SALFORD CITY COUNCIL 15th January, 2014 Meeting commenced: 9.30 a.m. “ adjourned: 10.35 a.m. “ re-commenced: 10.50 a.m. “ ended: 12.00 noon PRESENT: Councillor Alan Clague (Ceremonial Mayor) - in the Chair Mr Ian Stewart - City Mayor Councillors Derek Antrobus, Howard Balkind, Neil Blower, Adrian Brocklehurst, Eric Burgoyne, Val Burgoyne, Andy Cheetham, Christopher Clarkson, Stephen Coen, Jillian Collinson, Graham Compton, Peter Connor, Richard Critchley, Jim Dawson, Paul Dennett, Sareda Dirir, Peter Dobbs, John Ferguson, Karen Garrido, Stephen Hesling, Bill Hinds, Christine Hudson, Ann-Marie Humphreys, David Jolley, Roger Jones, Joe Kean, Tracy Kelly, Jim King, David Lancaster, Bernard Lea, Iain Lindley, Ray Mashiter, Charlie McIntyre, Gena Merrett, John Merry, Matt Mold, Margaret Morris, John Mullen, Michelle Mullen, Joe Murphy, Stephen Ord, Bernard Pennington, Sue Pugh, Brendan Ryan, Pat Ryan, Gina Reynolds, Lisa Stone, Les Turner, John Walsh, John Warmisham, Barry Warner, Michael Wheeler, Peter Wheeler, George Wilson, Paul Wilson and Ronnie Wilson 43. URGENT ITEMS OF WHICH THE CHAIR HAS BEEN NOTIFIED The Chair indicated that he had not been notified of any urgent items. 44. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillors Paula Boshell, Robin Garrido and Jimmy Hunt. 45. PAUL GOGGINS The Ceremonial Mayor referred to the recent sad death of Paul Goggins, the Member of Parliament for Wythenshawe and Sale East and a former Salford City Councillor. The City Mayor paid his own personal tribute and said Paul was respected by members of all political parties as well as the wider community and would be greatly missed. Condolences were extended to Paul’s family and members stood in silence as a mark of respect. R:status\admin\omin\councilm150114 46. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST There were no declarations of interest. 47. MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS The minutes of the meeting held on 20th November, 2013, were approved as a correct record. 48. RECEIPT OF PETITIONS/COMMUNICATIONS No petitions, or communications, were received. 49. PUBLIC HEALTH ANNUAL REPORT 2012/13 Councillor Margaret Morris, Assistant Mayor for Health and Wellbeing, presented the Public Health Annual Report 2012/13, which detailed the current work being undertaken and with a particular focus on integration and expected value. The report was welcomed, as were the initiatives detailed in it, aimed at improving the health of the residents of Salford. RESOLVED: THAT the report be noted. 50. CONTRACTING OUT CERTAIN HIGHWAYS FUNCTIONS TO URBAN VISION Councillor Derek Antrobus, Assistant Mayor for Strategic Planning, introduced a report of the Strategic Director of Environment and Community Safety indicating that currently Urban Vision carried out certain activities on behalf of the City Council. Approval was now sought for Urban Vision to make decisions with regard to these functions. RESOLVED: THAT approval be given, under The Contracting Out (Highway Functions) Order 2009, to Urban Vision exercising the following functions on behalf of Salford City Council:- Powers under Section 139(1) and (2) (Control of Builders’ Skips) Powers under Section 140(2) (Removal of Builders’ Skips) Powers under Section 169(1)(2)(3) and (4) (Control of Scaffolding on Highways) Powers under Section 171 (Control of Deposit of Building Materials and Making Excavations in Streets (except insofar as the functions conferred by, or under, Section 171(7) relate to the removal of the property of any person)) 51. SOCIAL MEDIA POLICY AND GUIDELINES Councillor John Ferguson referred to the draft Social Media Policy and Guidelines for officers of the City Council, and sought a deferment to enable further consultation with all members. R:status\admin\omin\councilm150114 RESOLVED: THAT the Social Media Policy and Guidelines for Officers be withdrawn and resubmitted for consideration at the next meeting of the City Council 52. SWINTON SOUTH BY ELECTION The Returning Officer submitted a report detailing the results of the Swinton South By Election held on Tuesday, 7th January, 2014. The City Mayor welcomed Councillor Neil Blower, the successful candidate in that by election, to his first meeting of the City Council. RESOLVED: THAT the report be noted. 53. LOCALISED COUNCIL TAX REDUCTION SCHEME 2014/15 The City Mayor submitted a report detailing the outcome of the public consultation on the City Council’s proposals for its council tax reduction scheme for 2014/15. He said that the proposed amendments were regretted, but they were ones which the City Council had no other option to make, however in doing so it was hoped the potential impact on some of the most vulnerable members of the community would be minimised. Councillor Andy Cheetham said the Opposition Group endorsed the proposed amendments to the scheme. RESOLVED: THAT approval be given to the amended localised council tax reduction scheme to be implemented from 1st April, 2014, including the following change to the main elements of the existing scheme:- “Everyone of working age, who receives a council tax reduction, will be asked to pay at least 12% of their council tax bill.” 54. OPERATIONAL GOVERNANCE REVIEW The City Mayor introduced a report of the Assistant Director (Human Resources) outlining the findings of review of the City Council’s senior management arrangements which had been undertaken by consultants from Penna. Members commented on the proposal which were duly noted. RESOLVED: (1) THAT post of Chief Executive be deleted. (2) THAT approval be given to the establishment of a new senior post, to include the statutory role of Head of Paid Service at a salary range of £144,702 to £150,489. (3) THAT the Workforce Panel be authorised to establish an Appointment Panel to appoint a suitable candidate, subject to ratification by full Council. R:status\admin\omin\councilm150114 55. STATEMENT OF THE CITY MAYOR The City Mayor made a number of announcements and reported on some of the key areas of work he had been involved with since the last meeting of the Council as follows:- (a) Congratulations were extended to the following people, whose achievements had been recognised by H.M. The Queen in the New Year’s Honours List:- Councillor Bernard Pennington, BEM for services to local government. Mike Lowry, MBE for services to children. David Dalton, Knights Bachelor for services to healthcare. Iain Anderson, MBE for services to clinical surgery and medical education. (b) The process for developing the City Councils Budget 2014/15 continued and thanks extended to the Deputy City Mayor, assistant mayors and senior officers for their commitment to what has been an extremely difficult process. The City Council in the next financial year faced a reduction in its budget of £25M, which inevitably would result in cuts to services, but every effort was being to minimise these. Further budget reductions in forthcoming years would mean that by 2015/16 the City Council’s budget would be reduced by a third to a half from what it had been in 2010. A commitment remained to keep the provision of services in house wherever possible, but other options, including the possible adoption of a mutual approach with partner agencies needed to be examined. The City Council wished to maintain its current services and would do so, even improve upon them, if given the necessary financial support and was making representations on this basis to H.M. Government. (c) Despite the current economic climate, there was significant current and planned investment in Salford. This included MediaCityUK, where 100 new businesses had relocated with the associated jobs this created, New Pendleton, which ultimately would see the creation of 1,500 new homes, 500 jobs, as well as 3,000 training opportunities and the proposed Port Salford development, which would create up to a further 3,000 employment opportunities together with associated skill training ones. (d) The Charter for Employment Standards had been launched on 14th November, 2013 and was designed to help raise employment standards for council employees and businesses across the city. A key element of the charter was the City Council’s commitment to ensuring employees received a living wage and work was being done within other local authorities to adopt a similar approach. (e) The City Council would continue to ensure the provision of 25 hours free nursery care for every child between the ages of 3 and 4. R:status\admin\omin\councilm150114 (f) The cumulative effect of the various elements of the Welfare Reform Act 2012 were now being realised and the City Council was making every effort in its power to sure these were minimised in terms of Salford residents. (g) The Greater Manchester Combined Authority was the first of its type in the country and enabled local politicians to work together strategically at a sub regional level. The benefits of such combined working had to be recognised and representations were being made to encourage the de-centralisation of decision making through the creation of place based budgets. 56. GENERAL QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS TO THE CITY MAYOR AND ASSISTANT MAYORS Q1. Councillor Stephen Ord referred to the recent successful Heritage Lottery Fund bid for the refurbishment of Peel Park and asked what the next steps of the project were and the timetable for these. Councillor Gena Merrett, Assistant Mayor for Housing and Environment, replied that, an initial lottery bid amounting to £54,000 had been successful and this would primarily be used to develop a second bid for funding of approximately £1.5M. If granted this would be used to refurbish and restore Peel Park. The second bid needed to be submitted by August 2014 and Councillor Merrett expressed thanks to the residents of Irwell Riverside, who had played a vital role in the work to date and would continue to do so. Q2. Councillor John Mullen asked what decision had been made following lobbying by the private hire and hackney carriage trade with regard to extending the age which vehicles could be used for.