The Leader of the Council moved a motion without notice to change the order of the Council business (Council Procedure Rule 19.1(e)), to withdraw from the summons Item 11 - Waiver of six-month Councillor attendance rule (Section 85 Local Government Act 1972).

The motion was seconded by Councillor Karney.

Resolution

The motion was put to Council and voted on, and the Lord Mayor declared that it was carried.

Decision

That the order of business be changed to withdraw from the summons Item 11 - Waiver of six-month Councillor attendance rule (Section 85 Local Government Act 1972).

The Queen’s New Year’s Honours List 2022

The Lord Mayor informed the Council that he had written to the following people,who are either Mancunians or live or work in the city, to recognize and congratulate them on the honour they have received, as stated in the New Year’s Honours list:

·         Laura Rebecca Kenny - Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire

·         Jason Francis Kenny - Knights Bachelor

·         Jody Alan Cundy – Commander of the Most Excellent order of the British Empire

·         Professor Malcolm Colin Press - Commander of the Most Excellent order of the    British Empire

·         Shabir Fazal - Officer of the Most Excellent order of the British Empire

·         Figen Murray - Officer of the Most Excellent order of the British Empire

·         Sharman Birtles - Member of the Most Excellent order of the British Empire

·         Bernadette Conlon - Member of the Most Excellent order of the British Empire

·         Michael Norman Gwynne Evans - Member of the Most Excellent order of the British Empire

·         Helena Grzesk - Member of the Most Excellent order of the British Empire

·         Cherylee Houston - Member of the Most Excellent order of the British Empire

·         Cornel Grant – British Empire Medal

·         Sergeant Damieon Hartley-Pickles – British Empire Medal

The Lord Mayor reported the resignations of former Councillor and Leader of the Council Sir Richard Leese and former Councillor Marcia Hutchinson.

The Lord Mayor agreed to the submission of the minutes of the Constitutional and Nomination Committee that had taken place prior to the meeting of Council.

To submit for approval the minutes of the meeting held on 1 December 2021.

Decision

The Minutes of the meeting held on 1 December 2021 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Lord Mayor.

This Council believes that everyone has the right to a safe and secure home. After two years of lockdowns and Covid restrictions, it is more important than ever that people are able to access appropriate housing, to enjoy being in their homes and that our communities are not blighted by the impact of rogue landlords.

Under the current housing crisis caused by 12 years of Conservative and Liberal Democrat cuts, Manchester residents are having to become more reliant on private rented landlords to meet their housing needs.

The latest estimates from Council Tax suggest that 38% of Manchester households live in the private rented sector, which equates to around 90,000 homes.

Unfortunately, thousands of renters across the city continue to live in unsafe or substandard accommodation. In addition to this, many welfare recipients are illegally discriminated against when trying to secure accommodation in the private rented sector and often have limited means to challenge this discrimination. It is clear that greater action is needed to tackle rogue landlords and agents who do not manage their properties properly.

Under Labour leadership, the Council has made great efforts to ensure that Mancunians have access to good quality and affordable housing.

In Manchester, we have programmes of both HMO mandatory licensing across the city and targeted selective licensing in North, East and Central Manchester. Both programmes give us the opportunity and scope to take action against landlords to deliver the safe and secure housing that our residents deserve.

The Council also welcomes commitments by the Greater Manchester Mayor to introduce a Greater Manchester Good Landlord Charter to drive up standards in the private rented sector.

This Council notes that:

·                Strengthening the landlord licensing scheme would benefit all our mixed residential communities across the city, not just those living in private rented housing.

·                The Conservative Government since 2010 have taken little action to regulate private landlords and improve conditions for private rented tenants.

·                The landlord licensing scheme has so far had a positive impact and has led to landlord prosecutions and over £1.05 million in fines being served on landlords in recent years.

This Council resolves:

·                To broaden the scope of the licensing scheme by identifying further areas for inclusion and rolling out the scheme as quickly as possible, particularly in areas of greater deprivation.

·                To include anti-discrimination clauses in all future licensing requirements which would prevent landlords from discriminating against tenants on the basis of a protected characteristic or those in receipt of benefits.

·                To review the license requirement for refuse checks and strengthen this if it is found that it could be more effective. Particularly this review should consider the prevention of waste issues including bins being left on public footpaths and landlords and agents properly dealing with waste issues in front gardens.

·                To ensure that council officers are making use of all legal and enforcement powers that are at our disposal to take the strongest and swiftest action against landlords who are in breach of their license.

·                To investigate the inclusion  ...  view the full agenda text for item 6.

This Council believes that everyone has the right to a safe and secure home. After two years of lockdowns and Covid restrictions, it is more important than ever that people are able to access appropriate housing, to enjoy being in their homes and

that our communities are not blighted by the impact of rogue landlords. Under the current housing crisis caused by 12 years of Conservative and Liberal Democrat cuts, Manchester residents are having to become more reliant on private rented landlords to meet their housing needs.

The latest estimates from Council Tax suggest that 38% of Manchester households live in the private rented sector, which equates to around 90,000 homes.

Unfortunately, thousands of renters across the city continue to live in unsafe or substandard accommodation. In addition to this, many welfare recipients are illegally discriminated against when trying to secure accommodation in the private rented sector and often have limited means to challenge this discrimination. It is clear that greater action is needed to tackle rogue landlords and agents who do not manage their properties properly.

Under Labour leadership, the Council has made great efforts to ensure that Mancunians have access to good quality and affordable housing.

In Manchester, we have programmes of both HMO mandatory licensing across the city and targeted selective licensing in North, East and Central Manchester. Both programmes give us the opportunity and scope to take action against landlords to deliver the safe and secure housing that our residents deserve.

The Council also welcomes commitments by the Greater Manchester Mayor to introduce a Greater Manchester Good Landlord Charter to drive up standards in the private rented sector.

This Council notes that:

• Strengthening the landlord licensing scheme would benefit all our mixed residential communities across the city, not just those living in private rented housing.
• The Conservative Government since 2010 have taken little action to regulate private landlords and improve conditions for private rented tenants.
• The landlord licensing scheme has so far had a positive impact and has led to landlord prosecutions and over £1.05 million in fines being served on landlords in recent years.

This Council resolves:

• To broaden the scope of the licensing scheme by identifying further areas for inclusion and rolling out the scheme as quickly as possible, particularly in areas of greater deprivation.
• To include anti-discrimination clauses in all future licensing requirements which would prevent landlords from discriminating against tenants on the basis of a protected characteristic or those in receipt of benefits.
• To review the license requirement for refuse checks and strengthen this if it is found that it could be more effective. Particularly this review should consider the prevention of Council waste issues including bins being left on public footpaths and landlords and agents properly dealing with waste issues in front gardens.
• To ensure that council officers are making use of all legal and enforcement powers that are at our disposal to take the strongest and swiftest action against landlords who are in breach of their license.
• To investigate the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

Manchester is a city that firmly believes in equality of opportunity. We believe that trans women are women, trans men are men and non-binary individuals are non-binary. We know that our differences within our communities can make our city stronger and that shapes the vision of our city. 

This Council notes:

·                The rise in reports of violent attacks and hate crime against LGBTQ+ people, with hate crime against trans people having quadrupled in the last 5 years.

·                The Tory Government has fallen far short of its promise to reform the GDA (Gender Recognition Act), despite the consultation yielding overwhelming support for change, the results mean the process will not be de-medicalised, the spousal veto will remain, and legal recognition for non-binary individuals will not be extended.

·                Trans people are more likely to take their own life, with one in four young trans people attempting to take their own life.

·                Manchester has a strong history of being at the forefront of the fight for LGBTQ+ equality, with serving Councillors leading the historic Section 28 Protests.

·                That Manchester Labour boasts one of the largest groups of LGBTQ+ Councillors in the country, who stand up for our community daily.

·                Manchester City Council has a proud and recognised history of working to achieve equality of opportunity both within the Town Hall, across the city, and the world, whilst supporting groups and organisations to deliver essential services, projects and events. 

·                That research commissioned by Stonewall and conducted by YouGov in 2018 found that:

                 i.             When accessing general healthcare services in the last year, two in five trans people (41%) said healthcare staff lacked understanding of trans health needs.

               ii.             Three in five (62%) of trans people who have undergone, or are currently undergoing, medical intervention for their transition are unsatisfied with the time it took to get an appointment.

              iii.             One in four (24%) of trans people fear discrimination from a healthcare provider.

              iv.             7% of trans people were refused access to healthcare because they were LGBTQ+.

·                That Manchester’s Labour Council has undertaken the following recent work to support for the LGBTQ+ community:

                 i.             Announcing the UK’s first purpose-built majority LGBT+ Extra Care housing facility in Manchester.

               ii.             Financial support to LGBTQIA+ groups through Neighbourhood Investment Funds.

              iii.             Conduct a Gay Village Review in order to establish a community-built vision for the area.

·                The amazing work that has been done is no reason to stop and the Council can continue to challenge itself and others to be better in supporting LGBTQ+ community.

This Council therefore resolves to:

1.            Affirm trans men are men, trans women are women, non-binary people are non-binary and trans rights are human rights.

2.            Facilitate and strongly encourage all councillors to attend relevant training to learn of the challenges faced by trans people.

3.            Write to the Secretary of State for Health and Adult Social Care to call for the government to:

·           Provide the funding and resources necessary to increase the capacity of and improve access to trans and non-binary healthcare,  ...  view the full agenda text for item 7.

Manchester is a city that firmly believes in equality of opportunity. We believe that trans women are women, trans men are men and non-binary individuals are non-binary. We know that our differences within our communities can make our city stronger and that shapes the vision of our city.

This Council notes:

· The rise in reports of violent attacks and hate crime against LGBTQ+ people, with hate crime against trans people having quadrupled in the last 5 years.

· The Tory Government has fallen far short of its promise to reform the GDA (Gender Recognition Act), despite the consultation yielding overwhelming support for change, the results mean the process will not be de-medicalised, the spousal veto will remain, and legal recognition for non-binary individuals will not be extended.

· Trans people are more likely to take their own life, with one in four young trans people attempting to take their own life.

· Manchester has a strong history of being at the forefront of the fight for LGBTQ+ equality, with serving Councillors leading the historic Section 28 Protests.

· That Manchester Labour boasts one of the largest groups of LGBTQ+ Councillors in the country, who stand up for our community daily.

· Manchester City Council has a proud and recognised history of working to achieve equality of opportunity both within the Town Hall, across the city, and the world, whilst supporting groups and organisations to deliver essential services, projects and events.

· That research commissioned by Stonewall and conducted Council by YouGov in 2018 found that:

i. When accessing general healthcare services in the last year, two in five trans people (41%) said healthcare staff lacked understanding of trans health needs.

ii. Three in five (62%) of trans people who have undergone, or are currently undergoing, medical intervention for their transition are unsatisfied with the time it took to get an appointment.

iii. One in four (24%) of trans people fear discrimination from a healthcare provider. iv. 7% of trans people were refused access to healthcare because they were LGBTQ+.

· That Manchester’s Labour Council has undertaken the following recent work to support for the LGBTQ+ community:

i.Announcing the UK’s first purpose-built majority LGBT+ Extra Care housing facility in Manchester.

ii. Financial support to LGBTQIA+ groups through Neighbourhood Investment Funds.

iii. Conduct a Gay Village Review in order to establish a community-built vision for the area.

· The amazing work that has been done is no reason to stop and the Council can continue to challenge itself and others to be better in supporting LGBTQ+ community.

This Council therefore resolves to:

1. Affirm trans men are men, trans women are women, non-binary people are non-binary and trans rights are human rights.

2. Facilitate and strongly encourage all councillors to attend relevant training to learn of the challenges faced by trans people.

3. Write to the Secretary of State for Health and Adult Social Care to call for the government to:

· Provide the funding and resources necessary to increase the capacity of and improve access to trans and non-binary healthcare,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

The Executive Leader to report on her appointment of the Deputy Leader(s) and Executive Members, including their portfolios.

The Leader of the Council submitted a report to advise the Council of the appointment of Executive Members and their portfolios. In accordance with Articles 7.4(a) and 7.5(a) of the Constitution, the appointment of the Deputy Leader and Executive Members takes effect on receipt of the Leader’s written notice by both the person who the Leader is appointing as Deputy Leader and as Executive Member(s) and the Monitoring Officer.

The Monitoring Officer maintains a written record of the appointment of the Deputy Leader and Executive Member(s). The Leader is required to report these appointments, including their portfolio, to Council and the Executive at the earliest opportunity.

The Executive Members and their portfolio are as follows:

Decision

The Council noted the appointment of the Deputy Leader(s) and Executive Member(s).

To submit the minutes of the Executive on 15 December 2021 and 19 January 2022 and in particular to consider:

Recommend that the Council approve the following changes to Manchester City Council’s capital programme:

·                     Neighbourhoods – Beswick Hub RFL. A capital budget increase of £2.577m is requested, funded by Waterfall Fund.

·                     ICT – EYEs Phase 2. A capital budget decrease of £1.352m is requested funded from borrowing along with a corresponding revenue budget increase of £1.352m funded from Capital Fund.

The proceedings of the Executive on 15 December 2021 and 19 January 2022 were submitted.

The Council was asked to give particular consideration to the following recommendations:

Exe/22/05       Capital Programme Update Report

· Neighbourhoods – Beswick Hub RFL. A capital budget increase of £2.577m is requested, funded by Waterfall Fund.

· ICT – EYEs Phase 2. A capital budget decrease of £1.352m is requested funded from borrowing along with a corresponding revenue budget increase of £1.352m funded from Capital Fund.

Members of the Council also spoke in recognition of the personal sacrifices and difficult circumstances of Manchester residents regarding family members and friends during the observation of covid 19 rules and restrictions. The restrictions have impacted greatly on the lives of people by preventing them from spending precious time with loved ones because they believed they were doing the right thing to protect the vulnerable and to keep each other safe by restricting the spread of the virus. Reference was made to the ongoing investigation by the Metropolitan Police regarding the breaking of covid rules while the rest of the country had observed them.

Decisions

1.    To receive the minutes of the Executive held on 15 December 2021 and 20 January 2022.

2.    Approve the following change to Manchester City Council’s capital programme: Neighbourhoods – Beswick Hub RFL. A capital budget increase of £2.577m, to be funded by Waterfall Fund.

3.    Approve the following change to Manchester City Council’s capital

programme: ICT - EYEs Phase 2. A capital budget decrease of £1.352m to be funded from borrowing along with a corresponding revenue budget increase of £1.352m funded from Capital Fund.

To receive answers to any questions that councillors have raised in accordance with Procedural Rule 23.

Councillor Rawlins responded to a question from Councillor Leech regarding the proposed removal of a speed awareness sign from the proposed Dene Road safety scheme.

Councillor Rawlins responded to a question from Councillor Stanton regarding the installation and activation of speed sign on Dene Road.

Councillor Rahman responded to a question from Councillor Igbon regarding council support for small voluntary sector groups to help them remain sustainable, following the impact of the covid pandemic.

Councillor White responded to a question from Councillor Nunney regarding the Green Homes Grant Local Authority Delivery scheme and the amount of funding Manchester had received from the £52.8m allocated to the North West region.

Councillor Rawlins responded to a question from Councillor Nunney regarding the Council’s response to the Manchester Climate Change Assembly mandate.

Councillor White responded to a question from Councillor Stanton regarding the Council’s plans for affordable housing in Didsbury.

Councillor Rawlins responded to a question from Councillor Leech regarding on the Biffa Cleansing Contract.

Councillor Rawlins responded to a question from Councillor Leech regarding safety works to the building next to Didsbury Cenotaph.

Councillor White responded to a question from Councillor Leech regarding government funding to transform derelict brownfield sites into housing and disused brownfield sites in Manchester.

Councillor Rawlins responded to a question from Councillor Leech regarding changes to the Highway Code.

Councillor White responded to a question from Councillor Grimshaw regarding a planning application.

Councillor Akbar responded to a question from Councillor Grimshaw regarding recreational land on Iron Street.

Councillor Rawlins responded to a question from Councillor Grimshaw regarding the provision of a cycle path along the Rochdale Canal.

To note the minutes of the following scrutiny committees:

Communities and Equalities                      7 December 2021 and 11 January 2022

Resources and Governance                      7 December 2021 and 11 January 2022

Health                                                            8 December 2021 and 12 January 2022

Children and Young People                      8 December 2021 and 12 January 2022

Environment and Climate Change           9 December 2021 and 13 January 2022

Economy                                                       9 December 2021 and 13 January 2022

The minutes of the following Scrutiny Committee meetings were submitted:

Communities and Equalities 7 December 2021 and 11 January 2022

Resources & Governance 7 December 2021 and 11 January 2022

Health 8 December 2021 and 12 January 2022

Children & Young People 8 December 2021 and 12 January 2022

Environment & Climate Change 9 December 2021 and 13 January 2022

Economy 9 December 2021 and 13 January 2022

Decision

To receive those minutes.

To submit for approval the minutes of the following meetings and consider recommendations made by the committee:

Constitutional & Nomination Committee 2 February 2022 (to be tabled)

Audit Committee 23 November 2021

Licensing and Appeals Committee 24 January 2022

Personnel Committee 16 December 2021

Planning and Highways Committee 16 December 2021 and 20 January 2022

Health and Wellbeing Board 26 January 2022.

The minutes of the following meetings were submitted:

Constitutional and Nomination Committee 2 February 2022

The Council was asked to give particular consideration to the following recommendations from those minutes:

            CN/22/02       Membership of Council Committees

Decision

To recommend the Council to make the following changes in appointments to Committees and Boards of the Council.

Appointment of Co-opted Member for Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee.

Parent Governor Representatives (voting Co-opted Members)

Appoint: Gary Cleworth for a period of two years (ending 2/2/2024).

Audit Committee 23 November 2021

Licensing and Appeals Committee 24 January 2022

Personnel Committee 16 December 2021

Health and Wellbeing Board 26 January 2022

Planning and Highways Committee 16 December 2021 and 20 January 2022

Councillor Flanagan made reference to planning application PH/22/03131895/JO/2021 and the provision of local recreational facilities following the loss of existing as part of the proposed development. A request was made for Executive members and officers to work to provide new facilities for local residents to access to help improve health and wellbeing.

Decisions

1.    To receive those minutes submitted.

2.    To approve the changes in appointments to Committeesof the Council, as detailed above.

To consider the report of the Deputy Chief Executive and City Treasurer (to follow).

This is a decision report which will be “to approve a proposal as agreed at Audit Committee (23 November 2021) to opt into a national procurement process for the procurement and appointment of the Council’s external auditor from 2023/24”

The Deputy Chief Executive and City Treasurer submitted a report setting out proposals for appointing the City Council’ external auditor for the five-year period from 2023/24.

The Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014 (the Act) at Section 7 states that a “relevant authority must appoint a local auditor to audit its accounts for a financial year not later than 31 December in the preceding financial year.” The City Council’s current auditor contract with Mazars LLP has run from 2017 and was arranged through Public Sector Audit Appointments Limited (PSAA). This will expire on completion of the 2022/23 audit. The Council has three options to secure an appointment, these are:

• To run a local procurement;
• Procure in partnership with other authorities; or
• opt into a national arrangement.

The three options have been assessed and the preferred solution, as agreed at Audit Committee (23 November 2022), is to opt into the national procurement process being run by PSAA and supported by the LGA. Legislation requires that the decision to opt-in to this arrangement must be made by Council.

Decision

To approve the sector-led option through Public Sector Audit Appointments Limited for the appointment of external auditors to principal local government and police bodies for five financial years from 1 April 2023.

The report of the City Solicitor is enclosed.

The Council considered the report of the City Solicitor on key decisions that have been taken in accordance with the urgency provisions in the Council’s Constitution.

Decision

To note the report.