Public Document Pack CORPORATE SERVICES Linda Fisher Deputy Chief Executive GOVERNANCE AND COMMITTEE SERVICES TEAM Number One Riverside, Smith Street, Rochdale, OL16 1XU DX22831 ROCHDALE Tel: (01706) 647474 Fax: (01706) 924705 Website: www.rochdale.gov.uk To: All Members of the Middleton Township Enquiries to: Alison Leonard Committee Extension: 4711 Date: 18 th December 2013 Dear Councillor MIDDLETON TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE You are requested to attend the meeting of the Middleton Township Committee to be held at Middleton Arena, Corporation Street, Middleton on Thursday 9 th January 2014 commencing at 6.15 pm. 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 Middleton Township Committee Membership 2013/14 Councillor Malcolm Boriss Councillor Philip Burke Councillor Jonathan Burns Councillor Neil Emmott Councillor Susan Emmott Councillor Alan Godson Councillor Pat Greenall Councillor Michael Holly Councillor Peter Joinson Councillor Donna Martin Councillor Lil Murphy Councillor Linda Robinson Councillor Carol Wardle Councillor June West Councillor Peter Williams ROCHDALE METROPOLITAN BOROUGH COUNCIL MIDDLETON TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE Thursday 9 th January 2014 at 6.15 pm Middleton Arena, Corporation Street, Middleton A G E N D A Apologies for Absence 1. 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. 2. Open Forum (6.15-6.45pm) Half an hour has been set aside for members of the public to raise any issues relevant to the business of the Committee and the Township. 3. PACT (6.45pm - 7.15pm) 4. Presentation - Welfare Reform 5. Middleton Township Committee - Minutes 1 - 6 To approve the Minutes of the meeting of the Township Committee held on 7 th November 2013. 6. Middleton Township Planning Sub-Committee - Minutes 7 - 12 To consider the minutes of the meetings of the Middleton Township Planning Sub-Committee held on 3 rd July 2013, 31 st July 2013, 25 th September 2013 and 23 rd October 2013. 7. Middleton Township Devolved Funding and Services Sub-Committee 13 - 14 - Minutes To consider the Minutes of the Meeting of the Middleton Township Devolved Funding and Services Sub-Committee held on 27 th November 2013. 8. Middleton Environment Forum - Minutes 15 - 23 To consider the minutes of the meetings of the Middleton Environment Forum held on 25 th September 2013 and 20 th November 2013. 9. Middleton Culture, Leisure, Tourism, Community Cohesion & Health 24 - 30 and Wellbeing Working Party - Minutes To consider the minutes of the meetings of the Middleton Culture, Leisure, Tourism, Community Cohesion & Health and Wellbeing Working Party held on 26 th September 2013 and 21 st November 2013. 10. Outstanding Tree Works 31 - 41 11. Report Detailing the Revised Policy/Criteria for the Provision of 42 - 48 Disabled Person Parking Bays 12. Revenue Budget 2014/15 to 2016/17 - Update 49 - 67 13. Capital Programme for 2015/16 to 2017/18 68 - 91 14. Exclusion of Press and Public To consider excluding the press and public from the meeting during consideration of the following item of business in accordance with the provisions of Section 100A (4) of the Local Government Act 1972, as amended. 15. Former Scout Hut, Long Street, Middleton 92 - 97 Public Document Pack Agenda Item 5 MIDDLETON TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE MINUTES OF MEETING Thursday, 7 th November 2013 PRESENT: Councillor West (In the Chair); Councillors Boriss, Burke, Burns, Neil Emmott, Susan Emmott, Godson, Greenall, Holly, Joinson, Martin and Robinson OFFICERS: C Connor, I Hodgeon and C Mullins (Finance Service), M Robinson, J Butterworth, S Reay, G. Beverley and F Comyn (Economy & Environment Service) J Taylor (Children’s Services) E Holliday, L Mason and C Denyer (Corporate Services) ALSO IN ATTENDANCE: Inspector G Hall (GMP) and approximately 17 members of the public APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE: Councillors Murphy, Wardle and Williams DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST 44 There were no declarations of interest. VARIATION OF ORDER OF BUSINESS 45 In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 2.2, the Chair indicated that Agenda Item 12, Highway Investment Programme 2013/15 and Highways Capital Programme 2013/14 Update, would be considered following agenda item 8, Baytree Lane Adoption Under Section 22 Highways Act, and prior to all other business contained within the agenda thereafter. WITHDRAWAL OF ITEM OF BUSINESS 46 In accordance with Council procedure rule 2.2 the Chair indicated that agenda item 13 – Disabled Parking Bay Policy – would be withdrawn for consideration at a future meeting. OPEN FORUM (6.15-6.45PM) 47 The following matters were raised under the Open Forum:- a) Alkrington Primary School Ms J Maloney raised the issue of dangerous and inconsiderate parking around Alkrington Primary School. The Director for Economy & Environment undertook to investigate and undertake further enforcement action if required. b) Middleton Town Centre Ms M Rowbotham submitted a question seeking information on the Council’s strategy with regard to Middleton Town Centre in light of the work being undertaken in Rochdale Town Centre. The Head of Planning advised that approximately £72 million had been spent on the re-development of Middleton Town Centre from public and private investment initiatives including the Middleton arena, the bus station, Middleton Gardens, the Market, Tesco and Aldi developments. c) Land adjacent to Transbridge Freight Services, Heywood Old Road Mr M Silas submitted a question regarding Transbridge Freight Services continuing interest in acquiring land adjacent to their depot. The Director for Economy & Environment responded that the Council could not consider the sale of land which formed part of Bowlee Country Park. Page 1 d) Junction of Mills Hill Road and Chapel Walk . Mr P Vickers submitted a question requesting that a box junction or keep clear marking at the junction of Mills Hill Road and Chapel Walk be considered. The Director for Economy & Environment undertook to investigate and respond to the question in writing. PRESENTATION - ROCHDALE BOROUGH FLOOD RISK MANAGEMENT STRATEGY 48 The Township received a presentation of the Rochdale Borough Risk management Strategy and the Flood Resilience Community Pathfinder (National Flood Forum). The Strategy is a statutory requirement under the Flood and Water Management Act 2010. It identifies the Council’s statutory role as a Lead Local Flood Authority (LLFA). It highlights significant flood risks affecting the borough and how the LLFA will address them and focuses on risk from rivers and surface water. The objectives of the strategy are to understand flood risk better; to ensure greater awareness and preparedness – residents and businesses in particular those in higher risk areas; to work with others responsible for managing and reducing flood risk wherever possible to achieve better solutions; to promote and deliver sustainable drainage and to ensure flood risk management activity contributes to our economy, communities and environment. DECIDED – that the presentations be noted and welcomed. PRESENTATION - HOUSING BENEFIT UPDATE 49 The Committee received a presentation about how housing benefit could be affected when the Department for Work and Pensions notified the Council about changes in circumstances. This could lead to the suspension of housing benefit and applicants were requested to respond to requests for information in order to establish whether they could continue with their claim. The Revenues and Benefits Service sought to work with applicants and landlords in order to minimise the impact on applicants were possible. Members of the Committee noted that applicants could fall into difficulties whilst waiting for benefits to be released and were advised that signposting to appropriate assistance such as the discretionary crisis fund was contained within the correspondence sent out by the Revenues and Benefits Service. Members of the Committee had also been circulated with a factsheet from the Department for Work and Pensions which outlined how benefits could be affected. DECIDED – that the presentation be noted. MINUTES 50 DECIDED – That the minutes of the Middleton Township Committee held on 5 th September 2013, be approved as a correct record. MIDDLETON TOWNSHIP DEVOLVED FUNDING AND SERVICES SUB- COMMITTEE 51 DECIDED – that the minutes of the meetings of the Middleton Township Devolved Funding and Services Sub-Committee held on 11 th September 2013 be noted. SCHOOL GOVERNING BODY VACANCIES - AUTHORITY GOVERNORS Page 2 52 The Committee considered the report of the Assistant Director – Early Help and Schools which outlined current Authority Governor Vacancies within maintained schools in the Township area and requested that the Township Committee makes the appropriate appointments as indicated within the submitted report. DECIDED – that (1) Councillor J West be appointed to the Governing Body of Elm Wood Primary School; (2) Mrs T Fitzsimons be appointed to the Governing Body of Little Heaton CE Primary School; (3) Mr P Snape be appointed to the Governing Body of St John Fisher RC Primary School. Eligible for call in - no HIGHWAY INVESTMENT PROGRAMME 2013/15 AND HIGHWAYS CAPITAL PROGRAMME 2013/14 UPDATE 53 The Committee considered the report of the Director of Economy and Environment which provided an update on progress to date made on the Capital (2013/14) Highway Investment Programme (HIP 2013/15) for the financial years 2013 to 2015. The Chair welcomed the report and thanked Officers for the way the schemes had been implemented in Middleton.