To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 9 March 2021

Decision

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 9 March 2021 as a correct record.

Report of the Deputy Chief Executive and City Treasurer attached

This report provides  information on activity across the Development Team and Investment Estate and the Operational Estate up to the current date.  The report also includes an update on the specific areas requested in the Scrutiny Committee’s work programme, including Central Retail Park; future plans and performance of the investment estate in relation to potential income generation; estates rationalisation and work on reviewing the Council’s operational estate; the Zero carbon agenda and future developments within the Capital Strategy.

The Committee considered a report of the Deputy Chief Executive and City Treasurer, which provided an update on property activity since the last Annual Property Report to Resources and Governance Scrutiny Committee in November 2019. The report was an updated version of a report that was prepared for the 9 March 2021 meeting and provided further information on activity across the Development Team and Investment Estate and the Operational Estate up to the current date. The report also included an update on the specific areas requested in the Scrutiny Committee’s work programme, including Central Retail Park; future plans and performance of the investment estate in relation to potential income generation; estates rationalisation and work on reviewing the Council’s operational estate; the Zero carbon agenda and future developments within the Capital Strategy.

Key points and themes in the report included:-

·                Development Team and Investment Estate update, including commercial, city centre, other commercial and employment development, housing, district and town centre, leisure, sport and education development, capital receipts, investment estate, Jacobs contract and asset valuations; and

·                Operational Estate and Facilities update, including operational estate activity, Facilities Management Service, Asset Management Programme update, Carbon Reduction Programme, systems and records update, Town Hall Project, future ways of working and estate rationalisation.

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

·                Was there any update on the rent review of the airport;

·                Press reports which had been critical of land deals made by the Council;

·                The likely impact of the pandemic on the use of office buildings;

·                When the plans for Wythenshawe Town Centre would be realised; and

·                The importance of supporting Emerge/Fareshare in their re-location to a suitable property.

The Head of Development reported that the Council had received an initial response from the airport in relation to the rent review and that officers were working through the information provided and would respond to the airport in the next few weeks.  In response to a further question, he clarified that this rent was reviewed on an annual basis.

The Deputy Chief Executive and City Treasurer advised that the article in the Manchester Evening News had included the Council’s response which explained the rationale behind the decisions taken.  The Head of Development reported that there were compelling reasons for entering into the transactions referred to and that the research referred to in the press had not gone into sufficient detail, highlighting that in some cases the Council had legal obligations or was receiving a rent from the company concerned.  A Member asked if officers would be willing to go through the detail of these transactions with any Members who wanted more information and explanation.  The Deputy Chief Executive and City Treasurer agreed and suggested that a session could be arranged for Members.  The Deputy Leader highlighted the importance of communicating clearly to Members and the public what the Council was doing with its assets for the benefit of Manchester people.  In response to a Member’s question about the challenges for people  ...  view the full minutes text for item 22.

Report of the Governance and Scrutiny Support Unit attached

This report seeks the Committee’s approval to re-establish the Human Resources Subgroup for the 2021/22 Municipal Year and agree its terms of reference.

The Committee received a report of the Governance and Scrutiny Support Unit which sought the Committee’s approval to re-establish the Human Resources Subgroup for the 2021/22 Municipal Year and agree its terms of reference.

Decisions

1.         To agree that the Chair of Resources and Governance Scrutiny Committee chairs the HR Subgroup.

2.         To appoint Councillors Ahmed Ali, A Simcock and Robinson to the Subgroup and to note that other Councillors who are not currently Members of this Committee have requested to be appointed to the Committee and also expressed an interest in joining the Subgroup.

3.         To agree the terms of reference as set out in the report.

4.             To agree the work programme as set out in the report and propose that each meeting has one thematic report and one departmental-based report.

Report of the Governance and Scrutiny Support Unit attached

This report seeks the Committee’s approval to re-establish the Ethical Procurement and Contract Management Subgroup for the 2021/22 Municipal Year and agree its terms of reference.

The Committee received a report of the Governance and Scrutiny Support Unit which sought the Committee’s approval to re-establish the Ethical Procurement and Contract Management Subgroup for the 2021/22 Municipal Year and agree its terms of reference.

Decisions

1.         To agree that the Chair of Resources and Governance Scrutiny Committee chairs the Ethical Procurement and Contract Management Subgroup.

2.         To appoint Councillors Clay, Lanchbury, B Priest and Robinson to the Subgroup.

3.         To agree the terms of reference as set out in the report.

4.      To request that the delivery of local employment and training opportunities be incorporated into the work programme.

Report of the Governance and Scrutiny Support Unit attached

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 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.

Decision

To note the report.

The officers consider that the following item contains exempt information as provided for in the Local Government Access to Information Act and that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information. The Committee is recommended to agree the necessary resolutions excluding the public from the meeting during consideration of this item.

Decision

To exclude the public during consideration of the following item which involved consideration of exempt information relating to the financial or business affairs of particular persons and public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

Report of the Deputy Chief Executive and City Treasurer attached

This report provides an overview of how cross-cutting themes in the Our Manchester Strategy – Forward to 2025 reset document are covered by the Council’s Scrutiny Committees during the 2021/22 municipal year.

The report is to form part of the Work Programming session at the rise of this meeting for Committee Members only.

The Committee considered the report of the Deputy Chief Executive and City Treasurer that provided an overview of how cross-cutting themes in the Our Manchester Strategy – Forward to 2025 reset document were to be covered by the scrutiny committees during the 2021/22 municipal year.

Decision

To note the report.