Agenda and minutes

Agenda and minutes

Executive - Friday, 22nd July, 2022 2.30 pm

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

Contact: Michael Williamson 

Media

Items
No. Item

58.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 166 KB

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 29 June 2022.

Minutes:

Decision

 

The Executive approved as a correct record the minutes of the meeting on 29 June 2022.

59.

Our Manchester Progress Update pdf icon PDF 103 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 placed on record her thanks to all Council staff, partners and residents of the city who worked with the Council in recognition of the Council wining the LGC Council of the year Award 2022. 

 

The Executive Member for Early Years, Children and Young People reported on the planned opening of a new High School, to be run by Dixons Academies Trust and serving the community in and around Newall Green and Wythenshawe in September 2023.  The new co-educational free school – to be known as Dixons Newall Green – would open to pupils in Year 7 from next September on the site of the former Newall Green High School.  He also reported on a programme of events that took place 11-16 July to celebrate and promote the importance of a child’s early life.  Free activities and events took place in cultural and leisure venues across the city, as well as Sure Start centres, for 0-2 year olds and their families with information and advice provided. In addition, the Executive Member reported on the Bee Green Summit, for school and college leaders who wanted to cut carbon emissions in their institutions which attracted more than 100 delegates representing 80 educational settings.


Councillor Leech queried what the cost had been to the Council’s Education Services for the closure ofthe former Newall Green High School.  He asked if a progress report could be provided to a future meeting on the impact of the Bee Green Summit.

 

The Executive Member for Environment and Transport reported on the proposals that had been put forward for Deansgate, which would keep in place measures to reduce the amount of vehicular traffic using Deansgate.  The proposals for Deansgate aimed to maintain a balance between the space already given over to cyclist and pedestrians and the infrastructure still required for public transport and taxis.

 

Councillor Leech asked if there was any empirical evidence of what had happened to the traffic that was no longer travelling along Deansgate and what potential impact these proposals would have on Clean Air Plans.

 

The Deputy Executive Member for Skills, Employment and Leisure reported on the success of the city, as one of nine host cities of the UEFA Women’s European Championships. From 6 July to 31 July, Piccadilly Gardens was hosting a fan festival, welcoming fans from competing nations, showing games on a big screen, offering food and drink and a range of events and activities including football taster sessions.  The fan zone had welcomed fans from a variety of European countries – all of whom had played group games in Greater Manchester.

 

The Executive Member for Healthy Manchester and Adult Social Care reported  ...  view the full minutes text for item 59.

60.

Revenue Budget Monitoring pdf icon PDF 106 KB

Report of the Deputy Chief Executive and City Treasurer attached

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Executive considered a report of the Deputy Chief Executive and City Treasurer, which outlined the projected outturn position for 2021/22, based on expenditure and income activity as at the end of May 2022 and future projections.

 

The Executive Member for Finance and Resources advised that the current budget monitoring forecast was estimating an overspend of £4.523m for 2022/23, based on activity to date and projected trends in income and expenditure, and includes the financial implications of COVID-19, government funding confirmed to date and other changes.

 

The overspend predominately related to a corporate £1.6m pressure on inflation requirements, a £3.7m shortfall in income in the Neighbourhoods directorate, driven by income shortfalls in off street parking and Christmas market revenue, offset by a £0.744m underspend in Children’s Services

 

In relation to the delivery of the £7.837m of savings identified as part of the budget process, £3.390m were on track for delivery and £4.447m of these were risk rated amber in terms of the likelihood of delivery.

 

The report set out the following virements that had been proposed as well as COVID 19 related and non- COVID-19 related grants received:-

 

Virements

 

·                £2.6m budget for the Children’s Legal Service transferred from  Children Services to Corporate Core to reflect the ongoing restructure of Children’s legal service and its alignment to the Council's Legal Services;

·                Within Adult Social Care, long term care budgets had been reset aligned to clients in receipt of care as at 31st March. At the same time, income budgets had also been updated to reflect the level of income being received.

 

COVID 19 related Grants

 

·                COVID Local Support Grant –  £6.453m added to the budget since the budget was set to provide  support to households who would otherwise struggle to meet essential living or housing costs in exceptional cases of genuine emergency.

 

Non COVID 19 related Grants

 

·                Local authority domestic abuse duty - £1.657m;

·                Council Tax Energy Rebate Core scheme - £32.488m;

·                Council Tax Energy Rebate Discretionary scheme - £1.626m;

·                Council Tax Energy Rebate New Burdens initial payment - £295k;

·                TfGM Active Travel Complimentary Measures Revenue Fund (School streets) - £50k;

·                Establishing Welcome Points for Ukranian Refugees - £140k;

·                Rough Sleeper initiative £2.963m; and

·                Homes for Ukraine - £1.743m.

 

Inflation budgets for pay and non pay costs were being held corporately. The 2021/22 pay award had been agreed and paid right at the end of the financial year and after the budget for 2022/23 was set. The £4.549m cost, which included the National Insurance increase, had been allocated to Directorate budgets.

 

In addition, approval was also sought on the following use of reserves:-

 

·                Development of burial land (Bereavement Services) - £58k;

·                Review of City Centre Controlled Parking Zone and on street tariffs (Parking Reserve) - £100k; and

·                Domestic Abuse New Burdens ‘safe accommodation’ funding underspend - £0.866m

 

The Executive Member for Finance and Resources advised that it was very early in the financial year and vigilance was needed given there were significant uncertainties and risks to the position as cost of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 60.

61.

Capital Update Report pdf icon PDF 112 KB

Report of the Deputy Chief Executive and City Treasurer attached

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Executive considered a report of the Deputy Chief Executive and City Treasurer, which informed Members of requests to increase the capital programme, sought approval for those schemes that could be approved under authority delegated to the Executive and asked the Executive to recommend to Council proposals that required specific Council approval.

 

The proposals which required Council approval were those which were funded by the use of reserves above a cumulative total of £2 million, where the use of borrowing was required or a virement exceeded £0.5m. These included the following proposed changes:-

 

·                Neighbourhoods – Manchester Aquatic Centre.  A capital budget virement of £0.996m in 2023/24, £1.934m in 2024/25, funded by borrowing via the Inflation Budget and a capital budget increase of £0.070m in 2025/, funded by borrowing, for the rephasing of refurbishment works following the successful application to host the World Para Swimming Championships in 2023.

 

·                Neighbourhoods – Indoor Leisure (Abraham Moss).  A capital budget virement of £0.980m in 2022/23 and £0.420m in 2023/24, funded by borrowing via the Inflation Budget to account for additional inflation costs in labour and materials incurred by the main contractor procuring the construction packages in line with the procurement programme following a delay in the project.

 

·                Growth and Development – Hammerstone Road Depot.  A capital budget virement of £2.267m in 2023/24 and £0.053m in 2024/25, funded by borrowing via the Inflation Budget and a capital budget increase of £4.280m in 2024/25, funded by borrowing for increased works required alongside inflationary pressures.

 

The proposals which did not require Council approval and only required Executive approval were those which were funded by the use of external resources, use of capital receipts, use of reserves below £10.0m, where the proposal could be funded from existing revenue budgets or where the use of borrowing on a spend to save basis is required.  The following proposals required Executive approval for changes to the City Council’s capital programme:-

 

·                Private Sector Housing – Housing Affordability Fund (HAF).  A capital budget increase of £9.111m, funded by £1.997m External Contribution – S106 and   £7.114m Capital Receipts to help continue to deliver further homes for families and individuals living in temporary accommodation.

 

·                Growth and Development - Essential Remediation Works at the City Art Gallery and Queens Park Conservation Studios.  A capital budget increase of £4.5m in 2022/23 funded by Capital Receipts and a capital budget virement of £1.950m funded from the Asset Management Programme (AMP) budget to  progress feasibility works and to develop a composite programme of works.

 

·                ICT - Resident and Business Digital Experience (RBDxP).  A capital budget decrease of £0.651m and corresponding transfer of £0.651m to the revenue budget, funded by Capital Fund to progress the RBDxP project which would  transform the way the Council interacted with residents, businesses, and partners whilst improving efficiency.

 

·                ICT - Legal Services Case Management Replacement.  A capital budget decrease of £0.450m and approval of a corresponding transfer of £0.450m to the revenue budget, funded by Capital Fund to progress the scheme.

 

·                Public Sector  ...  view the full minutes text for item 61.

62.

GM Clean Air Plan review pdf icon PDF 1 MB

Report of the Deputy Chief Executive and City Treasurer and City Solicitor attached

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Executive considered a report of the Deputy Chief Executive and City Treasurer and City Solicitor, which provided an update on progress made on the Greater Manchester Clean Air Plan (GM CAP) policy review prior to its formal submission to government.

 

Government had issued directions to local authorities in the UK, including those in Greater Manchester, to take action to address illegal exceedances of Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) in the shortest possible time and, initially in the case of GM, by 2024 at the latest.  In late 2021 GM authorities commissioned an independent review of emerging global supply chain issues and the impact this could have on the cost and availability of vehicles, particularly vans.

 

The review illustrated that the previous agreed plan would cause businesses and residents financial hardship and the Government agreed with Greater Manchester’s assessment that the plan was no longer likely to achieve compliance in 2024 due to the impact of the pandemic and the supply chain issues for compliant vehicles.  Subsequently the Government revoked the direction requiring the implementation of a category C charging Clean Air Zone to enable a review of existing measures, in order to determine if any changes should be made and to submit that review to the Secretary of State.

 

Any new plan would still need to be deliverable and reduce NO2 concentrations to below legal limits in the shortest possible time and by 2026 at the latest, in a way that recognises the cost-of-living crisis and post pandemic economic conditions.

 

The Leader advised that the proposed new plan would use the £120 million of Clean Air funding that the Government had awarded to Greater Manchester to deliver an investment led approach to invest in vehicle upgrades, rather than imposing daily charges.  An investment-led approach would be combined with all the wider measures that GM was implementing and aimed to reduce NO2 emissions to within legal limits, in the shortest possible time and at the latest by 2026. Unlike the previous charging-led scheme defined by Government guidance, the investment-led scheme would seek to factor in the cost-of-living crisis, it would actively consider the impacts of the pandemic and wider global economic instability on supply chains, and crucially considered the significant beneficial effects that the delivery of electric bus could have along key routes

 

Subject to any comments of Greater Manchester local authorities, the next Air Quality Administration Committee would confirm the final submission and notify the Secretary of State of the change in status.  By applying a Participatory Policy Development process, Greater Manchester would develop, assess and agree a package of measures forming a proposed new GM CAP.   This package of measures would be consulted upon in early 2023.  Greater Manchester would review the responses to the consultation and make any adaptations to the proposals as necessary. It was anticipated that a decision could be made to proceed with the new GM CAP thereafter.

 

Councillor Leech sought clarity on what the number of NO2 exceedances was based on and whether the Council  ...  view the full minutes text for item 62.

63.

Manchester Housing Strategy 2022-32 pdf icon PDF 790 KB

Report of the Interim Director of Housing & Residential Growth attached

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Executive considered a report of the Interim Director of Housing and Residential Growth, which provided an update on the new Manchester Housing Strategy (2022 – 2032).

 

The new strategy had been developed against the backdrop of a growing residential and employment offer which had attracted people into the city from both the UK and overseas and resulted in a huge increase in the city’s population with exceptionally high associated demand for housing.  The strategy set out a long-term vision which considered how best to deliver the city’s housing priorities and objectives, building on progress already made, whilst tackling head on the scale and complexity of the challenges ahead. The priorities for the new Housing Strategy had been agreed as follows:-

 

·                Increase affordable housing supply & build more new homes for all residents

·                Work to end homelessness and ensure housing is affordable & accessible to all

·                Address inequalities and create neighbourhoods & homes where people want to live

·                Address the sustainability & zero carbon challenges in new and existing housing stock

 

The Strategy had been drafted based on the findings of the extensive engagement activity, which captured the views and opinions of key stakeholders in relation to both the housing challenges and opportunities facing the city. This process had been used to establish the above key priority themes and agree practical ambitions to respond to these challenges.

 

Once the Housing Strategy had been finalised, a delivery plan would be developed. The actions detailed in the delivery plan would set out a clear blueprint for how the Council would realise this strategy’s vision and fulfil the commitments that had been made. The delivery plan would be reviewed on an ongoing basis and refreshed as per the workstreams that sit under it.

 

Councillor Johnson sought clarity on how the monitoring of outcomes would be achieved and noted that the equality impact assessment did not identify any potential risks of the strategy.

 

Councillor Leech sought clarity on the number of affordable homes that the strategy would deliver and on what basis was this figure determined.

 

Councillor Akbar welcomed the positive difference the strategy would make to residents of Manchester, including the tackling of rogue landlords.

 

Decisions

 

The Executive agrees to adopt the Manchester Housing Strategy (2022-2032).

64.

HS2 Update and Petition pdf icon PDF 420 KB

Report of the Strategic Director (Growth and Development) attached

Minutes:

The Executive considered a report of the Strategic Director (Growth and Development), which detailed the current progress of the High Speed (Crewe – Manchester) Bill (known as ‘HS2 Phase 2b’) in Parliament and outlined the key issues which the Council intended to petition against.

 

The House of Commons passed the Second Reading of the Bill on 20 June, meaning the Select Committee stage (i.e., petitioning stage) of the parliamentary process had now formally commenced, with a deadline for any petitions to be returned by no later than 5pm on 4 August 2022.

 

Manchester was continuing to work closely with Greater Manchester (GM) Partners in preparing their respective petitions, as well as with neighbouring authorities, such as Cheshire East on issues of joint concern. The Council’s petition would be aligned with those of other GM partners, whilst emphasising and highlighting issues of particular concern for the city.

 

A number of the key areas that the Council would be petitioning on included:-

 

·                The proposals for a surface terminus station at Manchester Piccadilly;

·                The lack of a commitment to commitment to remove Gateway House on Station Approach;

·                The lack of consideration of local transport and environment, zero carbon and clean air policies in relation to a proposed gyratory junction layout at Pin Mill Brow;

·                The proposals for two multi storey car parks with a total capacity of approximately 2,000 parking spaces situated on the proposed Boulevard included in the Piccadilly SRF;

·                The relocation of the current ramp used by Network Rail to access the viaduct at Piccadilly Station for maintenance and catering;

·                The proposed new sub surface Metrolink Piccadilly stop did not fully integrate Metrolink with the high-speed and classic rail services or provide adequate future-proofing;

·                The proposed passive provision for NPR connections to Leeds in the Ardwick area;

·                Issues with the Manchester Tunnel ventilation shafts and south tunnel portal; and

·                The need for improved Integration of HS2 and Metrolink with Manchester Airport.

 

The Council would complete the petition and submit it to the House of Commons by the deadline of 4 August 2022 and would also review the first Additional Provision to identify whether it should also submit a petition on that. Following submission, the Council would prepare to appear before the Select Committee to represent and protect the interests of the Council, its residents, communities and businesses, and ensure the best scheme for the city, the North of England and the UK.

 

Councillor Stanton endorsed the petition being out forward to ensure HS2 fully mitigated any loss of the flood basin capacity in West Didsbury for the best protection of residents and businesses in the area.

 

Councillor Johnson supported the reasons for the Council petitioning the Bill, recognising the plans for Piccadilly station did not future proof the station and the need for improved integration with Manchester Airport.

 

Councillor Leech commented on the large number of vehicle movements that would come as part of the construction works and the need to address these as part of the petition.

 

Decisions

 

The Executive:-  ...  view the full minutes text for item 64.

65.

Community Development in Manchester pdf icon PDF 736 KB

Report of the Director of Public Health attached

Minutes:

The Executive considered a report of the Director of Public Health, which set out the context and rationale for the proposal to bring back into Council control the provision of the community development service to be delivered by the Neighbourhoods Directorate.

 

Community development brought people in a community together to take action on what was important to them.  Good quality community development formed the basis of the “communities and power” theme of Manchester’s Building Back Fairer action plan and would also be critical to the success of the entire plan.  This would be achieved by helping communities to organise, and to identify the issues they wanted to address or the opportunities they wanted to explore. The intention was that community groups would be supported to use their skills and experiences and make the most of local assets to bring about positive changes and improve community life.

 

The Council currently had a contract with Greater Manchester Mental Health (GMMH) Foundation Trust, to deliver the Buzz neighbourhood health and wellbeing service (the service has two elements - community development and knowledge and information). The contract with GMMH was scheduled to expire on 31 December 2022.

 

Although a lot of good work is already happening, many of our current approaches, while well intentioned, still focus on providing some form of service to a community, providing them with information/signposting, or supporting a community to set up a service based on a need we have identified. More could be done to focus on equity, strengthening the focus on what is important to communities and enabling them to take action, and facilitating this way of working across all the social determinants of health.

 

The ‘new’ community development approach would sit within the Council’s Neighbourhoods Directorate and link with current activities to enable and embed a resource that released the capacity of the whole system to deliver the Building Back Fairer action plan. This proposal sought to strengthen and add value to the work already happening to support a community development approach that was appropriate for Manchester and build capacity to deliver the action plan with local communities. It built on the knowledge and experience of the Buzz Neighbourhood Health and Wellbeing Service, whilst recognizing the civic leadership role of the Council and the new place-based leadership arrangements under the Integrated Care System.

 

A ‘task and finish’ group had been established to support the design and implementation of the new approach.  All relevant stakeholders, including key staff from Population Health, the Neighbourhoods Directorate, Performance Research and Intelligence, the Manchester Local Care Organisation, Human Resources and Legal Services, VCSE sector and Buzz staff would be consulted, and formal processes undertaken. The Senior Responsible Officers would be the Assistant Director of Population Health and the Head of Neighbourhoods.

 

Decisions

 

The Executive:-

 

(1)      Approve the proposal that the delivery of a Community Development service will be provided by the Council’s Neighbourhoods Directorate when the current contract with GMMH for the Buzz Health and Wellbeing service ends on 31 December 2022.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 65.

66.

Disposal of Land at Greenwood Road and Gladeside Road, Woodhouse Park pdf icon PDF 330 KB

Report of the Strategic Director (Growth and Development) attached

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Executive considered a report of the Strategic Director (Growth and Development), which sought approval to grant a new, overriding development lease to Wythenshawe Community Housing Group of land at Greenwood Road and Gladeside Road, Woodhouse Park, Wythenshawe, to facilitate the delivery of a social tenure housing scheme supported by Homes England funding.

 

The development would comprise of a new residential scheme of 40 apartments all of which were to be a social rent tenure. The scheme would be low carbon and sustainable, employing technologies such as heat pumps and solar panels.

 

The proposed lease was for a term of 990 years at a premium of £310,000 which was less than the best consideration that could reasonably be obtained on the basis of an unrestricted disposal.  The total reduction in sales price was £125,000.  This was considered an acceptable compromise and a good result given the Council would be securing 40 new homes, all for social rent.

 

Decisions

 

The Executive:-

 

(1)      Approve the basis of the land transaction at less than best consideration.

 

(2)      Authorise the Strategic Director (Growth and Development) to finalise the terms of the transaction as set out in this report.

 

(3)      Authorise the City Solicitor to enter into and complete all documents and agreements necessary to give effect to the recommendations.

67.

Review of Home to School Travel support including draft policies and developing a new approach to improve service delivery pdf icon PDF 266 KB

Report of the Director of Education and Head of Access and Sufficiency attached

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Executive considered a report of the Director of Education, which set out the proposal to adopt two Home to School travel support policies. These proposals would apply to all applicants for pupils starting at reception in primary schools and year 7 at secondary schools in September 2023.   It would also apply to young people entering post 16 or post 19 provision in years 12 and 14

 

All children and young people would have an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP) to be eligible for support.

 

Both policies are based on the following principles:

 

·                A commitment to ensuring children and young people could fulfil their potential and that all children and young people with significant special educational needs or disability should lead lives that were as independent and as free from restriction as possible;

·                Promoting inclusive opportunities to enable children and young people to  travel to and from school or college independently or using family based approaches similar to those used by other children and young people wherever possible, taking account of their age and needs;

·                Promoting sustainable, safe, healthy and appropriate travel solutions by working in partnership with parents/carers to support them with their legal responsibility to make sure their children attend school;

·                A commitment to equality of opportunity and the celebration of diversity and an opposition to all forms of discrimination; and

·                Efficient use of public resources, delivering better outcomes and providing better value for money.

 

Feedback from young people through different forums and through the recent OFSTED inspection had been consistent. Young people with SEND wanted to learn to travel independently and where possible travel to school or college in the same way as their peers.  Consequently, the policies would introduce a number of new travel solutions to support this principle. The aim was for children and young people with SEND to be able to walk or cycle to school and to travel independently using our public transport to attend education provision. Travel by minibus or taxi would remain an option where families required this transport support.

 

As part of a review of wider service improvement, a review of current active routes would be undertaken to ensure that vehicles were being fully utilised.  In addition discussions with current operators would take place to review their capacity in order to provide additional journeys in September and also review what support would be required from the Local Authority to ensure these journeys could continue into the next academic year.

 

Decisions

 

The Executive:-

 

(1)      Agree in principle the Home to School Travel support policy for 5–16-year-olds, the Home to School Travel support policy for post 16 and the Home to School Travel support summary.

 

(2)      Agree that the Director of Education consults on the proposed implementation of these policies.

 

(3)      Authorises the Director of Education to consider any responses received to the consultation and to agree to the implementation of the proposed policies if she considers it appropriate to do so.

 

(4)      Note the work to date on the wider  ...  view the full minutes text for item 67.

68.

Manchester Accommodation Business Improvement District (BID)

Report to follow

Minutes:

This item was deferred to September’s meeting.