To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 16 October 2024.

Decision

The Executive approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting on 16 October 2024.

Report of the Chief Executive attached

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 Executive Member for Housing and Development reported on a number of significant affordable housing. Developments.  He reported that the Council had approved a further £5.1m funding to progress the next four This City developments to the planning submission stage, aiming to bring forward around 600 new sustainable homes – including at least 20% affordable homes.  The new projects included sites in north and east Manchester, alongside a city centre development, which would all make use of brownfield land to support the creation of much-needed new housing. 

Work had also started on site to create 50 brand new affordable apartments for the over-55s on the site of the former Chorlton Leisure Centre. The much-anticipated development would create 47 social rent apartments for the over-55s, a mix of one and two-bed. In addition, there would be three additional neighbourhood apartments, an initiative to help those needing support and adapted accommodation following a hospital stay move out of hospital and back into the community more quickly before returning to their home.

Finally, the Executive Member for Housing and Development reported that as part of Project 500, Mosscare St Vincent (MSV) had submitted a planning application for a site in Cheetham Hill to bring forward 70 social rent homes. This was the penultimate project for phase one of Project 500 which would deliver 359 affordable homes, with at least 160 of them for social rent.  Phase two of the project was well underway with the first planning submission for the next tranche of 164 affordable houses expected in December 2024.

Councillor Johnson sought clarification as to how many of the 20% affordable homes as part of the This City development would be at social rent and whether there was any scope to increase the percentage of affordable homes

The Executive Member for Healthy Manchester and Adult Social Care and Deputy Leader (Statutory) reported that the Council and health partners had launched an awareness campaign to promote take-up of cost-of-living support and vaccinations for flu and Covid, especially among pensioners.  Among the support now available as part of the Council’s existing welfare provision scheme was a hardship fund specifically for pensioners who were in-need and would not receive the winter fuel payment but had not been identified for automatic payments. Those aged 66-79 were eligible for £150 payments and those 80 or over for £200.  Applications opened on Monday 18 November.  At the same time, the Council was working to encourage pensioners to check whether they were entitled to pension credits – and if so to claim them before the 21 December 2024 deadline. 

Councillor Johnson sought clarification as to what the total value of the hardship fund  ...  view the full minutes text for item 87.

Report of the City Treasurer attached

The Executive considered a report of the City Treasurer, which outlined the projected outturn position for 2024/25. It was based on expenditure and income as at the end of September 2024, projected to the end of the year.  The report also provided a very high level overview of the announcements within the Government’s Autumn Budget, published 30 October 2024

The Executive Member for Finance and Resources reported that the Autumn Statement and its main Spring Budget announcements did not provide exact funding updates for Local Government.  However, they did provide important indicators as to the outlook for council funding and which was used to inform the medium-term financial plan and budget process. 

Key headlines for Local Government included:-

·            Core Spending Power would increase by 3.2% in real terms in 2025/26 (this included assumed increases in Council Tax and Business Rates, as well as grant increases);

·            Grants within Core Spending Power would increase by £1.3bn (this included £600m specific to Social Care and £700m to support essential services);

·            A £233m increase in funding for homelessness pressures and £1bn to extend Household Support Fund and Discretionary Housing Payments to 2025/26;

·            An estimated £1.1b for the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) packaging scheme, starting in January 2025 (this was a levy on producers of packaging to encourage more environmentally friendly and recyclable packaging, with the proceeds being passed to councils who collect and disposal of that waste); and

·            A £2.3bn increase to funding for the school’s budget, £1bn of which related to SEND (estimated at c£7.6m for Manchester which was an additional £1.0m more than expected) with the £1.3bn balance covering the teacher's pay award, increase to central budgets and support for the recruitment of 6,500 new teachers in England

It was not yet known how the additional amounts would be allocated across Local Authorities, however, Ministers had indicated additional funding would be targeted through a deprivation-based approach.  Whilst it was positive that the relative cost of delivering services was recognised, this made it more difficult to forecast what the Council may receive, as it was likely new formulas will be developed. 

Further details on the Local Government position were expected in a policy document which would be released by the Ministry for Housing, Communities and local Government (MHCLG).   In previous years this had been received in late November/early December, with the provisional settlement with individual Local Authority allocations published late December, prior to Christmas. 

The Executive Member for Finance and Resources stated that budget announcements would result in additional resources compared to that assumed in the MTFS, however offset against this were several increased pressures which must be considered as part of refreshing the 2025/26 budget. 

The current budget monitoring forecast was an overspend of £20.0m, an increase of £2.6m from the last reported position.  Children’s Services directorate was projecting an overspend of £8.7m, down £0.5m from the last reported position.  The biggest pressure continued to relate to external residential placements for Looked After Children (LAC).  Placements were 16 higher than the number  ...  view the full minutes text for item 88.

Report of the City Treasurer attached

The Executive considered a report of the City Treasurer, which informed Members of progress against the delivery of the 2024/25 capital programme to the end of September 2024, the latest forecast of capital expenditure and the major variances and the proposed financing of capital expenditure for 2024/25 and affordability of the Capital Programme.

The Executive Member for Finance and Resources stated that the latest forecast of expenditure for 2024/25 financial year was £477m compared to the current approved budget of £600m. Spend as of 30 September 2024 was £120m.  The £904m multi-year programme was subject to continual review to establish whether the forecast remained achievable. Whilst the intention was for the Council to progress the programme as stated, some projects and their sources of funding may require re-profiling across future years.

It was reported that the main variances related the Our Town Hall project, Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund, Asset Management Programme, Back of Ancoats Mobility Hub and Public Realm, Hammerstone Road and Collyhurst Programme. These variances mostly related to timing differences meaning reprofiling would be required.

The current forecasts showed that the financing costs remained affordable within the revenue budget available including reserves.   The capital financing reserves would start to be drawn down to meet the costs associated with the borrowing in 2024/25. The model was based on a significant number of assumptions, including the timing of future borrowing and forecast future interest rates and the position was subject to change.

It had previously been reported that many projects in the capital programme had faced an extremely challenging threeyear period with intense pressures on costs due to extraordinary levels of inflation and unprecedented pressure on the supply chain (labour and materials availability). These pressures continued to be seen and remained a significant risk across the capital programme.  Although inflation was falling, the impacts of a sustained inflationary period could still be seen in the construction sector. Annual average for all construction works remained 1.2% lower than the average from the previous year, although this remained at elevated levels, being 18.8% higher than the level in 2021.

In addition, it was reported that there were schemes that had been developed or had received external funding that were now ready for inclusion in the Capital Programme.  The proposals which required Council approval were those which were funded by the use of reserves above a cumulative total of £10 million, where the use of borrowing was required or a virement exceeded £1m. These included the following proposed changes:-

·            Public Sector Housing – High Rise Fire Safety Work.  A capital budget virement of £1.695m was requested, funded from within approved budgets, to develop and plan the delivery of remediation works to 7 high rise and 5 low rise blocks which were part of the Council owned assets (the former Northwards Housing Stock) Pas9980 surveys were undertaken to determine if the external wall construction met safety guidelines, and the results had concluded that remediation works were needed on these blocks as a matter of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 89.

Report of the Strategic Director (Growth and Development) attached

The Executive considered a report of the Strategic Director (Growth and Development), which provided an update on proposed changes to the Manchester Airport City Development and Infrastructure Framework 2012 (re-titled MIX Manchester), to capture benefits from market changes in key growth sectors.

The Leader reported that on 24 July 2024, the Executive approved the draft MIX: Airport City Strategic Regeneration Framework (SRF) as the basis for a consultation exercise with local residents, businesses and key stakeholders over an eight-week period from 13 August to 8 October 2024.  Responses had been received and collated from a wide variety of stakeholders.

Whilst there had been a relatively modest outcome in terms of the level of consultation feedback, it was apparent that there had been a good level of awareness that the consultation was taking place, and that the material had generally been accessible to residents and stakeholders. This modest level of feedback, despite the consultation's thorough reach and coverage, typically suggested that stakeholders were broadly comfortable with the information provided and therefore many individuals did not feel compelled to engage.

It was reported that that the MIX Manchester proposal had been through many iterations of public consultation and awareness in its previous guise as Airport City North.  The local population was therefore generally held to be aware of the scale and nature of the development indicated within the SRF, which represented an evolution of the plans for the Framework area rather than a substantive alteration.  Notwithstanding this general perception, the public consultation did attract a range of detailed and varied feedback to the SRF. The comments received had been considered by the project team, and where appropriate they would be addressed or incorporated within the final SRF.

A number of amendments to the SRF were proposed arising from the outcome of the consultation. The proposed updates included:-

·            Amendment to the wording around cycle/pedestrian routes to note the requirement to be designed to align with existing and future cycle/pedestrian routes outside the Framework area and associated infrastructure when connecting to the adopted highway network;

·            Identification of cycle and walking connections in and out of the site more clearly, and update references to specific footpaths which were not currently shown;

·            Note the requirement for further traffic modelling, impact analysis and any mitigation work necessary, including the existing ‘Rainbow works’ proposal;

·            Add reference to Natural England’s Green Infrastructure Framework (2023), which all green infrastructure should be in alignment with; and

·            Note the requirement for further investigation and consideration of existing watercourses and proposed drainage systems.

In conclusion, it was noted that the SRF was a high-level document which set out the vision and aspiration for MIX and once adopted, all future planning applications for development within the Framework area would be determined through a detailed and evidence-based design process which took the SRF into consideration.

Councillor Johnson sought confirmation that as part of the proposals, people would be encouraged to use active travel as opposed to their own transport to mitigate the issue of parking  ...  view the full minutes text for item 90.

Report of the Strategic Director (Children and Familes) attached

The Executive considered a report of the Strategic Director (Children and Education Services), which presented the 5th annual report for the Complex Safeguarding Hub (CSH), providing a summary of progress against key priorities and next steps with a clear rationale for the forthcoming year.

The Executive Member for Children, Young People and Families reported that 2023/24 had been a great year for CSH with lots of key achievements. It had

begun to diversify and develop more links within the community, benefiting children through its efforts.  This had resulted in convictions of perpetrators of exploitation, thereby reducing associated risks. The Hub had taken pride in the direct support it had provided to children, reaching a wide audience through its outreach efforts.

Evidenced by data, quality assurance activities, and feedback from young people and partners, the Hub was achieving meaningful change and raising aspirations despite the challenges of trauma, difficult living situations, and societal inequities.  While celebrating these achievements, it recognised the ongoing challenges in complex safeguarding and remained committed to adapting and evolving in response to the changing landscape of

exploitation.

Looking ahead to 2024/25, its focus would continue to be on collaborative efforts with partners, addressing push factors and emphasising preventative measures.  The Hub aspired to innovate and bring creativity to its work with children in the city, striving for further positive impact and sustainable change.

Decisions

The Executive:-

(1)      Note the partnership activity undertaken by the multi-agency Complex Safeguarding Hub over the past year to respond to children at risk of exploitation.

(2)      Endorse and support the proposed priorities for 2024/25.

Report of the City Solicitor attached

The Executive considered a report of the City Solicitor, which proposed the adoption of a parental leave policy for Elected Members.

The Deputy Leader advised that whilst there was no statutory entitlement to parental leave for Elected Members’ there was no prohibition on granting such entitlement on a voluntary basis.  However, the Council had a duty under the Equality Act 2010 to, in the exercise of its functions, have due regard to the need to:-

·            Eliminating unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation;

·            Advance equality of opportunity between people who share a relevant

·            protected characteristic and those who do not; and

·            Foster good relations between people who share a relevant protected

·            characteristic and those who do not.

It was considered that a Parental Leave Policy for Members would contribute to these aims.  

The objective of the Parental Leave Policy for Members, was to ensure that insofar as possible, Elected Members were able to take appropriate leave at the time of birth or adoption, that both parents were able to take leave, and that reasonable and adequate arrangements were in place to provide cover for Members who were in receipt of Special Responsibility Allowances (SRA) prior to taking parental leave, during any period of leave taken.

The report highlighted that Section 18 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 and regulations made thereunder, made provision for payment of basic allowances and special responsibility allowances (‘SRAs’) to local authority members.   A Member was only entitled to a SRA if they were actually carrying out the responsibilities associated with that SRA.  A Member would not be actually carrying out a special responsibility when they were taking parental leave and therefore would not be entitled to continue receiving a SRA under the Members’ Allowances Scheme.  It was therefore proposed that the Parental Leave Policy for Members be made under the general power of competence contained in section 1 of the Localism Act 2011 rather than the Members Allowances provisions contained in Section 18 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 and associated Regulations

It was noted that this policy would not negate Section 85 of the Local Government Act 1972, which placed a requirement on Elected Members to attend at least one meeting of the authority within a six consecutive month period.  Members of the Executive were also required to attend a meeting of the Executive within a six consecutive month period.  Any Elected Member who failed to do would cease to be a member of the authority unless the

failure was due to some reason approved by the authority before the expiry of that period.

Decisions:-

(1)       The Executive agree the Parental Leave Policy for Members

(2)       Recommend that Council endorse the Parental Leave Policy for Members and in doing so agree that, although each case must be considered on its merits, particular consideration will be given to approving the reason for absence under section 85 of the Local Government Act 1985 in the case of approved parental leave taken under this policy  ...  view the full minutes text for item 92.