To allow members an opportunity to declare any personal, prejudicial or disclosable pecuniary interest they might have in any items which appear on this agenda; and record any items from which they are precluded from voting as a result of Council Tax or Council rent arrears. Members with a personal interest should declare that at the start of the item under consideration. If members also have a prejudicial or disclosable pecuniary interest they must withdraw from the meeting during the consideration of the item

To submit for approval the minutes of the meeting held on 4 October 2023.

Manchester is proud to be a trauma-informed city but we cannot support the majority of residents with trauma and break the cycle of adverse childhood experiences unless we are FASD and Neurobehaviourally informed too. 

FASD, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder is a hidden epidemic in Greater Manchester.  A Salford University study published in 2021 estimated that up to 4% of the population is likely to have FASD – that’s 2.5 times higher than autism.  The average life expectancy for individuals with FASD is only 34 years of age because they do not receive the interventions and support they need.  FASD is underdiagnosed and little understood by professionals and frontline workers.  There is an underserved stigma attached to it and often professionals, including medical, only learn about it as a very tiny part of their training.

FASD happens when a pregnant woman consumes alcohol.  Alcohol crosses the placenta and interferes with the development of the fetus, particularly the developing brain.  This has a significant impact on the executive brain function – the part responsible for organisation, self-regulation, working memory and flexible thinking.  It also results in some incredible strengths which, if a person with FASD is given support, may be developed and realised, such as creativity.

The mother is blameless and often a victim too – this is vital to note.  No mother knowingly damages her developing child – she drinks because she doesn’t know she is pregnant, doesn’t know the impact of alcohol or has an alcohol abuse disorder and cannot control her drinking.  We must remove the stigma.

FASD is a brain and body disability with lifelong impact and up to 400 comorbidities including Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD), Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), sensory issues including Sensory Processing Disorders (SPD), developmental trauma and secondary and tertiary conditions such as depression, anxiety, loneliness, poor academic outcomes, suicide, homelessness and criminality.   

Often individuals with FASD are diagnosed with an “alphabet soup” of labels to account for their behaviours but not FASD and internalise their problems leading to the secondary and tertiary conditions.  Where they receive support, it is not FASD or neurobehaviourally informed so the support fails or exacerbates their problems.

Any engagement with an individual with FASD must begin with the FASD regardless of their secondary and tertiary conditions including trauma. This means particularly supporting with challenges to executive brain function.

For example, individuals needing treatment for addictions need support to attend each appointment.  Those that have fallen into debt can’t be helped with a debt repayment plan unless the cause of the debt, the disability that means they need help with maths and organisation is addressed. Schools must work from a brain and nurture-based approach rather than behaviour change (rewards and sanctions).

In 2022, following campaigning by groups such as the FASD Alliance, NICE published Quality Standards on FASD and Greater Manchester CCG have acted on the majority of these to prevent alcohol drinking in pregnancy.  However, there is much to do in the areas of follow-up and in diagnosing  ...  view the full agenda text for item 4.

To submit the minutes of the Executive on 4 and 18 October and 15 November 2023 and in particular to consider:

Exe/23/98 Capital Programme Monitoring (P6) and Update

The Executive Recommends that the Council approve the following changes to the Council’s capital programme:-

·                Children’s Services - Levenshulme High School for Girls – 2024 Expansion. A budget increase of £2.5m funded by borrowing

·                Children’s Services – Chorlton High School (CHS) South – 2024 Expansion. . A budget increase of £4.2m funded by borrowing

·                Growth and Development - Carbon Reduction Programme 2024-25. A budget increase of £0.5m funded by borrowing on a invest to save basis.

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

To note the minutes of the following committees:

·                Economy & Regeneration –16 October & 7 November 2023

·                Communities & Equalities – 10 October & 7 November 2023

·                Children & Young People – 13 October & 8 November 2023

·                Health – 11 October & 8 November 2023

·                Resources & Governance – 12 October & 9 November 2023

·                Environment, Climate Change & Neighbourhoods – 12 October & 9 November 2023

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

·                Planning and Highways Committee – 19 October and 16 November 2023

·                Health and Wellbeing Board – 1 November 2023

·                Standards Committee – 2 November 2023, and in particular, to

·                consider:

ST/23/17     Member Code of Conduct

To recommend to full Council that the Council retain its current Code of Conduct for Members.

ST/23/21     Review of the Operation and Efficacy including a proposed amendment of the Arrangements for dealing with Code of Conduct complaints against Members

Recommend to full Council the Arrangements as amended.

·                Licensing Committee –  23 October and 13 November 2023

·                Licensing and Appeals Committee – 23 October 2023

·                Licensing Policy Committee – 31 October and 20 November 2023, and in particular, to consider:

LPC/23/04  Statement of Licensing Policy 2023 - 2028

To recommend to full Council to approve the Statement of Licensing Policy 2023  - 2028 policy for publication. 

A copy of the Statement of Policy 2023-2028 report is attached for information.

The policy is attached for information, in conjunction with the recommendation of the Licensing Policy Committee to approve the policy.