To allow Members an opportunity to [a] declare any personal, prejudicial or disclosable pecuniary interests they might have in any items which appear on this agenda; and [b] record any items from which they are precluded from voting as a result of Council Tax/Council rent arrears; [c] the existence and nature of party whipping arrangements in respect of any item to be considered at this meeting. Members with a personal interest should declare that at the start of the item under consideration.  If Members also have a prejudicial or disclosable pecuniary interest they must withdraw from the meeting during the consideration of the item.

Councillor Ogunbambo declared a personal interest in item 7.  

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday, 9 January 2024.

Decision: That the minutes of the previous meeting, held on 9 January 2024, be approved as a correct record.  

Report of the Joint Director of Equality, Inclusion and Engagement.

This report provides an overview of the requirement for Manchester City Council to publish an annual Public Sector Equality Duty report. The draft report is appended for comment prior to publication in March 2024.

The committee considered a report of the Joint Director of Equality, Inclusion and Engagement which provided the draft Public Sector Equality Duty report prior to publication in March 2024 and provided an overview of the requirement for Manchester City Council to publish this. 

Key points and themes within the report included: 

·       The Council’s 3 Equality Objectives for 2020-2024; 

o   Knowing Manchester Better 

o   Improving Life Chances 

o   Celebrating Our Diversity 

·       Progress made against these objectives through leadership and accountability’ systems and structures; governance and reporting; people, culture and behaviours; digital, knowledge and insight; and measures and motivators; 

·       The need for an intersectional approach to analysing and acting upon data; 

·       Previous reports to the committee on Communities of Identity and the LGBTQIA+ Deep Dive; 

·       How the Council’s equality objectives and plans were governed through the Corporate Equalities, Diversity and Inclusion Leadership Group; and 

·       The work of Making Manchester Fairer and Community Health Equity Manchester (CHEM). 

Some of the key points and queries that arose from the committee’s discussion included: 

·       Requesting clarification on statistics in the report relating to the percentage of households with at least one person who can speak English as their main language and the LGBT+ population in Manchester; 

·       The need for tangible case studies of how barriers were being tackled with marginalised groups such as black, Asian and minority ethnicities (BAME) and disabled people; and  

·       Welcoming the recognition of those experiencing homelessness, carers, care leavers, armed forces personnel and those living in poverty.  

The Strategic Lead: Health Equity and Inclusion, Manchester Integrated Care Partnership, stated that the report provided an overview of what had been delivered by the Council and other stakeholders against the statutory equality duties. She highlighted how equality, diversity and inclusion had been embedded across the Council’s work. She stated that good progress had been made and recognised that there was a scale and need that would be set out in new equality objectives for 2024-2028 to provide greater focus.  

The Chair invited a member of the public to make representations to the committee. The member of the public requested clarification on how structural policies, processes and procedures that excluded sexual orientation and gender identity or expression, and that denies a person’s identity, would be dismantled and where responsibility lay for compliance to the Public Sector Equality Duty when Council services were contracted out, with particular reference to GLL. They also highlighted the importance of wording, definitions, data integrity and monitoring. A full response would be provided outside of the meeting.  

In response to a point raised by the Chair regarding statistics in the report, members were advised that this should read that English was not the main language for 97,192 residents. Of these, 75,760 (77.9%) could speak English well or very well, and 21,432 (22.1%) said they cannot. Further clarification on the LGBT+ population would be provided following the meeting.  

The Strategic Lead: Health Equity and Inclusion, Manchester Integrated Care Partnership, stated that the Census was a useful source of information but that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.

Report of the Joint Director of Equality, Inclusion and Engagement.

This report sets out the Council’s approach to developing its proposed Equality Objectives (2024-2028) which builds on the existing objectives. The report includes the rationale for the proposed Equality Objectives (2024-2028) as set out in the report.

The committee considered a report of the Joint Director of Equality, Inclusion and Engagement which provided an overview of the approach to developing the Council’s refreshed Equality Objectives for 2024-2028. 

Key points and themes within the report included: 

·        Providing an introduction and background to the Council’s existing Equality Objectives for 2020-2024; 

·        How the Council meets its statutory equality duties;  

·        The approach to refreshing the Equality Objectives through building on and strengthening existing strategies, successes and other work; 

·        Progress made against current objectives; 

·        Rationale and associated actions for each proposed Equality Objectives for 2024-2028, which were: 

o   Promoting inclusive employment and work 

o   Promoting timely and proportionate community involvement and engagement 

o   Delivering inclusive and accessible services. 

·        How these objectives would be delivered and monitored; and 

·        Next steps and timeline for the publication of the 2024-2028 Equality Objectives.  

Some of the key points and queries that arose from the committee’s discussion included: 

·        Welcoming the proposed new equality objectives; 

·        How the Council worked to foster good relations between those who shared protected characteristics and those who did not;  

·        How success would be measured, and requesting that the delivery plan be provided to a future meeting; 

·        Suggesting that the Council only enter into contracts with companies that share similar equality values or who sign up to the Council’s equality objectives;  

·        When the socioeconomic disadvantage duty would be adopted by the Council; 

·        How success in reducing socioeconomic disadvantage would be measured and monitored; 

·        Welcoming plans for community engagement on the draft equality objectives;  

·        How trauma-informed work would be integrated with the objectives;   

·        How social mobility work could be embedded in North Manchester;  

·        Requesting statistics on the percentage of school leavers who were in care and were not in further or higher education, employment, or training 9 months after leaving school; 

·        The need to consider poverty and class, which were not mentioned in the report despite poverty cutting across many different characteristics and restricting access to employment; and 

·        When a further update could be provided to the committee.  

The Head of Equalities stated that a whole-systems approach would be taken to developing the new equality objectives and that these would ensure that equalities were embedded in all strategic drivers across the Council. She stated that an intersectional approach would also be taken as the Council understood the layers of disadvantage within different groups and communities. The new equality objectives would build on the current three objectives to recognise successes and feedback from residents. She advised that the objectives would be strategically aligned and would reflect the commitments of the Making Manchester Fairer (MMF) programme, the Workforce Equality Strategy and the Work and Skills Strategy. Members were advised that the engagement process would expand on previous public engagement and to reach key communities.  

The Head of Equalities explained that the draft equality objectives included inclusive employment and work; timely and proportionate community involvement and engagement; and delivering inclusive and accessible services. She stated that there would be a significant focus on metrics and measurements  ...  view the full minutes text for item 11.

Report of the Strategic Director (Neighbourhoods).

This report highlights the annual (January to December 2023) progress that has been made by Manchester Active in the development and achievement of the Manchester Sport and Physical Activity Strategy and the progress made using sport and physical activity to enable Manchester residents to be healthier and happier.

The committee considered a report of the Strategic Director (Neighbourhoods) which highlighted the annual progress made by Manchester Active in the development and achievement of the Manchester Sport and Physical Activity Strategy. It also provided an overview of the progress made using sport and physical activity to enable Manchester residents to be healthier and happier.  

Key points and themes within the report included: 

·       Providing an introduction and background to Manchester Active and the Sport and Physical Activity Strategy;  

·       The Strategy’s vision, priority themes and enabling themes;  

·       Updates on walking and cycling;  

·       The Physical Activity Referral Service (PARS); 

·       Facilities and opportunities for young people and Holiday Activity Funding (HAF);  

·       Major sporting events held and scheduled to be held in Manchester; 

·       How residents are informed about sport, physical activity and health; 

·       An overview of completed projects that created new or improved existing built sports facilities; and  

·       Next steps.  

Some of the key points and queries that arose from the committee’s discussion included: 

·       Welcoming the promotional video and querying whether this could be displayed on advertising boards across the city; 

·       Highlighting positive developments in Withington parks and at Hough End Leisure Centre and House of Sport;  

·       The role of Neighbourhood Sports Officers;  

·       Noting statistics that 32% of children in Greater Manchester were inactive, and querying whether this included PE lessons in schools;  

·       What activities were offered to motivate and increase participation among children and young people; 

·       Take-up rates for free swimming;  

·       Whether free swimming was still offered to those aged over 60;  

·       Whether there would be any additional place-based activities offered through the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme;  

·       The impact on HAF if the government did not continue to provide the Household Support Fund (HSF); and  

·       How the Council and Manchester Active could improve access to sports and leisure facilities for those least able to afford it.  

The Executive Member for Skills, Employment and Leisure stated that Manchester Active played a strong and vital role in local communities and neighbourhoods in supporting the economy, reconnecting communities and rebuilding a stronger society that enabled residents to be healthier and happier. He stated that 2023 was a landmark year for sport, physical health and activity in Manchester with over 25 major events held in the city. He commented that UK Sport would be providing £1.1m to the city and that Manchester retained its status as a global city of sport which would inspire positive change and ensure a legacy pathway for Manchester athletes to excel. He highlighted how the city had been named European Capital of Cycling for 2024, which would be a strong platform to secure additional funding and investment into cycling provision. The committee was also advised that over 20,000 children benefitted from the free Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme which delivered 150,000 meals. He also highlighted several other achievements.  

The Executive Member for Skills, Employment and Leisure acknowledged some challenges and areas for improvement, such as strengthening the digital platform to enable residents to find and easily access activity opportunities.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 12.

Report of the Strategic Director (Neighbourhoods).

This report provides an overview of the purpose of the Council’s Community Events Fund (CEF) to include details on how it is administered, and an outline of events funded in the financial year 2023-24. The report also outlines the challenges that the sector currently faces and considerations that may influence the City Council’s approach to future funding for community events.

The committee considered a report of the Strategic Director (Neighbourhoods) which provided an overview of the purpose of the Council’s Community Events Fund (CEF) and included details on how it is administered, and an outline of events funded in the 2023-24 financial year. 

Key points and themes within the report included: 

·       Providing an introduction and background to community events;  

·       Criteria for receiving CEF; 

·       CEF was split into a Restricted Fund, for recurring and targeted annual events, and an Unrestricted Fund, which provided grants to support groups through the application process; 

·       An overview of each event in receipt of CEF, including how much funding was awarded; 

·       The community reach of the Caribbean Carnival, GobeFest, MACFEST and South Asian Heritage Month events, as previously requested by the Committee;  

·       Challenges currently facing the events sector; and  

·       Considerations that may influence the Council’s approach to future funding for community events. 

Some of the key points and queries that arose from the committee’s discussion included: 

·       Why the Diwali Mela event did not meet the criteria for CEF; 

·       How the Council encouraged new groups to organise events and apply for CEF;  

·       Why a budget had been assigned to the Irish Festival when the total event budget and the CEF application request were still to be confirmed;  

·       What support and feedback was provided to organisations whose applications were rejected to help them improve future bids;  

·       Whether commitment was sought from major event holders such as Wythenshawe Games and Parklife Festival to provide funding for smaller community events;  

·       Welcoming the funding for the Wythenshawe Games, and querying whether this was a one-time grant or if it would be maintained year-on-year;  

·       Whether privately funded events gave the Council less leverage over and input into how parks and open spaces were used; 

·       How small events could be grown and encouraged whilst maintaining capacity for funding; and  

·       If the Council’s Events team offered apprenticeships.  

The Executive Member for Skills, Employment and Leisure explained that the report focused on the Community Events Fund (CEF) and that it also highlighted the challenges faced by the events sector and how CEF had been allocated in 2023/24. He explained that a review of applications for 2024/25 was underway and that it would be interesting to see what would be brought forward by communities. He recognised that the level of funding available would be unable to support all applications and that the Council continued to develop commercial opportunities in parks and open spaces that would create additional funding streams to ensure the continued delivery of a vibrant community events programme.  

In response to a query regarding the Diwali Mela, the Head of Events Development explained that this event could not take place due to operational issues and that some funding from 2023/24 had been carried over. This was accounted for in the service’s budget to ensure that the Mela would be financially stable if it was able to operate again in future years.  

The Director of Neighbourhood Delivery stated that the Council recognised the fantastic work  ...  view the full minutes text for item 13.

Report of the Deputy Chief Executive and City Treasurer.

This report sets out the latest forecast revenue budget position, and the next steps. Following the Provisional Finance Settlement announced 18 December 2023 the Council is forecasting an estimated budget shortfall of £38m in 2024/25, £79m in 2025/26, and £90m by 2026/27. After the application of approved and planned savings, and the use of c.£17m smoothing reserves in each of the three years, the budget is balanced for 2024/25 and the remaining gap reduce to £29m in 2025/26 and £41m by 2026/27. This position assumes that savings of £21.4m are delivered next year.  

This report provides a high-level overview of the updated budget position. Each scrutiny committee is invited to consider the current proposed changes which are within its remit and to make recommendations to the Executive before it agrees the final budget proposals on 14 February 2024.

In opening the item, the Chair informed the committee that items 9 and 9a would be considered together and the committee considered a report of the Deputy Chief Executive and City Treasurer which provided an overview of the Council’s updated budget position for 2024/25 and a?report of the Strategic Director (Neighbourhoods) which?provided a further update on the priorities for the services in the remit of this committee and detailed changes to the initial revenue budget options proposed by officers in November 2023.  

Key points and themes within the reports included: 

·       Changes to the Council’s budget position following the Autumn Statement and Provisional Local Government Finance Settlement; 

·       After the application of approved and planned savings, and the use of c.£17m smoothing reserves in each of the three years, the budget is balanced for 2024/25 with a budget gap of £29m in 2025/26 and £41m by 2026/27. This position assumed that savings of £21.4m would be delivered next year; 

·       Actions totalling £15m, to ensure that the Council had a balanced budget for 2024/25; 

·       Highlighting that the Council had undertaken careful long-term financial planning which involved making some difficult decisions around cost reduction and doing things differently but that a significant and growing budget gap remained from 2025/26; 

·       Full analysis and results of the public consultation would be reported to the Budget Resources and Governance Scrutiny Committee meeting in late February; 

·       Next steps in the budget process; 

·       Providing an overview and information on the priorities of the Neighbourhoods directorate; 

·       The services under the remit of this committee; 

·       The base budgets for each service area for 2023/24; 

·       Noting that a temporary reduction in the annual £40k contribution to the security measures for the Christmas Markets whilst Albert Square is unavailable would be re-introduced once the markets return to Albert Square; 

·       The proposal to reduce the book fund budget by £30k had been removed following the committee’s feedback in November 2023;  

·       An annual £2m contribution from the Capital Fund would be used to support the events commission and funded through the growth in retained business rates; 

·       Government grants and the income they provide; 

·       Workforce implications; 

·       Future opportunities; 

·       The indicative medium-term budgets by service area; 

·       The indicative medium-term budgets by type of spend/income; and  

·       A breakdown of the Community Safety budget, as previously requested by the Committee.  

Some of the key points and queries that arose from the committee’s discussion included: 

·       Commending the work of officers in setting a balanced budget for 2024/25; 

·       Expressing concern over the uncertainty of the continuation of the Household Support Fund from government; 

·       Welcoming the withdrawal of a previous proposal to reduce the book fund budget by £30k; 

·       Expressing concern over funding for homelessness prevention and support and recognising how central government failed to provide appropriate funding for areas most in need, like Manchester; 

·       Recognising that households in Manchester were still feeling the impacts of the cost-of-living crisis; 

·       How the Council would reassure residents that there would not be cuts to vital services, particularly for those most vulnerable; 

·       Expressing  ...  view the full minutes text for item 14.

Report of the Governance and Scrutiny Support Unit.

The monthly report includes the recommendations monitor, relevant key decisions, the Committee’s work programme and any items for information.

The committee considered a report of the Governance and Scrutiny Support Unit which contained a list of key decisions yet to be taken within the Committee’s remit, responses to previous recommendations and the Committee’s work programme, which the Committee was asked to approve.  

? 

Decision: 

That the report be noted, and the work programme agreed.