To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the Meeting of the Council held on 20 February 2019 for signature by the Mayor as Chairman.

That the Minutes of the Meeting of the Council held on 20 February 2019, be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To receive any announcements from the Mayor, Leader of the Council, Members of the Executive, Chairs of Scrutiny Committees and the Head of Paid Service.

(a)        Adult Social Care Team Gold Award

The Mayor was pleased to report that at the Public Sector Transformation Awards 2019, the Council’s Adult Social Care won the gold award in the Innovation in Health and Social Care category for their innovate Let's Talk initiative. The organisers had praised the Let's Talk initiative for the great impact it had on people who use health and social care with a new approach that placed the person at the heart of decisions over their care. The Council joined with the Mayor in congratulating all the staff involved.

(b)        Trafford 10K

The Mayor conveyed his appreciation to the Leader of the Council and Councillors Joanne Harding, Adele New, Liz Patel, Kevin Procter and Graham Whitham for their fantastic efforts on behalf of the Mayoral Charity in the Trafford 10K run on 10 March 2019.

(c)        Retiring Members of Council

Conscious that it was the last Council meeting of the Municipal year, the Mayor expressed the Council’s best wishes and gratitude to those Members that would not be seeking re-election in the forthcoming local elections.

(d)        Youth Parliament Election

The Mayor announced that he had officiated at the Youth Parliament election count earlier that afternoon and congratulated Michael Jarkowski and Sanaa Khan who were elected as Trafford’s Member of Youth Parliament and Deputy, respectively, for 2019/20 and wished them both a successful year.

This is an opportunity for Members of Council to ask the Mayor, Members of the Executive or the Chairs of any Committee or Sub-Committee a question on notice under Procedure Rule 10.2.

The Mayor reported that 2 questions had been received under Procedure Rule 10.2.

(a)        Councillor Jerrome asked the following question for which he had given notice:

“Medway Crescent is being used as a cut-through from Oldfield Road to the A56 with cars often driving at great speed. As developments go up across Altrincham and further parking restrictions are consulted and implemented, what is this council doing to promote safe and controlled traffic routes?”

Councillor Adshead, Executive Member for Environment, Air Quality and Climate Change reported that the One Trafford Partnership would undertake speed and traffic surveys to understand the context of the problem and that it would be assessed for future capital programme bids.

Councillor Jerrome asked as a supplementary question whether Medway Crescent could expect to be part of a ‘Beeline’ cycling and walking network scheme. Councillor Adshead indicated that it was a relatively new programme and bids for the scheme would be considered for the coming period. The Executive Member was expectant that the Borough as a whole would benefit from the initiative over time and would welcome Councillor Jerrome’s suggestions.

(b)        Councillor Brophy asked the following question for which she had given notice:

“Please would the Executive Member confirm the details of the Trafford Borough air quality monitors (and also of the contiguous boroughs since air pollution does not recognise boundaries).

Would the Executive Member confirm the exact geo-location, the type of location e.g. roadside / urban background, what’s monitored e.g. nitrogen oxides (NOx) particulate matter (PM)?

Can a mapped pollution inventory / land use regression model for Trafford and contiguous boroughs be provided?”

Councillor Adshead, Executive Member for Environment, Air Quality and Climate Change advised that, with Councillor Brophy’s agreement, he would provide her with a full written response to the question due to the amount of detail that needed to be conveyed and would also be happy to meet to discuss.

As a supplementary question, Councillor Brophy asked if the Executive Member could agree in principle to look at increasing the number of air quality monitors in Trafford. Councillor Adshead indicated that it was certainly something that would be considered by the air quality commission that was being set up. The Executive Member hoped monitoring could be improved and reiterated that he was happy to discuss all the issues with Councillor Brophy.

To consider the following petition requiring debate:

“The Council is requested to improve the crossing outside St. Margaret's Church on Dunham Road in Altrincham.

The A56 is always busy before and after school with a constant flow of traffic and cars rarely stop for pedestrians. There are many pupils at Altrincham Grammar School for Girls and other schools who have to cross and there is nothing to make cars stop to allow people to cross. A safe crossing point would encourage more pupils to walk to school and also benefit people going to and from the church.”

Note: In accordance with the Council’s Petition Scheme, a petition containing more than 500 signatures will be debated by the Council. The petition organiser will be given five minutes to present the petition and then it will be discussed by the Council for a maximum of 15 minutes.

Petition organiser, Eleanor Horner a Year 8 pupil at Altrincham Grammar School for Girls introduced the following petition containing 619 signatures, which had been presented to the Council:

“The Council is requested to improve the crossing outside St. Margaret's Church on Dunham Road in Altrincham. The A56 is always busy before and after school with a constant flow of traffic and cars rarely stop for pedestrians. There are many pupils at Altrincham Grammar School for Girls and other schools who have to cross and there is nothing to make cars stop to allow people to cross. A safe crossing point would encourage more pupils to walk to school and also benefit people going to and from the church.”

Councillors Adshead, Sean Anstee, Brophy and Jerrome responded on behalf of the political parties and the Leader of the Council, Councillor Andrew Western summarised what action the Council planned to take. He thanked Eleanor for undertaking the petition and collecting so many signatures, a number he had not envisaged when she had approached him at the outset and for bringing the issue to Council.

The Leader confirmed that the Council would investigate what could be done to make the crossing point safer and instruct Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) to conduct a traffic survey avoiding the Easter period. Councillor Andrew Western also outlined the costs involved should a crossing at the location be suitable and if it was, the Council would then contact TfGM to undertake the signal design and obtain an understanding of timescales.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director of People, further to a referral from Employment Committee held on 11 March 2019.

The Council considered a report of the Corporate Director of People providing information relating to Trafford’s Pay Policy for 2019/20, in line with the requirements of the Localism Act 2011, which had been recommended for approval by Employment Committee on 11 March 2019 (Minute No. 27 refers).

The recommendations set out in the report were moved and seconded.

It was moved and seconded as an amendment that:

“the recommendations outlined in the report be accepted, subject to the following changes:

·          section 3.2, at the end of the paragraph, insert new sentence (in bold text) so it reads:

      ‘Decisions relating to salary packages for new posts above £100k are subject to full Council approval. In addition, any severance arrangements agreed in line with the relevant policies that exceed £100k are subject to full Council approval.  In the interest of complete clarity and transparency, decisions relating to salary packages for new posts above £100k will be considered in the open part of the meeting, with the appropriate anonymisation where required. Unless there is a ruling and explanation from the Monitoring Officer to the contrary, decisions relating to any severance arrangements agreed in line with the relevant policies that exceed £100k, excluding ill health severances arrangements, will be considered in the open part of the meeting, with appropriate anonymisation where required.

·          section 6.3 at the end of the sentence insert: 

      such approval to be considered in public by full council as outlined in section 3.2.

The amendment was put to the vote and declared carried and consequently the substantive Motion was agreed with the general consent of the Council.

RESOLVED: That the report be noted and that the 2019/20 Pay Policy Statement, as set out in appendix 1 to the report, be approved subject to the following changes:

·          section 3.2, at the end of the paragraph, insert new sentence (in bold text) so it reads:

      ‘Decisions relating to salary packages for new posts above £100k are subject to full Council approval. In addition, any severance arrangements agreed in line with the relevant policies that exceed £100k are subject to full Council approval.  In the interest of complete clarity and transparency, decisions relating to salary packages for new posts above £100k will be considered in the open part of the meeting, with the appropriate anonymisation where required. Unless there is a ruling and explanation from the Monitoring Officer to the contrary, decisions relating to any severance arrangements agreed in line with the relevant policies that exceed £100k, excluding ill health severances arrangements, will be considered in the open part of the meeting, with appropriate anonymisation where required.

·          section 6.3 at the end of the sentence insert: 

such approval to be considered in public by full council as outlined in section 3.2.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director of People, further to a referral from Employment Committee held on 11 March 2019.

The Corporate Director of People submitted a report seeking approval of the new National Joint Council (NJC) for Local Government Services pay structure, as a result of the requirement to implement year 2 (2019-20) of the NJC Pay Agreement. The revised pay structure had been recommended for approval by Employment Committee on 11 March 2019 (Minute No. 28 refers).

RESOLVED:

(1)    That the Council adopts the new grade structure and spinal column points, as set out in Appendix 1 to the report, to be applied across staff employed by the Council on Grades 1 – SM4 with effect from 1 April 2019.

(2)    That the bar for enhanced overtime payments will remain at the top of band 5 new spinal column point 22.

(3)    That the new pay structure be approved as part of the Pay Policy Statement.

To consider a joint report of the Leader and Deputy Leader of the Council, which is expected to be referred from the Executive meeting on 18 March 2019.

The Deputy Leader of the Council and Executive Member for Equalities and Partnerships submitted a report detailing the development of the Corporate Plan and Values for Trafford, which had been referred from the Executive meeting held on 18 March 2019.

The recommendations set out in the report were moved and seconded and following a debate were put to the vote and declared carried.

RESOLVED: That the Corporate Plan and Values for Trafford be approved and that the Corporate Plan form part of the Council’s overarching Policy Framework.

To note a report of the Executive Member for Finance and the Corporate Director of Finance and Systems, further to the Council resolution of 28 November 2018 (Minute No. 56 refers).

Further to Minute No. 56 of the Council meeting held on 28 November 2018, the Executive Member for Finance and the Corporate Director of Finance and Systems submitted a report detailing the levels of investments that the Council and its pension provider had in the fossil fuel industry.

RESOLVED: That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Executive Member for Equalities and Partnerships.

The Executive Member for Equalities and Partnerships submitted a report providing information on Council wide health and safety performance and trends in the workplace accidents. The report also provided a summary of other key developments in health and safety for the period 1 April to 30 September 2018.

The Executive Member advised that she would respond in writing to Councillor Miss Blackburn’s query as to how racial incidents were reported and recorded in the statistics.

RESOLVED: That the report be noted.

This Council recognises growing concern over the continuing crisis of social care.

This Council notes with alarm the continuing issue of social care underfunding that makes it hard for local authorities and provider organisations to ensure decent jobs and quality services.

This Council supports the provisions of UNISON’s Ethical and Residential Care Charters.

This Council intends to sign the Unison Ethical Care Charter and to implement the stages of the charter at the earliest practicable opportunity, recognising that some aspects of the charters will require additional funding and a phased approach.

This Council welcomes the additional short term funding that the government pledged for social care in the 2018 budget but notes that this does not go far enough and does not represent a sustainable solution.

This Council undertakes to work with and encourage those care providers that we currently commission or purchase provision from and to require those care providers that we commission or purchase provision from in future to:-

•   Work towards the implementation of the 3 stages of the Ethical Care Charter in a phased way. Ensuring that we engage with providers as part of this process.

•   Respect the right of care staff to engage with a union in their workplace and do nothing to undermine the reasonable efforts of staff to engage with a union.

•   Pursue a partnership approach to employment relations.  We would expect the provider to engage constructively with the union including a recognition and facilities agreement to underpin collective working.

This Council is committed to an ongoing journey to drive up standards and quality across the homecare and residential care sector. By pledging our support to and signing the Ethical Care Charter we are signing up to the overriding objective of the Charter which is to establish a minimum baseline for safety, quality and dignity in care.

It was moved and seconded that:

“This Council recognises growing concern over the continuing crisis of social care.

This Council notes with alarm the continuing issue of social care underfunding that makes it hard for local authorities and provider organisations to ensure decent jobs and quality services.

This Council supports the provisions of UNISON’s Ethical and Residential Care Charters.

This Council intends to sign the Unison Ethical Care Charter and to implement the stages of the charter at the earliest practicable opportunity, recognising that some aspects of the charters will require additional funding and a phased approach.

This Council welcomes the additional short term funding that the government pledged for social care in the 2018 budget but notes that this does not go far enough and does not represent a sustainable solution.

This Council undertakes to work with and encourage those care providers that we currently commission or purchase provision from and to require those care providers that we commission or purchase provision from in future to:-

•     Work towards the implementation of the 3 stages of the Ethical Care Charter in a phased way. Ensuring that we engage with providers as part of this process.

•     Respect the right of care staff to engage with a union in their workplace and do nothing to undermine the reasonable efforts of staff to engage with a union.

•     Pursue a partnership approach to employment relations.  We would expect the provider to engage constructively with the union including a recognition and facilities agreement to underpin collective working.

This Council is committed to an ongoing journey to drive up standards and quality across the homecare and residential care sector. By pledging our support to and signing the Ethical Care Charter we are signing up to the overriding objective of the Charter which is to establish a minimum baseline for safety, quality and dignity in care.”

Following speeches of support, the Motion was agreed with the unanimous consent of the Council.

RESOLVED: That this Council recognises growing concern over the continuing crisis of social care.

This Council notes with alarm the continuing issue of social care underfunding that makes it hard for local authorities and provider organisations to ensure decent jobs and quality services.

This Council supports the provisions of UNISON’s Ethical and Residential Care Charters.

This Council intends to sign the Unison Ethical Care Charter and to implement the stages of the charter at the earliest practicable opportunity, recognising that some aspects of the charters will require additional funding and a phased approach.

This Council welcomes the additional short term funding that the government pledged for social care in the 2018 budget but notes that this does not go far enough and does not represent a sustainable solution.

This Council undertakes to work with and encourage those care providers that we currently commission or purchase provision from and to require those care providers that we commission or purchase provision from in future to:-

•     Work towards the implementation of the 3  ...  view the full minutes text for item 77.

Last year saw commemorations of the 70^th anniversary of the arrival of the Empire Windrush at Tilbury Docks carrying the first of thousands of people from the Caribbean who went on to make the UK their permanent home. The ‘Windrush Generation’ played a lasting and significant role in rebuilding the UK after two world wars and did so with a sense of loyalty, dedication and commitment. In 2018, after decades of living, working and raising families in this country, a number of those dutiful citizens were confronted with the outrageous, wrongful accusation of being illegal immigrants.

Many Windrush Generation migrants settled and made a life here in Trafford and there are now many generations of Windrush descendants residing here.  For this we are thankful and celebrate the diversity and cultural enrichment they have brought and continue to bring their communities.

The Windrush scandal is not over yet and following this shameful episode in the UK’s history we call upon this Council to undertake the following:

1.  Challenge the criminalisation of Windrush families.

2.  To lobby the government to abolish prejudiced, discriminatory immigration policies which resulted in the 2018 Windrush Scandal.

3.  To support Trafford residents who continue to be affected by these policies and uphold their right to full UK citizenship and leave to remain in the UK.

4.  To lead the way in eradicating hate crime and its attendant ills.

5.   Encourage communities to celebrate Windrush Day on 22 June annually to recognise and uphold the valuable contributions of those who came to the UK between 1948 and 1971.

6.   To ensure the Prime Minister makes good on all the promises to apologise to and compensate those who have been affected by the Windrush Scandal in a timely manner.

It was moved and seconded that:

“Last year saw commemorations of the 70^th anniversary of the arrival of the Empire Windrush at Tilbury Docks carrying the first of thousands of people from the Caribbean who went on to make the UK their permanent home. The ‘Windrush Generation’ played a lasting and significant role in rebuilding the UK after two world wars and did so with a sense of loyalty, dedication and commitment. In 2018, after decades of living, working and raising families in this country, a number of those dutiful citizens were confronted with the outrageous, wrongful accusation of being illegal immigrants.

Many Windrush Generation migrants settled and made a life here in Trafford and there are now many generations of Windrush descendants residing here.  For this we are thankful and celebrate the diversity and cultural enrichment they have brought and continue to bring their communities.

The Windrush scandal is not over yet and following this shameful episode in the UK’s history we call upon this Council to undertake the following:

1.  Challenge the criminalisation of Windrush families.

2.  To lobby the government to abolish prejudiced, discriminatory immigration policies which resulted in the 2018 Windrush Scandal.

3.  To support Trafford residents who continue to be affected by these policies and uphold their right to full UK citizenship and leave to remain in the UK.

4.  To lead the way in eradicating hate crime and its attendant ills.

5.   Encourage communities to celebrate Windrush Day on 22 June annually to recognise and uphold the valuable contributions of those who came to the UK between 1948 and 1971.

6.   To ensure the Prime Minister makes good on all the promises to apologise to and compensate those who have been affected by the Windrush Scandal in a timely manner.”

Following speeches of support, the Motion was agreed with the unanimous consent of the Council.

RESOLVED: That last year saw commemorations of the 70^th anniversary of the arrival of the Empire Windrush at Tilbury Docks carrying the first of thousands of people from the Caribbean who went on to make the UK their permanent home. The ‘Windrush Generation’ played a lasting and significant role in rebuilding the UK after two world wars and did so with a sense of loyalty, dedication and commitment. In 2018, after decades of living, working and raising families in this country, a number of those dutiful citizens were confronted with the outrageous, wrongful accusation of being illegal immigrants.

Many Windrush Generation migrants settled and made a life here in Trafford and there are now many generations of Windrush descendants residing here.  For this we are thankful and celebrate the diversity and cultural enrichment they have brought and continue to bring their communities.

The Windrush scandal is not over yet and following this shameful episode in the UK’s history we call upon this Council to undertake the following:

1.  Challenge the criminalisation of Windrush families.

2.  To lobby the government to abolish prejudiced, discriminatory immigration policies  ...  view the full minutes text for item 78.

This Council notes:

There has been a 60% increase in the use of pesticides such as glyphosate in the UK since 1990 [1]. Italy, Portugal and the Canadian city of Vancouver have all banned use of glyphosate [or glyphosate based weed killers] and France is working towards this. Mosanto and German owner Bayer face 9,000 lawsuits in the US from those that believe their illnesses are caused by their products, the first plaintiff won unanimously with many more to follow [2]. That recent studies published in ScienceDirect show a 41% increased risk of Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma caused by exposure from glyphosate-based weed killers and products [3].

This Council believes:

·     There is compelling evidence these glyphosate and a wide range of other herbicides and pesticides may be harmful to human health

·     The use of pesticides and weed killers reduces biodiversity, impacting negatively on insects, birds and bees, in a time when the world is losing 2.5% of its insect population per-year [4].

·     Harmful weed killer residues can creep into the food chain.

·     Pets and children should not be playing in parks treated with such chemicals.

This Council resolves to:

·     Phase out the use of all pesticides and weed killers on council land.

·     Cut out all use of glyphosate based treatments in all council operations in one year.

·     Trial pesticide-free alternatives during this period. Particularly those adopted by the likes of Hammersmith and Fulham and Lewes Councils who use biodegradable foam or hot steam treatments on weeds. To be decided by Executive.

·     Grant an exception to the above ban regarding the control of Japanese knotweed, or other invasive species, where there are currently no effective mechanical techniques available. However, in this case chemicals such as glyphosate will only be stem-injected, rather than sprayed, to reduce its spread in the environment.

·     Grant an exception on sprays only in relation to Giant Hogweed where it’s not safe to be dug out or safely removed by other means.

·     Write to the prime minister to inform the government of this Council’s opposition to glyphosate-based pesticides and to call for a UK-wide programme to phase out use

1. http://www.pan-uk.org/pesticides-agriculture-uk/

2. https://www.theguardian.com/science/2018/oct/07/monsanto-trial-cancer-appeal-glyphosate-chemical

3. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1383574218300887

4. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/feb/10/plummeting-insect-numbers-threaten-

It was moved and seconded that:

“This Council notes:

There has been a 60% increase in the use of pesticides such as glyphosate in the UK since 1990 [1]. Italy, Portugal and the Canadian city of Vancouver have all banned use of glyphosate [or glyphosate based weed killers] and France is working towards this. Mosanto and German owner Bayer face 9,000 lawsuits in the US from those that believe their illnesses are caused by their products, the first plaintiff won unanimously with many more to follow [2]. That recent studies published in ScienceDirect show a 41% increased risk of Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma caused by exposure from glyphosate-based weed killers and products [3].

This Council believes:

·          There is compelling evidence these glyphosate and a wide range of other herbicides and pesticides may be harmful to human health

·          The use of pesticides and weed killers reduces biodiversity, impacting negatively on insects, birds and bees, in a time when the world is losing 2.5% of its insect population per-year [4].

·          Harmful weed killer residues can creep into the food chain.

·          Pets and children should not be playing in parks treated with such chemicals.

This Council resolves to:

·          Phase out the use of all pesticides and weed killers on council land.

·          Cut out all use of glyphosate based treatments in all council operations in one year.

·          Trial pesticide-free alternatives during this period. Particularly those adopted by the likes of Hammersmith and Fulham and Lewes Councils who use biodegradable foam or hot steam treatments on weeds. To be decided by Executive.

·          Grant an exception to the above ban regarding the control of Japanese knotweed, or other invasive species, where there are currently no effective mechanical techniques available. However, in this case chemicals such as glyphosate will only be stem-injected, rather than sprayed, to reduce its spread in the environment.

·          Grant an exception on sprays only in relation to Giant Hogweed where it’s not safe to be dug out or safely removed by other means.

·          Write to the prime minister to inform the government of this Council’s opposition to glyphosate-based pesticides and to call for a UK-wide programme to phase out use.”

Following speeches of support, the Motion was agreed with the unanimous consent of the Council.

RESOLVED: That this Council notes:

There has been a 60% increase in the use of pesticides such as glyphosate in the UK since 1990 [1]. Italy, Portugal and the Canadian city of Vancouver have all banned use of glyphosate [or glyphosate based weed killers] and France is working towards this. Mosanto and German owner Bayer face 9,000 lawsuits in the US from those that believe their illnesses are caused by their products, the first plaintiff won unanimously with many more to follow [2]. That recent studies published in ScienceDirect show a 41% increased risk of Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma caused by exposure from glyphosate-based weed killers and products [3].

This Council believes:

·          There is compelling evidence these glyphosate and a wide range of other  ...  view the full minutes text for item 79.

This Council notes recent community concern about crime and disorder in Trafford. In particular concerns surrounding burglary and car theft, as well as crime and disorder involving young people, have been highlighted.

Council recognises the importance of strong public services in tackling and reducing crime. Cuts to children’s centres, youth services, social services, mental health services and support for community and voluntary groups are just some examples of the ongoing impact of austerity and indicative of the scale of services impacted since 2010. It is the view of this Council that cuts to such services have a significant detrimental effect on crime and public safety. Given such cuts to preventative and community services, Council also believes that national cuts to police budgets have been short-sighted and that the safety of residents is being placed at risk as a result.

This Council therefore calls for urgent investment at a national level to replace the 2000 police officers lost in Greater Manchester since 2010. The efforts of the Mayor of Greater Manchester to recruit additional police officers are welcomed, but are only required because of the shameful decision of the Government to pass on the burden of policing costs to local residents. Council further calls for the Prime Minister to make good on her promise that austerity has ended by adequately resourcing public services and local authorities in order to strengthen and safeguard communities and as a means of preventing crime and disorder. Only with a full suite of effective and well-resourced preventative and community services, and a properly funded and equipped police force, can we make our communities safer.

(Note: Prior to consideration of this item, the time being 8.56 p.m., the Mayor indicated that the mover and seconder of the Motion and amendment would have a maximum of 2 minutes each and that all other speeches would be limited to a maximum of one minute per speaker.)

It was moved and seconded that:

“This Council notes recent community concern about crime and disorder in Trafford. In particular concerns surrounding burglary and car theft, as well as crime and disorder involving young people, have been highlighted.

Council recognises the importance of strong public services in tackling and reducing crime. Cuts to children’s centres, youth services, social services, mental health services and support for community and voluntary groups are just some examples of the on-going impact of austerity and indicative of the scale of services impacted since 2010. It is the view of this Council that cuts to such services have a significant detrimental effect on crime and public safety. Given such cuts to preventative and community services, Council also believes that national cuts to police budgets have been short-sighted and that the safety of residents is being placed at risk as a result.

This Council therefore calls for urgent investment at a national level to replace the 2000 police officers lost in Greater Manchester since 2010. The efforts of the Mayor of Greater Manchester to recruit additional police officers are welcomed, but are only required because of the shameful decision of the Government to pass on the burden of policing costs to local residents. Council further calls for the Prime Minister to make good on her promise that austerity has ended by adequately resourcing public services and local authorities in order to strengthen and safeguard communities and as a means of preventing crime and disorder. Only with a full suite of effective and well-resourced preventative and community services, and a properly funded and equipped police force, can we make our communities safer.”

It was moved and seconded as an amendment that:

“This Council notes recent community concern about crime and disorder in Trafford. In particular, concerns surrounding burglary and car theft, as well as crime and disorder involving young people, have regrettably been highlighted.

Council notes that Trafford remains the safest place to live in Greater Manchester and restates its commitment of this continuing to be the case.

Council also notes that policing in Greater Manchester is the sole responsibility of the Mayor of Greater Manchester, who chooses to discharge those responsibilities through the Deputy Mayor of Greater Manchester, acting as the Police and Crime Commissioner.

Council recognises the importance of strong public services, including preventative services, and a strong economy with good employment opportunities, as being key to tackling and reducing crime.

Council considers that reductions to services will have had impact on crime and public safety, and further notes that the very foundation of strong public services requires a strong national economy to enable investment further in them, the alternative being the complete decimation of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 80.

This Council notes with interest the comments of the Housing Minister in relation to assessed housing need which casts further considerable doubt on the integrity of the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework (GMSF). The Minister has confirmed the Government’s policy position that it is for local areas to determine, and make the justification for any deviation from assessed housing need in a local area.

This follows a protracted two year delay to revise the document primarily, for partisan political purposes, the outcome of which is still vague assurances over infrastructure, which in many respects lack credibility and therefore confidence of the public, and still contains the release of significant amounts of green belt. 

Council is concerned that Trafford is releasing more green belt land, as a percentage of its proposed allocations to meet need than any other borough in Greater Manchester, and is doing so whilst this uncertainty exists.

Given these factors, and until a satisfactory resolution is found, the Council cannot support the GMSF in its present form and instructs the Leader of the Council to:

-     confirm as such to the Mayor of Greater Manchester;

-     confirm that unless these factors can be overcome, that the Council wishes to pursue its own local plan outside of the GMSF, but that the Council wishes to see a satisfactory conclusion and is willing to work cross party to achieve as such and therefore;

-     will establish a Scrutiny Task and Finish Group with the sole intention of securing cross party support for housing proposals in Trafford alongside securing definitive transporting social infrastructure commitments from relevant bodies.

(Note: Prior to consideration of this item, the time being 9.15 p.m., the Mayor indicated that the mover and seconder of the Motion and amendment would have a maximum of 2 minutes each and that all other speeches would be limited to a maximum of 30 seconds per speaker.)

It was moved and seconded that:

“This Council notes with interest the comments of the Housing Minister in relation to assessed housing need which casts further considerable doubt on the integrity of the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework (GMSF). The Minister has confirmed the Government’s policy position that it is for local areas to determine, and make the justification for any deviation from assessed housing need in a local area.

This follows a protracted two year delay to revise the document primarily, for partisan political purposes, the outcome of which is still vague assurances over infrastructure, which in many respects lack credibility as therefore confidence of the public, and still contains the release of significant amounts of green belt. 

Council is concerned that Trafford is releasing more green belt land, as a percentage of its proposed allocations to meet need than any other borough in Greater Manchester, and is doing so whilst this uncertainty exists.

Given these factors, and until a satisfactory resolution is found, the Council cannot support the GMSF in its present form and instructs the Leader of the Council to:

-     confirm as such to the Mayor of Greater Manchester;

-     confirm that unless these factors can be overcome, that the Council wishes to pursue its own local plan outside of the GMSF, but that the Council wishes to see a satisfactory conclusion and is willing to work cross party to achieve as such and therefore;

-     will establish a Scrutiny Task and Finish Group with the sole intention of securing cross party support for housing proposals in Trafford alongside securing definitive transporting social infrastructure commitments from relevant bodies.”

It was moved and seconded as an amendment that:

“This Council notes the contrasting statements from National Government and GM in relation to assessed housing need in the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework (GMSF).

The Council also notes the many delays in revising the document, which still contains the release of significant amounts of green belt.  Council recognises that the revised GMSF reduces the number of units on the greenbelt. However, Council is concerned that Trafford is still losing large areas of green belt land.

Council notes that in November 2018’s Climate Emergency motion, all parties agreed that the impacts of climate change, are so severe that governments at all levels must work together and make this their top priority. In the same decision, Council also committed to seek advice from experts to develop a carbon budget and set a challenging target date for carbon neutrality in Trafford.

This commitment to meeting our climate change responsibilities means that:

(i)  We must do what we can to protect all our greenspaces, in particular greenbelt land such as that at Timperley  ...  view the full minutes text for item 81.