The Mayor reminded Council that the former Member and twice Leader of the Council, Richard Farnell, had passed away in August 2021 and that September 2021 saw the untimely passing of both Honorary Alderman and former Councillor Robert Clegg OBE and of Honorary Freeman and former Chairman of Rochdale Football Club, Mr David Kilpatrick.

The Mayor invited Councillors Neil Emmott and Dearnley to address the Council, in their honour, before Council observed a period of silence, as a mark of respect.

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.   

That the following declarations of interest be noted:-

Councillors Burke, Susan Emmott and Wazir each declared a personal and prejudicial interest in minute 29, below – ‘Review of Members’ Allowances’ and they took no part in either the discussion or the determination of this matter.

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Ali Ahmed, Sultan Ali, Hornby, Joinson, Kelly, Nickson, Nolan, O’Neill, O’Rourke, Paolucci, Rowbotham and Angela Smith.

To consider the Minutes of the meeting of Council held 28^th July 2021.

Resolved:

That the minutes of the meeting of Council held 28^th July 2021 be approved and signed by the Mayor as a correct record.

To receive petitions and questions from members of the public, where these have been received in accordance with the Petitions Scheme and/or Council Procedure Rules.

There were no submitted questions or petitions.

To consider Motions submitted in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 11:-

a.     Road Safety

To be moved by Councillor Taylor and seconded by Councillor Neil Emmott

“This council acknowledges the continued community concerns regarding the dangerous and irresponsible use of vehicles on our highways.  The safety of our communities across the whole borough is unnecessarily jeopardized by the mindless actions of a minority and we remain resolutely committed to addressing the problem.

This Council welcomes the recent comments of Chief Constable Stephen Watson QPM to thoroughly tackle the issue of dangerous and reckless driving and to embark on a programme of policing that aims to make Greater Manchester's roads safer. We ask the Chief Executive to write to the Chief Constable to express our full support for enhanced policing in respect of dangerous driving and to offer any assistance we can provide as a council.

We call on Mayor Burnham and Baroness Hughes to give the Chief Constable their full support in his endeavours to make our roads safer.”

b.    20MPH Zones

To be moved by Councillor Kelly and seconded by Councillor Davidson

“This Council believes that 20 is plenty where people are.  

This Council agrees with and supports the UK Government’s recent endorsement of The Stockholm Declaration, which stipulates in Resolution 11 that a council should “mandate a maximum road travel speed of 20mph in areas where vulnerable road users and vehicles mix; except where strong evidence exists that higher speeds are safe.”

This Council resolves to formally adopt Resolution 11. In practice this means that the default speed limit on Rochdale’s urban and rural residential streets will be 20mph, except on main roads where speed limits, if higher, must be both safe and appropriate.

This Council calls on Cabinet to consult the borough’s neighbourhood forums, community groups and local stakeholders to identify all the roads which should adopt a 20mph speed limit no later than 30^th April 2023 and to make significant progress towards realising these changes in tandem – establishing 20mph limits in identified places quickly if communities agree.

This Council commits to providing the necessary funding, to achieve the goal of making our residents safe across Rochdale.”

c.     Hospital Car Parking

To be moved by Councillor Meredith and seconded by Councillor O’Rourke

For over 10 years, Scotland and Wales have had zero charges at their hospital car parks for patients, visitors and staff. Unfortunately, previous Governments have missed opportunities to introduce ‘free parking’ or to provide adequate parking places at hospital sites in England. Hospital Trusts across England  lease parking land on their sites to private providers, who then manage the car parks, meaning ultimately that profits are made at the expense of patients, visitors and staff.

Thankfully, during the Coronavirus lockdowns, parking was made free of charge eventually being changed to ‘staff parking only’ areas. Profiteering in the NHS needs to end and parking is one example.

Councillors within the chamber will have many stories of their own exeriences or of others visiting hospital  ...  view the full agenda text for item 28.

a.    Road Safety

It was MOVED by Councillor Taylor and seconded by Councillor Neil Emmott that:

“This council acknowledges the continued community concerns regarding the dangerous and irresponsible use of vehicles on our highways.  The safety of our communities across the whole borough is unnecessarily jeopardized by the mindless actions of a minority and we remain resolutely committed to addressing the problem.

This Council welcomes the recent comments of Chief Constable Stephen Watson QPM to thoroughly tackle the issue of dangerous and reckless driving and to embark on a programme of policing that aims to make Greater Manchester's roads safer. We ask the Chief Executive to write to the Chief Constable to express our full support for enhanced policing in respect of dangerous driving and to offer any assistance we can provide as a council.

We call on Mayor Burnham and Baroness Hughes to give the Chief Constable their full support in his endeavours to make our roads safer.”

On being put the vote, the motion was carried and it was RESOLVED accordingly.

b.    20 MPH Zones

It was MOVED by Councillor Davidson and seconded by Councillor Bamford that:

“This Council believes that 20 is plenty where people are.  

This Council agrees with and supports the UK Government’s recent endorsement of The Stockholm Declaration, which stipulates in Resolution 11 that a council should “mandate a maximum road travel speed of 20mph in areas where vulnerable road users and vehicles mix; except where strong evidence exists that higher speeds are safe.”

This Council resolves to formally adopt Resolution 11. In practice this means that the default speed limit on Rochdale’s urban and rural residential streets will be 20mph, except on main roads where speed limits, if higher, must be both safe and appropriate.

This Council calls on Cabinet to consult the borough’s neighbourhood forums, community groups and local stakeholders to identify all the roads which should adopt a 20mph speed limit no later than 30^th April 2023 and to make significant progress towards realising these changes in tandem – establishing 20mph limits in identified places quickly if communities agree.

This Council commits to providing the necessary funding, to achieve the goal of making our residents safe across Rochdale.”

An amendment to the motion was moved by Councillor Meredith and seconded by Councillor Shakil Ahmed and in accordance with Procedure Rule CP12 this was accepted by Councillor Davidson and Councillor Bamford.

Therefore, the substantive motion became:

“This Council acknowledges the great work of present/previous Councillors and Officers; as Rochdale Borough Council is already delivering the ‘20mph is Plenty’ campaign. 

This Council acknowledges with and supports the UK Government’s recent endorsement of The Stockholm Declaration, which stipulates in Resolution 11 that a council should “mandate a maximum road travel speed of 20mph in areas where vulnerable road users and vehicles mix; except where strong evidence exists that higher speeds are safe.” Rochdale Borough Council, has already delivered on these schemes, creating 20mph zones in front of schools, elderly accommodation, on all our  ...  view the full minutes text for item 28.

To receive a report of the Independent Remuneration Panel.

Council considered a report which presented the findings of the Independent Remuneration Panel which, earlier in 2021, examined the Council’s Scheme of Members’ Allowances and now presented a series of recommendations thereon for Members to consider. The Council is required to carry out periodic reviews of its allowances scheme. The last full review of allowances was considered by the Council at its meeting held on 14^th December 2016.

Resolved:

1.    That the report of the Independent Remuneration Panel, as detailed at the Appendix to the submitted report, be noted.

2.    That the recommendations of the Independent Remuneration Panel be approved, with two exceptions; namely the refusal of the recommendation detailed at paragraph 123 (relating to special responsibility allowances paid to Rochdale Borough Council’s members of the Greater Manchester Transport Committee) and the refusal of the recommendation detiled at paragraph 156 (relating to the provision of mobile phones for Members).

3.    That the Assistant Director - Legal, Governance and Workforce/Monitoring Officer be requested to update the Scheme of Members’ Allowances and related guidance for Members in accordance with the decision of Council.

To receive a report of the Chief Finance Officer.

Council received a report of the Chief Finance Officer that sought approval to amend the criteria for the 100% council tax discount scheme that existed for care leavers who resided in the borough, and who were aged 18 to 25, with effect from 1^st November 2021.

Council was informed that this report had previously been considered by the Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee, at its meeting held on 14^th September 2021 and by Cabinet on 21^st September 2021, where the recommendations contained therein were supported.

Resolved:

That Council approves the changes to the criteria for the 100% council tax discount scheme for care leavers who live in the borough aged 18 to 25 with effect from 1^st November 2021.    

To receive a report of the Monitoring Officer.

Council received a report of the Assistant Director - Legal, Governance and Workforce/Monitoring Officer which asked Members to consider and authorise an absence from attendance at meetings in accordance with S85 (1) of the Local Government Act 1972.

Where a member is unable to attend any meeting of the authority for a period of 6 consecutive months following the date of their last attendance, they automatically cease to be a member of the authority, unless Council has resolved to approve a reason for an extended absence.

Resolved:

That Council resolves, having regard to the circumstances of the absence of Councillors Hornby from Council meetings, to waive the requirements of Section 85 (1) of the Local Government Act 1972, for a period of six months.

To receive quarterly reports from Members of the Cabinet, Chairs of Township Committees and Chairs of Overview and Scrutiny Committees and to permit questions from Members of the Council.

Members presented their Quarterly Reports responding to questions and remarks from Members of the Council, where appropriate:-

a.     The Leader of the Council;

b.     Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Health;

c.     Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Climate Change and

Sustainability;

d.     Cabinet Member for Adult Care and Wellbeing;  

e.     Cabinet Member for Children’s Services and Education;

f.       Cabinet Member for Finance and Corporate;

g.     Cabinet Member for Economy and Communications;

h.     Cabinet Member for Communities and Cooperation;

i.       Cabinet Member for Environment and Facilities;

j.       Cabinet Member for Highways and Housing;

k.     Chair of Heywood Township Committee;

l.       Chair of Middleton Township Committee;

m.   Chair of Pennines Township Committee;

n.     Chair of Rochdale North Township Committee;

o.     Chair of Rochdale South Township Committee,

p.     Chair of Communities, Regeneration and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee

q.     Chair of Health, Schools and Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee

r.      Chair of Corporate Overview ad Scrutiny Committee

Resolved:

That the reports be noted.