To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Iftikhar Ahmed and Winkler.

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.   

There were no declarations of interests.

To consider the minutes of the meeting of Rochdale North Township Committee, held 10^th September 2019

Resolved:

That the minutes of the meeting of Rochdale North Township Committee, held 10^th September 2019, be approved and signed by the Chair as a correct record.

A film about criminal exploitation and sexual exploitation of children by young people of Oulder Hill school.

The Township Committee viewed a film regarding the criminal exploitation and sexual exploitation of children that had been produced by young people of Oulder Hill High School in Rochdale.

At the conclusion of the film Committee Members asked questions of the representative of the Children’s Social Care Service who was in attendance at the meeting. The Committee noted the often disturbing and graphic content of the film, which sadly reflected the current situation that appertained in the Borough

Resolved that the film be noted and welcomed and the children of Oulder Hill High School be commended for the production of their film.

Inspector Callaghan (Greater Manchester Police) (GMP) updated the Township Committee on activities and initiatives that were undertaken by GMP in the Rochdale North Township and in Rochdale town centre.

1. Operation Sceptre – an operation to target and counter ‘knife crime’. This was an initiative that was taking place across the whole of GMP’s footprint. GMP were involved in a wide ranging campaign in this regard that included conveying messages via social media outlets and visits to schools and colleges.
2. Operation Dark Nights – an initiative to counter crimes that were more prevalent during the darker nights such as burglaries and property crime. This initiative had met with some successes resulting in successful prosecutions of offenders.
3. Operation Treacle – a multi-agency initiative to keep residents safe during the autumn months. In this regard it was reported that there had been a reduction in anti-social behaviour during the period between Halloween and Bonfire Night.
4. Operation Elf – an initiative to be undertaken during the Christmas and New Year holiday period, with a focus on reducing crime and anti-social behaviour in and around the town centre.
5. Operation Bohemia – an initiative to counter youth anti-social behaviour in and around Rochdale’s town centre and the town’s College bank area.

In addition Inspector Callaghan reported that the Police had been heavily involved in a number of significant events that had recently been held in Rochdale such as the Rochdale Half Marathon and Rochdale in Rainbows. The Police had recently held a ‘community streetwatch’ in Milnrow which proved to be successful and would be rolled out to parts of Rochdale. Also GMP were organising ‘community speedwatch’ events whereby members of the public assisted the police in the fight against speeding motorists in residential areas.

Resolved:

That the Greater Manchester Police update be noted and welcomed.

Up to 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.

The following matter was raised in the Committee’s Open Forum session:

Lower Falinge College Bank SPD

The Township Committee received a question from Mr. R. Parker asking if the Lower Falinge College Bank Supplementary Planning Document was to be submitted to a future meeting of this Township Committee.

The Committee was informed that the Lower Falinge and College Bank Supplementary Planning Document had been delayed until all consultation responses had been reviewed in full. The Committee was advised that a subsequent report, when ready, would be submitted to the Council’s Cabinet rather than to the Rochdale North Township.

To update the Committee on the progress made in updating procedures to allocate Section 106 Formal Sport and Local Open Space contributions

The Township considered a report of the Director of Economy that updated Members on the progress made in updating procedures to allocate Section 106 Formal Sport and Local Open Space contributions following an audit report that had been produced in October 2018.

The submitted report provided information on the current balance of unallocated Section 106 Formal Sport and Local Open Space contributions, on a Ward, Township and borough wide basis.

The meeting was informed that Section 106 Planning Obligations, regarding Formal Sport and Local Open Space, attracted significant resources to improve local sports and general recreation facilities for the benefit of the residents of the Borough. The Council is obliged to ensure that these resources are spent efficiently and in accordance with local policy and Government guidance.

Following an audit of the Section 106 process in October 2018, additional procedures have been developed to ensure the efficient allocation and spend of historic and new Section 106 contributions in accordance with local policy and Government guidance.

It was intended that regular reports updating Members on this matter would be submitted to future meetings of the Committee.

Resolved:

That the report be noted.