To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 5 September 2018.

The minutes of the meeting held on 5 September 2018 were submitted for approval as a correct record.

Further to minute ESC/18/40 (Greater Manchester Mayor's Good Employer Charter), Councillor Johns requested that the point he made in relation to the inclusion of Trade Union representatives on the Independent Panel which would be set up to oversee the running of the Charter and its development be included in the minute.

Decision

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 5 September 2018 subject to the above amendment.

To receive the minutes of the District Centres Sub Group held on 11 September 2018

Decision

To note the minutes of the District Centres Sub Group held on 11 September 2018

Report of the Deputy Chief Executive

This report provides an update on the development of the Manchester and Greater Manchester Local Industrial Strategies and their respective engagement approaches. The Strategies will support the delivery of the Our Manchester Strategy and the Greater Manchester Strategy by setting out a set of priorities which will deliver a more inclusive city and city region.

The Committee considered a report of the Deputy Chief Executive, which provided an update on the development of the Manchester and Greater Manchester Local Industrial Strategies and their respective engagement approaches. The Strategies would support the delivery of the Our Manchester Strategy and the Greater Manchester Strategy by setting out a set of priorities which would deliver a more inclusive city and city region.

The Strategic Lead, Policy and Strategy referred to the main points and themes within the report which included:-

·                The Manchester Local Industrial Strategy (LIS) would support the delivery of the Our Manchester Strategy by producing a delivery plan that would help to create a more inclusive economy;

·                The Strategy would be aligned to both the existing UK Government Industrial Strategy and also the Greater Manchester Local Industrial Strategy (GM LIS) which was also currently under development;

·                The Manchester LIS engagement approach would include a wide ranging listening exercise with young people, residents, workers and businesses across the city to provide an evidence base to inform citywide and neighbourhood actions to address the fundamental issues of low pay and productivity;

·                A particular target group to engage with were people over 50, as an ageing society was identified specifically as one of the four main challenges in the Government’s Industrial Strategy;

·                The draft timeline for the development of the Strategy, with formal adoption taking pace in summer 2019;

·                The GM LIS would reflect the main themes of the national Industrial Strategy, but also take a place-based approach that built on the area’s unique strengths and ensured all people in Greater Manchester could contribute to, and benefit from, enhanced productivity, earnings and economic growth;

·                Greater Manchester already had a strong evidence base, however, to enable the GM LIS process to drive forward the next phase of devolution and partnership working with Government, there would be a need to build on this evidence and co-produce additional analysis with HMG;

·                An Independent Advisory review was being progressed and a high-profile expert panel had been formed, who had identified a select number of research commissions that they had recommend be taken forward to support the GM LIS; and

·                The views of industry would be brought into the analysis through a number of challenge sessions which would bring together businesses, policy makers, and academics to discuss the research findings.

Some of the key points that arose from the Committees discussions were:-

·                There was concern that it did not appear that the proposed engagement approach would collect any new information that had not already been collected following the previous consultation on the Our Manchester Strategy;

·                Was it considered that the investment in the consultation on the Manchester LIS was worthwhile;

·                What questions would be asked in the GM LIS engagement process;

·                There was a view that there were important organisations missing, such as the NHS and Mental Health Providers, from the identified key strategic boards that were to be consulted with to help shape the development of the LIS;

·                There was concern that the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 44.

Report Strategic Director, Development and Deputy Chief Executive

This report provides a brief overview of the operation of the current bus service network including gaps and issues relating to these services. The report also provides a summary of the powers brought about by the recent introduction of the Bus Services Act (The Act).

The Committee considered a report of the Strategic Director (Development) and the Deputy Chief Executive, which provided a brief overview of the operation of the current bus service network and gaps and issues relating to these services. The report also provides a summary of the powers brought about by the recent introduction of the Bus Services Act.

The Head of City Policy referred to the main points and themes within the report, which included:-

·                The role of buses in Manchester;

·                Public transport journeys across Greater Manchester (GM);

·                How people travelled into the City Centre during morning peak hours;

·                How bus services were currently delivered in Manchester;

·                The provisions of the Bus Services Act (2017) and Bus Reform, which included;

·                Advanced Quality Partnerships (AQP)

·                Enhanced Partnerships (EP)

·                Bus franchising; and

·                Advanced Ticketing Scheme and Information Availability.

·                Key issues and opportunities for Manchester’s bus services, which included a GM wide review of bus services, identifying key gaps in the overall provision of services that should be addressed through any form of bus service reform.

Some of the key points that arose from the Committee’s discussions were:-

·                It was felt that the Committee should be included in any future debate around the possible model of bus reform in the city and that as part of this debate, the Committee needed to look at the demographics of people who used buses and the reasons why they use them;

·                As part of the review of bus service networks, it would be useful to look at routes that have either been removed or reduced in frequency in recent years to the detriment of service levels previously enjoyed by local residents;

·                It was felt that public authorities should have the ability to specify ticket prices and compel operators to provide particular services;

·                Was it necessary to identify/explore AQP’s and EP’s before considering the franchising of bus services;

·                There was a need to consider the types of buses in operation and whether they were suitable on all routes;

·                There was also a need to consider appropriate ticketing and fare levels and provide better value for Manchester residents, especially those who lived on the periphery of the city centre, in the poorest communities, who often faced higher per mile bus fares;

·                The issue of “over – bussing” of some services within the city centre needed addressing;

·                There was a need to understand bus users’ origins and destinations when building a suitable bus network;

·                There was concern that current bus operators had not always operated in good faith and it was questioned, in light of this, whether AQP’s or EP’s would work or provide any advantages;

·                How could Elected Members raise specific concerns and contribute to the proposed consultation;

·                There was a degree of surprise amongst Members that TfGM did not already have some form of plan in mind for the future delivery of bus services;

·                Had consideration been given to collecting real time data in relation to the timeliness and reliability of bus services;

·                It was suggested that TFGM  ...  view the full minutes text for item 45.

Report of the Core Performance and Intelligence Team

This is the Quarterly Economy Dashboard for 2018/19 Quarter 1.  The report also includes the annual survey of hours and earnings estimates for the proportion of employees earning below the Real Living Wage for all UK Local Authorities, regions and countries by gender and full-time or part-time status for both employee place of residence and place of work.

The Committee considered the Quarterly Economy Dashboard for quarter 1 of 2018/10, which provided statistical data on economic development, housing ad the visitor economy.

The Performance Analyst and Governance Lead presented the report to the Committee.

Some of the key points that arose from the committees discussions were:-

·                Members welcomed the wealth and breadth of data that the dashboard provided;

·                Was it possible to undertake further comparisons of performance with other core cities;

·                What data source had been used in relation to house price and rental price information and was it possible to have data on median house price and price per square foot;

·                Clarification was sought as to what Officers defined as the area of the city centre and what neighbourhoods were included within the definition;

·                What was the scope and definition of empty properties;

·                It was felt that further information could be included in future reports on the difference in wages of residents of the city and those who worked in the city, the increase in house prices and rental costs across wards and the number of new build properties bought by foreign investors and this impact on the housing market;

·                The slight increase in the percentage of Manchester residents with no qualifications could possibly be attributed to the impact of austerity measures;

·                Why had the number of apprenticeship starts decreased; and

·                Was there any data available on how people previously travelled to financial centres prior to the expansion of flights from Manchester Airport

The Performance Analyst and Governance Lead explained that there was an online version of the dashboard that provided a wider range of data sets compared to the printed version before Members as this version only contained the most recent data.  He agreed that if further data sets were felt necessary these could be included in future dashboards or as a bespoke data provision.  He confirmed that it would be possible to compare any data set provided by a local authority or at a core city level.

The Committee was advised that the housing data was obtained from Land Registry data and was point based data which was not constrained by boundaries such as Low Super Output Areas or ward boundaries.  The area referred to as the City Centre was considered to be broader than Deansgate and Piccadilly wards and the Performance Analyst and Governance Lead agreed to circulate a map as to what was considered the boundary of the City Centre.  It was reported that in terms of empty properties, the volume was at a record low and short term empty data fluctuated due to supply.  The  Performance Analyst and Governance Lead agreed to provide median house and rental prices across the city to Committee Members.

The Performance Analyst and Governance Lead advised that in terms of the NVQ data this was subject to confidence intervals of plus/minus 2.5%, and  changes year on year were usually within this tolerance which made it difficult to identify any specific issues.  He advised that the Apprenticeship starts  ...  view the full minutes text for item 46.

Report of the Governance and Scrutiny Support Unit

This report provides the Committee with details of key decisions that fall within the Committee’s remit and an update on actions resulting from the Committee’s recommendations. The report also includes the Committee’s work programme, which the Committee is asked to amend as appropriate and agree.

The Committee considered a report of the Governance and Scrutiny Support Unit which contained key decisions within the Committee’s remit and responses to previous recommendations was submitted for comment. Members were also invited to agree the Committee’s future work programme. 

The Chair informed the Committee that a request had been made to change the scheduling of some of the items listed on the Work Programme.  In the main this resulted in the current scheduled items being moved on by one month 

A result of this request now meant that the following items would be added onto the work programme for consideration at the Committee’s  November meeting:-

·                LTE Group (formerly Manchester College) Performance update;

·                An update on Manchester College’s Estates Strategy; and

·                Consideration of the HS2 Working Draft Environmental Statement

Decision

The Committee:-

(1)       notes the report; and

(2)       agrees the proposed changes to the Work Programme as detailed above.