​Crucial vote on GMSF to be deferred in Bury

Bury Council will defer the crucial vote on the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework to give more time for the plan to be finalised.

The framework, which is a region-wide plan for jobs, homes and the environment, was due to go to tonight’s (Wednesday 25 Nov) full council meeting.

All 10 councils in Greater Manchester have to approve the plan before it goes forward for public consultation and sent to the Government for consideration. However, Stockport Council voted to defer the item for further work to be done on proposals affecting the local area.

Councillor Eamonn O’Brien, leader of Bury Council, said: “We have been watching the discussions in Stockport closely and it is clear, as things stand right now, that the GMSF would not be approved by their full council meeting.

"If Stockport votes against, the GMSF cannot go forward to consultation. In that case any decisions taken by Bury to proceed with the GMSF would be impacted by Stockport's decision. So the only sensible thing to do at this stage is to pause Bury's decision-making on the GMSF. For that reason we will propose deferring this item at the full council meeting tonight, and we have agreed that the overview and scrutiny committee meeting planned on this subject for next week should not proceed.

"We remain committed to the GMSF as the right plan for Bury and for Greater Manchester. That is the only way we will be able to plan for jobs and housing to be developed in the right way for Bury and to avoid a developer free-for-all. We will continue to work to refine the GMSF and make it as good as it can be, working together with the other nine councils and the Mayor."

ENDS

Press release issued: 25 November 2020.