To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Wazir.

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 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.

In accordance with Council Procedure Rules, the Chair indicated that there was an additional application for funding for the Sub-Committee to consider at agenda item 6, namely, the purchase of Mobile CCTV cameras, for use in the Township.

To consder the Minutes of the meeting of Rochdale North Township Delegated Sub-Committee held 15^th December 2020.

Resolved:

That the Minutes of the meeting of Rochdale North Township Delegated Sub-Committee, held 15^th December 2020 be approved as a correct record subject to an addition to Minute 7 (Minutes) insofar that the Sub-Committee, at its meeting on 22^nd October 2020 approved a sum of £6,250 for Christmas Tree Lighting at Healey Triangle from the Township’s Revenue Fund.

To consider the report of the Director of Neighbourhoods.

The Sub-Committee was advised that the Cabinet, at its meeting on 9^th February 2021, had approved the procurement, implementation and operation of an intended e-scooter trial in the Borough (minute 94 refers). The Sub-Committee, further to the Cabinet’s resolution received a report of the Director of Neighbourhoods that was seeking approval from both Rochdale Township Delegated Sub-Committees (North and South) to raise an Experimental Traffic Regulation Order (ETRO) to give effect to the Cabinet’s decision.

Alternatives considered:

None reported.

Resolved:

1.     The Sub-Committee notes that following the Council’s successful application to Government for 12-month trial operation of a rental e-scooter scheme, the Cabinet had on 9^th February 2021 granted approval to commence the procurement process for an appropriate rental operator to supply and manage the Council’s pilot scheme.

2.     The Sub-Committee notes that although specific details are yet to be confirmed, it was envisaged that the trial area would encompass a one mile radius of the Town Centre, including Rochdale Railway Station and other key amenities, with the trial period intending to commence on 31^st March 2021.

3.     The Sub-Committee notes that only those e-scooters to be supplied and operated (with the necessary insurance for riders) through the trial rental programme will be legally permitted to use the public highway and that privately-owned and operated e-scooters shall be excluded.

4.     The Sub-Committee notes that the Council needs to ensure that all relevant Traffic Regulation Orders (for cycle lanes and for any specific cycle tracks which would need to be re-designated) are changed on an experimental basis to formally accommodate legal access and use by rental e-scooters. 

5.     The Sub-Committee grants approval for the Council’s Highways Service to commence the process of necessary legal amendment through the raising of an ETRO for the e-scooter trial.

Reasons for the decision:

Although the existing cycle lane signs and road markings, in the designated area, do not need amendment nor the provision of supplementary information, the Council does however need to update all of its existing cycling-related Traffic Regulation Orders across the trial area by means of an ETRO to include wording that permits use by rental e-scooters.

Eligible for Call-in: Yes.

To consider applications for assistance from the Rochdale North Township Fund 2020/2021.

The Sub-Committee considered a report of the Director of Neighbourhoods that updated members on the revenue and capital expenditure, commitments and balances of Rochdale North Township Funds 2020/2021 and which enabled the allocation of funds to proposed projects, as detailed within the report.

Alternatives considered - in considering the report, Members were asked to decide whether to approve, refuse or defer the allocation of funds to projects/schemes as appropriate.

Resolved:

1. That the expenditure, commitments and balances of the Rochdale North Township Funds 2020/2021, as detailed in Appendices 1 and 2 of the submitted report be noted;

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

3. That the Townships and Communities Manager, in consultation with the

Chair, Vice Chair and opposition spokesperson of the Sub-Committee, be given delegated authority to make decisions on any deferred projects;

4.  the Sub-Committee notes that the Townships and Communities Manager has assessed the proposed projects to be considered for funding against the criteria of eligibility for the Rochdale North Township Fund, the priorities of the Township and any specific risks have been identified within the report;

5.  That applications for Rochdale North Township Funds 2020/2021 (as outlined at Appendix 4 of the submitted report), be dealt with as follows:-