Agenda and minutes

Agenda and minutes

Executive - Wednesday, 15th December, 2021 2.00 pm

Venue: Council Chamber, Level 2, Town Hall Extension. View directions

Contact: Michael Williamson 

Media

Items
No. Item

121.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 186 KB

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 17 November 2021.

Minutes:

Decision

 

The Executive approved as a correct record the minutes of the meeting on 17

November 2021.

122.

Appointment of Executive Members and their Portfolios pdf icon PDF 231 KB

Report of the Executive Leader attached

Minutes:

The Executive Leader advised that in accordance with Articles of the Constitution 7.4(c) and 7.5(a), she had given notice to the Monitoring Officer and Members in question of her appointment of Deputy Leader and Executive Members (and associated portfolios).

 

Decision

 

The Executive note the appointments of Deputy Leader and Executive Members.

123.

Allocation of responsibilities for the discharge of executive functions pdf icon PDF 228 KB

Report of the City Solicitor attached

Minutes:

The Executive Leader advised that in accordance with Article 7.10(c) of the Council’s Constitution, she had undertaken a review of the allocation of responsibilities for the discharge of executive functions recorded in Part 3 of the Council’s Constitution and had reaffirmed the existing allocation

of such responsibilities, which included:-

 

·                delegation of the discharge of all of the Council’s executive functions to the Executive, as per paragraph (A) of Part 3, Section B of the Council’s Constitution;

·                delegation to officers of the discharge of the Council’s executive functions recorded at Part 3, Sections A and F of the Council’s Constitution, including both those functions that are designated as “Executive Functions” and, insofar as they are executive functions, those that are designated as “General Functions”; and

·                any other arrangements for the discharge of executive functions that were in place at the time of her predecessor’s resignation as Leader.

 

Decision

 

The Executive note the decision of the Leader to reaffirmed the existing allocation for the discharge of executive functions

124.

COVID19 updates - Population Health and Economic Recovery pdf icon PDF 538 KB

Report of the Director of Public Health and Director of City Centre Growth and Infrastructure attached

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Executive considered a report of the Director of Public Health and the Director of City Centre Growth and Infrastructure, which provided an update on the COVID-19 situation within the city and the progress that was being made with the city’s economic recovery.

 

The Director of Public Health advised that that, infection rates within the city were now 428.6 per 100,000 of the population and Manchester was currently 6th amongst Greater Manchester’s Local Authorities in terms of infection rates, with rates significantly increasing due to the the recent outbreak of the omicron variant, which now accounted for 55% of all cases and was the dominant strain in Greater Manchester.  The infection rate

amongst the over 60’s was 1608 per 100,000 which at present was remaining steady and put Manchester 5th across Greater Manchester.

 

He added that that success of the booster  programme was vital  to keeping rates low and the NHS was  likely to be under significant pressure  over the forthcoming weeks.  A number of Test and Trace teams were dealing with outbreaks in schools and colleges.  He reported that in light of the national difficulties faced in ordering LFT home testing kits, a new collection hub had been set up to help residents access these.

 

It was reported that all over 18’s  could now book an appointment for their booster vaccination through a number of channels and an updated list of clinics would be put on the Council’s website.  It was also reported that military support had been brough in to help administer vaccinations.

 

The Deputy Leader (Health and Care), echoed the seriousness of the situation Manchester and the country faced with the Omicron variant and reported that there had been a strong response from residents to the booster programme, noting that every person that had a booster was helping to protect the NHS front line services.

 

The Executive collectively placed on record its thanks and appreciation to all Doctors, Nurses, Pharmacists and volunteers helping deliver the vaccination programme to Manchester residents

 

In relation to the city’s economic recovery, the Director of City Centre Growth and Infrastructure reported that there was concern with the rise of inflation and the impact this would have on economic growth, which would likely be felt in early 2022.  In terms of use of public transport and footfall, there had been no significant drop since the new variant was announced and there had been a modest drop in the number of Manchester residents on furlough as well as slight reduction in 16-17 years olds classed as NEET.

 

Councillor Karney advised that the Council would be monitoring the hospitality situation following the recent announcement of the Prime Minister and stated that the number one priority was the health and employment of people within this sector and representations would be made to Government for financial aid for the setor.

 

Decision

 

The Executive note the report.

125.

Our Manchester progress update report pdf icon PDF 377 KB

Report of the Chief Executive attached

Minutes:

The Executive considered a report of the Chief Executive which provided an update on key areas of progress against the Our Manchester Strategy – Forward to 2025 which reset Manchester’s priorities for the next five years to ensure the Council could still achieve the city’s ambition set out in the Our Manchester Strategy 2016 – 2025.

 

The Leader reported on the launch of the 2022 “Our year” campaign, which aimed to create an array of activities, opportunities and experiences for the city’s children and young people and create a legacy which would make Manchester one of the best places for young people to grow up in.

 

The Executive Member for Environment reported on a number areas that contributed to the Council’s ambition of becoming a cleaner and greener city.  This included recent consultation on plans to pedestrianise Stevenson Square in the Northern Quarter, with the intention of making it one of the most attractive destinations in the city, the launch of a strategy to revitalise Manchester’s river valleys and put them at the heart of the city’s regenerations, West Gorton Community Park winning  a prestigious environmental design award from the Landscape Institute and the commencement of the second year of a two-year project to plant at least 2,000 trees across Manchester, which would contribute to the national Queen’s Green Canopy campaign, for which Greater Manchester is a champion city region.

 

The Executive Member for Housing and Employment reported on progress that had been made with the large scale redevelopment of Victoria North, with a planning application submitted last month to begin the process of making the Red Bank neighbourhood in north Manchester ready for development, bringing a large swathe of brownfield land back into productive use and also included a commitment to increase biodiversity by at least 10% as a result of the overall development.

 

Decision

 

The Executive note the report

126.

This City: Manchester's Housing Delivery Vehicle Business Case (Part A) pdf icon PDF 327 KB

Report of the Deputy Chief Executive and City Treasurer attached

Minutes:

The Executive considered a report of the Deputy Chief Executive and City Treasurer, which outline a business case for This City (Manchester’s Housing Delivery Vehicle), detailing the rationale and considerations that had been taken into account when developing the proposal for the establishment of the Council’s wholly owned housing delivery vehicle.

 

The Executive Member for Housing and Employment reported that the business case outlined the finer detail of the proposed approach, building on the reports presented to the Executive in March and June 2020 and more recently, September 2021.  It set out the context of the project, the Council’s vision and the proposed governance arrangements and demonstrated the legal frameworks that the Company would operate within and that the proposals met with legal and financial requirements.

 

If approved, the business case would be used as the guiding document to initiate the operation of the company and delivery of the first two phases of development. The business case would be reported back through to the already established governance structure for This City and would be developed into a business plan for the company.  In addition, performance of This City would be reported back through to the Council’s Shareholder Panel, to ensure that the company was performing against Key Performance Indicators and financial projections.

 

Decision

 

The Executive note the report.

127.

Exclusion of the Public

The officers consider that the following item or items 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 Executive is recommended to agree the necessary resolutions excluding the public from the meeting during consideration of these items. At the time this agenda is published no representations have been made that this part of the meeting should be open to the public.

Minutes:

Decision

 

The Executive agrees 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

128.

This City: Manchester's Housing Delivery Vehicle Business Case (Part B)

Report of the Deputy Chief Executive and City Treasurer attached

Minutes:

The Executive considered a report of the Deputy Chief Executive and City Treasurer, which outline a business case for This City (Manchester’s Housing Delivery Vehicle), detailing the rationale and considerations that had been taken into account when developing the proposal for the establishment of the Council’s wholly owned housing delivery vehicle.

 

Decision

 

The Executive endorse attached business case which is to be used as the basis to develop a business plan for This City MCR Limited prior to the company becoming operational.