My report to Council

Posted By: Alan Taylor
Date Posted: 23/07/2009

REPORT OF THE LEADER OF THE COUNCIL TO THE MEETING OF THE COUNCIL ON WEDNESDAY, 22 JULY 2009

Thank you Mr Mayor for the opportunity to report to the Council the latest developments on various matters relating to the Leader of the Council.

This is the third year the Borough have had a Liberal Democrat Leader of the Council with a Liberal Democrat majority on the Council. My Cabinet colleagues will highlight issues relating to their own portfolios, but everything will still be guided by a strong commitment to the fundamental change of attitude and approach by our Council, to put the customer first.

We are launching a new Efficiency Programme which is part of Stepping Up. It will save £100 Million over 5 years. This is not optional, the money has to be saved. This is in response to the national financial picture, and some local pressures. All Councils and other public sector organisations are in a similar position. It is generally agreed, that whoever wins the next General Election, will be faced with cutting public expenditure as a result of the present financial crisis. It also seems agreed that Local Government will face a major share of those cut backs.

We plan to look at every area of the Council to understand what each function does, to see if there are better and more efficient ways of doing things – either by joining things up, by looking at different ways of working, and/or by reducing overheads, including management costs. In some cases, we might need to ask whether we really need to carry out an activity at all. Our customers are central to this process. By taking a managed approach, we hope to be able to minimise impact on service delivery. We will be looking at new and different ways of doing things, bringing common functions together. There will be a slimming down of management costs, this will mean fewer Heads of Service and Executive Directors. We will do everything possible to minimise redundancies, although we cannot guarantee that there will not be job losses as a result of the programme. The programme runs from now until the end of March, 2015 and the reviews start in the next few weeks, with the first decisions on the programme expected in late August/September.

The East Lancs Railway is one of the North West’s top ten tourist attractions and carried over 107,000 visitors last year. The Council have recently been involved in a study into the tourism potential of the line, with the objective of doubling visitor numbers. The railway offers potential for tourism, for local employment development, and regeneration, and will be a priority for action over the near future. It has also been identified as part of the possible investment from the Greater Manchester Transport Fund programme, where we are exploring the potential for using the line as a commuter route into Manchester. The Junction 19 link road scheme has also been identified in the £30 Million investment for Middleton and Heywood in the Greater Manchester Transport Fund programme. As part of the emerging Transport Strategy for the Borough, this scheme will not only create opportunities for jobs within Heywood, but will meet Members’ aspirations of removing through movements of HGVs from the town centre in future calming projects.

Middleton Market also continues to grow and has just formally recruited, from local people, a new Markets Manager, and the staff to set up and deconstruct the market on each day of its operation. The range of produce has increased and there is now a waiting list of traders who wish to rent a stall. The market has reached capacity so more stalls have had to be purchased.

Planning is still progressing on the initiative to develop a Joint Service Centre in Middleton, between the Council and Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale PCT. At each stage so far it has gained Government approval, although it is likely to be at least two years before building work can start.

Earlier in the year we brought together a small team of Council Officers from different Departments, to bring forward suggestions about how the Council could help local people and businesses with the problems of the Credit Crunch. This team now reports to Members of the Cabinet fortnightly. They are tracking Government funding proposals, the effect on our town centres, the effect on local businesses and the chances of employment. The team has been successful in bringing together all Council Departments and Partners.
Discussions have commenced on the relocation of the market from the Exchange Centre. This would enable the remodelling of the Exchange to provide new retail units to meet modern requirements. The bottom of Yorkshire Street and The Butts are being considered as possible locations for the market.

There is still substantial activity under way in support of Rochdale Town Centre. The Town Centre East scheme is now being marketed and we remain optimistic that there will be substantial developer interest. The new Municipal Offices scheme is progressing with the appointment of the architect and other professionals will be appointed soon. Funding for the new Bus Interchange is approved, and a planning application for the scheme is expected shortly. Work has started on the enabling works for Metrolink 3A, which will convert the Oldham Loop Line into a new tram link, leading to Rochdale Station.

I have also asked Rochdale Development Agency to look again at possible Park and Ride sites on the Heavy Rail line from Littleborough, Smithy Bridge, Rochdale, Castleton and Mills Hill stations, and also on the Metrolink line at Kingsway, Milnrow and Newhey.

The best news we have received is the investment from the Greater Manchester Transport Fund programme. Apart from the improvements in Heywood, we have got the funding to bring Metrolink from Rochdale station right into Rochdale Town Centre. This will bring, as well as all its other benefits, the revitalisation of the Town Centre and of Drake Street. Everyone involved in looking at the regeneration of Rochdale Town Centre, and bringing more prosperity to our town have always identified the Metrolink extension as a major key to success. May I thank everyone who has helped to bring this investment to our town.

Councillor Alan Taylor
Leader of the Council