Pennines Township Committee meeting as it happened

Presentation of the flood risk management strategy.

The strategy highlights flood risks throughout the borough and how they will be addressed.

The strategy hopes to raise greater awareness of flooding in the borough as well as increasing preparedness.

Public consultation regarding the strategy is taking place in libraries and online between 28/10/13 and 29/11/13.

Presentation regarding housing benefit update.

The DWP receives up to 3,000 reports of changes to circumstances regarding housing benefit a week.

Open Forum – half an hour is set aside for public questions and concerns.

The committee and the public go back and forth regarding the issue of a public meeting regarding planning applications for 170 houses on the former Akzo Nobel site in Littleborough.

The public want to hold a public meeting regarding the issue but one has not yet been set up, even though the committee agreed to one at the last meeting.

Councillor Allen Brett said he would not attend a meeting and the applicants would also not be attending.

Committee agree that a public meeting can take place.

Committee agreed to the appointing of school governors.

Committee agree to the recommendations made regarding the proposal of the Littleborough Neighbourhood Forum.

Results of the Heritage at Risk Survey and Strategy are likely to be available when work is completed. This looks to be by summer 2014.

The revenue budgets for 2014/15 and 2016/17 are agreed by the committee. It was revealed that by accepting the council tax freeze grant, the increased budget gap would be £65m.

Both Councillor Brett and Dearnley support the council tax freeze grant.

An update of  Highways investment is given.

Councillor Clegg comments that residents have commented on the quality of work undertaken by Highways is not up to quality.

The committee agree to the discretionary fees and charges set out for 2014-2015.

Meeting ended.