A MASTERPLAN to map out the next decade for Bury is still being pursued - despite the recovery from coronavirus potentially eating into its effect.

Plans for Bury 2030 - included in the Labour-run authority's budget for 2020-21 - are still going ahead, according to town hall chiefs.

And a sum of just over £84,000 has been signed off to turn the concept into reality has been signed off by the council's deputy chief executive, Lynne Risedale, in consultation with Cllr Eamonn O'Brien, the council's leader.

London-based strategists Mutual Ventures has been recruited to lead the work, after a tendering exercise. Their work will be funded from the council's general reserves.

In the decision notice, it says: "Prior to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, Bury was on track to deliver significant transformational change to make a positive difference to the people and places within our borough, with work taking place with partners to develop a new strategy for the next 10 years of Bury’s future - Bury 2030.

"This work will now be a single and fully inclusive process linked to our recovery plan for Covid-19. The council is now leading a process of recovery from Covid-19. This will take many months, if not years, but the actions we take are an opportunity to restart the collective work on Bury 2030."

Council officials say the South Bank headquartered outfit will stage a "number of engagement sessions with partners" and consider a range of ideas for public service reforms.