The Mayor advised Council that in accordance with Council procedure rules that agenda item 8, Adoption of Places for Everyone Plan: A Joint Development Plan Document for nine Greater Manchester Local Authorities (Bolton, Bury, Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Tameside, Trafford and Wigan) 2022-2039 (The Places for Everyone Plan), would be moved to be the first substantive item and prior to consideration of the submitted motions.

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 Brown declared a personal interest in the submitted motion on maternity services by virtue of her employment at Northern Care Alliance.

To authorise the signing of the minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 21^st February 2024.

Resolved - That the minutes of the Council meeting held on 21st February 2024 be approved and signed by the Mayor as a correct record.

To consider the report of Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Housing / Director of Economy and Place.

Consideration was given to a report of the Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Housing which sought Council approval to formally adopt the ‘Places for Everyone Plan’ - incorporating the Main Modifications, amendments to the Policies Map and Additional Modifications - in accordance with the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012 (as amended) (“2012 Regulations”) and the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 (as amended) (“2004 Act”).

The motion as moved and seconded was then voted upon by means of a recorded vote.

Voting for the motion: Councillors A. Ahmed, I. Ahmed, S. Ahmed, Ali, Arshad, Atewologun, Ayrton, J. Blundell, Brown, Dale, N. Emmott, S. Emmott, Faisal, Hodgkinson, Hussain, P. Massey, Meredith, Mir, Mohammed, Nisa, O'Neill, O'Rourke, Rana, Aiza Rashid, Robinson, S. Smith, T. Smith, Wardle, Wazir, West, D. Williams, P. Williams and Zaheer.

Voting against the motion: Councillors Anstee, Bamford, Besford, Beswick, Davidson, Dearnley, Emsley, Gallagher, Gartside, Holly, Jackson, Kelly, Sheerin, Sullivan, Taylor and Winkler.

Resolved

The Council:

1.    accepted the findings of the Inspectors’ Report and approved the Main Modifications to the Places for Everyone Joint Development Plan Document proposed by the independent Inspectors, as set out in Appendix 1.1 and 1.2 of the report, for incorporation into the final version of the Places for Everyone Joint Development Plan Document;

2.    approved the amendments to the Places for Everyone Joint Development Plan Document Policies Map, as set out in Appendix 2 of the report, for incorporation of all the changes in so far as they relate to Wigan Council’s administrative area into the Wigan Borough Policies Map;

3.    approved the Additional Modifications to the Places for Everyone Joint Development Plan Document, as set out in Appendix 3 of the report, for incorporation into the final version of the Places for Everyone Joint Development Plan Document;

4.    adopted the Places for Everyone Joint Development Plan Document 2022 – 2039 (set out in Appendix 4 of the report), with effect from 21 March 2024 – incorporating the Main Modifications and Additional Modifications – as part of the Development Plan for Wigan Borough, in accordance with Section 23 of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 (as amended);

5.    adopted the Policies Map (Appendix 5) which incorporated the Modifications to it (set out in Appendix 2) and was necessary to give effect to the policies of the Places for Everyone Joint Development Plan Document;

6.    delegated authority to the Portfolio Holder for Planning, Environmental Services and Transport to make any minor non-material editorial amendments to the Places for Everyone Joint Development Plan Document and Policies Map ahead of its final publication, subject to consultation and agreement with the eight other Places for Everyone authorities. The amendments would be limited to correcting minor errors and formatting text.

To consider Motions submitted in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 11.

Motion 1 – Community Forums

It was moved by Councillor Kelly and seconded by Councillor Davidson that:-

This Council believes that democracy and decision making is best done at a local level and that the general public are best served when their voice is heard at all levels. The township model in Rochdale Borough works well and community fora (forums) serve constituents well.

This Council will:

• Undertake a review of local community forums and reinstate them where they do not currently operate.

• Remodel their working practices to allow stakeholders, organisations and charities to present regularly to local residents about their work and projects.

• Invite elected members to attend to deal with casework and local issues, with the option to hold one to one surgeries

• Use the review to seek residents’ views on ward and township schemes, initiatives and projects when appropriate.

• Use the forums to promote positivity in our wards and take positive action.

Upon being put to the vote the motion was rejected.

Motion 2 - Maternity Services

It was moved by Councillor N. Emmott and seconded by Councillor Meredith that:

This Council believes that the decision by the then North West Strategic Health Authority to discontinue maternity services from Rochdale Infirmary in 2011, under the aegis of the ‘Making It Better’ programme, has resulted in a situation where it is now practically impossible for babies to be born in Rochdale. For a town of our size and heritage, this has proven to be a bitter blow and that decision now needs revisiting.

Furthermore, we believe that the analysis upon which this decision was originally reached more than a decade ago is potentially out of date. There is anecdotal evidence to suggest that capacity constraints at the Royal Oldham Hospital frequently sees women redirected to other maternity units across Greater Manchester. Council asks the Chief Executive to write to the Secretary of State for Health to restore maternity services to Rochdale as set out in this notice of motion.

Upon being put to the vote the motion was unanimously carried, and resolved accordingly.

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.

Consideration was given to Members’ reports to Council.

Resolved

That the following reports be noted:

1. The Leader of the Council
2. Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Equalities, Safety and Reform
3. Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Health
4. Cabinet Member for Adult Care and Wellbeing
5. Cabinet Member for Children’s Services
6. Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Environment
7. Cabinet Member for Communities and Co-operation
8. Cabinet Member for Finance and Corporate
9. Cabinet Member for Highways and Housing
10. Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Housing
11. Chair of Heywood Township Committee xii. Chair of Middleton Township Committee
12. Chair of Pennines Township Committee
13. Chair of Rochdale North Township Committee
14. Chair of Rochdale South Township Committee
15. Chair of Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee
16. Chair of Communities, Regeneration and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee
17. Chair of Health, Schools and Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee

To consider the report of the Cabinet Member for Finance and Corporate / Monitoring Officer.

Resolved

1. That the Calendar of Meetings for the 2024/25 municipal year, as set out in Appendix 1 of the report, be approved.

2. That the Monitoring Officer be delegated authority, in consultation with relevant Committee Chairs or the Leader of the Council, to amend the Calendar of Meetings.

To consider the report of the Cabinet Member for Finance and Corporate.

Consideration was given to a report that outlined arrangements to appoint a temporary Monitoring Officer. 

Resolved - That the Director of Corporate Services in consultation with the Leader of the Council, the Deputy Leaders of the Council and the Leader of the Opposition be delegated authority to appoint a temporary Council’ Monitoring Officer in accordance with the Local Government & Housing Act 1989 to cover an interim period before the next permanent incumbent was appointed.

The Council noted that Councillors Malcolm, Paolucci, Rowbotham and Sullivan would not be seeking re-election in the forthcoming local elections.  The Mayor and Members thanked the retiring Councillors for their service to the Council and to the Borough.

Members of the Council expressed their thanks and appreciation for the services of Councillor Holly in his role as Mayor of the Borough during  2023/24 municipal year, in his civic role and as Chair of the Council.