To receive any apologies for absence.

There were no apologies for absence received.

Members are requested to approve the minutes of the meeting held on 15^th March 2023

Resolved that the minutes of the meeting held on 15^th March 2023 be approved as a correct record.

Members are required to declare any disclosable pecuniary, personal or personal and prejudicial interests they may have and the nature of those interests relating to items on this agenda and/or indicate if S106 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 applies to them.   

Councillor Emsley declared a personal and prejudicial interest with reference to Item 10 – Pennines Township Funds 2023/24 – Appendix 4C – Ebor Studio Group by virtue of her role as a patron for the group. Councillor Emsley took no part in the discussion and deliberation on this item.

To determine any items on the agenda, if any, where the public are to be excluded from the meeting.

There were no items for exclusion of press and public.

To determine whether there are any additional items of business which, by reason of special circumstances, the Chair decides should be considered at the meeting as a matter of urgency.

There were no items of urgent business received.

To receive a presentation of Your Trust’s representatives

The Committee received a presentation on Your Trust, the independent charity which supported Rochdale’s communities to live active, creative and healthy lives through its offer of leisure centres, museums, events, art galleries, outdoor activities, community outreach and any of the commissioned services provided by Your Trust.

Your Trust’s Head of Strategic Projects and the Community Development Manager attended the meeting to deliver the presentation and addressed the questions and comments of the Committee.

The Officers listed the sites where the Charity operated from and the range of leisure and cultural activities provided for the communities in Rochdale and where the sites were located across the Borough.

The Officer stressed the pivotal role that Your Trust played in supporting children and their families, young people, adults, the elderly and disabled through a series of initiatives and activities aimed at their wellbeing through a holistic approach to address issues such as the cost of living crisis and mental health, following the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Officers continued outlining the initiatives concerning Holiday Activity and Food in partnership with over 53 locally trusted organisations, across 81 sites, children and young people were able to access healthy meals and opportunity to learn to cook healthy meals, as well as  participating in physical and cultural activities. During summer 2022, over 22,000 children and young people took part to these projects.

One of the other programmes managed by Your Trust was #Thrive, for children and young people up to the age of 19 years, who were experiencing emotional health and wellbeing issues such as feeling stressed or worried or not enjoying things. #Thrive offered lots of different types of support such as advice to improve general lifestyle, counselling sessions, online courses and access to sport, drama, music or art.

Another important programme was Exercise Referral which allowed medical professionals to refer their patients to a 12-week programme to take part to a range of activities at leisure and community centres throughout the Borough. People could also self-refer to this scheme.

Members sought and received clarification / commented on the following points:

-       Fewer venues for art, sports and activities in Milnrow - Officers agreed to meet with ward councillors in the area to discuss opportunities;

-       Playing fields in Wardle not accessible and secondary school’s construction work paused – Officers informed that a 4G pitch would be an optimum solution as it could be utilised for multiple sports. Ward Councillors encouraged a conversation between officers and community groups interested in utilising the playing fields. The conversation could expand to include opportunities for public access to swimming pool in Wardle.

Resolved:

1.    That the content of the presentation be noted;

2.    That Officers meet with Ward Councillors to discuss options for playing fields and swimming pool in Wardle.

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

Residents attended the meeting and addressed the Committee to bring the following matters to their attention:

-        Michael Faraday Avenue and adjacent area needed landscaping; 100 young trees had been planted recently but they were not sufficient to mitigate noise pollution from industrial activities in the area. Ward Councillor informed that the piece of land was privately owned by Wilson Bowden and the Council and/or Rochdale Development Agency had limited powers to intervene on this piece of land. However, the Ward Councillor agreed to look into this matter.

-       Bates Street allotments and request to the Council to position a fence across the allotment. As the site was not located within the Pennines Township, officers would pass this matter to the relevant Township Officer for action.

Resolved that the residents’ concerns be noted.

To consider a report on the Pennines Township’s Appointments 2023/24

The Committee considered a report of the Senior Governance and Committee Officer which sought a decision on the appointments to the Pennines Township’s bodies and outside bodies listed at Appendix 2 of the report.

Resolved:

1.    That the terms of reference of the Pennines Township Committee as outlined in Part 3 – Responsibility for Functions of the Council’s Constitution as at Appendix 1 of the report be noted;

2.    That the appointment of the Chair – Councillor A. Mir and Vice-Chair – Councillor R. Jackson as agreed at Annual Council on 17^th May 2023 be noted;

3.    That all Members of the Pennines Township Committee be appointed to the Regeneration and Facilities Service Group and Highways and Environmental Management Service Group and Councillor Emsley be the Chair for both groups;

4.    That the Milnrow, Newhey and Firgrove Area Forum and the Littleborough, Shore and Wardle Community Meeting be temporarily disestablished. This decision would be reviewed in due course, with the intention that if engagement with local residents through ward surgeries and Open Forum does not suffice residents’ needs to communicate with their ward councillors, alternative forms of engagement would be considered, including the re-establishment of the above mentioned forum and community meetings;

5.    That Members of the Township Committee and Highways Officers meet to consider solutions concerning the increasing volume of traffic on the A58;

6.    That Councillor Besford be appointed to the Moorend Trust Management Committee;

7.    That Members of the Pennines Township who are not Members of the Planning Committee be appointed to the Pennines Township Planning Panel;

8.    That Councillor Dearnley be appointed as the Pennines Township Older Persons’ Champion;

9.    That Councillor Jackson be appointed as Pennines Township Highways Champion;

10.That Councillors Davidson and Blundell be appointed as Pennines Township Environmental Champions.

Reasons for decision:

The Council has established and appoints Township Committees which may exercise both executive and non-executive functions as set out in the Council’s Constitution – Responsibility for Functions.

Appointments are made, as far as is possible, in accordance with the Township Committee’s political balance.

Alternatives considered and rejected:

The Committee could choose to appoint a Sub-Committee which would undertake delegated functions as the Township Committee considers appropriate.

At this point in the proceedings Councillor Blundell left the meeting.

To review revenue and capital expenditure during 2022/2023 and options for the allocation of funds in 2023/24

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Neighbourhoods which reviewed the revenue and capital expenditure during 2022/23 and provided options for allocation of funds in 2023/24. The report also sought approval of the Pennines Township allocation to funding streams, terms and conditions and delegation arrangements concerning funding decisions.

Resolved:

1.    That the expenditure, commitments and balances for Pennines Township revenue and capital funds at financial year end 2022/23 (Appendix 1 and 2 of the report) be noted;

2.    That the findings of the review of Township Funds 2022/23 (Appendix 3 of the report) and evaluations received to date for funded projects (Appendix 4 of the report) be noted;

3.    That the allocation of Pennines Township funds to funding streams in 2023/24 (Appendix 5 of the report) be approved;

4.    That the terms and conditions for Pennines Township revenue and capital funds for 2023/24 (Appendix 6 of the report) be approved;

5.    That the delegation arrangements for Pennines Township Funds 2023/24 as detailed at paragraph 5.6 of the report be approved.

6.    That any uncommitted /unspent funds be reallocated to a central revenue or capital funding stream as appropriate before the end of January 2024 to enable Members to spend / commit all Pennines Township Funds during 2023/24 financial year.

Reason for decision:

Management of the Pennines Township Fund is delegated to the Pennines Township Committee. Pennines Township Funds are allocated to projects that benefit the Township’s community and environment, and realise the Township priorities. To enable committee to monitor and review the use of the Pennines Township Funds to ensure continued efficient and effective use of the funds.

Alternatives considered and rejected:

Not to approve the allocation of funds to funding streams and adopt the terms and conditions.

To consider the update on revenue and capital expenditure, commitments and balances of Pennines Township Funds 2023/24 to enable the allocation of funds to proposed projects

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Neighbourhoods which sought to inform of revenue and capital expenditure, commitments and balances of Pennines Township Funds 2023/24. The report also asked the Committee to give consideration to the funding applications outlined in the report.

A number of applicants attended the meeting to present their applications and to answer the questions of the Committee.

Resolved:

1.    That the expenditure, commitments and balances for Pennines Township revenue and capital funds in Appendix 1 and 2 of the report be noted;

2.    That the decisions made under delegated authority as detailed in Appendix 3 of the report be noted;

3.    That it be noted that the Township and Communities Manager assessed proposed projects to be considered for funding against the criteria of eligibility for the Pennines Township Fund, the priorities of the Township and any specific risks had been identified as per information detailed at Appendix 4 of the report;

4.    That the Townships and Communities Manager, in consultation with the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Committee, be given delegated authority to make decisions on any deferred projects;

5.    That Members consider and approve, refuse or defer the allocation of funds to proposed projects detailed at Appendix 4 of the report as follows:

Cllr Emsley left the meeting and took no part in the conversation or voting – in relation to Ebor Studio’s application by virtue of her role as patron of the group.

Revenue

PF/01/23 A58 Halifax Road Traffic Calming Investigation - Approved

PF/02/23 St Ann’s Morris Troupe Annual Championships 2023 - Approved £1596.96

PF/03/23 Ebor Studios Equipment and Resources - Approved £3977.33

PF/04/23 Wardle Road Speed survey - Approved

At this point in the proceedings Councillor Kelly left the meeting.

Capital

PTC/10/22 Ramsden Road Area Traffic Calming - Approved £33,000 (£23,984 Revenue £9,016 Capital)

Reason for decision:

Management of the Pennines Township Fund is delegated to the Pennines Township Committee. Pennines Township Funds are allocated to projects that benefit the Township’s community and environment, and realise the Township priorities. To enable the committee to monitor and review the use of the Pennines Township Funds to ensure continued efficient and effective use of the funds.

Alternatives considered and rejected:

Not to approve the allocation of funds to projects as appropriate.