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 interest.

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.

The Chair advised that a representative from Greater Manchester Police would be invited to address the Township Committee to update Members on work being undertaken by the Police within the Township and to allow Members to raise concerns.  The reason for urgency being that matters to be raised required action prior to the next meeting of the Township Committee.

The new Greater Manchester Police Inspector for the Town Centre and Deeplish Ward’s addressed the Township Committee in relation to work being undertaken within the Township.  Inspector Mina updated the group in regards to extra security and working with neighbouring partners such as Town Centre Wardens, Rangers and Number One Riverside Security in the next few months to ensure the safety of residents and visitors over the period as the Town Centre was expected to be very busy due to the ongoing Dippy exhibit and Town Centre events.

Members raised concerns of increasing numbers of Off-Road Speeding Bikes and Anti-Social Behaviour within the Township.

RESOLVED

That Members concerns in relation to anti-social behaviour be noted and reported back to Greater Manchester Police.

Presentation by the Adult Care Service.

The Committee received a presentation from Steve Blezard (RBC) relating to Integrated Health and Social Care Neighbourhood Teams.

The presentation outlined the:

·         Rationale for integrated neighbourhood teams;

·         Why there were six neighbourhoods in the Borough;

·         The map showing the neighbourhoods;

·         Staff within the Team;

·         Changes that had happened since the Team was formed;

·         Specific Township issues;

Steve Blezard updated Members on their allocated Integrated Neighbourhood Lead (Julie Urmston) and further information with contact details would be circulated to Members.

Resolved:

That the presentation be welcomed.

There were no items raised in the Open Forum.

To consider the Minutes of the Rochdale North Township Committee held on 13th November 2019.

RESOLVED

That the minutes of the meeting of the Rochdale North Township Committee held on 13^th November 2019 be approved and signed by the Chair as a correct record.

To consider the Minutes of the Rochdale North Township Delegated Sub-Committee held on 16^th January 2020.

RESOLVED

That the minutes of the Rochdale Township North Delegated Sub-Committee meeting held on Thursday 16^th  January 2020 be noted.

The Committee considered the report of the Director of Neighbourhoods which outlined the Townships Plan for 2020-2022. The Township Plan concurrent to the Council’s Corporate Plan 2019-2022 which had been recently agreed.  The process included carrying out a review of the Council’s values and behaviours which are now Proud, Passionate, Pioneering and Open.

In line with the new Corporate Plan, the Townships Plan 2020–2022 has been developed around the following priorities: Prosperous People and Places.

Township Chairs and Vice Chairs worked with the Portfolio Holder for Neighbourhoods, Community and Culture to produce the new Townships Plan.

Alternatives considered:

No alternatives to having the Plan were put forward.

Resolved:

1.    That the detail included in the Townships Plan 2020-2022 appended to the report be noted:

2.    It be noted that the plan has been developed in consultation with the Portfolio Holder, Township Chairs and Vice Chairs in line with priorities identified in the Council’s Corporate Plan 2019-2022;

3.    That the Plan be approved to allow the Townships to focus on local priorities in line with the Council’s key priorities – Prosperous People and Places.

Reasons for the decision:

The Townships Plan identifies priorities determined by each Township’s Councillors as a focus for action over the next two years. This plan gathers aspirations and ideas together as a focus for decision makers, Council Services, partner agencies and the voluntary and community sector active in the Rochdale Borough. The Townships Plan identifies priorities determined by each Township’s Councillors as a focus for action over the next two years. This plan gathers aspirations and ideas together as a focus for decision makers, Council Services, partner agencies and the voluntary and community sector active in the Rochdale Borough.

The Townships Plan 2017-2019 is due to expire. The Townships Plan 2020-2022 includes objectives identified to meet the priorities identified by each of the five Townships. It will also guide and direct and detail the use of devolved budgets, including Township Revenue Funds, for the financial years 2019/20, 2020/21 and 2021/22.

The Townships Plan forms part of the Council’s policy framework. The plan is a live document that can evolve and change to meet new opportunities and initiatives, and can be updated to reflect changes as we move forward.

To consider the 2020 - 2022 Highways Capital Programme.

The Committee considered the report of the Director of Neighbourhoods which sought approval of indicative highways work programmes which were proposed to take place during the 2020/21 and 2021/22 financial years.

The programmes included the following –

·         2 year local transport plan (LTP) funded capital programme;

·         2 year bridges and structures capital maintenance programme;

The budgets with the exception of bridges and structures have been split into each Township according to population size. Rochdale North will be allocated 19% of the total budget. 

Alternatives considered:

No alternatives were considered. The programme has been developed according to DfT guidance and in line with other GM Authorities. 

Resolved:

That the highways work programmes to be delivered in 2020/21 and 2021/22 as circulated to Members be noted and approved in principle.

Reasons for the recommendation:

The schemes that have been selected have been put together based on the principles of asset management which use network condition data, engineer inspections, life cycle planning and cost efficiency to produce the most efficient highway improvement over the course of the programmes.

Using Asset management techniques for scheme selection ensures that they are in line with recommendations from the Department for Transport (DfT) which enables the full funding allocation from the DfT incentive fund scheme. Authorities that are deemed not to be carrying out efficient highway improvements can have funding reduced and in the case of Rochdale, the maximum reduction would be £410k.