Heywood Township Committee Meeting as it happened

The agenda includes disabled parking bays and Bullough Moor play area.

The welfare reform update is up first.

The report provides updates and changes that have occurred over the past year.

Updates include the discretionary crisis fund and the new council tax support scheme.

The report states that the Bedroom Tax affected 2,805 homes in Heywood.

As of September, 128 houses were on the list to be moved with 10-15 occupants being moved every month.

There have been 901 applications for Discretionary Housing Payments.

There have been 1,800 applications for the Discretionary Crisis Fund since April.

The Open Forum is next - 30 minutes is set aside for public questions.

Father Paul Daly talks about volunteering and states that the opportunity for local people to get involved has gone.

Father Daly suggests that Rochdale Council should be renamed to Rochdale, Heywood, Middleton Borough Council.

Councillor Lambert says that the Heywood Township is accountable for Heywood and that is where the debate should take place.

Members of the public are saying that councillors, apart from Peter Rush, haven’t shown support for Heywood.

A heated debate between the public and takes place.

Councillor Lambert states that we need to set structures for the future.

The open forum then discusses issues surrounding historical boundaries in Heywood, the police appointment system and loading bays in Morrison's.

The Revenue Budget for 2014/15 is next.

A funding gap of £62.5 million has decreased to just over £55 million.

The capital programme for 2014/15 to 2016/16 is up next.

The programme has been described as going through a robust process.

The revenue programme shows savings of £24,000 in 2015/16.

Disabled persons parking bay criteria is next for councillors to give their comments.

Councillor Beswick says that a criteria needs to be set out that is right.

Councillor O’Rourke supports Councillor Beswick’s suggestions.

Meeting ended.