Last night was the regular meeting of Prestwich Township Forum. This is the (relatively new format) meeting of Coucnillors and other community reps at a local level in Prestwich. Chair, Vice-Chair and Advisory Board We elected my colleagues Cllr Vic D’Albert and Cllr Donal O’Hanlon as Chair and Vice-Chair respectively of the Township Forum for […]

Friday was the regular monthly meeting of the AGMA / GMCA Scrutiny Pool (Association of Greater Manchester Authorities, Greater Manchester Combined Authority). This is a pool which exists to ‘scrutinise’ decisions that are made at a Greater Manchester level made up of 3 councillors from each district. This year I am one of two “Co-Chairs” […]

Learning Disabiltiy Meal Provision, Development Plan, Community Resettlement Service Last night was the regular meeting of Bury Council’s Executive Committee. This is made up of the eight Executive members from the ruling Labour Group, and the two opposition leaders (myself and the Conservatives) as sit on the end as non-portfolio members (we really do get […]

Metrolink Tram Replacement; I LOVE MCR campaign; Private Sector Engagement Yesterday was the regular monthly meeting of the AGMA/GMCA Scrutiny Pool (Association of Greater Manchester Authorities/Greater Manchester Combined Authority). This brings together 30 councillors, 3 from each of the 10 districts in Greater Manchester. This year I am one of two “Co-Chairs” of the Pool, […]

Governnment School Building Programme; Public Health function moves to Council. Wednesday night was the regular meeting of Bury Council’s Executive Committee. This committee brings together the ruling Labour Group’s eight Executive Committee members, together with the two opposition leaders sat on the end (we literally do get made to sit at the end!) School Building […]

Last night was the regular meeting of Bury Council’s Executive Committee. This Committee brings together the eight Labour Executive members, together with myself and the other opposition (Conservative) Group Leader as “non-portfolio members”. The Council has been ‘touring’ Bury with the Executive Committee, so it was a very sad coincidence that they chose to come […]

Last night was the regular “Full Council” for Bury MBC, the meeting five or six times a year when all 51 elected councillors meet together. As seems to be becoming commonplace, it was another long meeting and we didn’t finish until 10.15pm. The main items of interest were: Members Allowances and Expenses The Council agreed […]

Last night was the regular meeting of the Council’s Executive Committe. This is the Committee which brings together the eight Executive Members of the ruling Labour Group in Bury, together with the two opposition group leaders as ‘non-portfolio’ members. This year there is a policy of touring the Borough for Executive Committee meetings, so last […]

Yesterday was the regular monthly meeting of the AGMA / GMCA* Scrutiny Panel. This is a Panel made up of three councillors from each of the ten boroughs in Greater Manchester. * Association of Greater Manchester Authorities / Greater Manchester Combined Authority It being August, the agenda was relatively light, but the meeting was only […]

Last night was my first Board Meeting for Six Town Housing – Bury’s ‘Arm’s Lenght Housing Management Organisation (ALMO). The Council appoints four councillors to the Board, who join a mixture of independent and tenant members of the Board. It was a long agenda (apparently one of the longest meetings for some time!), but some […]