existing businesses EE 07 Stay above Special Measures Designation Criteria for Planning

C & C CC 01 Public satisfaction levels re crime & ASB CC 02 Public satisfaction levels re community cohesion CC 03 Reducing victim-based crime CC 04 Reducing anti-social behaviour CC 05 Reducing the level of repeat victimisation in Domestic Abuse cases referred to MARAC CC 06 Drug users in effective treatment CC 07 Percentage of customer contacts resolved at first contact CC 08 Performance of the Coroner’s Service

PH TBC Those indicators linked to the payment of the Health Premium (to be set in March) PH 01 Premature Mortality Rate PH 02 Numbers of Health Visitors in post compared to target PH 03 Alcohol related hospital admissions

FINANCE FS 01 Council Tax in year collection FS 02 Council Tax arrears collection FS 03 Business Rates in year collection FS 04 Business Rates arrears collection Time to begin to process each category of claims and FS 05 changes in circumstances FS 06 Level of Procurement Savings delivered by STaR

6 Page 15

FS 07 Council corporate debt levels FS 08 Spend against budget across services FS 09 Treasury Management performance against budget

CS CS 01 Number of referrals to children's social care services CS 02 Number of re-referrals to children's social care services CS 03 Number of children in need CS 04 Number of children subject to a child protection plan CS 05 Number of children subject to a child protection plan for a second or subsequent time CS O6 Number of children in care CS 07 Number of children missing form home and care CS 08 Number of first time entrants to youth justice system CS 09 % of children who are ‘school ready’ as measured by the Early Years Foundation Stage Profile (ANNUAL) CS 10 The gap in achievement at all Key Stages between pupils having free school meals and those not (ANNUAL) CS 11 The gap in attainment between Cared for Children and other children in the Borough (ANNUAL) CS 12 % of children with special educational or health needs who have an Education Health & Care plan (ANNUAL) CS 13 % of young people achieving at least 5 GCSE A*- C including English and Maths year on year (ANNUAL) CS 14 The number (%) of schools that require improvement or are in special measures % of schools that provide good or outstanding levels of CS 15 education % of 16-18 year olds not in education, employment or CS 16 training

Business Public Service Exception reporting to LT Critical Reform Programmes Programmes Welfare Reform Exception reporting to LT Programme Improvement Exception reporting to LT Board/CSC Transformation Programme Health & Well Being Exception reporting to LT Programme Corporate Exception reporting to LT Parenting Board Adult & Exception reporting to LT Children’s Safeguarding

7 Page 16

Boards Homelessness Board Exception reporting to LT Safer Communities Exception reporting to LT Partnership C&YP Partnership Exception reporting to LT Governance Exception reporting to LT Board

Key Contractors RBH Exception reporting by Client Lead Director RDA Exception reporting by Client Lead Director L4L Exception reporting by Client Lead Director Agilisys Exception reporting by Client Lead Director

APPENDIX 2 – CORPORATE PLAN

See Attached Corporate Delivery Plan

8 Page 17 Rochdale Borough The c ouncil has four key priorities to deliver our vision; priorities that direct and underpin everything we do : we deliver our services with co-operative values and ethics at the heart of what we do Council Plan 2014-15 People, Place, Prosperity and Public Service Reform Rochdale is the birthplace of co-operation. The council is committed to promoting People Place personal independence and wellbeing, supporting our vulnerable adults and We will support and encourage resident to achieve their The environmonment in which people live is an important children. We will continue to work to build full potential and contribute to their communities. We influence on well-being, safety, health, education, economic success for our businesses and citizens and further develop civic pride. will provide good quality universal services and targeted inclusion, community cohesion and equalities. Quality of support, safeguarding our vulnerable adults and children; place can have a profound effect on how the borough Despite significant financial challenges we providing early help and reducing the need for further attracts orr detersdet investment and job opportunities, as remain entirely committed to delivering on intervention. The skills and qualifications of our citizens well as howw civicci pride in our heritage and landmarks is our vision of a council which builds are key to the success of the borough. Considerable maintained. success and prosperity with our citizens and partners, whilst achievements in school attainment and raising skills New developments in the borough will build further protecting our vulnerable people. levels have already been made, but this must continue,

Page 18 Page ensuring children achieve as highly as possible and have success, creat ing job opportunities; the right mix of Our organisation is undergoing a homes, andd improvingim the borough’s connectivity to high aspirations. transformation to better equip us to Greater Manchester. deliver on our vision. This transformation We will focus our resources on the priorities below to is underpinned by our values and play our part in enabling Rochdale Borough’s diverse We will focuscus our activity on helping to create a high behaviours, ‘The Rochdale Way’, communities to have the best possible opportunity to quality naturatural and built environment throughout the influencing the way we operate, the borough; a place which residents, bus inesses and choices we make and working in a live healthy, safe and fulfilling lives. visitors find fit for purpose and for all to enjoy. supportive environment with suitably Our priorities are: skilled staff, equipped to deliver the best Our priorities are: service to our customers. Our vision for • Increased healthy life and well -being equality and diversity for the council is; • Children and adults safeguarded from harm • High quality buildings and public space representing, serving and employing • Accessible and used countryside people as equals; valuing the diversity of • People and communities more independent and self - reliant , through our “Whole family” approach • Places where people want to live and stay their contributions and aspirations, no matter who they are or what their • Equity and Equality of opportunity m ore people have circumstances higher skills and greater achievements We will continue to work in partnership locally and across Greater Manchester to deliver on shared priorities for our borough.

Rochdale Borough

Council Plan 2014-15 Prosperity Public Service Reform (PSR) We are committed to playing our part in creating the The financial challenges facing the Council and our conditions for economic prosperity in the borough. partners require us to rewire and refo rm the delivery of Working in partnership, we will do all we can to our s ervices, while ensure we deliver j obs and economic

encourage businesses to invest and thrive in the growth in the b orough. borough. There are estabstablished PSR work streams including an Employment is the best route out of poverty enabling integrated approach to supporting our complex dependant independence, wealth creatio n and increasing fam ilies; reducinucing reoffending and a greater focus on employability,, improvingim pathways to work resulting in aspirations. We will continue to support residents into reduced benefit dependency and improve the self -reliance employment and to further strengthen links with of our people. Greater Manchester, enabling residents to access employment, education, training and other PSR is more thantha just work streams; it is our way of opportunities. working, challenging th e traditional approach to Service

Page 19 Page delivery. Through our ‘ whole family’ approach we will We will continue to promote our borough as a place support our staff to be suitably skilled, flexible, innovative where people want to live, work and visit, building on and customerer focusedfo in designing and delivering our

recent successes and looking forward to opportunities integrated services , ensuring we are equipped to meet ahead future challenges.

Our priorities are: Our priorities are : • To work across service areas and to access business

• More borough residents in work intelligence to support a ‘whole family’ approach. • More and more successful businesses • Invest in early intervention and prevention, thereby

• Outwar d looking and confident borough reducing future demand on services. Use evidence based interventions, working • collaboratively with our partners. • Reducing the dependency and demand for services, delivering betterbe outcomes for local people through empowering and increasing their independence.

www.rochdale.gov.uk

Agenda Item 7a

ROCHDALE METROPOLITAN BOROUGH COUNCIL

REPORT OF THE LEADER OF THE COUNCIL/CHAIR OF THE HEALTH & WELLBEING BOARD TO THE MEETING OF THE COUNCIL ON WEDNESDAY, 2 ND APRIL 2014

Thank you Mr Mayor for the opportunity to report to the Council the latest developments on various matters relating to the Leader of the Council/Chair of the Health & Wellbeing Board.

Finance

• We have successfully approved a balanced budget for 2014/15. This year we have not needed a savings programme because in 2013/14 we set a two year budget. There are challenges ahead, with the council needing to make £51m of savings over 2 years and we are in the process of tackling the budget for 2015/16. The council is starting to produce their statement of accounts for 2013/14, which will demonstrate to our key stakeholders the council’s viability.

Adult Care

• In the last few days many of our adult care services officially moved over to the new social enterprise, possAbilites. This is a great step forward which will allow us to continue to support our most vulnerable residents despite the huge financial challenges we face. The social enterprise will also be able to access much needed grants not available to local authorities to help them develop exciting new services for the benefit of our community.

• This month, in collaboration with our colleagues in the NHS, we will be opening the first dementia unit in the country at Rochdale Infirmary. We’re excited to be helping to lead the way in the care of this challenging condition.

• We will be able to help people in our borough stay independent for even longer with the support of the government’s better care fund which will enhance the excellence reablement services we have in place.

• We had a fantastic response to this year’s adult care user survey. We look forward to using these responses to help shape and improve the service we provide for our residents.

Regeneration and Economic Affairs

• Our regeneration was given a huge boost with the arrival of the Metrolink in the town centre this week. Along with our new Transport Interchange, it forms a first class integrated public transport hub which will generate huge investment in the town centre and better connect us to the rest of Greater Manchester.

• More praise has been heaped on Number One Riverside, which received a commendation at the civic trust awards for making a positive social and economic impact on the environment of Rochdale town centre. This is a further accolade for our flagship building which was named best mixed use development by the Concrete Society last year and was also given the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce Building of the Year award in 2013.

Page 20

• The town centre demolitions are now well underway with huge physical changes having taken place in a matter of weeks. We are expecting the whole demolition programme to be completed by the end of October.

• Our river reopening project is moving closer with the council having officially submitted its second stage funding bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund. We’re expecting work on this fantastic project to start in the summer.

• We received nearly 600 responses to the public consultation on the market. We will be drawing on these responses as we work to create a thriving market in Rochdale town centre.

Environment

• Thanks to the huge success of the regional Right Stuff Right Bin pilot in Rochdale, the scheme has been rolled out in Littleborough.

• Life Plus campaign to increase recycling has been launched. We are working with the Greater Manchester Waste Authority (GMWDA) on a ground-breaking two-year project to encourage communities to waste less and recycle more.

• A small wind turbine pilot is taking place at the former Hill Top School in Kirkholt and the blades were put in on 26 March. The project will see Rochdale leading the way as a ‘green’ authority. This will not only bring in revenue but help us become more energy self-sufficient when fuel bills are on the rise. By harvesting our own source of renewable energy we could generate new multi-million-pound revenue streams, fund municipal services, put land assets to work, underwrite energy security and offset soaring energy prices, as well as fulfil our renewable power and carbon reduction obligations.

• Rochdale Memorial Gardens is to undergo a £35,000 improvement programme ahead of commemorations for the centenary of the outbreak of World War One in July. The improvement works will include replacing the six lime trees either side of the sunken garden steps with small birch trees, tree planting around the orchard near the police station, digging out the rose beds and replacing the soil and flowers in the regimental colours of The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, removing a diseased tree overshadowing the rose beds and planting replacement trees; improving and redesigning the flower beds, removing some shrubs and replacing with turf, installing handrails by the steps into the sunken garden.

• The casualty reduction team has been advising parents and carers to get a free check on how to make sure their child’s car restraint is fitted correctly as officers have discovered on visits that most are fitted incorrectly.

• Work begun in February to create a 2,000 plot cemetery in a 2.6 hectare southern section of Denehurst Park. We are also investing more than £300,000 to carry out improvements to the remainder of the park in consultation with the public.

• We have taken delivery of 10 new eco bin lorries which could cut fuel consumption

Page 21 by as much as a fifth. They are also much less noisy than earlier models.

• The Rochdale Borough Transport Strategy has been updated outlining its key transport priorities and aspirations until 2026. It is hoped the strategy document can be used to help support funding bids and support the council’s wider economic, environmental, social and health priorities.

• A weed control programme to manage the area’s roads and footpaths of unwanted vegetation started in mid-March through to September. Weed spraying will help curb growth across the borough, also including walkways and footpaths belonging to Rochdale Boroughwide Housing, will take four weeks depending on the weather. The borough will be treated three times to correspond with high growth times during the year, usually March to April, June to July and then September.

• A from the council took up the Climate Week Challenge in a bid to inspire others to live and work more sustainably. This year’s challenge was to come up with an idea that helps people use less energy heating buildings and water. The team consisted of Councillor Cecile Biant, Ann Hill, PA to the director of public health, energy manager Steven Hwozdyk and media relations officer Emma Ferguson. Following brainstorming the group decided upon installing an eco-skin system between the cavity, floor and ceiling fabric of buildings to enable water circulation to provide hot water and heat for the home, which aimed to prevent any water or heat from being wasted by a property.

• From 1 April mobile CCTV cars will drive by schools in the area to discourage parents from flouting parking rules when they drop off their children. Restricted zones are entered into a computer mapping system and only activated when the car drives through. Officers will study film and anyone parking illegally will be fined £70. This a matter of road safety and there is no excuse for parking illegally outside schools just to save a few minutes on the school run.

• No smoking signs have been put up at all the borough’s fenced and partially fenced play areas in a bid to reduce children’s exposure to second hand smoke.

Library Service

• Dates for Rochdale Literature & Ideas Festival have been confirmed. The festival will run from Friday 24 to Sunday 26 October this year, with a fist of events and another stellar line up covering drama, comedy, dance, music, theatre, films, visual arts and children’s shows. Preview events will also be held across the borough earlier in October.

• Bookstart Bear visited Middleton and Balderstone libraries on World Book Day and in National Storytelling Week to try to encourage youngsters to read.

• Young Person’s Library Worker Ray Stearn has again been picked as a judge for BBC Radio 2’s under-13 writing competition 500 Words.

• Artists have created a wall mural at Rochdale Central Library from children’s own

Page 22 ideas from a session at last year’s Rochdale Literature and Ideas Festival.

• We celebrated Shakespeare Week from March 17-23, in honour of the 450 th anniversary of the birth of the Bard. It is a new national, annual celebration to bring the great playwright, his works and legacy to life vividly, especially for primary school children and their families. There was a costume display at Rochdale Central Library, workshops for primary school children and a performance of Desperate Measures, an adaptation of Measure for Measure set in the future.

Customer Services

• We have redesigned our website to make it easier to use. www.rochdale.gov.uk was re-launched in February with a distinctive new look as well as additional features which will make accessing services online easier. The site has been designed to be much more compatible with mobile phones and tablets. There are now more things than ever that you can report or apply for online without the need to pick up the phone or visit the council in person - saving time and money. On rochdale.gov.uk you can request a bulky waste collection, report littering or fly- tipping, renew your library books, report a missed bin, pothole, faulty streetlight and more. You can also enquire about lots of other council services including fostering and adoption. We’re still regularly improving the website based on the experience of our customers and user feedback, but this is the most significant change of the last few years Residents can now access more than 20 services on the website to report problems or fill in forms, saving both time and money on phone calls. These include services such as reporting a missed bin, request a bulky waste collection, reporting littering, fly-tipping or graffiti, enquiring about fostering or adoption or reporting anti-social behaviour.

• Rochdale Borough Council has launched a series of webpages to assist bereaved families across the borough, Oldham and Bury with matters relating to the Coroners’ service, such as bereavement support, inquest information, guidance and frequently asked questions for undertakers, police, healthcare professionals and journalists.

• It’s now cheaper to call us from mobiles, after we replaced 13 of our most used 0845 numbers with 0300 numbers. The new numbers cost the same to call as geographic numbers starting 01 or 02. It’s the beginning of a process that will soon see all 0845 and 0844 numbers phased out. Changing to 0300 numbers is undoubtedly the right thing for us to do and enables the people we serve to contact us via their mobile for the same cost as any other geographic number. These numbers are often also included in people’s mobile phone packages. Aside from these new numbers, we’re always encouraging residents to try our website first, as it’s the easiest and cheapest way to access many of our services.

Public Health

Page 23 • The Books on Prescription scheme was launched in One Riverside, on Monday, 24 February and included talks by Linda Fisher, Deputy Chief Executive of Rochdale Borough Council, and Dr Michael Taylor. For the first time a scheme for children and families has also been made available in addition to a revised scheme for adults. This partnership between the Council and Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust is available borough wide. People can access the approved books by referral from a health or social care worker or by accessing them from a local library. There are books to help with conditions such as challenging behaviour, bereavement, anxiety, anger management, low confidence, stress, bullying and family problems among others, and all been reviewed and recommended by health professionals.

• Takeaway owners in the borough’s Healthier Chips Scheme took part in our local Health Chats training programme during National Chip Week, from 17—23 February, which saw them complete the Royal Society of Public Health’s Level 2 Understanding Health Improvements qualification. This helps them have conversations with customers aimed at making healthier lifestyle choices by signposting basic healthy choice tips and ways of getting support.

Community Safety • Rochdale Safer Communities Partnership tackled crime and grime in Heywood town centre and the Angel Meadows estate in a day of action on 7 February 2014. Teams from the council, police, housing associations alongside community and volunteer groups, worked together to combat issues such as bin fires, fly-tipping and rubbish, tenancy breaches, underage drinking and anti-social behaviour. Police and community safety officers talked to residents to gather intelligence on and provided practical security and safety advice.

• Fusilier Lee Rigby’s killers were sentenced in February for his murder. We are continuing to offer support to the family and would also like to thank our borough’s diverse communities for their continued sympathetic and respectful response

• Representatives of Rochdale Multi Faith Partnership and Rochdale Borough Council led the borough’s Holocaust Memorial Day commemorations at a special ceremony on Monday, 27 January, at the Phoenix Centre in Heywood. There was a display in Number One Riverside.

• Rochdale’s Youth Celebrate International Women’s Day. Around 50 young women celebrated International Women’s Day at Rochdale Leisure Centre on Saturday 8 March, taking part in activities centred on this year’s global theme, ‘Inspiring Change’.

Children’s Services

• Apprenticeship Event Kicks Off at Rochdale Football Club. Young people were

Page 24 offered the chance to score their dream career at the Rochdale Borough Apprenticeship Vacancy Event at Rochdale Football Club on Wednesday 5 March.

• Rochdale Adopters Offered New Family Support Programme. People in Rochdale who want to adopt a child, or have already adopted, Adopters are now offered additional support to better understand and successfully manage the behaviour of their adopted children can now get extra help with building relationships with their adopted children. In what is the first partnership of its kind in the North West, Rochdale, Bury and Oldham Councils have joined with charity After Adoption to offer the SafeBase Parenting Programme to their adoptive parents, as part of a strategy to build success and reduce the likelihood of placement problems.

• New Member of Youth Parliament Elected for Rochdale. A former Kingsway Park high school student was officially announced as Rochdale’s new Member of Youth Parliament at a ceremony at Rochdale Town Hall on Wednesday 5 February. Leon Hollinrake, 17, beat five other candidates to the post with over 9,400 votes cast from secondary schools and sixth form colleges throughout the borough.

• New front line for keeping children safe launched in Rochdale. Rochdale Borough Council has joined forces with Greater Manchester Police and NHS Heywood, Middleton & Rochdale to launch a new way of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of vulnerable children and young people in the borough. The Multi-Agency Screening Service (MASS) aims to provide effective screening, ensure the highest level of information sharing and inter-agency communication, understanding and analysis of safeguarding intelligence and information within and timely responses between those organisations responsible for provision of early help and keeping children safe.

• Apprenticeship shop opens in Middleton Arndale. Hundreds of Apprenticeship vacancies for 16-24 year olds will be have been made available from the start of January in an apprenticeship pop-up shop in Middleton Arndale that was officially opened on Monday 13 January 2014. Visitors to the pop-up shop will be able to browse and apply for hundreds of live apprenticeship vacancies and will be given support and guidance from experienced training industry staff.

Report for Directorate of Public Health

We have started some joint work with the Clinical Commissioning Group to review the evidence of what works and develop further action to further reduce the number of premature deaths across the Borough building on the good work undertaken to date. We will update members on this work and recommendations for action by all partners in the next few months.

I am pleased to report that a successful event looking at Housing, Health and Wellbeing went well. Chaired by Cllr Ali this event brought together health and housing staff to develop local action to improve health and wellbeing by working more closely together.

The Health and Wellbeing Board met in January and received an update on the Page 25 Greater Manchester Healthier Together programme. It was agreed that this will be a standing agenda item for 2014. The Board considered the progress made in order to submit Borough proposals for the Better Care Plan. This plan is a joint proposal on how we will locally develop integrated services for health and social care with the CCG and with the main providers which includes a pooled budget for certain elements of our overall health and social care integration plan. The next version of the plan will be submitted to the next Board and is due for submission in early April 2014.

The Board received updates on the excellent work carried out by the Healthy Lifestyles Partnership and the work underway locally to promote Wellbeing or residents and staff including the development of the Health Chats and Five ways to wellbeing programmes that are working well locally. The Board also received, discussed and noted the Adult Safeguarding Report.

In relation to our public health commissioned services, an integrated service to work with communities across our townships to support Healthier Lifestyles has had a new specification produced this year and the service has been tendered to commence on the 1st April 2014. The integrated service will work with adults and families within our communities to reduce smoking, encourage healthier weight, promote physical activities, support healthier eating, develop sexual health promotion and education, reduce risk from drugs and alcohol and improve mental wellbeing. Further details of services available for this service and others services and information can be found on the new Council website pages for health and wellbeing www.rochdale.gov.uk/livewell . We are continuing to work well across the council and with Pennine Care NHS Trust and Pennine Acute NHS Trust to further develop integrated sexual health services for residents.

We have now received confirmation that the council will pick up the responsibility for commissioning the Health Visitor service from NHS England from October 2015. A workshop is arranged next month with Children’s Services and Public Health to plan for this transition for responsibility and budget.

Councillor Colin Lambert Leader of the Council/ Chair of the Health & Wellbeing Board

Thank you Mr Mayor, I will be pleased to answer any questions from Members of the Council about these or any other matter relating to the Leader of the Council/Chair of the Health & Wellbeing Board.

Page 26 Agenda Item 7b

ROCHDALE METROPOLITAN BOROUGH COUNCIL

CABINET MEMBER REPORT TO THE COUNCIL

REPORT OF THE CABINET MEMBER FOR FINANCE TO THE MEETING OF THE COUNCIL ON 2nd April 2014

Thank you Mr Mayor for the opportunity to report to the Council the latest developments on various matters relating to the Finance and Revenues and Benefits Portfolio.

Finance

2013/2014

I can report that at this stage of the year we are predicting an in year saving of circa £3m on the 2013/14 budget, this position takes into account projected overspends in both Economy and Environment and Children’s Services but for 2013/14 these are offset by in year savings in other services and through Treasury Management. It should be noted however that the in year savings are in some instances one off and therefore the underlying pressures in 2013/14 will impact on the 2014/15 budget. We are working with both these services and have continued to make provision for a level of budget pressures in 2014/15 budget. The in year saving will support the Council going forward in contribution to the funding strategy to enable a balanced budget to be set. A further update on the 2013/14 position will be presented to Cabinet on 7th April 2014.

2014/2015

On 27 th February Council members approved the budget for 2014/15, members will be aware that savings proposals for 2014/15 were approved as part of the 2013/14 budget setting process, in setting the budget on 27 th February no further service savings where required to balance the budget.

The budget for 2014/15 will be closely managed and monitored to ensure that the approved savings are delivered and spend is within budget. As budgets are reduced effective financial management is crucial to deliver value for money from resources available.

2015/16 and 2016/17

In setting the 2014/15 budget we have projected the budget requirements and funding available for the financial years 2015/16 and 2016/17. Based on our current assumptions the ‘gap’ is forecast to Page 27 be a total of £51m split £37m in 2015/16 and a further £14m in 2016/17. We have just embarked on a series of sessions with staff to raise awareness of the financial position and making the links with Public Sector Reform.

Intensive work has commenced regarding the 2015-2017 budget process, with significant data gathering, financial and non-financial, to support informed decision making. Over the next few months, reports will be presented to Cabinet and Overview and Scrutiny setting out the budget process and savings proposals will be formulated for consideration by Cabinet following which there will be an extensive consultation process for those proposals that will impact on service delivery and/or the workforce.

Welfare Reform and Revenues and Benefits

Local Council Tax Support Scheme

The Council Tax Support Scheme provides financial support to those council tax payers who meet the eligibility criteria; the scheme replaced the national council tax benefit scheme which ended in 2012/13. At the end of January 2014 the award of support was £16.941m for the year which is £108K below the budget set for the year of £17.049m; The projection is within 1% of the original estimate.

Within the overall position there are overall reductions in the number of claimants against the estimate however for working aged claimants the overall awards are slightly higher than estimated resulting in the forecast being virtually in line with the estimate.

Local Discretionary Crisis Fund

As previously reported I have through my delegated powers made in year changes to the criteria for making awards from the Discretionary Crisis Fund in 2013/14. On 7 th April I will be presenting to Cabinet the proposals for the 2014/15 Fund which has taken account of the information gathered from the first year of operation. The scheme for 2014/15 looks to localise service provision and broadens the range of awards to best meet needs of vulnerable residents in Rochdale Borough.

I can report that the number of awards made from the 2013/14 Fund, as at the end of February 2014, was 5,959 with a value of over £330,000. In response to feedback from partners and elected members, the scheme’s Eligibility Criteria have been revised over the course of the year. As a result, the number of applications to the scheme has increased considerably, rising from 534 in Quarter 1 to an anticipated 1,035 in Quarter 4 (an increase of 94%). We will continue to monitor this position and report to Overview and Scrutiny.

Benefit Cap

There are now 102 households affected by the Benefit Cap in Rochdale MBC, an increase of 12 from the December update. The impact on these households is a loss of benefit ranging between £3 per week up to £200 per week. We are in direct contact with these households to offer advice and support around money advice and budgeting skills; in addition they have all been written to regarding applying for a Discretionary Housing Payment.

Current Number of Loss per week Number of Households as Households reported in December 2013 6 Less than £5 2 7 £5-£10 4 15 £10-£20 6 8 £20-£30 4 5 £30-£40 7 8 £40-£50 10 16 £50-£60 14 25 £60-£100 33 11 £100-£150 9 1 £150-£200 1 0 Over £200 0 Page 28

Under occupancy tax

There are currently 2,396 households in Rochdale MBC where Housing Benefit is being restricted due to the ‘under occupancy’ rules. Of these 1,973 are having a 14% reduction to their benefit, whilst the remaining 423 are having a 25% reduction.

In April 2013 there were 3,285 households who had had their Housing Benefit restricted due to ‘under occupancy’, in December 2013 this was 2,653 and has now reduced to the 2,396 reported above. The reduction in cases is due to a number of reasons, e.g. tenants could have moved to a smaller property; or could have taken up employment etc.

Discretionary Housing Payments (DHP)

There have been 1,270 applications for a DHP (up from 1,053 at December 2013) – of these 750 have been approved; with £228K awarded. Of the 750 awards, 409 have been to households affected by the ‘under occupancy’ rules.

Performance Data – Revenues and Benefits

Outstanding Housing Benefits and Council Tax Support Work In terms of workloads, at the end of February: then there were 3,033 “items” unallocated, of which 52 were new applications (the bulk therefore being changes to claims already in payment); and also 2,332 claims currently being worked on, where we are awaiting information from claimants; representing 5,365 in total (an increase of 1,460 from the 3,905 reported in December).

Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support Processing Times During February we processed 1,246 new claims, with nearly 60% put into payment within 4 weeks and 89% put into payment within 6 weeks, both indicators are an improvement on December (50% and 84% respectively). In addition we processed 4,596 changes, with 72% of these dealt with in 4 week and 93% dealt with in 8 weeks (December 57% and 86% respectively).

Where there is a greater time lapse for completing an application this is due to the fact that we are awaiting information / documents from claimants.

Overall Performance As at the end of February the cumulative benefit processing performance was 23.8 days per claim (approx 3½ weeks), this is a cumulative figure for both new claims (26.3 days per claim) and change of circumstances (23.3 days per claim) and takes into account those that we can process immediately and those that we are awaiting further information/documentation from claimants. We are looking to reduce this to 3 weeks by the end of the financial year

Overpayment Subsidy As at the end of February we are anticipating to receive full DWP subsidy on Housing Benefit overpayments.

Council Tax Collection The in-year collection performance for Council Tax of 91.6% at the end of February is 2.6% behind performance at the same time last year of 94.2%. However, this reduction is not unexpected as there is an additional £10m to collect in 2013/14, due to the general council tax increase, the technical reform changes (local discounts and empty property premium) and the changes to council tax support. Collections from working-age local council tax support customers is 61.7% at the end of February and this has exceeded expectations, which should result in a modest surplus in the council tax element of the collection fund.

The performance for reducing Council Tax arrears shows a reduction of £2.33m at the end of February which is behind performance at the same time last year of £2.68m.

We continue to look at ways to increase collection, including offers of flexible instalments. We do not take a ‘one size’ fits all approach but look to maximise the income to the Council recognising the challenges our residents face.

Page 29 Business Rates Collection The in-year collection performance for Business Rates of 95.44% at the end of February is 0.8% ahead of performance at the same time last year of 94.64% and we are continuing to recover arrears from previous years.

Councillor Jonathan Burns Interim Cabinet Member for Finance

Thank you Mr Mayor, I will be pleased to answer any questions from Members of the Council about these or any other matter relating to the Finance Portfolio

Page 30 Agenda Item 7c

ROCHDALE METROPOLITAN BOROUGH COUNCIL

CABINET MEMBER REPORT TO THE COUNCIL

REPORT OF THE CABINET MEMBER FOR STRENGTHENING COMMUNITIES TO THE MEETING OF THE COUNCIL ON WEDNESDAY, 2nd APRIL 2014

Thank you Mr Mayor for the opportunity to report to the Council the latest developments on various matters relating to the Strengthening Communities Portfolio.

SAFER COMMUNITIES

Increasing Confidence & Satisfaction

We remain one of the best performers in the region for confidence and satisfaction in the police and council dealing with crime and ant-isocial behaviour issues.

We’re continuing to promote and publicise the positive multi-agency work of the Partnership and its successful outcomes.

Following on from a successful Day of Action in Heywood, we’re planning another to take place on 9 April in Milnrow and Newhey. I’m looking forward to being a part of this as the Heywood day was very well received by local people.

We’ll also be launching our Partnership’s Domestic Abuse Strategy with a public launch at Number One Riverside on 2 April. The Police Crime Commissioner and Leader of the Council will be involved with this.

Our latest Safer Rochdale Township newsletters are due to be distributed imminently this month. Over 2000 are distributed by PCSOs to homes and businesses across the borough every quarter. The newsletters promote lots of home and vehicle security advice and publish key arrests in each of the areas.

Leading up to the Easter holiday break we’ll also be supporting the Safe4Spring campaign that is aimed at reducing anti-social behaviour by encouraging young people to participate in positive activities.

Reducing Crime

We have seen in quarter 3 the beginnings of a general upward trend in crime across Greater Manchester. In the Borough, this has been reflected in numbers of victim based crimes, stealing crimes and violent crimes compared to the same period last year. Whilst the increase in violent crimes appears to be particularly large, it is in no small part due to the focus on the Division upon positive policing and encouragement of victims, particularly those of domestic abuse, to report crimes such as common assault, harassment and stalking.

Shoplifting remains an area of concern for the Borough, though the rate of increase is slowing and bringing us more into line with other neighbouring boroughs, who are seeing more significant rates of increase.

Performance on driving down burglary has been satisfactory and, although we have seen a small increase this quarter, we are currently on track to achieve our year end target.

Cabinet have just approved our Partnership Investigation Enforcement Team, where Police and Council staff will be co-located at Rochdale Police Station and proactively sharing Page 31 information and intelligence to aid work to disrupt and deter those involved in serious and organised crime. The approach is showing great potential for delivery of results through efficient and effective joint working.

Linked to these developments has been the continued implementation of Operation Maverick. This multi-agency enforcement initiative brings together Police, Fire and Council colleagues to primarily tackle issues in the private housing sector but also other forms of criminal activity, by way of collaborative intelligence gathering and programmed joint visits, leading to enforcement activity where infringements come to light

Preventing the Harm Caused by Drugs & Alcohol

The Rochdale Substance Misuse Strategy has been widely published and implementation is well underway to ensure that in Rochdale we address the wide ranging harms caused by substance misuse and promote long term sustained recovery. Improving the long term outcomes for individuals affected by substance misuse will contribute to Public Service Reform by reducing the demand on wider public services and welfare.

As previously reported, drug & alcohol services have been completely remodelled and tendered last year and the new contracts commenced on 1 st April 2014. The new services are Recovery focused and will provide effective advice, information, treatment and aftercare support for drug and alcohol users. They will ensure that clients get the support that is needed to rebuild relationships, secure appropriate accommodation, access training programmes and gain employment.

Other key areas of work carried out this quarter include:

• The Clinical Commissioning Group have funded the secondment of a specialist Mental Health Nurse who is now based with Renaissance (access and engagement team) for the next nine months to improve services and pathways for Dual Diagnosis clients

• As well as the work with New Economy to develop a GM wide Alcohol Strategy we have supported a workshop with alcohol liaison teams from the NE Sector Hospitals (and Urgent Care Centres) and community service providers, to develop and improve integrated working.

• We have been integral in developing the pathways for Problem Solving Courts. These will be operational locally from 1 st April 2014.

• Work is ongoing with the Police & Crime Commissioner to develop services in Custody suites and with Public Health England develop ‘Through the Gate’ services for offenders being released from Prison

Preventing & Tackling Anti-Social Behaviour Safe4Autumn / Treacle Localised findings have now been provided for Safe4Autumn / Treacle campaign. • Incidents of anti-social behaviour rose by 12% Greater Manchester level but only 4% in Rochdale ( 4th best performer )

• Anti-social behaviour incidents specifically relating to nuisance from fireworks fell by an impressive 62% in Rochdale with an overall GM fall of 40%;

• Criminal damage crimes fell by 16% at GM level but remained the same in Rochdale

Page 32 • Deliberate primary fires fell by 18% in Greater Manchester but unfortunately we saw a 6% increase in Rochdale (given the low numbers this % increase was only 2 fires)

• Deliberate secondary fires fell by 21% in Greater Manchester but in Rochdale we saw a staggering 48% reduction.

• Attacks on firefighters fell from 25 incidents to 14 incidents in Greater Manchester with Rochdale only having 2 attacks.

Public Protection Team have carried out undercover test purchases in Q3 for fireworks, 20 premises were targeted of which 3 premises sold resulting in 1 prosecution action and 2 cautions.

We have seen a significant increase in the level of referrals for early intervention and support to the Case Intervention Group to address low level anti-social behaviour.

Youth Services have been working in partnership with the RMBC’s communications team to develop social media sites such as twitter and Face Book and use these sites to promote services to young people.

Rochdale Boroughwide Housing have run “an ASBO is not a badge of honour” workshops with 1 college and 2 secondary schools during Q3.

Safe4Spring This campaign has been developed to run over the spring period this year in response to a spike in secondary fires in Q1 and will cover the Easter holidays. Multi-agency planning has been undertaken and prevention, diversionary and enforcement activities have been identified for this campaign.

Prevent Offending by Children and Young People

The re-offending rate increased slightly in the last quarter, however this is a reduction compared to the same quarter last year.

The use of custody at both sentence and remand has been kept within the projected target although there has been a marked increase in the number of custodial sentences in the last quarter.

Rochdale is still working closely with Bury YOT to deliver a more consistent service to the courts based in Bury. The services have a joint management board that has met on two occasions.

Following a successful Boroughwide Question Time Event for young people late last year, Rochdale Youth Service is arranging to host a similar event, each term, at a Township level. The first event will take place at Milnrow Youth Centre on Thursday 20 th March, 6.30pm – 8.30pm where young people and key decision makers will have the opportunity to discuss community issues relating to Pennines Township.

Reduce Adult Reoffending

With effect from 01-04-14 GMPT will be divided into a public sector National Probation Service (NPS) and a private sector Community Rehabilitation Company (CRC). GMPT will not be legally dissolved until 31-05-14 however all staff will be working in the new structures with effect from 01-04-14. There are guaranteed to be no staff redundancies until July 2015.

Page 33 The NPS will be responsible for the assessment of all offenders, for the management of high risk of serious recidivism offenders, for the allocation of work to the CRC and for the enforcement of Community Sentences and Licences. Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA), Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conferences (MARAC) and Court work (including the Problem Solving Court) will be located in the NPS. Youth Offending Team (YOT) Secondee staff, YOT Transitions, Probation Approved Premises and trainee Probation Officers will be in the NPS. Staff in the NPS will be civil servants and subject to high levels of public sector scrutiny.

The CRC will be responsible for the management of medium and low risk of serious recidivism offenders, for the return of cases to the NPS for enforcement through the Courts or for return to Prison on recall and for the return of cases to the NPS where risk is considered to have escalated. The CRC will take on the new work of supervising all low and medium risk of harm offenders who have been sentenced to custody of 1 day or more for a 12 month period. It is likely that work related to reducing re-offending will be located in the CRC as will: Community Payback, Accredited Programmes, Integrated Offender Management (IOM), Intensive Community Orders (ICO), Restorative Justice, Young Adults, Drugs and Alcohol, Accommodation, and Employment Training and Education work. Delivery of the sentences imposed by the Problem Solving Court is likely to be through the CRC structure. Staff in the CRC will work for the relevant “prime” who wins the contract for providing CRC services in Cheshire and Greater Manchester. The CRC will be incentivised to reduce re-offending because they will be partly funded on a “payment by results” basis.

There is much work to do to prepare for the changes and whilst many details remain unknown, the Probation Service and partner organisations are working hard to be ready for the implementation date.

New Statutory Guidance for Partnerships has been issued which confirms that both the NPS and CRC will be statutory partners in the same way as GMPT is currently.

The contracting process for the CRCs is currently ongoing but is unlikely to conclude until December 2014.

So what does this mean for Rochdale Partnership in 2014-15?

With effect from 01-04-14 the NPS and CRC structures for Rochdale Bury and Oldham will exist in a shadow form.

With effect from 31-05-14 GMPT will be legally dissolved.

With effect from 01-06-14 the NPS will exist legally and in a final form.

With effect from 01-06-14 the CRC will exist legally but in a transitional form pending the confirmation of winning bids for the CRC contracts – likely to be December 2014.

With effect from January 2015 there will be a period of “bedding in” for the CRCs.

Transforming Justice Public Service Reform for Rochdale Partnership in liaison with GMPT includes the following: Problem Solving Court; Restorative Justice; Women Offenders; Intensive Community Orders; Youth Triage; Through the Gate and the Partnership Investigation and Enforcement Team.

Problem Solving Court progress Problem Solving Courts go live on 01-04-14 at Bury Rochdale Magistrates Court. These Courts will take place weekly and involve the identification of relevant cases, intelligence Page 34 and information sharing; contracting directly between relevant partnerships and the offender and a sentencing option “offer” to the Court. Problem Solving Court is a “one chance only” offer to the offender to appear before a specialist bench of Magistrates and the opportunity to receive a “bespoke” sentence. If sentenced in the Problem Solving Court an offender will be subject to 5 weekly reviews and will appear before the sentencing bench who will receive a regular partnership agency update on their progress.

Women Offenders progress A strong Women’s Group is currently based in Rochdale with Petrus. This is operated by Probation staff with the support of Petrus staff on a weekly basis and is designed specifically to cater for the needs of women offenders. The Financial Incentive Model (FIM) has brought with it the opportunity to further develop work with women offenders across Greater Manchester.

There have been separate meetings with Petrus to look at the possibility of using the existing Women's Group for Women's Triage, which is in essence “conditional cautioning”. The aim is for this to be used by the police for women offender's who need help and support to steer them away from criminal activity. It is designed to be used probably for first time offenders and low risk of harm offences. Petrus have agreed in principle to work with this and will staff the Women's Centre to deal with the women and also to speak with them immediately from Court and then make an assessment of need and refer to the correct agencies.

Intensive Community Orders (ICO)

Greater Manchester’s Justice and Rehabilitation Executive has committed resources to bring ICO for young adults to all ten partnership areas from April 2014. This will fund up to 18 months delivery and provide a foundation for alternative funding arrangements to take this work forward in the longer term.

This offers an exciting opportunity to upscale young adult specific arrangements that have proven effective in tackling offending and associated needs and behaviours.

So what does this mean for Rochdale?

GMPT ICO decision made on 07-10-13 giving the go ahead for the delivery of ICOs in Rochdale as an independent arrangement.

Certain elements will be funded and commissioned at an AGMA level as follows:

• Community Outreach (focus on transport and compliance) • ETE Mentoring • Family Support (voluntary link with whole family)

The proposed venue St Alban’s House has been visited by members of the partnership and has been agreed as suitable. The ICO lead managers will be involved in negotiations about the current venue refurbishments to ensure that the needs of both agencies are met in so far as is possible. A presentation about ICOs has been given to the Executive Board at RBH (the host of the venue) who have agreed that the co-located arrangement is beneficial to all involved.

Relevant representatives from Positive Steps, DAAT, Early Break, Economic Affairs Unit, Community Champions, YOT and Targeted Youth Support met with GM representatives with a view to developing a “Virtual Team” pending the availability of the venue in “Summer”.

Practitioners will be getting the ICO “Virtual Team” operational with effect from 01-04-14. Page 35

Developing Community Cohesion

During this quarter the Cohesion Hub has been busy preparing work plans and actions plans for the coming year, this includes:

• A Partnership Hate Crime Action Plan which includes joint work with the Safeguarding Board and Adult Services • The Cohesive Communities Priority Group Action Plan • Schedule of work for the Cohesion Hub • And a Prevent Action Plan to support the newly established Prevent Steering Group

Other projects of note include:

• The setting up of the links project which aims to bring people from across the borough together, that would not normally meet, through the medium of creative writing • The development of a Flag Raising Policy for the borough • a review of third party reporting centres for hate crime • The development of a Cohesion Communication Strategy that will ensure that the borough has a cohesion branding with the aim to recognise and promote key equality and cohesion events throughout the year

Equalities

Significant progress has been achieved in further developing and strengthening our corporate governance processes and procedures for equalities.

We have also been constantly seeking ways of increasing our understanding and knowledge of all our communities and their changing needs. For example, we have continued to develop our intelligence around the makeup of the borough by producing a number of research reports analysing the data from the 2011 Census. Topics such as age structure, ethnicity, and religion have been analysed comparing our population to regional and national figures. These reports are able to be downloaded from Stats and Maps.

We have been working hard to respond to the access needs of disabled people. This includes taking action to improve access to towns during building works, access to the countryside and waterways and disabled access within No 1 Riverside.

On 6 April 2014 section 138 of the Equality Act, which relates to the statutory question and answer discrimination procedure, will be repealed. This is a change relating to employment law and this affects the Council in their role as an employer.

Emergency Planning & Business Continuity

Emergency Planning • Responded to emergency incident on Turner Bros site requiring forward incident officer and silver response. Implemented recently developed bespoke emergency response plan for Turner Brothers Site. • Responded to gas leak in Castleton requiring forward incident officer and silver response. • Reception Centre training undertaken with forward incident officers

Business Continuity • Current review of Service and Corporate Business Continuity Plans being undertaken ensuring we have robust plans in place in the event of business Page 36 interruption • Winter Resilience Plan in place which responds to any severe weather conditions

Strategic Housing Topics for Portfolio Holder Report

New Homes Bonus

The Council has recently been informed about its provisional new homes bonus allocation for 2014/15 which is £1,068,956. This allocation places Rochdale in 3 rd place amongst the 10 Greater Manchester Local Authorities. As new homes bonus is paid for a six year period Rochdale NHB allocation for 2014/15 is supplemented by previous years allocations which total £1,561,378. Council has been informed of this positive outcome previously but it has been repeated to outline the totalled monies brought into the borough of £2,620,334.

The significant allocation received by the Council has in part been achieved through the excellent work carried out by Strategic Housing and the Rochdale Housing Initiative to reduce the number of long term empty homes in the borough.

Rogue Landlords The funding awarded by CLG will help us to deliver “Operation Maverick” which is a multi- agency enforcement partnership with the police and the fire service to tackle in the main housing related crime, but to also tackle other associated criminal activity e,g . Fraud, Child Sexual Exploitation and Organised Crime. Successful operations are already taking place and significant positive outcomes for all partners.

Energy Efficiency Rochdale is topping the league table for the number of energy efficiency insulation measures installed in private homes under the AGMA ‘Get Me Toasty’ scheme, with over 300 (which includes blocks on Oldham Road, Pilling Street and Rodney Street)receiving solid wall insulation. Households having benefitted so far this year (over a quarter more households than the next best performing borough). With intense publicity campaigns about the schemes available and partnership working with Groundwork , Energy Wise/KYP and partner-installer Dyson Insulations the public are increasingly aware of how they can engage with us and thereby save money on their fuel bills both now and into the future

Homelessness The total number of preventions recorded for the first 3 Quarters of this year is 1363 against an upper target this year of 1160. This has been achieved mainly through our strong partnership working and getting maximum value for money from services we commission from Brentwood, Petrus, Bond Board, Sanctuary Trust and CAB.

Councillor Sultan Ali Cabinet Member for Strengthening Communities

Thank you Mr Mayor, I will be pleased to answer any questions from Members of the Council about these or any other matter relating to the Strengthening Communities Portfolio

Page 37 Agenda Item 7d

ROCHDALE METROPOLITAN BOROUGH COUNCIL

CABINET MEMBER REPORT TO THE COUNCIL

REPORT OF THE CABINET MEMBER FOR PLACE AND REGULATION TO THE MEETING OF THE COUNCIL ON WEDNESDAY 2 ND APRIL 2014

Thank you Mr Mayor for the opportunity to report to the Council the latest developments on various matters relating to the Place and Regulation Services Portfolio.

ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT

Social Enterprise Scheme Benefits Children And Adults

NatureEd, Rochdale’s newest social enterprise is just completing its first full year of delivering quality outdoor environmental education activities in partnership with the Council. The Council was moving away from these costly education activities to concentrate more on statutory responsibilities, but NatureEd spotted a gap in the service and convinced us that there was a market to serve.

More than 2,500 children and over 800 adults have benefitted from the valuable expertise, energy and enthusiasm demonstrated by this company. The 12 month pilot project has just been reviewed and I am pleased and proud to announce the continuation of the partnership which should be an inspiration to all.

Rochdale Memorial Gardens In Line For Design Make-Over Plans to renovate gardens using s106 monies have been approved by Rochdale Township. Consultations are now completed and final designs approved for soft landscaping etc. via Rochdale Clean and Green Group and Rochdale Township. Work is due to start by end March and be completed early June 2014.

New Cemetery for Rochdale Township. Work to create a new cemetery in part of Denehurst Park, Spotland, has now commenced on site and is scheduled to complete later this year (Sept/Oct). The new cemetery takes account of the low level of burial space now remaining within Rochdale Cemetery and will provide a further 25 years of new cemetery land within the Rochdale Township. We are working closely with the new Friends Group on the £300K development of Denehurst Park.

Enforcement/Education Updates In the period 1 st January – 28 th February, 2014, Corporate Enforcement Officers issued 16 Fixed Penalty Notices for littering offences and 2 Fixed Penalty Notices to dog owners who failed to clean up after their pets. Three individuals have been successfully prosecuted for environmental offences (1 for littering, 2 for failing in their duty of care with regards to their household waste) and a further 3 individuals have accepted cautions and paid Rochdale MBC’s investigation, removal and disposal costs in connection with waste from their properties found fly-tipped at various locations across the Borough. Five cases have been referred to legal services for prosecution, and others are pending before the courts.

Officers are working closely with Greater Manchester Police in connection with damage to trees and theft of wood in Littleborough – a suspect has been identified and statements have been given to GMP. In the event that the suspect is prosecuted, costs will be sought as part of those proceedings. In the event that the police decide prosecution is not appropriate, civil action will be taken. In another case, Officers are working closely with colleagues from Bolton MBC as a result of waste from a Middleton fast food outlet being found fly-tipped in both Bolton and Rochdale.

Page 38 1

Recycling - Back oth Moss Rejected Loads Following 3 rejected loads on three consecutive collection days following Christmas, extra vigilance by crews resulted in 42 bins being rejected on the round

The Recycling Manager and members of the enforcement team door knocked the properties with rejected bins and spoke to around 50% of residents who were informed of the problem and shown which items to remove from their recycling. This brought about a 50% reduction in rejected bins on this round.

Letters are now being sent to all areas with rejected bins along with a leaflet which explains what to put in each bin. Enforcement team support is given when people need advice or information following their letter.

Due to the success of the Right Stuff Right Bin pilot we are planning to role this out Borough wide.

Opportunities for Co-operation and Partnership Opportunities are being advertised for the first time in the Borough as part of the Council’s Asset Strategy. Officers in Environmental Management have been working with local Councillors on offering-up Council-owned properties as opportunities for local community groups, sports clubs or individuals to express their interest in running these facilities.

The work carried out already at Limefield Park and Moss Way (Middleton), and around Hollingworth Lake, the Camp Site and TS Palatine (Pennines) is another step towards our vision of developing our quality of place through co-operation and partnership.

PROPERTY, HIGHWAYS, FACILITIES MANAGEMENT AND STREET LIGHTING

Highways Investment Programme Approximately 69% of the highway investment programme will have been delivered by 31st March 2014. Robust procurement processes have resulted in significant savings allowing another £1.3M of projects to be delivered across the borough.

CCTV The CCTV enforcement vehicle has been delivered and will be in official use from April 2014. The main focus will be on improving safety outside schools during the peak times of drop-off and pick-up.

Property Services The corporate asset strategy has been approved by Cabinet and is now being adopted. The strategy sets out the council’s objectives for the next three years.

Street Lighting We are now half way through the delivery of the street lighting core replacement programme. Whilst there have been a number of contractual issues and complaints, the overall level of satisfaction is above 85%. We are working very closely with Eon to try to improve on this figure.

Page 39 2

PUBLIC PROTECTION & REGULATION Licensing

• Licensing Officers have trained 22 taxi drivers to be Rochdale Borough Ambassadors. The will provide advice and guidance to visitors of Rochdale, promoting the Borough, its attractions and resources. • Officers were involved in the multi-agency Community Action Day in Heywood visiting town centre licensed premises, making checks against licence conditions and ensuring compliance. • Licensing Officers have worked for two consecutive weekends with GMP officers and the Border Agency making checks on licensed drivers. One unlicensed driver was stopped during the initiative and enforcement action is no being progressed. • Licensing Officers have worked jointly with GMP targeting specifically Betting Shops and then Scrap Yards across the Borough. Checks were made to ensure compliance with licence conditions. • A project has been undertaken targeting licensed drivers and vehicles who are licenced by Rossendale Council but who operate within our Borough. It has become apparent that some people are circumventing our strict licensing conditions and choosing to be licensed with Rossendale and the working within our Borough. A report is now being pulled together to report the findings of the project and identify actions to deal with the issues.

Councillor Jacqui Beswick Portfolio Holder for Place and Regulation

Thank you Mr Mayor, I will be pleased to answer any questions from Members of the Council about these or any other matter relating to the Portfolio

Page 40 3 Agenda Item 7e ROCHDALE METROPOLITAN BOROUGH COUNCIL

CABINET MEMBER REPORT TO THE COUNCIL

REPORT OF THE CABINET MEMBER FOR CUSTOMERS, CORPORATE SERVICES AND TOWNSHIPS TO THE MEETING OF THE COUNCIL ON 2nd April 2014

Thank you Mr Mayor for the opportunity to report to the Council the latest developments on various matters relating to the Corporate Services and Township Portfolio.

LEGAL SERVICES a) Mr Cordwell has a history of planning breaches going back approximately five years which have resulted in many interventions. The Council’s in-house Legal Team working with the planning team first dealt with Mr Cordwell through enforcement notices.

Mr Cordwell’s actions demonstrated that he had no regard for the planning regime. Accordingly, the Legal Team issued proceedings in the County Court and was successful in obtaining an interim injunction in October 2011.

Proceedings continued and a Borough wide injunction was obtained on 13th March 2013.

The Council contended that Mr Cordwell had breached the injunction and the case has been ongoing throughout this time.

The breach applications were heard at a two day hearing at Manchester County Court on 6th and 7th February 2014.

Mr Cordwell was sentenced to 6 months in prison which was reduced to 4 months to reflect his admittance of one allegation. This was suspended for a period of two years with an addition that with any breaches of the planning injunction these sentences will be acted upon. Costs were awarded to the Council of approximately £15,000.00.

The Councils in-house legal team will continue providing advice and guidance to ensure the injunction is retained on the best and most advantageous terms for the Borough. b) Rochdale Borough Council were one of 15 Local Authorities involved in a judicial review and who have stood firm in defending the matter of the electoral pre-ticking claim by 192.com Limited.

The claim is moderately complex and novel with nearly a year having passed between the claim being issued and the Claimant indicating that they wish to withdraw.

The court hearing was nearly upon us when we were informed of the Claimant’s desire to withdraw.

I am pleased to inform members that a court order has now been granted permitting the Claimant to withdraw their claim but the court has ordered that the Claimant must pay the defendants' reasonable costs.

c) CSE taxi driver appeals – the Team successfully defended the decision making and stance taken by the Council at the Crown court. We were faced with 2 appeals, the Judge dismissed both appeals. d) On 4 March the Council applied for and was granted a variation to an anti-social behaviour order against a youth who was also sentenced to imprisonment for two burglary offences. The exclusion zone was extended to incorporate the areas in which the youth was found to have been harassing residents and will be vital for the safety and confidence of vulnerable members of the community on an estate in the Darnhill area. The order lasts until March 2016 so it will be in place when the youth is released. Page 41 e) Niche tobacco prosecution – The Team successfully prosecuted offences involving the selling of niche tobacco that wasn’t labelled according to EU regulations last month. The trial was preceded with an abuse of process argument with the defence arguing that we had not acted in accordance with our constitution. This argument was rebutted and the Judge ruled in our favour. f) Members may be interested in the Children and Families Act 2014 which comes into force on 22 nd April 2014, the Public Law Outline forms part of the Children and Families Bill, we have been operating a Pilot version of the Public Law Outline since August last year. The effect of the Public Law Outline means that the vast majority of care proceedings cases must be disposed of within 26 weeks, involving significant streamlining. The Legal Team has been involved in delivering extensive training to staff within Children’s Services. g) The Legal Disclosure Officer continues to support the work of Sunrise and the on-going criminal investigations and prosecutions with regards to CSE. A National Protocol for dealing with Disclosure in connection with child abuse investigations has been launched and we are currently looking at implementing this.

COMMUNICATION AND TECHNOLOGY (ICT)

Councillor Karen Danczuk – Assistant Portfolio Holder

Asset Recycle / Disposal: We have now completed two disposals with CWL and generated £15k from the sale of the recycled equipment to RMBC staff. The next batch of recycled assets will be available on the Intranet for staff purchase in early April. We have also donated around 100 recycled assets to local charities and anticipate further donations from the latest recycled batch.

Email signatures: New corporate branding has been agreed which will be used on all future communications. All staff now have a corporate email signature which uses the new branding. We have worked with key teams to ensure that the email signatures reflect the needs of their service.

Giving Members the appropriate tools for the job: Work progresses to make sure all Members have the most appropriate ICT equipment for them to do their work. ICT will be following up with surveys and feedback opportunities to ensure we are still meeting the needs. ICT will be promoting the additional services members get in the near future.

MFD Printers: An upgrade was implemented on the 1st March to bring the software level up to date and address a number of the outstanding issues. The upgrade has significantly speeded up the logon and print features. Work continues to address the automatic ordering of consumables to ensure continuous availability.

Connected Council Programme: This continues to progress well. Phase 1 of the 0845 to 0300 numbering move project was successfully delivered. The Coroners end-to-end processes have been produced to inform a range of service improvements.

Further procurement work and commercial negotiation with suppliers that we plan to work with on delivering the new contact centre CRM software, new web site software and new intranet tools has been undertaken and we hope to engage with them in the next period.

The digital Steering Group and Business intelligence teams are getting up and running and these are factoring the requirements in to ensure the Programme meets the needs of PSR and future savings needed from the Council - a small dedicated team to analyse known datasets and develop a new prototype reporting data ware house has been formed with a planned pilot based around Troubled Families.

PSR: Julian Massel (RMBC Head of Customer and ICT services) is now 3 months into his secondment, working 3 days per week secondment for GM PSR team. Julian is working with Rochdale on Data interoperability where people from Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council (RMBC) spent a day working with the Public Service Reform (PSR) team looking at how databases could be structured for GM and how this would affect Rochdale. Member of the GM PSR team from troubled Families joined the day and Julian spentPage time with42 Amanda Jackson to look at PSR, for Rochdale and central services.

New Intranet and MySite progress: Work has begun on a new Intranet home page with better internal communications facilities for the whole Council and for specific service areas. This will soon be the place all staff goes to first, to find information about the council and their work colleagues. All other Intranets will be removed. More details and launch days should be available soon.

New functionality has been added to ‘MySite’ to allow services to manage their email signatures, their lockers, and the 2factor pin numbers. Work now is underway to create induction pages to allow managers and HR the ability to manage staff induction process.

The Information Governance (IG) : ICT work has begun to move the Freedom Of Information (FOI) logging system to be the same platform as the Members Systems. This should allow proactive alerting emails to be sent to managers to make sure they complete the FOIs in time. This will also provide enhanced reporting capabilities for managers.

Consultation, Assessment and Design (CAD): ICT’s Business Solutions team has now established a team to better manage Projects, it is called the Consultation, Assessment and Design (CAD) function and its primary aim is to pull together enough information, about a request, to facilitate an informed decision as to how, when or if, the work should be allowed to proceed. Currently ICT is receiving over 50 new requests for projects each month, these range from small to large project requests.

The Agilisys Services: Discussions have begun with Agilisys on the Service they provide to ICT and how this can be further improved or changed. Disagreements exist on some of the financial approaches taken by Agilisys and ICT, along with the Deputy Chief Executive, holds a partnership governance board and we are working through these. ICT are progressing the opportunity to bring the Agilisys Service Desk services into N1R.

TOWNSHIPS

The Townships Plan for 2014/15 has been developed in line with the Corporate Plan. Each Township has agreed their own individual priorities to deliver on the Council’s four key priorities of People, Place, Prosperity and Public Service Reform, and the plans were approved by all four Township Committees earlier this month. Township staff will now focus on working with Elected Members and our Communities to progress projects and activities. We are looking to refocus the work of the Townships and a new structure has been approved by Township Chairs for consultation strengthening the role of Townships.

HR SERVICE

The HR Management Team continues to support the Leadership Team on the delivery of the key strategic objectives in line with Corporate Plan, including Public Sector Reform, review of the Council’s Constitution and modernisation of HR Policies and Procedures. Including a positive change to the decision making for dealing with employee disciplinary and grievances has resulted in a greater number of Senior Officers in the Council having delegated powers to dismiss and therefore provide improved efficiencies in dealing with HR matters.

The new Health Related Absence Policy was successfully launched across the Council and I am pleased to report that the third quarter absence data shows an improved position and a reduction in the number of days lost to health related absences for the period 1 April 2013 to 31 December 2013.

The HR Service is continuing to provide dedicated support to Children’s Services in support of the Improvement Notice, Action Plan and the remodel of Children’s Social Care.

A Pay and Grading review is ongoing within schools in the borough and the HR Service are working closely with the Schools Service to provide the necessary job evaluations, knowledge and Page 43 expertise.

The HR Service have implemented the 2014 Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPF) and provided information for staff and partner organisations with changes to payroll to ensure that all runs smoothly from 1 April 2014.

In readiness for the establishment of the transfer of over 200 staff to the stand alone Social Enterprise, Possibilities, the HR and Pensions Teams have carried out TUPE consultation with employees and trade unions that all necessary steps are completed in time for the planned transfer date of 1 April 2014.

CORPORATE SERVICES SERVICE IMPROVEMENT PLANNING

Corporate Planning Process

Both the Corporate Delivery Plan and the Performance Management Framework are agreed. Officers are working to develop and implement reporting systems to ensure all work contributes to the Council and Directorate Priorities.

Peer Challenge

The Corporate Peer Challenge, which will be carried out during w/c 30th June, will review key areas of the organisation’s management infrastructure and offer an objective assessment of current practice and future direction in relation to these key areas. The process is not adversarial and should be seen as a real opportunity to gain an objective assessment, views and guidance from a ‘critical friend’; this will provide opportunities to further improve our corporate functions. To ensure members are fully aware of the scope of the review, officers will be arranging to provide information as to the role for members during the review.

Officers have been working with the Local Government Association to ensure we are fully prepared from a logistical point of view, and, though the Deputy Chief Executive’s Governance Board, progress is being reported in terms of actual progression and thematic preparation. In this regard officers from Customers and Corporate Services are meeting with staff across the authority to ensure we are as prepared as we can be for the review.

Organisational Development

Officers have recently concluded the Organisational Development Paper, which ties in with the Corporate Planning and Performance Management Framework and which will guide how the organisation’s developmental activities will be undertaken through 2014/15.

The document is a wide ranging document which analyses the external environment and the influences on the council, it address the council’s strategies and internal work to develop staff to meet the council’s objectives. Given the challenges facing the authority over the next two years, this plan is important to ensure the council is best placed to meet these challenges.

Officers are now developing the action plan and will be completing this during the next month.

Customer Services

The strategy document and action plan has been agreed locally. Work will now begin to finalise the plan and this will be shared with the Portfolio Holder at the next meeting. Officers from the the Customer Advocacy team led on the implementation of the 0300 number project and this has received largely positive feedback from customers. No complaints have been received as yet though this will be kept under review.

Policy Review

Officers are now undertaking a review of policies. This is to ensure that existing policies are up to Page 44 date, comply with the requirements of the Constitution and where required will be amended in line with procedure. The work will fully engage the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and link with the work of the Combined Authority on Public Service Reform.

This work is contributing to the work currently being developed by the ICT team, specifically the intranet and internet. It is also required for the Corporate Peer Challenge in June 2014.

Website

The Digital Services Team are working with ICT to continue to make the customer experience easier and to encourage channel shift. The website has once again achieved awards receiving plaudits such as, “Comfortably a 4 star site and justifies being classed as ‘Outstanding‘ in nearly every respect” from SOCITM ( Society of Information Technology Management) . The council is also applying for the Plain English Website Crystal Mark and preliminary assessments have stated that the council’s site is ““A well laid out site, whose options are clear.” This is excellent news and places the council well ahead of other authorities.

Radical Reform Project The council has begun work on the above project. The purpose of this project is to both determine more efficient ways to provide support services to the council, but to also provide services to partner organisations in the Borough.

The strategic goal for this project is to bring income into the locality and to minimise the amount going out and to do this in alliance with partners in the borough.

ELECTIONS

The annual canvass process has now concluded and the new register of electors was published on 17 February 2014. The electorate has dropped slightly with 160407 electors included on the new register of electors compared with 161607 last year. This is partially due to the work the team undertook of cross checking with council tax records to ensure the most accurate register.

Local elections will be combined with the European elections and held on 22 May this year. There is one vacancy in each of the 20 wards of the borough. The nominations process does not start until 14 April and the full list of candidates will not be known until the statement of persons nominated is published on 28 April. The count of the local ballot papers will take place immediately after the close of poll on Thursday 22 May in the Town Hall, Rochdale and the count of the European ballot papers will be conducted on Sunday 25 May, again in Rochdale Town Hall.

Individual Elector Registration (IER) ‘goes live’ on 10 June this year with the data cross-checking with the DWP taking place for the borough on 30 June. When the data is returned, each elector will have a red, amber or green rating – indicating no match at all, partial match and complete match respectively. ‘Green’ matches will receive a letter stating that they continue to be registered and do not need to take any further action. ‘Amber’ matches will be dealt with initially in the office where checks will be made with other data sources owned by the council to see if ‘green’ matches can be achieved. If not, they will be dealt with as a ‘red’ match. ‘Red’ electors will be sent an individual invitation to register and asked to provide additional personal data for verification with the DWP (date of birth and National Insurance number). These will be chased until a response is obtained.

Empty properties will receive a household enquiry form for recording the details of any electors if they move in to the property. The process will continue all year round and the new register of electors will then be published on 1 December 2014.

The Electoral Services Manager is currently working with Rocco Volpe, Mark Jones and other council officers on the implementation of this project and how other departments may assist with the capture and registration of new electors and investigating the possibility of automated cross- checking with other council data-sets. AGMA authorities continue to work collaboratively with this project (advertising, communications, procurement, canvass process, payments etc) and the Page 45 Electoral Commission will run an advertising campaign from early July until 8 August.

Transition to IER is being funded centrally (but is not ring-fenced) and it is uncertain as to what the funding arrangements will be post-2015 when IER becomes ‘business as usual’. Central government anticipate that this new process of registration will be fully implemented in 2015 (depending on the passage through parliament). Training for this new method of registration will be offered to all council members at the beginning of June this year.

CORONER’S SERVICE

We are continuing to work with the Coroner to deal with legislation changes that have increased the complexity and demand on the Coroner’s service we host for the Rochdale, Oldham and Bury areas. Our IT service are undertaking a comprehensive review of the Coroner’s back office process and the work to date is leading the way across Greater Manchester in re-designing this critical service to bereaved families. We have launched a new series of information web pages, which includes daily updates on inquests being held and we have seen a 4-fold increase in usage since the web pages became live. We are also providing opportunities for young people to have a role in the Coroner’s service undertaking inquest court duties to provide them with work experience and an insight into the Coroner’s work.

REGISTRARS SERVICE

The Registrars service continues to be delivered from the Town Hall, which is attractive for wedding ceremonies. We are planning to improve the internal decoration of the Registrar’s area of the Town Hall to improve the attraction for ceremonies in the borough and we are investing in an electronic booking system for the service that will allow residents to book appointments on-line and will assist us in piloting registration services remote from the Town Hall, local to where residents live.

We are looking to link the registrar’s service with the library service to contribute to our work on Early years and improving literacy.

ROCHDALE BOROUGHWIDE CULTURAL TRUST, LINK4LIFE

PERIOD JANUARY – MARCH 2014

Sport and Leisure Service There have been particular successes within this period with regards to targets having been exceeded in the categories of (i) overall total visit numbers (ii) school swimming lesson attendances (iii) children public swimming lessons attendances and (iv) SHOKK/youth gym usage where each is predicting a year-end increase on annual forecast by 3%, 9%, 15% and 10% respectively. An additional contributing factor has been the better than anticipated take-up of the Activ8te Me programme which offers adults the opportunity to take part in low-cost, ‘pay as you go’ sessions comprising badminton, cycling, fitness, football, golf, rounders, running and swimming which take place in both Link4Life as well as community settings in all four Townships.

Arts & Heritage Service The Sunarts programme continues to deliver high quality arts activities for young people with disabilities at Touchstones Rochdale as a strand of Link4Life Sunsport programme during school holidays. The Art Gallery team ran another successful Sunarts session during February half term - this time with MaD Theatre Company – where four participants completed their Arts Award Explore and another continued to work on her Arts Award Bronze. The programme attracted 14 participants which was 6 more than the previous February half term.

Neighbourhood & Communities Service As part of Link4Life’s contribution to the Child Weight Management agenda, the ‘Energy Club’ 10 week out of school hours programme has been attended by eight families, where children (aged between 5 and 12) have taken part in multi activity sports sessions delivered by the Trust and the parents have participated in lifestyle workshops delivered by Pennine Care Weight Management Page 46 Team dieticians. Parents have reported their child’s following successes:- - improved concentration levels in school - participating more in sport and physical activity and not least - some weight loss. As for the parents, they have commented on their now greater understanding of healthy eating regimes and practices.

In terms of disability activities for adults, Link4Life Neighbourhood & Communities Team continues to deliver Accessible Cycling at Bowlee Sports Centre every Wednesday which currently attracts between 25 – 30 disabled adults providing a highly accessible cycling session carried out in a safe and comfortable environment. In addition, there is disability Multi Sports Session at Bowlee Sports Centre every Thursday which offers trampolining with easy graded steps to access the activity. 10 people attend every week with some participants having been able to progress from trampolining with instructor support to bouncing on their own. We have also seen huge developments in peoples own balance and coordination awareness.

Councillor Martin Burke Portfolio Holder for Customers, Corporate Services and Townships

Page 47 Agenda Item 7f

ROCHDALE METROPOLITAN BOROUGH COUNCIL

CABINET MEMBER REPORT TO THE COUNCIL

REPORT OF THE CABINET MEMBER FOR ADULT CARE TO THE MEETING OF THE COUNCIL ON WEDNESDAY, 2nd APRIL 2014

Thank you Mr Mayor for the opportunity to report to the Council the latest developments on various matters relating to the Adult Care Portfolio.

As usual there is never a dull moment in my role as lead member for Adult Social Care, and I can say without any contradiction that it has been a particularly busy couple of months.

BETTER CARE FUND:

In my last report to Council in January I made reference to the Better Care Fund, the details of which were announced just before Christmas. Putting together proposals – along with NHS colleagues - as to how this new fund would be spent was a mammoth task given the short timescale allowed. The first draft was managed successfully and was submitted on the 14 th February to NHS England, with the final draft due for submission on 4 th April. I will make sure it goes onto the Council Website.

Aimed specifically at services for older people we will work to develop new services which support more people to remain independent at home, reduce unnecessary hospital stays, and reduce unnecessary admissions to care homes. Having been ‘made up’ from a number of different care streams, and some of the funding having been ‘top sliced’ from CCG budgets - it is not therefore ‘new’ monies! It does however provide a welcome opportunity to focus our joint efforts on making the Health and Social Care system work better together. Within the borough we have been able to agree to develop a new tier of intermediate care services to help avoid hospital admissions and improve the quality of care offered to older people at a time of crises, through the use of part of this fund.

Work will be ongoing throughout 2014 to implement all of the planned changes, which will come into full effect in April 2015.

INTEGRATION – HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE:

According to information supplied by the North West Health & Social Care Information Service, I’m pleased to say that our system continues to work well and we are already reducing the demand for emergency hospital care. Also, our level of delayed transfers of care is still one of the best in the region, and I would want to take this opportunity to recognise the hard work of all the teams involved in managing the pressure on the hospital system over the past few months. This has involved close co-operation with NHS colleagues and a lot of flexibility, including weekend working and a new ‘fast track’ access to care’ created to support hospital discharge. Locally – there is a good working relationship with the NHS CCG, with Pennine Care and Pennine Hospital Trust which certainly feels like a ‘team effort’ in planning the way forward. I understand however that this is not always the case in the rest of the country.

PERSONAL BUDGETS:

As members will be aware, Adult Care provides the above for people who have ongoing needs which are eligible for support. As part of the Council’s financial plan for 2013/14 we have focussed adult care on people who have substantial and critical level needs only. I’m pleased to report that all the necessary reviews to complete this task have been Page 48 successfully concluded and most people now have allocated personal budgets. Also, an increasing number are taking them as ‘cash budgets’ which of course gives them far more freedom of choice. However, even though we are making steady progress in this area, we want to do a more i

PERFORMANCE:

Having reviewed all areas of performance within Adult Care, I’m pleased to note that such good progress has been made on all the targets which were agreed for 2013/14.

I am even more pleased that we have had an excellent response to the national ‘Service User Survey’ which has been taking place in January and February. Once these results are properly evaluated I’m sure it will give us a good understanding of the experience of the service users themselves – which of course is the thing that matters most!

MENTAL HEALTH:

One area of concern I have is the growing need for support for people who have mental health problems. This is true for both adult social care and for the NHS and we are working with the CCG to better understand how we should spend the health and social care funding available to better support people with mental health problems. To review whether we can provide more support earlier to avoid mental health crises occurring is I feel absolutely key - but it will not be easy!

CARERS:

Carer’s services have long been a priority for Adult Care, and I have sought to keep them so! In January this year a new carer’s service was launched with Pennine Hospital’s Trust. This involves volunteer carers being ‘on hand’ at the Rochdale Infirmary’s Outpatients clinic, with information and perhaps advice as to support available at the Carers Resource, thereby reaching out to ‘new’ carers from around the borough, which I’m sure we are all agreed is vital.

This again is another example of good joint working with our local Trust, and early signs are very encouraging. I look forward to reporting more on this in the future as both Adult Social Care and the CCG have together committed to further extending carers services in 2014/15 and this is included in the Better Care Fund and in the CCG operational plan.

PRESENT PLANS:

We are in the process of agreeing fee levels for care homes for 2014/15. In line with my commitment to develop and improve services for people with dementia we are working to provide an increase in the fees paid for specialist dementia care. This will enable care homes to continue to improve quality for some of the older people in the Borough with the highest levels of need. This again is part of the joint work which is ongoing with NHS colleagues, and I would hope to confirm the conclusion in the next report to Council. I feel we are fortunate throughout the Borough to have sufficient care home places for the older people who need them, and I am committed to ensuring that the quality of the care provided is what we would hope for – and expect – for our own relatives.

THE CARE BILL:

This is now in the report stage in the House of Commons, and we have started the work needed to prepare for it. As previously reported in my last report to Council, this will bring major changes for Adult Social Care and there are a number of one hour information sessions scheduled for elected members in April and May, which I hope you will all attend.

Page 49 A positive change (we hope) is that the Care Bill will make the Rochdale Borough Safeguarding Adults Board (RBSAB) statutory for multiagency partners in relation to Adult Safeguarding, as is presently the case with the Borough Safeguarding Children’s Board. This is something that I have been lobbying for over a long period of time, so I’m really pleased it will finally happen. However – a small ‘health warning’ - it is also hoped that there will be guidance provided by the Government on the funding agreements that can be expected from partners.

SOCIAL ENTERPRISE:

This new enterprise – called ‘PossAbilities’ – starts on the 1 st April 2014 as planned. I know that with the staff, their values, their hard work and dedication and the goodwill of all – they will be successful in this new venture. I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank them for everything they have done for the service in the past. On a personal note “It has been my pleasure to have worked with you all, good luck for the future” Jean x.

VOLUNTARY SECTOR

During 2013/14 we have held two ‘Voluntary and Community’ sector assemblies. All the voluntary organisations throughout the Borough are invited to these assemblies and we had an excellent turnout at the most recent one held in March, the content of which included celebrating the success of organisations in the Borough. We heard four outstanding examples of where and how very valuable services were being provided and I also took the opportunity to update everyone on the new voluntary sector peer support scheme.

This is a scheme whereby any voluntary or community organisation can receive peer support from one of three local voluntary organisations - on a range matters – from setting up a new service, applying for funding or compiling accounts. This is supported financially by the Council and is a way of encouraging self-help and skills growth in the sector.

As a ‘rider’, if you know of any group that needs help please let me know and I will make sure they get this information. On a further positive note, we are working closely with the CVS (Council for Voluntary Service) who are presently reforming their organisation. I very much look forward to working with an organisation that can help strengthen and promote the role of the voluntary sector in the borough.

Councillor Jean Hornby Portfolio Holder for Adult Care

Thank you Mr Mayor, I will be pleased to answer any questions from Members of the Council about these or any other matter relating to the Adult Care Portfolio

Page 50 Agenda Item 7g

ROCHDALE METROPOLITAN BOROUGH COUNCIL

CABINET MEMBER REPORT TO THE COUNCIL

REPORT OF THE CABINET MEMBER FOR CHILDREN’S, SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES TO THE MEETING OF THE COUNCIL ON WEDNESDAY, 2nd APRIL 2014

Thank you Mr Mayor for the opportunity to report to the Council the latest developments on various matters relating to the Children’s, Schools and Families Portfolio.

Re-model of Children’s Social Care The Transformation Programme Board put in place to drive the remodel of Children’s Social Care continues to meet the milestones that we set to ensure implementation of the remodelled service by 1 st April 2014. Key areas of progress are as follows;

Multi-Agency Screening Service (MASS) An element of the remodelling of Children’s Social Care was to develop a MASS; the intention being to reduce the growing number of contacts and referrals that lead to assessments being unnecessarily being undertaken by Social Workers when the respective child/family would benefit from a more universal or targeted service. The MASS when live on 4 th February 2014. Whilst it is too early to evidence the impact, there is already some real tangible evidence of contacts reducing and better joint working/information sharing between agencies.

A key element of the new Service is its multi-agency dimension which is now supported by the presence of an Early Help Adviser. The Early Help Advisers are 6 very experienced staff from Early Help & Schools who have an extensive background in integrated working and case management in a multi-agency setting. Primarily they are linked to the Early Help panels in Primary and Secondary schools and the CAF team. The main contribution the Early Help Advisers are already making is to the multi-agency decision making conversations, providing an overview on the wide range of Early Help services that are available and a key role in following through on cases referred to early Help in terms of actions being taken and outcomes being improved for children, young people and their families. Whilst it is very early days the benefits are already being recognised and the key now is to enhance sustainability and consistency and continue to improve our combined responses to families in need.

Recruitment to permanent posts It is critical the workforce within Children’s Social Care reduces its reliance on agency/interim staff to avoid undermining the progress that is being/has been made. We are making good progress in the recruitment of Social Workers. We have recruited approximately 34 social workers since November 2013; which includes 6 staff who were working within the service as a locum Social Worker. Unfortunately the recruitment of Practice Managers and Heads of Service are proving more difficult; we currently have 12 Practice Managers vacancies. Subsequently we are working with a recruitment consultancy to promote and improve the quality and numbers of applicants via ‘head- hunting’ activity. This will include regional adverts, open days, promotional activities and concluding with interviews in mid-late April 2014.

Accommodation Plans have been implemented for the MASS to be located in Rochdale Police Station; this happened on 4/2/14. In addition plans are advanced for the Youth Offending Team and Cared for Children Services (Fostering, Adoption, Looked After and Care Leavers) to be located at Fashion Corner on Drake St. Rochdale. Staff have been consulted and where Page 51 practical involved in the planning. This move is likely to take place in the next 2-3 months.

With regard to the remaining Children’s Social Care services currently located at Crossfield Mill, an options appraisal is being developed by property services for the Leadership Team to give due consideration and enable the lease to expire as planned in 2015.

Performance/Impact

We are starting to see the ‘green-shoots’ of progress from the remodelled service, for example whilst the overall number of looked after children remain high, in recent weeks the number has started to level out (550 for the past 3 months having been increasing month on month since April 2013) and admissions are noticeably reduced with the lowest number since April 2013 (7 in January 2014 from a high of 26 in May 2013).

The Council’s performance before the Family Court is steadily improving with the length of care proceedings reducing; the average length being 33 weeks in quarter 3 (January 2014).

Adoption The recently published national adoption scorecard identified areas of progress in terms of the placement of children for adoption and in particular within the hard to place groups (minority, siblings and over 5 years). There are currently 97 children subject to a Placement Order (allowing the authority to seek adopters), all of which have a family finder allocated. In addition, we have to date matched and placed 50% of children throughout the year.

The recruitment of adopters continues to be a challenge for Rochdale as it is for other Local Authorities. We had a target to approve 27 adopters in 2013/14, it is anticipated we will only achieve 11. The main reason being the lack of applications. IT should be noted from 60 enquires just over 1 in 5 (13) went on to register their interest. This is slightly better than the national bench-mark set by Ofsted which would have been 12.

In order to increase our recruitment we are working in partnership with Oldham and Bury and regionally via ‘Adopt North West’ to gain economy of scale to promote adoption, increase enquiries and applications and potentially generate efficiencies.

Finally Ann Coffey MP visited Rochdale on 11 th March 2014 as part of her enquiry into Child Sexual Exploitation across Great Manchester and commissioned by the Police and Crime Commissioner.

Youth Service On February 5th Rochdale Youth Service held a celebration event at Rochdale Town Hall to announce the newly elected Member of Youth Parliament. 9,321 young people voted in the previous 2 weeks across all of the borough’s secondary schools and both colleges. Six very impressive young people had put themselves forward as candidates and DVD’s of their manifesto statements had been shown in all of the schools. The six candidates spoke on the night as did former MYP Usman Nawaz and outgoing MYP Sana Khan. All of the young people were outstanding and very inspirational. Over 100 people attended the event including parents and carers. The Mayor Councillor Rush presented the young people with trophies for their contribution. Leon Hollinrake (formerly of Kingsway) aged 17 was elected MYP and Tabitha Rusden (Falinge), aged 13 was elected deputy MYP. Both of the young people, other candidates and a larger number of young people involved in the process will remain involved via Rochdale Youth Council. The Youth Service are facilitating question time events in each of the four Townships to give young people opportunities to ask direct questions of key strategic leaders and discuss key issues. The first event is due to take place in the Pennine Township on 20 th March 2014. Page 52

Ofsted Inspection Results Four Primary schools were inspected and of these 2 were graded as Requires Improvement (RI) and 2 were judged as good. The 2 schools graded as good, were, very pleasingly, both up graded to good from previous satisfactory judgements. Additionally from the period from January to the end of February we had 2 monitoring visits. These visits are made by a HMI attached to an RI or category school. Both these visits were positive, productive and indicated our schools are on course to make rapid progress. Despite the raising of the bar by Ofsted and the increased rigour and expectations that the new framework has presented to our Rochdale school, we still perform well overall as an LA with 82 percent of our schools being graded good or outstanding.

Secondary Admissions September 2014 Overall, 94.5% of Rochdale Borough residents received their first preferences for a secondary school place this year (in or out of borough) an increase of 2.2%. For Rochdale Borough residents wanting a place at a secondary school within the Borough the figure was higher- 95.9%. Overall 99% of Rochdale residents were offered one of their 3 preferences. This year only 17 Rochdale Borough children did not get any of their preferences and were offered a place at the nearest school with places to their home address.

Planning for additional Secondary school places The Local Authority has recognised the need to start to look at meeting the expected increase in demand for secondary school places over the new few years. This is because the increase in primary school numbers will progress into the secondary sector from now for the next ten years. The local authority has set up a Secondary Planning Group to make sure that key stakeholders are involved in formulating the strategy to meet the expected demand. This group comprises representatives from- Elected Members, the Pioneer Trust (Secondary Headteachers), the local colleges, Diocesan Authorities, a primary school head and a member of the Governor Forum. The Group has the responsibility for looking at the need for additional places; developing proposals to meet that need; and consulting publicly on those proposals before reporting to Cabinet in September 2014.

Councillor Donna Martin Portfolio Holder for Children’s, Schools and Families

Thank you Mr Mayor, I will be pleased to answer any questions from Members of the Council about these or any other matter relating to the Children’s, Schools and Families Portfolio

Page 53 Agenda Item 7h

ROCHDALE METROPOLITAN BOROUGH COUNCIL CABINET MEMBER REPORT TO THE COUNCIL

REPORT OF THE CABINET MEMBER FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND CUSTOMER SERVICES TO THE MEETING OF THE COUNCIL ON WEDNESDAY 2 nd APRIL 2014

Thank you Mr Mayor for the opportunity to report to the Council the latest developments on various matters relating to the Economic Development and Customer Services Portfolio.

ECONOMY AND ENVIRONMENT

Capital Programmes

We have made an application to the Heritage Lottery Fund for £1.3m in grant funding for the project to re-open the River Roch in Rochdale Town Centre. We expect to learn the outcome of the bid in June this year.

We have supported Hopwood Hall College to develop proposals to convert part of their campus and Hopwood Hall itself into a hotel and conferencing venue. If these proposals are turned into reality they will secure the long term future of the Grade II* listed Hall and provide first class training and employment opportunities for the college’s students. The College has submitted a bid for Heritage Enterprise funding to support the proposals and we expect to learn the outcome of this in May this year.

PLANNING

Development Management

The Borough continues to perform well in terms of the new monitoring regulations and will not be subject to Government intervention or penalties, it is also performing well with the income received from planning applications. The number of planning application submitted to the Council has shown an increase in recent months. This will continue with some significant planning applications expected to be submitted within the Borough in the next few months.

The Planning service continues to take a proactive approach in seeking to secure community benefits from major planning applications in terms of local labour agreements, such as in the case of Tesco, Littleborough and Aldi, Milnrow and other transport and public realm contributions. These schemes will support the retention and expansion of existing businesses within the Borough as well as secure local recruitment opportunities.

The Service has also received accreditation from the Government online Planning Portal for the quality of its online planning services.

Each year the Council’s website is reviewed by the Society of Information Technology Management (SOCITM) which promotes the effective and efficient use of IT in Local Government and the Public Sector. The Council’s planning web pages have recently been inspected for clarity and access to information and have been described as exemplary. This includes an online facility whereby residents can log to receive email alerts on the progress of planning applications within their area.

Page 54 Wind Energy Programme

The Wind Energy Programme was agreed by Full Council with an investment of £5.4m between 2014 – 2017. A pilot scheme for the siting of a first wind turbine on the former Hilltop School site in Rochdale will be operational by the end of March 2014.

Core Strategy

Following approval by Cabinet on the 3 rd February, a suspension of the Examination of the Core Strategy was formally requested through the Planning Inspectorate. The Inspectorate has since agreed that the examination can be suspended to undertake this work. This has enabled the Council to update its Strategic Housing Market Assessment. The updated document will be the subject of consultation during April and it is hoped to have this document finalised and back to the Inspectorate by the end of April 2014.

Much will depend on the outcome of the Strategic Housing Market Assessment Update but it is hoped that once this work is completed the Council can, subject to further consultation and examination, adopt the Core Strategy during 2014. This is the only issue that has been highlighted by the Planning Inspector. The Council considers that its approach to the delivery of new housing is positive as has been demonstrated by the number of new homes completed on sustainable sites in the Borough in recent years. Over 90% of housing has been completed on brownfield sites in recent years.

Littleborough Neighbourhood Plan

In 2013 the formation of a Littleborough Neighbourhood Plan area and Neighbourhood Forum was approved by the Council. Work can now commence on the production of a Littleborough Neighbourhood Plan following the provisions and requirements of the Localism Act. This plan will be developed by the community, led by the forum and with support from Council officers and staff from Planning Aid. The key element of the neighbourhood plan is that it gives local people the chance to shape the place around them subject to that plan being consistent with our local planning policies and national planning policy. It is hoped to produce a Draft Neighbourhood Plan for consultation later in 2014. In order to assist the forum in starting work on the plan a training event was held at the beginning of February to discuss what the plan should cover and how best to engage the community as a whole.

Rochdale Borough Transport Strategy

A refresh of the Borough Transport Strategy was approved in February 2014. The refresh reflects progress made in delivering transport priorities since the Strategy was originally published in June 2010 and it has been updated to reflect changing government and Greater Manchester transport policy. The Borough Transport Strategy is a statement of the Council’s aspirations to improve its transport network to drive economic growth and contribute to environmental, social and health objectives. It has been a very successful lobbying document in securing well over £55 million of funding and financial commitments for a number of projects including Rochdale town centre interchange, Metrolink, Rochdale Station Park & Ride, Townhead Junction improvements, Connect 2 Strategic Cycle Network and others since 2010. The refreshed strategy document will continue to provide the basis for discussions with Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) and other potential funding partners to help secure resources for delivering the Borough’s key transport priorities.

Flood and Water Management Strategy

The Flood Risk Management Strategy was approved in February ahead of the requirement to have a strategy in place by April 2014. The strategy sets out the Councils new statutory role as a Lead Local Flood Authority and identifies opportunities to work with the Environment Agency and United Utilities to deliver improved flood risk management and promote sustainable drainage in Page 55 parts of the borough where there are particular risks such as Heywood, Littleborough and central Rochdale. There is a particular focus on increasing public awareness and preparedness in respect of flood risks and in seeking to reduce risk from water bodies and surface water where there is significant risk to residential property, critical infrastructure and economic activity in line with national flood risk management objectives and policy.

Working with the National Flood Forum, the Council is also supporting the delivery of the Defra funded Rochdale Flood Resilience Community Pathfinder in Heywood and in Wardleworth.

Rochdale Borough Design Awards

The presentation ceremony for the 2013 Rochdale Borough Design Awards took place on the 20 th February 2014. Towards the end of 2013, nominations were submitted from the public and 8 developments were shortlisted. The Panel resolved unanimously to present the Rochdale Borough Design Award 2013 to Brownhill Learning Community Centre, Heights Lane, Rochdale.

Public voting for the People’s Award took place on the Council’s website and the new extension to the Pioneers Museum won this award. The Sustainable Development Award went to the new Asda distribution centre at Kingsway, which has a host of innovative design measures which have led to significant reductions in carbon emissions, and energy and water use.

Nominations for the 2014 Awards will be invited later in the year. If any Members have any suggestions for any buildings or public realm projects which are worthy of recognition these should be forwarded to the Head of Planning.

Number One Riverside

I am pleased to inform you that Number One Riverside continues to receive recognition for the quality of its architectural design and sustainability credentials. The building was recently commended at the Civic Trust Awards for the significant contribution it is making to the quality of place. The building has also been shortlisted for awards later 2014 by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) and the British Council of Offices (BCO).

River Re -opening

Following our successful bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund, we are making progress in partnership with HLF and the Environment Agency to re-open the river in Rochdale Town Centre, restore the historic bridges and improve the natural habitat of the river. A project officer has been appointed to work on our detailed bid which we hope to submit to the HLF in early 2014. Initial surveys of the bridge structures, abutment walls and the river bed have been completed. We have appointed a design team to produce a plan and programme for removing the modern bridges to expose the river and the historic bridges, a plan for realigning the highway to allow us to open up the river and a design to submit to the Heritage Lottery Fund. We will be consulting widely on the proposed design and programme as it emerges from the design team’s work. Updates will be made to the Township.

Middleton and Edgar Wood Townscape Heritage Initiative

We are continuing to make good progress on the delivery of the Middleton THI within parts of Middleton Town Centre. The Project Team is now targeting other property owners to progress more private grant projects. Additional staff resources are being put into private grant projects to support owners in working up proposals for the allocation of remaining grants over the remaining lifetime of the project.

Turner Brothers’ site, Rooley Moor Road – update

Following the most recent fire at the former Turner Brothers site, on Thursday 30 th January 2014,

Page 56 Building Control, together with Public Protection and the Service Director, has been involved in several discussions and meetings with interested parties, including owner’s representatives, local action groups, other Council services and their partners, and Councillors. The service also represented the Council at local area forum (Spotland and Falinge), at the recent Township meeting and at the TBA Working Party.

A brief summary of the more significant issues since the fire is as follows: The main contact we have dealt with is a company called UK Land and Property, who do not own the site but have an arrangement with the owners to assist in its future development. This company has confirmed that it is authorised to represent the owner at meetings etc but does not have the authority to make decisions with regards to any works being carried out on the site. An emergency meeting was arranged between the Council and UKL&P on Wed 12 th Feb 2014 at N1R where the Council’s concerns were discussed, and our ultimate aim of having the buildings demolished within the next 6-9 months was stated. As a direct result of our intervention, the following improvements to site security have been implemented or are in the process of being arranged since the last fire:

1) The fire-damaged part of the complex has been secured at ground floor level from unauthorised entry 2) The site owners are currently obtaining quotations for demolishing the fire-damaged structure – likely not to start before April 2014 3) Site security has been increased to include a second security guard who patrols the site in a vehicle – 24 hours per day. At the time of writing we are aware of only 2 incursions into the site from unauthorised persons since this new arrangement has been in place – both of whom were confronted by the security team and were prevented from gaining access into the buildings. 4) A proposal to incorporate an intruder alarm system into and around the buildings is being prepared by the owners – awaiting details of this 5) The debris left behind from the last fire is likely to contain asbestos and the owners have been requested to remove the materials as a matter of urgency from off the site. The Council hasn’t yet received a satisfactory response in this regard and is therefore now considering taking enforcement action in this regard. – action likely to take place w/c Monday 17 th March.

UKL&P has been written to with regards to providing suitable responses to the Council’s request for immediate short term and medium term plans for the site – a further progress meeting has since been arranged between the Council and UKL&P for Thursday 20 th March to discuss these plans.

SKILLS AND EMPLOYMENT

Job Seeker Allowance claimants rose for the first time in 12 months in the borough (latest data is Jan 14). This is reflected in almost all local authority areas as seasonal jobs over the Christmas period end. However it is expected that the downwards trend seen over the last twelve months will continue as economic conditions improve and we see the benefits of our local work with both job seekers and businesses.

The number of long term (12 months +) job seekers has recently fallen and this can be accredited to improved performance from the borough’s Work Programme providers, who support this client group.

At the beginning of March, a new programme of support was launched across Greater Manchester for long term job seekers with health conditions (Employment Support Allowance claimants) Known as “Work Programme Leavers” , this is part of Greater Manchester’s Public Page 57 Service Reform activity. This is the first time the Department of Work and Pensions has allowed anyone but themselves design and commission employment support activity. All GM local authorities are committed to making a success of the programme and help make the case that locally designed and commissioned activity can work better than national programmes. Local job seekers will get a co-ordinated health, employment, skills, housing, financial management and family support offer tailored to their needs.

Tackling youth unemployment remains one of the borough’s top priorities. The Economic Affairs Team and Link4Life have worked together to secure over £300k of funding from the Arts Council to support young people under 25 years to have jobs and training in Arts organisations in the borough. The Creative Employment Project begins this month (April).

Economic Affairs were also successful in bidding for funding from the Department for Education to provide support for people who have English as a second language and who are not eligible for support through current ESOL courses.

The Council’s Community Champions programme continues to recruit new volunteers to provide a range of support to local people. The value of outcomes, using a nationally recognised ‘social return on investment’ formula and just relating to employment and skills outcomes, was in excess of £1.5m last year.

In March, the second Rochdale Borough Skills event was held at Heywood Distribution Park. 1500 year 9 pupils attended the event and got involved in activities provided by 30 employers with the aim of finding out about a wide range of careers the qualifications and skills needed for each. There is a real need for schools and colleges to recognise the importance of preparing pupils for the world of work and this event helps them with that challenge.

Economic Affairs and the Council’s Children’s Service are working together to deliver a new national 2 year pilot in partnership with the National Literacy Trust called “Early Words Together ”. This will see 100 volunteers supporting 200 local families to make changes to their home learning environment that will result in improved literacy outcomes for their children. So far 70 new volunteers have been recruited and the first families were helped in March.

Business support/growth/enterprise

In the last quarter the Council supported Business Start Up programme has helped 38 borough residents to start trading. A range of free courses to support pre-start and new businesses are very well attended, as are the drop-in sessions available on the ground floor of Number One Riverside.

Over 100 female business owners in the borough met in March to mark International Women’s Day and to hear from 3 successful business women detailing how they got started and how their business has grown.

The borough High Street Foundation celebrated its second anniversary. The Foundation was set up to bring together high street businesses with the Council and other organisations to mutually support each other during the tough economic climate and challenges facing town centres. The government appointed North West’s adviser to the Portas Pilot areas spoke at the event and congratulated the borough on the development of the Heywood and Middleton Town Teams, where retailers and the community take the lead role with support from the Council and said it was a model she would be recommending to other town.

The High Street Foundation was keen to develop an Incredible Edible project in Rochdale Town Centre. Over £8000 has been secured via Space Hive – a crowd funding website, where interested individuals and organisations can donate to a particular cause- to identify, plant and maintain several small plots of fruit and vegetables and based on the successful model in Hebden Bridge. Page 58

The High Street Foundation is also concerned about the impact of the demolition works in Rochdale Town Centre. In response, the Council has invested in very visible signage to mark the pedestrian route and funded on a pilot basis, a shuttle bus to run regularly 6 days a week. Feedback from retailers such as Marks and Spencers and from shoppers has been extremely positive.

ROCHDALE DEVELOPMENT AGENCY

Business Support & Investment

A range of support continues to be offered to local businesses to contribute to their growth and job retention & creation in the borough.

Business Growth Advisor The Council is co-funding a Business Growth Advisor post with the GM Business Growth Hub. The post helps ensure that growing local companies receive the most appropriate and timely advice from a wider network of support services. The post is located within the RDA and over the last few months has enabled us to provide a more tailored support to a range of businesses.

New RGF Bids We have supported 3 businesses with RGF applications and are now awaiting the outcome. One of these has bid into the Alliance Project for textile funding to bring back manufacturing into the borough. This application has passed the first stage and we are hopefully of a positive response by the end of March.

Other The level of property enquiries is starting to increase, with many of them being from outside the borough. We have one company looking to relocate from Oldham, with negotiations progressing well, and a further one looking to establish a UK manufacturing base (currently based in the States).

Kingsway Business Park

The Hungry Horse pub/restaurant opened on Monday 10 th March and has taken on around 40 staff for its operation, including approximately 15 from the Work Programme – residents aged 18- 24 who have been out of work for over 6 months – placed there thanks to the efforts of the Council’s Employment Links Partnership.

Staff numbers increased in the autumn with a seasonal peak of around 2,000 thanks to the pre- Christmas intake at JD Sports and Asda/Wincanton. This still includes over 70% from the Borough The Metrolink and Bus service patronage numbers have increased in line with the additional staff taking the bus service to capacity at some shift changeover times, but demonstrating the success of both these services. The Middleton to Kingsway bus service is now a permanent service, providing low cost travel to 28 employees on Kingsway.

The 3rd annual Kingsway run will take place on Sunday 22nd September 2014.

The Business Park’s existing Masterplan was originally developed in 1998 and formed part of the initial outline planning consent from 1999. This was renewed in 2009 without any changes. However, a revised Masterplan has been developed over the last few years and this was agreed by the partnership in January and member’s briefings were carried out to the Township Regeneration Committee in Jan and offered to all ward members in early Feb at the marketing pod. The revised Masterplan will form part of a new Outline Planning Application due for submission in early April.

Enquiries are steady with the partnership dealing with a number of companies looking to invest in Page 59 Kingsway. There is one company with a grant application under the Regional Growth Fund round 5, hopefully due to hear in the new financial year, and there are 3 other firms at various stages in the negotiations to secure a site on Kingsway.

Wilson Bowden are also looking at building a 200,000ft2 speculative industrial unit and are in the process of securing finance for this, as well as considering a small units scheme to provide units in the 1,000ft2 – 5,000ft2 range.

Rochdale Town Centre

The physical regeneration of Rochdale Town Centre is a major on-going programme. Significant progress has been made over the last few months and a few of the main highlights include:

• Town Centre East (Genr8) –Genr8 are continuing to seek to secure key retail and leisure occupiers to anchor the new development. They will then be in a position to progress the submission of a planning application later in 2014 or in early 2015.

• Wheatsheaf Centre Agreement – The Wheatsheaf Centre legal agreements was completed in February 2014. This has cleared the way for the demolition work to start on site and for the works to the Wheatsheaf Centre entrance to be progressed.

• Wheatsheaf Centre entrance - Detailed design for the new entrance works has commenced and the Design Team are now appointed. It is proposed to tender the works and then appoint the contractor in early May, with a start on site at the end of May 2014. The construction works are due to complete in November 2014. .

• Demolitions – Following the completion of the Wheatsheaf Centre legal agreement, the demolition contractor has now been formally appointed. Site set up and preparatory work to remove the car park ramps took place during February, and the main contract started in mid- March. The Municipal Office building will be dismantled floor by floor. The demolitions are due to complete in October 2014. .

• Metrolink 3b – Construction works are complete on the Metrolink route from Rochdale Railway Station into the town centre. Tram testing took place in January 2014 to coincide with the work to open the Oldham town centre line. Further tram testing and driver testing is due to take place during March before opening to passengers hopefully before April.

• Transport Interchange – the new interchange opened on 17 th November and the former bus station has been closed and in now being demolished.

Medium Term Action Plan • The Action Plan guiding the physical development activity and improvements in Rochdale town centre over the next 3 to 5 years was endorsed by Cabinet and Rochdale Township Committee in September 2013. The action plan is being updated to reflect progress being made on physical projects in the town centre. • These initiatives reflect our on-going commitment to regenerating our main town centre through a comprehensive package of improvements to the heritage, cultural, leisure and shopping offer.

Rochdale Town Hall • The roof repairs to the building continue on site and are due to complete by the end of March. • The Feasibility Study to consider options for the future use of the building has been submitted and is currently being considered. The Feasibility Study will help determine how the project will be taken forward in advance of public consultation.

Stakehill Page 60

• Commercial Estates Group have continued to make new lettings: − UKMail have let 50,000 sq ft (Unit 52 – 54) bringing 20 new jobs to the Borough with the potential to double this over the next few months. − Aspray 24 Transport has taken 36,000 sq ft (Unit 63) and is expanding their operations securing 62 jobs. • The Council’s capital investment and highway works were fundamental to RDA being able to secure and retain these businesses. Further lettings are under negotiation and in total a further 150,000 sq ft of employment floor space has been let or is under offer since the improvement programme got underway. • The highway re-surfacing and street lighting works are about to commence. • RDA is working with the recently established Stakehill Business Steering Group to agree the overall investment strategy for the estate. The new investments and future plans are already encouraging new businesses, jobs and private investment. • Entry control to the Estate has been established which meets a major security success for the estate increasing its attractiveness to investors and cutting the security costs for existing Businesses.

LIBRARIES, CUSTOMER SERVICES, CONTACT CENTRE

Libraries

Libraries are being used across the borough as community hubs, particularly to support customers in the following priority areas: Health and Wellbeing; skills, jobs and business support; reading and literacy; digital inclusion; early years and stronger families; the elderly.

Libraries have an increasingly positive impact upon residents’ health and wellbeing. The Council’s Public Health team have commissioned the library service to employ a temporary Health in Libraries Co-ordinator who started work in February. This role, which we believe to be one of the first of its type in the North West, will work with a range of partners to enable prioritised health initiatives to be delivered within libraries across the borough, promoting libraries as health and wellbeing hubs. In February, the Library Service and Public Health, officially re-launched the Books on Prescription scheme for adults, and also launched a brand new Books on Prescription scheme for children, young people and families. A wide range of self-help books, recommended by experts, on topics ranging from anxiety and depression to bullying and behavioural problems, are now available at all libraries with or without prescription. Funding has also been received from the Armed Forces Covenant to make the scheme fully accessible to Armed Forces and ex-armed Forces Personnel.

Libraries across the borough are giving essential support to residents to help develop their digital skills and enable residents to access public services online. Every library offers free Internet access. Since February 2014 twelve libraries across the borough have offered Wi-Fi to customers. This will enable customers to use laptops and other mobile devices to gain access to the Internet. Partner organisations will be able to use the Wi-fi to deliver advice and learning sessions to residents. Twelve of the libraries now have IT Support Volunteers who improve people’s IT confidence, and support with access to sites such as UniversalJobMatch, Benefits Online and the Council Website. The library service has developed an exciting new partnership with the Department for Work and Pensions. The library service and DWP have run joint sessions in libraries for jobseekers – improving their IT skills and employability, and helping them with the UniversalJobMatch site. One of these joint sessions was in celebration of National Libraries Day on February 8 th .

Page 61 Rochdale Library service has received £9,000 funding from the Arts Council to deliver an exciting local project as part of a national digital war memorial initiative. The national Society of Chief Librarians have been successful in a bid to create a digital war memorial nationally and projects in 10 local authorities – with Rochdale being one. We will run an intergenerational project between veterans and school children. A local storyteller read the group war poetry and children’s books about war. The group will then use their thoughts about the subject of war to draw some images. These designs will then be translated into street art, by a local street artist. The work will be displayed at Rochdale Central Library and other locations across the borough. The project will be complete by Autumn 2014.

Rochdale Library Service manages the local implementation of the national Bookstart initiative. Introducing young families to books and reading and increasing the communication and language of young children from 0-3. Sessions are held in 7 libraries, and within early years settings in the more deprived areas of the borough. Bookstart is proven to improve children’s language and communication. National Storytelling Week (1-8 February) was marked by a promotion of our Bookstart Bear Club Sessions, including a special event at Middleton Library on 5 th February. The library service works closely with Surestart to ensure libraries act as community hubs, maximising their impact upon children’s development, including Literacy.

World Book Day on 6 th March, was marked in libraries by another special event for young families, this time at Balderstone Library.

The library service is working in partnership with a range of agencies to promote the national Six Book Challenge scheme to reluctant and/or beginner adult readers. Staff from Family Learning, Economic Affairs, Rochdale Mind, Petrus and Newbold Children’s Centre have committed to supporting learners to undertake the Six Book Challenge this year, using materials supplied by the library service.

Ray Stearn, who runs young persons’ reading and creative writing sessions for Rochdale Borough Libraries, has been signed up for a second time to judge entries to BBC Radio 2’s 500 Words competition. The competition for children under-13 requires them to write a 500-word tale on a topic of their choice. Last year more than 90,000 entries were received. Eventually the thousands of entries judged by volunteers nationwide will be reduced to a shortlist of 50, and eventually one winner.

A series of events were held in Shakespeare Week in March to mark the 450 th anniversary of Shakespeare’s birth. Funds from the Maskew Bequest were used to devise a varied programme of activities at Rochdale Central Library which included a Romeo and Juliet costume exhibition, a re-telling of Much Ado About Nothing for a family audience, a primary schools’ workshop entitled “Shakespeare Ain’t That Bard” and a professional theatre production of “Desperate Measures”, based on Measure for Measure, presented by Manchester Shakespeare Company.

Following the success of the first Rochdale Literature and Ideas Festival in October 2013, where 4500 attended and 98% of visitors said they would return next year, plans are already in full swing for the 2014 Festival. With Bright Books becoming the festival’s first official sponsor. A number of acts have already been announced, with more to follow soon. Confirmed Acts include, Lucy Spraggan - the singer-songwriter and X-Factor contestant. She will be doing a live gig and an interview about songwriting. Dave Spikey, the stand-up comedian and star of the smash hit comedy ‘Phoenix Nights’, will be performing a stand-up show at Middleton Arena on October 24 th . The exciting festival announcments led BBC Greater Manchester Radio to request a live interview and lengthy article about the festival. The festival will bring ongoing positive coverage for Rochdale. The festival is being funded by the Maskew Bequest. A funding bid has also been submitted to the Arts Council.

Page 62 The final phase of the refurbishment at Middleton Library has now been completed. This project which has been funded by the Council and the Middleton THI has made the library accessible through the front door, and within the library via a lift. A new improved car park has been created, including dedicated parking for disabled people. Much of the library’s exterior has been repaired and restored to the way it used to look – including replacing the glass in the windows, and restoring many of the building’s features.

EVENTS MANAGEMENT

The Council’s Event Application process to hold an event in the Borough has been live since the end of January 2014, to date 50 applications have been received. The applications are at various stages of the assessment process with the Safety Advisory Group. The response from Organisers has been positive and information requested to ensure legislative requirements are met has been forthcoming. Organisers have been supported with the process, either by phone/email or, in one case, by coming into Number One Riverside to meet with the Events Manager to go through the application form on the public PCs in the library. All requests for the Events Manager to attend meetings have been accepted and diarised; these are in addition to the meetings already attended where support has been given to Community Groups/Friends Groups with events they are proposing.

Event Plans for 2014 events are being further developed, these are Tour de France, the Rochdale Wedding Fair, Feel Good Festival, Literature and Ideas Festival and WWI Centenary Commemorations. A calendar of events is in the process of being put together on VisitRochdale Website, this will link with the Events page on the Rochdale Council website.

ADVICE SERVICES Rochdale Citizens Advice Bureau began the new Council funded contract for provision of Welfare, Debt and Housing advice in July 2013. The contract which was initially until March 2014 has now been extended until March 2015. The CAB dealt with approximately 50% more clients in July 2013- March 2014 than they did in July 2012- March 2013. This is a reflection of the increased need in the borough, but also the considerable improvements in the way CAB deal with customers. Contact is primarily made through the CAB’s telephone advice line, and the Rochdale CAB website. Face to face appointments are delivered at Number One Riverside, Middleton Library and Heywood Library. The CAB contract is managed closely by the Council to ensure advice is delivered effectively to residents.

Page 63

CONTACT CENTRE

0300 Numbers

On Friday 7 March, the Council replaced 13 of its most popular 0845 numbers with 0300 numbers.

0300 numbers cost the same to call as geographic numbers (such as 01706 or 0161) and are included in inclusive minutes, discount schemes or bundled packages, so will be free of charge to customers in many cases.

This change has been well received by the local press and customers, and Rochdale has been publicly praised by the Fair Telecoms Campaign.

Work is already underway to update all printed materials and templates with the new numbers, and to replace the remaining 0845 numbers with 0300 numbers in the coming weeks.

Co-locating more services in the Contact Centre is central to reducing avoidable contact and delivering a more joined-up service to customers, who will be able to do more in a single call.

The Contact Centre also plays a pivotal role in the Council’s channel shift strategy, by signposting customers to online transactions and supporting customers who may not have the skills or access needed to use services.

DIGITAL SERVICES

Rochdale Borough Council’s website launched

On 27 January 2014 we went live with a new responsive website, to significant positive feedback from both staff and customers

Here are just a few reasons why we've made changes: • We needed to align the look and feel of the website to the council identity, which is in the process of being updated. • The site was becoming outdated and was due a refresh. • Customers expect the website to be responsive to mobile devices. • Evidence suggests more and more people are engaging with our website using mobile devices i.e phone, IPad, tablets. • To make the website faster for customers by making popular content more prominent.

Rochdale Borough Council’s website praised

Rochdale Borough Council’s website has been singled out for special praise in a UK-wide review of local authority and public sector websites.

The website was awarded 4 out of a possible 4 stars and classed as mobile responsive and exemplary in 5 areas namely: planning, missed bins, email updates, A-Z and search results.

It was summarised by the reviewers as ‘Outstanding’ and ‘Comfortably in the top 20 of websites’.

Coroner’s Service

We’ve introduced a new section on the website to help customers self-serve and reduce avoidable contact. As we deliver the Coroner’s services across Rochdale, Oldham and Bury both Oldham and Rochdale have amended their websites and now point their website customers to our council website. Page 64

Usage of the Coroner’s pages on the website has quadrupled in the month since the changes were made.

Online forms

We’re continuing to add new eforms to the website and it’s very positive to see that we’re seeing an increase in usage. We’ve now had over 2,000 forms submitted in the last few months. The number of forms submitted per week has doubled from 70 to 140. This is contact that would otherwise be received face-to-face or over the phone, so is making a positive contribution to our channel shift goals.

Improving digital access in the Town Hall

Access to wi-fi in the Town Hall is now available to any staff who wish to use this.

Managing suppliers

The council's Web Team has been highly praised in the report by Socitm called 'Better for Less' for being determined, passionate and overcoming barriers to achieving usable online services, even in a sensitive area such as Housing Benefit claims.

The team successfully adapted the benefits claims software to improve its usability and encourage people to make their claims online. According to Socitm, "The greatest impact of this achievement may well be that it demonstrates to the whole council that it can deliver successfully a significant digital service in an area that is sensitive and complicated to administer."

Thank you Mr Mayor, I will be pleased to answer any questions from Members of the Council about these or any other matter relating to the Portfolio

Councillor Peter Williams Portfolio Holder for Economic Development and Customer Services

Page 65 Agenda Item 7i

ROCHDALE METROPOLITAN BOROUGH COUNCIL

HEYWOOD TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE CHAIR’S REPORT TO THE COUNCIL

REPORT OF THE CHAIR OF THE HEYWOOD TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE TO THE MEETING OF THE COUNCIL ON WEDNESDAY 2nd APRIL 2014

Thank you Mr Mayor for the opportunity to report to the Council the latest developments on various matters relating to the Heywood Township.

Highways The original Highway Improvement Programme 2013/15 and Capital Programme 2013/14 set out to deliver a total of 35 schemes for the Heywood Township. During the 2013/14 we have been able increase our output by including 3 additional projects, meaning that we now aimed to deliver 38 schemes in total between April 2013 and March 2015. In overall summary 79% (or 30 out of 38) of the Heywood schemes have been completed as planned within the first year of the HIP and Capital programmes. We plan to implement seven of the remaining eight schemes during the first 2 quarters of 2014; between the beginning of April to the end of September. The eighth of these schemes is the structural patching programme. This programme began on 6 th January 2014 and will continue until all the funds are allocated, throughout 2014. So far 8 projects have been scheduled with 6 completed and 2 more awaiting a suitable time to commence. In addition to this 2 further schemes were proposed to the Heywood Township Committee in March 2014. These will be completed during 2014/15. The programme has been a real success, the communication between Highways and the Township has been great and has really helped keep the programme on track.

Police and Community Safety Regular case work has continued to tackle all aspects of anti-social behaviour both with privately owned and rented properties. Types of anti-social behaviour that has been dealt with include noise nuisance, criminal damage, ball games in the street and various neighbour disputes. GMP and the Councils Community Safety Officer have visited several schools to discuss ASB in Heywood, the impact on victim and consequences for the perpetrator. There have been several presentations at care homes, coffee mornings and luncheon clubs for vulnerable people. During these, personal safety advice, home security tips and security devices have been provided. A number of Safe Plate events have been held in Heywood. Community Safety and GMP have worked closely on a project which involved visiting vulnerable adults in the community and providing security advice and devices when they have been a victim of crime. There has also been a Heywood Day of Action in which partnership agencies all worked together to resolve issues for the community, it was a valuable experience for all involved. Referrals were made to several agencies as a result of the event.

Youth Service The Youth Service currently offer the following provision in Heywood - Monday Crimble Croft Youth Group Tuesday Detached Youth Workers working on the streets with young people Wednesday Heywood Girls Group, Young Men’s Football Session, Mobile Youth Bus on Morrison’s Car park Thursday Heywood Youth Forum Mobile Youth Bus on Darnhill Friday Friday Night Sports session at Heywood Sports Village

All of the sessions are currently well attended with projects currently running in all sessions. Examples include – Heywood Youth Forum working on the skill section of their Page 66 Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. They are also about to start organising a young people’s question time event in Heywood that will hopefully be attended by Councillors and decision makers in the Township. The young women’s group are currently learning about budgeting and recycling old into new. In the young men’s group there has been a focus on health, looking at issues relevant to them and how to look after themselves. The detached session on a Tuesday night has been responding to reports of ASB in various areas throughout Heywood. Information about areas where there may be young people congregating are passed on through the Anti-Social Behaviour Officer and the detached youth workers respond to these requests each week. They have been working with a group who were throwing stones at taxis about behaviour and consequences. By far the most popular session is the Friday Night Sports project that attracts between 100 and 150 young people. They engage in various sports activities – football, handball, basketball, using the gym as well as working on more educational activities using arts and crafts and team work games. We are currently looking at increasing the amount of work we do on Darnhill in partnership with the Guinness Housing Trust who are keen to improve the incidents of ASB in that area.

Community News

Heywood Pensioners Association Heywood Pensioners Association celebrated their 20 th Anniversary in February; the group is still going strong and is a lifeline to pensioners in the Town. As well as offering support to each other the group enjoy a full range of social activities from bingo to dining out. In recognition of their achievements, a certificate and gifts were presented to 5 Members of the Management Committee, organised by Cllr Robinson. Doris Dixon, Vice-Chair and social secretary of the Group was very grateful and thanked Heywood Township for their support over the years. The community in Heywood is really second to none, the Heywood Pensioners Association is a great example and 20 years is a fantastic achievement.

Heywood Events Heywood Township has again funded the Heywood 1940’s day event which will be held on 28 th June this year throughout the Town Centre, plans are well underway. It is shaping up to be the biggest and best yet, all credit must go to Heywood Business Group who have gone from strength to strength in recent years and make the event the success that it is. The 1940’s era has a huge following, we get people from up and down the country attending, and all in all it’s a really great day, especially for local businesses.

St James Church I recently attended a farewell service held at St James Church led by the Bishop of Middleton the Rt Rev Mark Davies. The building has had to unfortunately close its doors due to the rising costs of repairs and maintenance. Church services, however, and events will continue to be held in the nearby Church Hall which I’m sure will be of some comfort to the parishioners.

Sister Anne Moore News of a sadder nature in the recent passing of Sister Anne Moore. She had dedicated 50 years of her life serving the people and community of Darnhill for which she had received a special accreditation for from Pope Francis. Sister Anne was a remarkable person, she will be sadly missed and fondly remembered by all that knew her.

St Luke’s Defibrillator Heywood Township has recently funded a vandal proof cabinet at St Luke’s Church that will be home to a new defibrillator for the Town. The equipment will be stored outside the church in this cabinet to ensure it is accessible when needed. This location has been chosen for various reasons but a major factor is the defibrillator will have a constant stream of electricity, this is to maintain the temperature to ensure the pads don’t freeze and to Page 67 charge the batteries when needed. Anybody can use equipment; there is a code to unlock the box which you can get when dialling 999. Audible instructions are given from the equipment on how to use it. This piece of equipment can improve chances of survival by over 70%, it is an asset for our Town but, I am hoping we won’t have much use for it.

Thank you Mr Mayor, I will be pleased to answer any questions from Members of the Council about these or any other matter relating to the Heywood Township Committee.

Councillor Ray Dutton Chair Heywood Township Committee

Page 68 ROCHDALE METROPOLITAN BOROUGH COUNCILAgenda Item 7j

TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE CHAIR’S REPORT TO THE COUNCIL

REPORT OF THE CHAIR OF THE MIDDLETON TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE TO THE MEETING OF THE COUNCIL ON WEDNESDAY 2ND APRIL 2014

Thank you Mr Mayor for the opportunity to report to the Council the latest developments on various matters relating to the Middleton Township.

We have held the following Township Committees, sub-committees and working parties in the last cycle:

1. Township Committee Township Committee took place on the 6 th March 2014, and was attended by around 34 members of the public. The PACT meeting took place once again, and was followed by questions relating to the likelihood of development of land between Middleton and Heywood, a request for a traffic survey on the A6045, concerns around road and traffic issues on Wood Street and concerns about Housing Services Charges.

The Committee received a presentation from the Community Lighting Partnership and took the opportunity to record their considerable concerns around the lack of engagement with Members during this project. Reports submitted included the Highways Improvement Programme, School Governing Body Vacancies, and a proposed Gating Order on Whitbrook Way. Members also considered the revised 2014/15 Township Plans, which were approved subject to amendments.

2. Township Sub-Committees and Working Parties The cycle of sub-committees continues this quarter, and some of the issues raised are detailed below:

Culture, Leisure and Tourism The meeting met on 6 th February 2014 and continues to receive updates on projects such as the THI, and the Township Events Programme.

Regeneration Hopwood Hall The group received a presentation from representatives of Hopwood Hall College around the collaboration of the College and RMBC to agree a way forward on the future of the Hall.

HLF A meeting is due to take place to develop an action plan for the remainder of the scheme.

Glenbridge Development A heritage survey has been undertaken and the results, along with a report, will be submitted in due course.

Transport Issues The HIP programme is moving into year two, and Members will soon be receiving a report containing condition surveys to allow them to agree next year’s programme.

Middleton Library Middleton Members have contributed some Township funds towards the cost of redecoration, which is nearing completion. Problems with damp are being addressed by the contractor.

Tonge Hall Works are being carried out by English Heritage and the Conservation Trust. On completion the building will transfer to the Council. Page 69

Stakehill Industrial Estate Concerns around security are being addressed, a report proposing installation of a ‘Dawn ‘til Dusk’ gate came to Township Committee on 6 th March. A large highways improvement scheme has recently been completed.

Middleton Gardens A discussion took place around replacement of trees, and replacement of flags.

Planning Meetings took place on 12 th February and 12 th March, when a number of applications and appeals were considered.

Environment Forum The forum met on 15 th January and 12 th March, and the following updates were given:

Clean & Green The forum received details and photographs of Township funded schemes that have taken place in recent months. The group also received information around existing grot spots, and heard about enforcement action that had taken place. There have been concerns with the practices of some skip hire companies, and these have been taken up by the relevant Services.

Community Payback The team have carried out a number of projects, including cutting back vegetation and litter picks, they are keen to identify further areas that require attention. Members suggested that the team could consider weeding in various areas.

Transport The group discussed the proposed bus lane on Manchester New Road, and the incompatibility of bus services in line with visiting hours at Oldham Hospital.

Friends Groups Middleton Township continues to work with and support our Community Groups, and updates have been received from Friends of Middleton View, Jubilee Park, Middleton Civic Association, Wince Brook, Boarshaw Cemetery, Alkrington Woods and Limefields, and also from the Green Volunteers who are working on a number of projects including Hedge laying at Alkrington Woods, construction of a disabled angling peg at Myrtle Lodge and car park works at Rhodes Lodges.

Devolved Funding and Services The group met on 29 th January and considered a report from Link4Life, and Members approved funding of £15,000 for a Holiday at Home Summer Programme 2014. The Committee also approved funding for the following projects: • Sherbourne Road Bollards - £1550.00 • Woods Court Dropped Kerbs - £1400.00 • Middleton Gardens Gates - £4000.00 • May Day Celebrations - £8,000

Thank you Mr Mayor. I will be pleased to answer any questions from Members of the Council about these or any other matters relating to the Middleton Township Committee.

Councillor June West Chair, Middleton Township Committee

Page 70 Agenda Item 7k

ROCHDALE METROPOLITAN BOROUGH COUNCIL

TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE CHAIR’S REPORT TO THE COUNCIL

REPORT OF THE CHAIR OF THE PENNINE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE TO THE MEETING OF THE COUNCIL ON WEDNESDAY 2nd APRIL 2014

Thank you Mr Mayor for the opportunity to report to the Council the latest developments on various matters relating to the Pennines Township.

Highways The Highways Service continues to progress numerous schemes that will improve traffic flow through the Pennines villages. Further barrier works have been undertaken on Elizabethan Way and works on Albert Royds Street are progressing with carriageway widening being complete and subway maintenance and guardrail refurbishment ongoing. The road safety scheme in Littleborough Centre is on track to be completed by early April. Preparations for the Tour De France include the resurfacing of Turvin Road (a part of the route).

Community Safety Crime & ASB Officers have been based in the Police Station since early January 2014 and are seeing an increase in sharing information which is proving very positive and effective. Officers are attending weekly OCG meetings to focus on intelligence led operations in conjunction with partners e.g. Licensing, DWP Fraud, Strategic Housing, Police, and Legal RMBC. Operation Maverick has been implemented (visits to Rogue Landlords) across the Borough which will include Pennine Township so you will see some activity in the coming weeks. This is led by Strategic Housing but involves community safety work with the OCG.

Community Safety have been dealing with the regular ASB case work, that effects residents on a day to day basis such as, youths causing annoyance, noise nuisance and general anti-social behaviour. The timescale to respond to a complaint from a member of the public is five working days; this usually includes a home visit which will result in an action plan being devised to resolve the issue.

Joint home visits to properties in the Pennine Township have proved effective in dealing with individuals causing ASB. At the last Pennines Township Committee meeting it was reported that there had been a decrease in general ASB, which may be influenced by the development of the Skate Park since youths rarely hang around the Precinct in the evenings now, and it is noted that the shops have not reported any incidents recently.

However, one particular bad case recently has been youths causing problems at Smallbridge Library. Community Safety has been working closely with the Library Staff, Youth Services, RBH and Greater Manchester Police to resolve this issue. Action taken was as follows; (1) Warning interviews being given to the offenders, (2) Restorative Justice has been used – the offenders have apologised to staff at the library, (3) Banning orders given preventing offenders using the library and (4) Extra Police patrols at the library.

The above actions have virtually eliminated the problem and is an excellent example of partnership working being used to reduce anti-social behaviour.

Other routine work has included the installation and removal of Community Safety CCTV systems. The bank of cameras on Dale Street will soon be monitored from the CCTV Control Room at the Holland Rise, Town Centre. We have also requested the facility to be extended to the junction of Newhey Road/Huddersfield Road as this is a key route into and out of the village leading to Oldham and Shaw.

Page 71 The late night/early hours Noise Nuisance issue reported by residents living at Belfield Old Road is now being monitored by Environmental Protection Team following thorough investigation by Community Safety and GMP. This involves a Town Centre Licensed premises that plays loud music until the early hours of the morning and the noise was transferring in different directions which disturbed residents including as far as Belfield Old Rd, Century Gardens and Drake Street.

There is a planned ‘Question Time’ event arranged by young people and the Youth Service at Cornfield Youth Centre on Thursday 20 th March 2014 6:30pm – 8:30pm. Community Safety will be attending along with other invited agencies.

Also there will be a ‘Day of Action’ on the Pennines area on 9 th April which will involve as many agencies as possible. If any Elected Member wishes to be involved in a walk about on the area please contact [email protected]

Youth Service The Youth Service in the Pennines have been concentrating on work around health and wellbeing and encouraging young people to think about healthy eating and taking some gentle exercise. Sessions have also taken place on informing young people on the signs and symptoms of various types of cancer including breast and testicular cancer and how to check regularly for any changes to their bodies.

The Mobile Youth Bus has been located in Belfield on a Tuesday evening and has been attracting large numbers of young people. It has also been situated at Hollingworth Academy on a Monday afternoon. We have also had a youth worker doing lunchtime drop- ins at Wardle Academy on a Tuesday and Wednesday lunch.

A group of young people have started to meet in Wardle Library on a Tuesday evening and the groups accessing Smallbridge Library are continuing to attract large numbers. Milnrow Youth Club continues to open on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings and numbers are on the increase and an additional group of young people have been meeting in Milnrow Youth Centre on a Thursday evening to prepare for the Pennine Question Time Event which takes place on 20 th March.

The Friday night multi-sport sessions held at Littleborough Sports Centre continue to attract high numbers of young people from the Pennines and our detached team is out every Friday evening attending any ‘hot spot’ area that has been identified.

Community News

Smallbridge Community Clean Up Residents from Smallbridge were invited to improve the environment where they lived by getting involved in a community clean up. Ward Councillors and local young people invited residents to join them on 8 March to take part in a litter pick to improve the streets and public spaces around Smallbridge. The event was well attended and we managed to make a difference to the area.

Township and Ward Funds Members and I continue to support the local community and environment in which we live in through the investment of township and ward funds. Schemes have included environmental improvement projects in the wards, supporting the restoration of Hare Hill House and community projects were we have funded additional arts and crafts materials for a local card making group.

Page 72 Events 2014 is an exciting time for the Pennines Township. Community groups and RMBC are underway in preparing for the arrival of Tour De France, the Annual Rushbeararing and Littleborough Arts Festival, Christmas light switch on and celebrating the First World War Centenary.

Thank you Mr Mayor, I will be pleased to answer any questions from Members of the Council about these or any other matter relating to the Pennines Township Committee.

Councillor Aftab Hussain Chair, Pennines Township Committee

Page 73 Agenda Item 7l

ROCHDALE METROPOLITAN BOROUGH COUNCIL

TOWNSHIP CHAIR REPORT TO THE COUNCIL

REPORT OF THE CHAIR OF THE ROCHDALE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE TO THE MEETING OF THE COUNCIL ON 2ND APRIL 2014

Thank you, Mr Mayor, for the opportunity to report to the Council the latest developments on matters relating to the Rochdale Township Committee.

There has been a great deal of progress around Regeneration in Rochdale Township since my last report. Community and Environmental issues continue to take priority in areas of Township work, including the Township Committee and Sub-groups, and some of the issues raised at our Area Forums are detailed within my report.

Metrolink Construction works are complete on the Metrolink route from Rochdale Railway Station into the Town Centre. Tram testing took place in January 2014 to coincide with the work to open the Oldham Town Centre line. Further tram testing and driver testing has taken placeand the service should be opened to passengers on 31 st March, subject to successful trial runs.

Kingsway update The Hungry Horse pub/restaurant opened on Monday 10 th March and has taken on around 40 staff for its operation, including approximately 15 from the Work Programme – residents aged 18-24 who have been out of work for over 6 months – placed there thanks to the efforts of the Council’s Employment Links Partnership.

Staff numbers increased in the autumn with a seasonal peak of around 2,000 thanks to the pre-Christmas intake at JD Sports and Asda/Wincanton. This still includes over 70% of staff from the Borough. The Metrolink and Bus service patronage numbers have increased in line with the additional staff taking the bus service to capacity at some shift changeover times, but demonstrating the success of both these services. The Middleton to Kingsway bus service is now a permanent service, providing low cost travel to 28 employees on Kingsway.

The 3 rd annual Kingsway run will take place on Sunday 22 nd September 2014.

The Business Parks existing Masterplan was originally developed in 1998 and formed part of the initial outline planning consent from 1999. This was renewed in 2009 without any changes. However, a revised Masterplan has been developed over the last few years. This was agreed by the partnership in January and Members’ briefings were carried out to the Rochdale Township Regeneration Group in January and offered to all ward Members in early February at the marketing pod. Two public consultation events were held on the 25 th and 26 th February respectively at Kingsway Park High School and Milnrow Cricket Club. The revised Masterplan will form part of a new Outline Planning Application due for submission in early April.

Enquiries are steady with the partnership dealing with a number of companies looking to invest in Kingsway. There is one company with a grant application under the Regional Growth Fund round 5, hopefully due to hear in the new financial year, and there are three other firms at various stages in the negotiations to secure a site on Kingsway. Announcements will be made should any of these progress to contracts.

Wilson Bowden are also looking at building a 200,000sqft speculative industrial unit and are in the process of securing finance for this, as well as considering a small units scheme to provide units in the 1,000sqft – 5,000sqft range.

1 Page 74

Town Centre East

GenR8 are continuing to seek to secure key retail and leisure occupiers to anchor the new development. They will then be in a position to progress the submission of a planning application later in 2014 or in early 2015.

The demolition contractor has now been formally appointed. Site set up and preparatory work to remove the car park ramps took place during February, and the main contract started in mid-March. The demolition works will include the removal of the bus station, multi-storey car park, the overhead bridge links and Municipal Offices. The Municipal Office building will be dismantled floor by floor. Graphics are displayed on hoardings erected around the demolition site already, with more to provide signage, maps and information promoting the town. The demolitions are due to complete in October 2014.

Wheatsheaf Centre Entrance

Detailed design for the new entrance works has commenced and the Design Team are now appointed. It is proposed to tender the works and then appoint the contractor in early May, with a start on site at the end of May 2014. The construction works are due to complete in November 2014.

Bus Station

The new interchange opened on 17 th November and the former bus station has been closed and is now being demolished.

Highways

The HIP scheme continues on schedule, Rochdale Township Committee received a status report on 5 th March. The committee also agreed a further two major resurfacing schemes, one on Belfield Road, the other on Hamer Lane.

Environmental issues

The Clean and Green Priority Group has allocated funding to a total of ten projects, with amounts varying from £300.00 to £3500.00. The final two projects funded were a Green Gym, and environmental improvements in the King St. East area.

Involving communities

The Communities & Engagement Priority Group also funded ten projects, with amounts varying from £300.00 to £8500.00. The group has met regularly to consider bids, receive presentations, and evaluate the success of these projects.

Area Forums

The last round of area forums has now completed. The forums have once again facilitated lively and useful debate, and have been able to problem solve in relation to some of the many issues raised. An example of the business from each forum is shown below:

Bamford and Oakenrod Forum The main topic of discussion during the last meeting was highways issues, with pot-holes, resurfacing and blocked gulleys high on the agenda.

2 Page 75 Central Rochdale Forum Housing was discussed in great details, but the main focus of this meeting was once again Environmental issues, and the need for community clean-ups. It is hoped these will start to take place in the Spring.

Spotland & Falinge Forum Following a fire on 31 st January 2014 at the former Turner Bros Asbestos site, the forum once again provided a platform for residents to raise their concerns around the response of services and the future of the site, and for officers to attend to respond in person. Extra meetings have also been facilitated by officers for group representatives to discuss TBA issues, and the Township Regeneration sub-group have this high on the Agenda.

Milkstone & Deeplish Forum Environmental issues are always keenly discussed at Milkstone & Deeplish, however residents welcome a presentation and question and answer session from Rochdale Boroughwide Housing at its latest meeting.

Norden Forum This forum continues to thrive, the latest ‘hot’ topic being the proposed wind farm at Rooley Moor Road. Coronation Power were invited to attend.

Castleton Many issues were discussed, however the new street lighting was discussed in great details, residents challenging the lighting levels. It is likely that EON will be invited to a future meeting to respond.

Healey Forum . The forum received the River Roch presentation, and also had concerns around the TBA site, as well as traffic issues around Shawclough Road and Whitworth Road.

Kingsway Forum Environmental Improvements were discussed, and schemes have now been progressed. The forum also continues to receive updates from the Community First panel.

Sparth Forum Consultation around proposals for Mandale Park were discussed, as well as parking problems in the area. The forum also received a presentation from Blue Orchid.

Balderstone and Kirkholt Forum. The forum alternates between venues at Kirkholt, and at St. Mary’s Church, Oldham Road. Since the last meeting a number of issues have been dealt with and schemes funded to address them.

I thank all Members and officers for their continuing support.

Councillor Cecile Biant 20 th March 2014

Thank you Mr Mayor. I will be pleased to answer any questions from Members of the Council about these or any other matters relating to the Rochdale Township Committee.

3 Page 76 Agenda Item 7m

ROCHDALE METROPOLITAN BOROUGH COUNCIL

OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE CHAIR’S REPORT TO THE COUNCIL

REPORT OF THE CHAIR OF THE OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE TO THE MEETING OF THE COUNCIL ON WEDNESDAY, 2 nd APRIL 2014

Thank you Mr Mayor for the opportunity to report to the Council the latest developments on various matters relating to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

This report covers two meetings of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 30th January and 19 th February 2014. A third meeting of the Committee was held on 27 th March, which was after the publication of this agenda, so I will verbally update the Council at the meeting on significant developments arising from this meeting.

30th January 2014 St. Andrew’s School The Committee scrutinised a report on proposals to create nursery provision at St. Andrew’s Primary School, Littleborough, considering the detailed work that had already been carried out on this matter, noting also inputs from Pennines Township Committee and the Cabinet at recent meetings.

Discretionary Crisis Fund The Committee received an update on the Discretionary Crisis Fund and were advised that the Fund’s criteria had been amended to ensure that persons subject to a sanction may still claim for Emergency Household Energy; Emergency Travel; or a Security Allowance from the Discretionary Crisis Fund. The number of times an applicant can receive support whilst sanctioned is limited to once. The criteria have been amended to further increase the Emergency Household Energy Allowance to £30 a meter from £20. The Committee also requested that consideration be given, by the Cabinet, to the appointment of a Discretionary Crisis Fund “Champion”, and I believe that Councillor Greenall has been nominated to this position.

Domestic Violence Strategy The Committee scrutinised a report presenting an updated Domestic Abuse Strategy and Action Plan for the Borough. The report informed Members of the current and forthcoming work of the multi-agency Domestic Abuse Working Group to promote and develop a cohesive and sustainable approach to tacking all forms of domestic violence and abuse. The report intended to set out the collective approach of all partner agencies and third sector organisations to tackling and preventing domestic violence and abuse. The Strategy was fully supported by the Committee and I was glad to see this adopted subsequently by the Cabinet.

Capital Financial Update: The Committee scrutinised a report which provided Members with details of the Council’s capital financial position as at 30 th January 2014 and, in doing so, identified adjustments required in respect of the budget and a number of capital schemes.

Revenue Financial Update : The Committee were updated on the Council’s revenue financial position at 30 th January 2014 and were also provided with an updated position in relation to Treasury Management activities. The report also recommended Revenue Budget (District Purposes), Capital Budget and Council Tax for 2014/2015 for submission to the Budget Fixing Council meeting on 27 th February 2014 and which also provided estimates for 2015/2016 and 2016/2017.

Revenue Budget – Local Government Act 2003 Requirements The Committee considered a report relating to the statutory requirements as defined by the Local Government Act 2003 . This Act requires that the Chief Financial Officer provides an Page 77 opinion as to the robustness of the estimates made and the tax setting calculations.

Treasury Management Strategy The Committee scrutinised a report that outlined the Council’s proposed Treasury Management Strategy for 2014/15.

Rochdale Borough Transport Strategy Refresh The Committee discussed a report detailing the refreshed Rochdale Borough Transport Strategy, which has been updated to reflect progress made in implementing schemes and the outcomes of targeted consultation. The Committee welcomed the proposals contained in the report, but we requested that further consideration be given to examining ways of alleviating traffic congestion on the major gateway routes into the Borough, especially around Rochdale town centre and a request that the (usually) white conventional cars that are licenced hackney carriages, as indicated by a board on their roof be required to make their vehicles compliant with the necessities of the Disability Discrimination Act. It was noted that the traditional black hackney carriage cabs were already required to abide by the terms of the Disability Discrimination Act. Whilst the Cabinet didn’t subsequently approve the Committee’s recommendations in this regard I was pleased that they did give them due consideration.

Rochdale MBC’s Asset Management Strategy The Committee received a report outlining arrangements appertaining to the Council’s Asset Management Strategy. We were informed that the purpose of the Asset Strategy was to establish objectives for the Council’s portfolio for the next three years. The Strategy sought to present a vision of how the Council’s portfolio might look in 2015/2016 and provides specific objectives for Services and the Council’s property managers to aim for. It was noted that this report would be subject to further consultation at the four Township Committees before returning to the Cabinet.

Property Disposals The Committee scrutinised a report of the Director of Economy and Environment Services which informed Members of the current position with regard to the disposal of property during 2013/2014.

19th February 2014

Children's Social Care Quarterly Performance Management Report The Committee were pleased to welcome the Director of Children, School and Families and we scrutinised her report which provided details of the Children’s Social Care Performance for the first three quarters of 2013/2014 (April – June, July – September and October - December). In considering the report Members of the Committee commented on some of the terminology used insofar as it was couched in technical terms that were difficult for people unfamiliar with the Service. The Director of Children’s Services agreed that future reports would be reformatted, making the information more accessible for Members including containing more explanations of why progress is behind schedule, together with a power point presentation from the Assistant Director (Children’s Social Care Service), and she also undertook to keep us updated on significant developments within this Service.

Substance Misuse Strategy 2013-2015 The Committee scrutinised a report that was seeking to raise awareness of the Substance Misuse Strategy 2013 – 2015. I was pleased that the Cabinet at a s ubsequent meeting approved this Strategy and the endorsement of the implementation plans contained within.

Non Domestic Rates: Discretionary Rate Relief Policy The Committee received a report that detailed amendments to the Non Domestic Rates: Page 78 Discretionary Rate Relief Policy in accordance with the amended powers available to the Council under Section 47 of the Local Government Finance Act 1988. The report was supported by the Cabinet and it should be noted also subsequently by the Council (on 27 th February) and by the Cabinet.

Capital Financial Update and Revenue Finance Update 2013/2014 The Committee scrutinised reports that updated the Committee on the Council’s revenue financial position and the Council’s capital financial position. The Committee in considering the Council’s revenue financial position report noted that there were significant overspends, and significant projected overspends with regard to the budgets for Economy and Environment Services. It was agreed that the Director of Economy and Environment be invited to attend the Committee’s meeting on 27 th March 2014 to explain to members what remedial action he was proposing to take to address the overspends in those areas of his Service that were overspending or projecting an overspend. I will verbally update Members on this presentation at the Council meeting.

Collection Fund Update 2013/14 The Committee scrutinised a report which updated Members on the Council’s current Collection Fund position.

Saving Proposal Financial Update 2013/14 The Committee discussed a report which updated us on the Council’s Saving Proposals financial position. In considering the report the Committee sought additional details of the savings that the move by the majority of the Council’s Services to Number One Riverside had yielded, and it was agreed that the Director of finance submit a report to a future meeting of the Committee on this matter.

Other Issues

Joint informal meeting of the Scrutiny, Audit and Standards Committees On 12 th February 2014 an informal meeting of Members of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, the Standards Committee and the Audit and Safeguarding Committee was held to discuss issues relating to the Corporate Code of Governance and issues relating to the preparation for the LGA Peer Review that is due in June/July 2014. The meeting generated some lively and interesting discussion and I feel there is scope for further joint meetings for different Committees to consider some of those issues which overlap. A number of observations were noted as to how the scrutiny functions could operate more effectively and I understand that they are being considered as part of a wider exercise to achieve this aim.

Informal Session: Environmental Management Members of the Committee held an informal session on 27 th February to discuss various matters appertaining to the operations of the Environmental Management Service. The meeting was attended by senior managers from the Environmental Management Service and by Councillor Beswick, the Place and Regulation Portfolio Holder.

This is my last report in this Council Year and I must say that it has been a privilege to chair the Committee and to see proper scrutiny being exercised by all members of the Committee, demonstrating their commitment to this important role. I thank them all for that. Finally, I would also like to thank Peter Thompson for his committed support and advice.

Councillor Mike Holly - Chair, Overview and Scrutiny Committee

Thank you Mr Mayor, I will be pleased to answer any questions from Members of the Council about these or any other matter relating to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

Page 79 Agenda Item 7n

ROCHDALE METROPOLITAN BOROUGH COUNCIL

OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE CHAIR’S REPORT TO THE COUNCIL

REPORT OF THE CHAIR OF THE HEALTH & PARTNERSHIPS OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE TO THE MEETING OF THE COUNCIL ON WEDNESDAY, 2 nd APRIL 2014

Thank you Mr Mayor for the opportunity to report to the Council the latest developments on various matters relating to the Health and Partnerships Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

OPEN FORUM I will start by informing Members of concerns raised with me by a resident of Rochdale. To which was brought to the open Forum at the last meeting of the committee. This gentleman takes his wife to have treatment three times a week at Rochdale Infirmary. Only to get there and not be able to park in any of the disabled parking bays near the main entrance. The reason being on a number of occasions there is a mobile unit promoting various projects such as (blood bank) etc. across all the bays. On his behalf I raised the issue in the Open Forum of a Health & Partnership O/S Committee meeting. Since then I have learned that this has been a problem for a number of disabled people. Health Officials have promised the committee that this would not happen again. It would be helpful if in the future Members let me know if this is happening with any of the residents on your wards.

Since I informed members verbally at the last full council of a sad issue to do with breastfeeding. I have had a one to one with officers from the breastfeeding strategy team. It was a very informative meeting where we were able to give each other assurances of ‘Care to Mothers’.

WORKING GROUPS

HOUSING WORKING GROUP. I have not received a report back from the Housing Study group recently. I have been informed that we will be given a verbal report at the April meeting. Some Members that also sit on other committees were instrumental in giving some information they had received during their study on housing issues to an O/S meeting.

MENTAL ILL HEALTH SUICIDE AND DEPRESSION . As for the ‘Mental ILL Health’ Study group has met on a number of occasions now and found it is maze of information on various issues. At the last meeting we decided to go for two of them. One being the Armed Forces Covenants. I was able to give the group further information on the NGVFA. We have also had a meeting with our Armed forces council officer and the council officer attached to the British Legion. The group wished to know how we as a council are responding to the statistics for suicide and depression amongst our vets. Members of the working group found that there is such a lot to get through that they have decided to concentrate on two issues looking at suicide (locally), and raising questions around what support is available to our veterans.

We were very concerned that the stats for local men in the borough, was on the rise; and based in the middle of Rochdale and not Boroughwide. The fact that suicide and depression is at its highest between men aged 40 and 49. We have only just touched on this part of the study. So more information will be available later on.

OTHER ISSUES: The Committee are receiving quarterly reports from Rochdale’s Safer Communities Partnership.

The committee have been receiving regular reports from the CCG. Page 80

The committee have been receiving regular updates from Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust; which includes the stats on Hospital infections.

Also on the Agenda for the April Meeting is a request for information on the ‘Better Care Fund’.

PENNINE ACUTE PRIVATISATION Opt in or opt out? I have received a copy of a letter addressed to the Regional UNISON Organiser; re – Outsourcing of payroll, pensions and HR advisory; and the NHS Shared Business services (SBS) plus all IT services; from Roger Pickering. He is the Director of HR & Organisational Development. The gist of the letter states that no documents will be outsourced out of the country. Regardless of how much is stated to array our fears. I am not convinced, and where does doctor/patient confidentiality come into the scope of things. This is such an important concern for everyone. I believe that people should be able to OPT IN and not OPT OUT. (My view and not necessarily the committee’s views). Let’s also not forget the risk to jobs.

FURTHER CENTRALISATION OF STROKE SERVICES The 10 AGMA Chairs received a document last week regarding the Further Centralisation of Stroke Services, dated March 2014, from the Senior Response Officer This will be going to the committee for discussion. I believe there will be more problems around transport and waiting times. There is over a 1000 paramedics whom have been retrained to deal with Trauma and Stroke on site, before transferring to a particular hospital. The three Specialist hospitals are Fairfield in Bury; Salford Royal and Stepping Hill in Stockport. We see vehicles parked all over the borough waiting to attend a patient within their area. This I can say has been very successful. If we only have limited hospitals to deal with these traumas; the question will be around waiting times and beds. A recent study in England covering 45,000 Stroke patients in England receiving support; there is also evidence that, whilst (within 72 hours) mortality was not significantly affected There was also evidence that patients presenting at hospital at weekends have a higher risk of mortality within 30 days of being admitted. It is frightening, and the message it sends out, do not get ill at weekends.

FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS FOR COMMITTEE Agenda items for the next Open Forums at committee meetings are: Directory of Services out in the community including Ring & ride, to be in ALL GP’s surgeries. NHS – ‘Opting In - Opting Out’. The Vaccination for Shingles given to people over the age of 70 – 79. Transport once again is high on the agenda. Since we had discussions in 2011. There has been little change across AGMA apart from the Trauma and Stroke Services. There is a survey being done at the moment across Greater Manchester with patients giving their experiences of Arriva Transport. TRANSPORT – and how support is given to young carers. A report is coming to the July meeting.

MEETINGS ATTENDED I have met with officers from L4L re - support for Pensioners in civic centres. Wendy Meston – Breast Feeding issues. AGMA Health Scrutiny (2) Pennine Care Acute Mental Health Scrutiny. Ring & Ride Management. (If I couldn’t go to them, then I brought them to count locally) I am having ongoing meetings with Councillor Peter Joinson the Assistant Portfolio Holder for Health regarding issues that affect the Borough.

Page 81 HEALTHIER TOGETHER AGENDA The two main agenda items at AGMA Health Scrutiny was and is around Healthier Together – Approach to Consultation; and North West Specialised Commissioning Planning and Engagement. There are plans that 10 models of integrated Care will be in Shadow Form operating by April 2014, backed by the Treasury in April 2015. There is also the promise that the 10 AGMA Health Reps will be the only ones involved in AGMA issues and the Consultation. So therefore not to expect any influence from elsewhere. AGMA Scrutiny is also looking at how they can be the ones to Scrutinise, and not an independent body brought in to do it. At this moment in time we are waiting for information to come from Legal in Manchester. So we have been told that any meetings we have in our diaries up to June, may not go ahead. The NHS and partners are coming together to attend the June meeting of AGMA Scrutiny. We are still asking the question; How are we going to be kept informed?

DATES OF MEETINGS The next meeting of the H & P O/S Committee has been moved to the 10 th of April, instead of the 1 st . due to some councillors wanting to join in the 40 th Anniversary of the four townships amalgamating in 1974.

RING AND RIDE They have reviewed their way of working and are in the process of printing off a new leaflet with information on the new timetable and prices. I asked the question as to who do residents contact when they have a complaint as sometimes people are not put through to the right person. They told me they now wish to visit local groups. Having had a one to one with management and my concerns around 0845 numbers and residents’ complaints when they ring up. Especially when using mobile phones. I have been sent the following information from the management of Ring and Ride:-

The comparison costs of other prefix codes:-

0800 and 0808 numbers – free to customer, 4p/minute cost to GMATL.

0845 and 0870 numbers – local rate to all customers regardless of phone network, 0.98p/minute cost to GMATL. The future of 0845 numbers is currently being reviewed by OFCOM, although this has been ongoing for over two years already and shows no signs of an outcome.

0844 and 0843 numbers – customers pay 5p/minute, GMATL receive 2.5p/minute.

0871 numbers – customers pay 8.5p/minute, GMATL received 3p/minute.

0330 numbers – customers pay 4.2p/minute, 1.5p/minute cost to GMATL.

0333 numbers customers pay 4.2p/minute, 1.5p/minute cost to GMATL.

Local 0161 number – customers pay standard rate based on location. 0161 customers pay local rate whilst other prefixes charged at national rate. No charge to GMATL.

The major advantage for GMATL with a non-geographic number is the ease of portability and re-routing in case of a fault line.

THE OASIS UNIT To end on an uplifting note. I have been invited to the Opening of the OASIS Unit in April. Seeing that I have always had Dementia as one of my priorities, and even though my thunder has been took, the main thing is, we have at least a small Unit for Acute patients. The Unit is believed to be the first of its kind in a hospital setting in England. In addition to a lounge to relax in, there is also a kitchen and dining area. The service will be provided by Page 82 our NHS Partners with a Multi-Disciplinary Team of doctors/nurses and healthcare professionals. There are still rumours that Rochdale Infirmary is CLOSED. How can that be when there are specialised units being opened? As far as I have been told It is not closing.

May I take this opportunity to thank all the Members of the Health & Partnerships O/S Committee for their input and hard work over the last 12 months and for their time and support. Members have raised a lot of concerns during our meetings. There are some items we have dealt with that because there is such a lot of information to get through and also to scrutinise; that they will have to be ongoing in to the new municipal year.

Also my thanks to ALL the officers that have attended many meetings and for their support with the three committees within the O/S.

Councillor Linda Robinson Chair - Health and Partnerships Overview and Scrutiny Committee

Thank you Mr Mayor, I will be pleased to answer any questions from Members of the Council about these or any other matter relating to the Health and Partnerships Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

Page 83 Agenda Item 8a

ROCHDALE METROPOLITAN BOROUGH COUNCIL

REPORT OF THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE GREATER MANCHESTER FIRE AND RESCUE AUTHORITY TO THE MEETING OF THE COUNCIL ON 2nd APRIL 2014

Thank you Mr Mayor for the opportunity to report to the Council the latest developments on various matters relating to Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Authority.

Quarter 4 Update January to 15 th March 2014 Rochdale Borough

This quarter has seen good progress against targets. This again has been against the backdrop of continued industrial unrest which has not been resolved.

Rochdale Fire Station is now at 25-27 Halifax Road, Hamer, Rochdale as from the 8 th January 2014 and we have two fire appliances with the addition of the new Incident Command Vehicle being operated from the station covering the risks for the whole of GMFRS. Training has been on-going for the ER personnel on the new Vector Command software to ensure that they can operate the Command Vehicle effectively.

Since the Data Sharing Protocol was signed between GMFRS and Rochdale Borough- wide Housing, work is progressing to ensure that the data shared is secure and accurate and we can then target the most vulnerable persons in our community.

Fire Related Activity

Accidental Dwelling Fires- 16

Out of these, 11 were cooking related and 1 were due to faulty electrical equipment, 2 were candles and matches to close to flammable materials and 2 were smoking related.

Of all the incidents we attended in dwellings, full Home Safety Checks were offered and delivered to the occupiers.

Accidental secondary Fires 22

These were generally refuse fires with 16 incidents being in the garden of the occupier of the properties.

Deliberate fires- 45

17 were deliberate Primary fires broken down into: • 3 dwellings • 4 non-residential • 1 outdoor structure- sheds garages etc. • 9 road vehicles

28 deliberate secondary fires which were broken down into rubbish/refuse, skips and wheelie bins as list above.

Page 84 Road Traffic Collisions

We attended 16 RTC’s over the quarter and 8 of these incidents required fire service intervention (Extraction). 3 incidents, the occupants of the vehicles did not require any intervention/excavation by the Fire and Rescue Service and the remainder had some form of trauma intervention.

Fire Prevention Activities

Safe 4 Spring Number of Persons Fire Crew 37 cadets 10 Drug and Alcohol Drop in sessions at Rochdale DAAT Rochdale DAAT

Crime and Disorder Prison Me No Way- high Schools 1280 pupils in 3 schools Forest Bank Prison RTC Project 18 persons in 3 sessions Interventions/walkabout- Post Incidents C&D reductions Heywood on the 7 th Feb Restorative Justice for youths involving 2014 , Newbold on the 27 th Feb 2014 and 2 deliberate fires youths intervention activities with the YOT

APH Post Incident 2 x APH talks 30

Safe 4 Spring 4 x high schools 120 pupils in Kingsway park

Fire Smart 2 x Visits per week

Days of Action/ASB 4 days of action in Heywood with 220 plus homes visited for HSC’s.

Rochdale Skills Event 1500 pupils in year 8.

Total Numbers Reached 3460 persons

Volunteers

We have utilised a total of 23 volunteers. The details are as follows; • Number of Volunteering Hours – 871 • Cycle Patrols – 31 • Number of events – 143

This is made up from the volunteers undertaking; • Cycle Patrols, • HSC with the Crew, • PAIROF’s with the CSA’s • Community events- Charity Car Wash days at Heywood, Rochdale and Littleborough.

Page 85 Fire Protection

January 2013 activity in Littleborough

On the 24th January 2014 there were 20 takeaway / licenced premises visited and provided with a short explanation of the leaflet guide FSC00034A and an invitation letter to a drop-in education event at Littleborough Fire Station on the 28th February 2013.

On the 28th January drop-in session we had 4 business owners call in for advice, (3 Chinese Takeaway owners and 1 licensed corner shop owner). We also had one telephone enquiry from a licensed shop premises and all who enquired will be visited shortly by a Fire Protection Officer as business as usual.

On the 31st January the unannounced joint visits involving the LA Housing, GMFRS and the Police took place between 7pm and 11pm. Before the peak activity inspections commenced a briefing session was held at Littleborough fire station and a list of priority premises was drawn up and the following premises where visited.

• The late shop at 65 Smithy Bridge Road • Littleborough Balti House at 64 Smithy Bridge Road • Dragon City,55 Smithy Bridge Road • The Convenience Store Smithy Bridge Road • The Corner Store on Featherstall Road Littleborough • 3 The Gale, Todmorden Road Littleborough.

Beds were found above all these commercial premises and all were found with a single staircase escape only - leading from inside of each premises. LA Housing prohibited the 2nd floor of the Dragon City takeaway.

The premises at 3 The Gale, Todmorden Road was Fast food premises and had recently had a new owner. During this inspection it was found to still be a Chinese Takeaway also selling kebab fast foods. This premises consisted of ground floor kitchens and frying areas and living accommodation on the first and second floors. There was evidence that this premises was operating as an unregistered HIMO on the first and second floors. From this inspection, it resulted in a Prohibition Order for the first and second floors for living/sleeping use. The reasons for this were that the first floor had no escapable windows and the fire doors protecting the single escape staircase at ground floor level had been removed. The owner of the building provided a fire risk assessment which was not suitable and sufficient and there was an existing fire alarm system but did not extend to cover all risk areas.

Operation Maverick- Rogue landlord’s activity

February 2013 activity in Yorkshire Street Area

Friday night of the 28 th February 2014 was a productive night for and the Operation Maverick multi enforcement team. The Peak Activity inspections included the serving of an emergency prohibition by the Housing Team on a 4 th floor attic conversion above a licenced shop and the immediate attendance of a local landlord to remove a large amount of combustible house hold items from a ground floor communal hallway in a 3 storey flat premises.

With the continuing engagement within the BME business community over the past few years, we had13 local takeaway business owners in the new fire station at Rochdale to undertake drop in sessions for business fire safety awareness training and their responsibilities.

Page 86

Pennine Care Foundation trust

Rochdale Fire Protection Officers continue to drive forward the partnership agreement which is having a positive effect on Unwanted Fire Signals across the borough.

Enforcement Forum Update

February meeting chaired by the Borough Commander who continues to see a clear development for the forum to include work to further support collaborative working.

Sprinkler Success.

Rochdale Borough Wide Housing – Fire Service Partnership .

A sprinkler pilot has been progressed in one of Rochdale Borough-wide Housing (RBH) Homes. This initiative includes training RBH staff to design and install so that they can deliver a very cost effective product.

Councillor Amna Mir Councillor Shaun O’Neill

Members of the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Authority

Thank you Mr Mayor, I will be pleased to answer any questions from Members of the Council about these or any other matter relating to the Grater Manchester Fire and Rescue Authority.

Page 87 Agenda Item 8b

ROCHDALE METROPOLITAN BOROUGH COUNCIL

OUTSIDE BODY REPRESENTATIVE REPORT TO THE COUNCIL

REPORT OF THE LEAD MEMBER FOR ARMED FORCES AND PUBLIC SECTOR REFORM TO THE MEETING OF THE COUNCIL ON 2 nd April 2014

Thank you Mr Mayor for the opportunity to re port to the Council the latest developments on various matters relating to the Armed Forces and Public Sector Reform Portfolio

AGMA CO -ORDINATION RMBC Deputy Chief Executive Linda Fisher has been chosen to lead on Armed Forces across all ten Local Authorities in Greater Manchester. This will ensure that on a larger footprint we can really start to make a difference in how we identify and support our Armed Forces Families. WW1 Centenary will also form part of the work being carried out.

BRITISH LEGION OUTREACH The Royal British Legion launched a new outreach service at Number One Riverside on Thursday the 21 st March 2014, bringing help and advice even closer to the Armed Forces Families in Rochdale. Two Legion Advice and Information Officers will be available from 10.00 to 13.00 hours every Thursday to deliver face to face advice and support to Serving personnel, veterans and their families. Their role will involve delivering practical help and advice, signposting people to other welfare services and discussing membership with those wanting to join the Legion, which is part of the Legion’s mission to bring their services closer to those who need it most. The Council is also seeking to work more closely with the Royal British Legion and other Armed Forces Charities so we can provide a co-ordinated approach to customer service.

MEDIA COVERAGE The work being delivered in Rochdale continues to receive national attention and coverage and we have been featured in “Army and You Magazine recently in which Rochda le featured. Our work on guaranteed interviews has recently been spoken about by Simon Weston. The team being requested to share best practice with a number of Authorities.

Our pioneering Armed Forces work has been featured twice on BBC Radio Manchester. Deputy Chief Executive Linda Fisher, and Former Corporal Mark Coulthard were invited into the studio for live interviews with presenters Andy Crane and Allan Beswick, talking about the work being done in Rochdale, how worthwhile the support is and our new guaranteed interview scheme. Sharing our successes and telling people about the support the Armed Forces need is important if we are to encourage more organisations to sign the covenant.

ACHIEVEMENTS

DEDICATED CONTACT The dedicated Armed Forces contact and telephone number has directly assisted several veterans in housing, adaptations, school places, furniture, white goods and financially.

DEDICATED TAILORED ARMED FORCES WEB PAGES Rochdale’s website has proved to be very successful, with members of th e Armed Forces from as far afield as Canada getting in touch to enquire about relocating to Rochdale, and the pages having received over 18,000 views in its first 5 months.

Page 88 GUARANTEED INTERVIEW SCHEME A second employee has been taken on under the guaranteed interview scheme as an Accommodation Worker for the Strategic Housing Service.

BOOKS ON PRESCRIPTION The Books on Prescription Scheme was launched on Monday the 24 th February 2014 at Rochdale Central Library in Number One Riverside. As part of the scheme Doctors or other health professionals will prescribe patients with mild to moderate mental health problems appropriate books to read and through the Armed Forces Covenant the Books on Prescription Scheme will be fully accessible to Armed Forces and Veterans.

FREE USE OF LEIDURE FACILITIES In partnership with Link4Life (L4L), who manage our leisure and cultural facilities on behalf of the Council, we are offering Armed Forces personnel, both Regular and Reservists, free use of L4L sports facilities in the borough.

Over the last 5 months, 125 military personnel have taken up the offer, with 2 out of 3 people using the facilities more than twice a week, resulting in nearly 1,100 visits

STREET RENAMING / NAMING A Street renaming / naming policy which offers the families of fallen Service personnel who have died in active duty and were from the borough, the chance to have a street named after their loved one. Such lasting recognition, if this is the wish of the family, could be a poignant way to demonstrate the community’s admiration for those who serve.

BEFRIENDING A Befriending Scheme run through the Royal Voluntary Service has been extended to identify and include Veterans and it is hoped identify suitable Veterans to be developed in to volunteer befrienders.

ENGAGING OUR COMMUNITIES We are engaging our communities on this agenda and engaging young and old in any civic and ceremonial events such as the events like the Freedom of the Borough last year we bestowed the freedom of the borough to Lance Cor poral Stephen Shaw MC for his acts of bravery and this provided a platform to recognise to promote the work of our Armed Forces, to educate our communities on the work our Armed Forces deliver every day. We also renamed a street in his honour.

DISCRETIONARY CRISS FUND The Council has agreed to extend its discretionary crisis fund to the Armed Forces and has already supported veterans who have found themselves in difficulty.

SERVICE PROVIDERS TO SIGN UP TO COVENANT The drug and alcohol action team have re commissioned substance misuse services to start in April 2014. The following service providers were successful in their application and as part of the contract they will sign up to the community covenant:

• Pennine care mental health trust • High level northern trust • Early break.

MEMORIAL GARDENS Following the unveiling of the enhanced Heywood Township Memorial, work is still ongoing by the sculptor on the stone carved flags to be added for the upcoming WW1 Centenary

Page 89 commemorations

Major improvements to Rochdale Memorial Gardens are planned.

CAPITAL FUNDING WW1 The Townships all received an allocation of 20k for capital projects for WW1 Centenary and I look forward to seeing how the Townships commit their funding.

WW1 We’re asking residents, businesses and local groups for any plans they have in 2014 and beyond for marking the 100th anniversary of the First World War. Along with our partners we are planning a series of events - details are available on the council’s armed forces webpages www.rochdale.gov.uk/armedforces

We are also helping groups and communities mark the centenary by exploring, conserving and sharing the heritage of the First World War.

HELPING VETERANS OBTAIN MEDALS Rochdale Council are working closely with veterans to support them in completing and submitting application forms to obtain medals rightly owed to them due to the great bravery of those who contributed to two very significant campaigns of World War Two.

It total Rochdale council have successfully supported six veterans in obtaining medals.

ARMED FORCES WEEK The Council has submitted an application for funding to celebrate Armed Forces week (Saturday 28 th June 2014) as we did last year and we will soon share with you the plans across the Borough for the week. Flag raising in all Townships as last year will be a feature of the week.

PUBLIC SERVICE REFORM Cabinet on the 10th of March 2014 approved the report on Public Service Reform ( PSR) and this is now going to Overview and Scrutiny Committee for consideration. There are a number of themes for PSR. Early Years, Troubled Families (now complex families focus), Health and Social Care Integration, “Worklessness” and skills and Transforming Justice. Updates on the Themes were provided in the report to Cabinet together with a list of PSR projects.

Corporate Planning and Budget and Policy Framework We have recently ensured that PSR is an integral part of our Corporate Plan and is clearly a priority. Growth and Reform need to be part of everything that the Council delivers. The Directorate Plans now have detailed PSR objectives within them. Members will be in position to performance manage the work being carried out.

Budget and Policy Framework Following the approval of the Combined Authority Forward Plan we are ensuring that the Constitution of the Council has Association of Greater Manchester Authorities Combined Authority related policies in the Forward Plans for Cabinet / Overview and Scrutiny work programmes and within the list of Budget Policy Framework documents. E.g. Growth and Reform Strategy. We need to build the PSR wording into both portfolio holders and shadow portfolio holder’s role descriptions we are working on this.

Communication and Engagement in Rochdale We are project managing all work streams and Overview and Scrutiny Committee will task and finish some of the PSR projects. We have also drafted a communications strategy which

Page 90 went to Cabinet on 10th of March 2014 and is going to Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 27th March 2014.

It has been agreed by the Party Leaders that a training session for members will take place shortly and communications will be issued.

In Rochdale we are raising the profile of PSR. We are seeking to translate the words into r eal examples with people to get the message across and Association of Greater Manchester Authorities Combined Authorities could deliver the messages. The council’s intranet will be one method used to communicate with staff, intranet pages on PSR will be launched in the coming weeks with website pages being developed providing information on PSR to the public.

Conversation and Engagement with all staff on PSR has commenced, sessions have been planned, and the first session was delivered following an introduction by the Chief Executive on the Corporate Plan, vision and achievements of the Council and a Budget update session by the Director of Finance. The Deputy Chief Executive delivered the training on PSR. The session was videoed and we are ensuring all staff see the session, trade unions and elected members

Recruitment We need to ensure all job adverts reference PSR, all job descriptions need the PSR competencies, and flexible working also ensuring PSR is referenced in all Inductions for staff.

Commissioning Internally we are introducing a PSR checklist and externally we need to have standard wording in contracts on data controllers, sharing data. An AGMA session on commissioning is scheduled for March.

Place Based pilot The Placed based pilot is now in final stages of producing the evidence base. The Focus will be on Health and complex families and can be considered to be wider to select the area(s) and consider additional criteria for aiding selection:

A report will be presented to Cabinet in April or June updating on the PLACE selected and criteria engagement plan with members will be established to shape the pilot and work up the proposals to delivery stage.

Councillor Alan McCarthy Portfolio Holder for Armed Forces and Public Sector Reform

Thank you Mr Mayor, I will be pleased to answer any questions from Members of the Council about these or any other matter relating to the Armed Forces and Public Sector Reform Portfolio

Page 91 Agenda Item 8c

ROCHDALE METROPOLITAN BOROUGH COUNCIL

REPORT OF THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE GREATER MANCHESTER WASTE DISPOSAL AUTHORITY TO THE MEETING OF THE COUNCIL ON 2ND APRIL 2014

Thank you Mr Mayor for the opportunity to report to the Council the latest developments on various matters relating to Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority.

The Authority has set its budget for the next three years, for each year there will be a 0% levy. This year we will get back almost £550,000 – I hope that most of this can be ring fenced for recycling issues.

The Chair of the Authority, Councillor Neil Swannick is stepping down this year so we will have a new Chair.

Thank you Mr Mayor, I will be pleased to answer any questions from Members of the Council about these or any other matter relating to the Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority.

Councillor Susan Emmott Councillor Mohammed Zaman

Members of the Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority

Page 92