To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Mohammed, Paolucci, West and D. Williams

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 received.

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.

There were no items of urgent business received.

To determine any items on the agenda, if any, where the public are to be excluded from the meeting.

Members noted that the appendices to Item 8 – Town Hall Reopening and the appendix to Item 13 – Serious Violence Strategy, Strategic Needs Assessment were excluded from press and public. Therefore, their content would be considered after the press and public were excluded from the meeting.  

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 12^th September 2023

Resolved that the minutes of the meeting held on 12^th September be approved as a correct record.

To note the minutes of the GMCA Scrutiny Committees

Resolved that the minutes be noted.

Resolved that the minutes be noted.

Resolved that the minutes be noted.

To consider a report of the Director of Economy – Item for information and discussion

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Economy which sought to update on the progress of Places for Everyone Plan (PfE): A Joint Development Plan Document for nine Greater Manchester Local Authorities. The report also outlined the current consultation document published on 8^th October 2023, providing an opportunity to consider and feedback on the proposed modifications of the PfE.

The Principal Planning Officer was in attendance to present the report and to address the questions and the comments of the Committee.

The Officer informed that, following a detailed hearing sessions to scrutinise the plan, inspectors suggested changes necessary to make the plan sound. These changes were the focus of the current consultation which would close on 6^th December 2023. 

Members sought and received clarification / commented on the following points.

The greenbelt in Rochdale and other form of land protection. Officers informed that the Council had put forward lands that had already some policy protection and, as such, they did not need greenbelt protection to preserve them as they were. However, through the local plan, this point could be revisited.

Members asked whether there was a risk that the PfE did not progress to its final stage and approval. Officers explained that it was necessary to conclude the consultation and that there would always be potential for legal challenges.

However, Officers informed that to get to this point in the process, it meant that the PfE had passed a big milestone. Inspectors had said the plan was sound.

The Committee noted that PfE was a very important decision for Greater Manchester and the North West. Many economic development plans were linked to PfE such as the Northern Gateway.

Resolved that the update be noted.

To consider a report of the Interim Director of Neighbourhoods – Item for consideration and discussion

Report to follow

The Committee considered a report of the Interim Director of Neighbourhoods which updated on the business plan correlated to the reopening of the Rochdale’s Town Hall.

The Head of Service Technical and Surveyors Property, the Strategy and Operations Manager and the Business Consultant were in attendance to present the information and to address the questions and the comments of the Committee.

The Strategy and Operations Manager informed that the east wing of the Town Hall had been completed and staff had moved to new office spaces. Recruiting for key senior posts had commenced with a building manager and an executive chef posts being advertised. The Town Hall would be free to enter as a visitor attraction and key audience would be families and children. The building would also host activities for the over 85 across Rochdale and Greater Manchester. The Town Hall would host permanent and temporary exhibitions. Kitchen and café work was progressing well with space for 75 visitors, plus 25 in the outside terrace. Work organ was also progressing well. The business plan was currently being reviewed as, since 2020, there had been many changes and the aim was to reach a better balance between a community offer and a commercial one.

The Business Consultant provided additional details on the business plan concerning the market and competition for venue, the overall trading projections, events business and other commercial events.

Members sought and received clarification on marketing plans for the Town Hall to ensure all relevant market segments were reached out.

Members keenly sought assurance that the Town Hall would be utilised as a community space as well as for commercial purposes.

In endorsing the work so far on the business plan, the Committee asked Officers to ensure that the revised business plan included within the marketing strategy other heritage attractions in the town centre, working in partnership to increase and diversify the offer for schools and other educational settings.

The Committee also recommended that the restaurant at the Town Hall be advertised more widely and, in reference to the Council’s collection, they recommended displaying it at the Old Town Hall, appropriately remunerating the collection team to manage the collection going out. Members also requested more interventions for the Museum Team.

Resolved:

1.    That the information be noted;

2.    That it be recommended that the revised business plan include within the marketing strategy other heritage attractions in the town centre, working in partnership to increase and diversify the offer for schools and other educational settings;

3.    That it be recommended that the restaurant at the Town Hall be advertised more widely;

4.    That it be recommended that, in reference to the Council’s collection, this be displayed at the Old Town Hall, appropriately remunerating the collection team to manage the collection going out. Members also requested more interventions for the Museum Team.

5.    That the CRE OS Committee review the Town Hall Business Plan in one year. 

To consider the quarterly performance report for the Neighbourhoods Directorate – Item for information

The Committee gave consideration to a report of the Interim Director of Neighbourhoods which sought to update on the progress at the end of quarter two (1^st July – 30^th September 2023) towards achievement of the targets outlined in the Neighbourhoods Directorate Plan 2023/24.

The Senior Officer was in attendance to present the information and to answer the questions and comments of the Committee.

The Senior Officer informed the Committee that 17 actions were ongoing and due to be completed by the target dates. The actions on the climate change strategy were progressing well. The roll out of the CRM continued and so the activities to promote recycling initiatives to increase the Borough’s recycling rate. The review of bereavement service was 73% complete and the delivery of a long term strategy to ensure burial provision for all faiths was in place and it had been made a priority. 

Members sought clarification in reference to action NS2302A - Establishing governance framework for community wealth, action NC2305 C – Ensure an Incident Management Team with relevant membership is in place to deal with a cyber-security incident and action NS2308 C - Engagement with Charities, Voluntary and community services to scope collaborative service delivery on tasks that fall within “Our Rochdale”. An update would be delivered in due course.

With regards to the Homelessness Prevention Strategy, the Senior Officer informed that the Council had been successful in securing the Single Homelessness Accommodation Programme funding and the next step would be going to tender to start implementing the programme.

Resolved:

1.    That the progress report be noted;

2.    That an update be provided in due course in reference to:

a.    Action NS2302A - Establishing governance framework for community wealth;

b.    Action NC2305 C – Ensure an Incident Management Team with relevant membership is in place to deal with a cyber-security incident and

c.    Action NS2308 C - Engagement with Charities, Voluntary and community services to scope collaborative service delivery on tasks that fall within “Our Rochdale”.

To consider the quarterly performance report for the Economy Directorate – Item for information

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Economy which sought to update on the progress at the end of quarter two (1^st July – 30^th September 2023) towards achievements of the targets outlined in the Economy Directorate Plan 2023-24.

The Assistant Director Economy, the Interim Head of Planning Services and the Managing Director Rochdale Development Agency were in attendance to present the information and to address the questions and comments of the Committee.

The Assistant Director of Economy informed that all strategic actions were on track. The local plan required further work as this was associated with the ongoing consultation on Places for Everyone. The All Age School Strategy was slightly behind because of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority’s overarching plan; this had now been completed and it would help the Council to take forward this piece of work. The housing completion exceeded target and delivered 594 homes, and work on brownfield sites was ongoing.

The Managing Director Rochdale Development Agency informed the Committee of the progress against the Upperbanks development. The hotel had been opened in September. Work was progressing at the Chamber House Solar Farm in Heywood.

Members sought and received clarification on the position of the Upperbanks apartments. Officers informed that an agreement had been reached with Livingway, a Manchester based investor, which would manage and operate the apartments.

Members also enquired about the masterplan bid. Officers informed that work had taken place with Arts Council England to formulate the best possible bid.

Members commended the work on the Feel-good Family Picnic and were keen to see local artists to be involved in these events.

Resolved that the progress report be noted.

To consider the Key Decisions Document outlining all matters that qualify as key decisions and which will go for consideration and decision of the Cabinet and/or of the Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale Locality Board in the next few months

Resolved that the Key Decision Document be noted.

To consider the work programme for 2023-24 – Item for information

Resolved

1.    That the work programme be noted;

2.    That the update on the Upperbanks site be brought to this Committee at its meeting of 28^th February 2024.

To receive an update to understand how violence is affecting Rochdale Borough’s communities and to help to develop a response strategy

Report to follow

The Committee considered a joint report of the Director of Public Health and the Interim Director of Neighbourhoods which sought to inform of the development of Rochdale’s Serious Violence Strategy. The strategy would be based on the analysis of data and information gathered through the Serious Violence Strategic Needs Assessment.

The Assistant Director Public Health and the Public Health Programme Officer, accompanied by the Cabinet Member for Equity, Safety and Reform, were in attendance to present the information and to address the questions and comments of the Committee.

Officers informed that the Police, Crime, Sentencing Courts Act 2022 made it a legal requirement for statutory authorities of community safety partnership to work together to plan, share data, intelligence and knowledge to generate evidence-based analysis of the problem and solution to prevent and reduce serious violence in local areas.

To ensure delivery of the new statutory duties, the Rochdale Safer Communities Partnership had established a new strategic group called Rochdale Serious Violence Partnership.

The new Act required statutory partners of the Rochdale Safer Communities Partnership to undertake a Strategic Needs Assessment (SNA) and develop a response strategy. Public Health, supported by Community Safety, led on the development of this SNA and strategy on behalf of the local Rochdale Safer Communities Partnership.

Officers informed of the Public Health approach to serious violence and population focus, including Neighbourhoods and Townships. This implied the emphasis on prevention and early intervention.

Officer noted that a new data sharing agreement with partners was necessary.

Members sought and received clarification on a number of matters.

With regards to the challenges represented by the data set and different definitions, Officers informed that the data sharing agreement was outdated and needed refreshing. Work needed to be done on the performance outcome framework and Lancashire County Council represented a good model to follow.

In reference to the imminent change of local leadership in Greater Manchester Police and continuity of the work on this strategy. Officers and the Cabinet Member for Equity, Safety and Reform expressed confidence in the continuity of collaboration with the new local leadership team in GMP. 

Members also sought reassurance that representatives of the Voluntary Sector on the Community Safety Partnership feedback to the Voluntary Sector Partnership about this piece of work.

The Committee endorsed the partnership’s intention to refresh the data sharing agreement, stressing its key function in linking together various partners to provide coherent data. The Committee was keen to continue receiving assurance of the work of the Safer Communities Partnership. 

Resolved:

1.    That the report be noted;

2.    That it be recommended that the data sharing agreement between Community Safety Partners be refreshed.

To consider that the press and public be excluded from the remaining part of the meeting pursuant to Section 100(A)4 of the Local Government Act 1972 on the grounds that discussions may involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in the provisions of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 and public interest would not be served in publishing the information.

Resolved that in accordance with the provisions under Section 100(A) (4) of the Local Government Act 1972, as amended, the press and public be excluded from the meeting during the consideration of the following items of business. Reason for the Decision: Should the press and public remain during consideration of the items, there may be a disclosure of information that was deemed to be exempt under Part 3 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.

Appendix to Item 13 – exempt from publication – Item to follow

Resolved that the content of the appendix be noted.