To consider any appeals from the public against refusal to allow inspection of background documents and/or the inclusion of items in the confidential part of the agenda.

In opening the meeting, the Governance and Scrutiny Team Leader informed the committee that the Chair had submitted her apologies for the meeting.

Decision:

That Councillor Appleby be appointed as Chair for the meeting.

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 6 February 2024.

Decision:

That the minutes of the previous meeting, held on 6 February 2024, be approved as a correct record.

Report of the Strategic Director (Neighbourhoods)

This report provides an update on the key findings identified in the Manchester Indoor and Sport Built Facilities Strategy (2023-2031) and short-term action plan, to be taken forward with partners over the next 18-month period.

The Committee considered a report of the Strategic Director (Neighbourhoods) which provided an update on the key findings identified in the Manchester Indoor and Sport Built Facilities Strategy (2023-2031) and short-term action plan, to be taken forward with partners over the next 18-month period.

Key points and themes within the report included:

• Providing an introduction and background to the Strategy;
• Manchester had a strong network of indoor sport and leisure facilities and a sufficient supply to meet demand;
• The governance of the Strategy, including the work of the project steering group;
• Findings of a needs assessment study for sports halls, swimming pools, health and fitness and other facilities; and
• The strategic objectives and action plans developed from analysis and assessments.

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

• Commending the work of Manchester Active;
• Whether driving distance was an accurate method of measuring accessibility of indoor sports facilities;
• A need to develop sites with strong transport networks;
• Capacity at swimming pools, particularly for children and young people;
• Facilities for disabled service users;
• Noting the point that the majority of Manchester’s population had access to a facility within a ten-minute walk, and querying what this majority was;
• Current and future capacity of sports halls;
• How the need to prioritise demand for swimming facilities in the city centre was balanced with capacity in areas such as central Manchester; and
• Whether section 106 money received through new developments could be used to fund new indoor sports facilities.

The committee were presented with a short video to introduce the item.

In response to members’ queries, the Interim Chief Executive Officer, Manchester Active explained that Sport England recognised a 30-minute drive as the measure of accessibility to leisure facilities and Manchester Active used this measure to ensure that it followed national standards. He stated that Manchester Active focused on local active travel to ensure that each facility could be easily accessed. He highlighted that Manchester had been named the European Capital of Cycling for 2024, which would help to publicise the ability for residents to cycle to sports facilities.

The Facility Strategy and Capital Project Lead, Manchester Active explained that there was a strong network of sports hall facilities in the city and most residents lived within a 10-minute walk of a sports hall and within 20 minutes of active travel to a swimming pool.

The Interim Chief Executive Officer, Manchester Active stated that recently built schools and those that Manchester Active were currently working with had to adhere to Community Use Agreements. He explained that agreements with Academies were not as definitive and that use of these facilities relied on working with the schools, many of which were receptive to the opportunity. The Facility Strategy and Capital Project Lead, Manchester Active explained that a planning condition regarding use of sports facilities was enforced on any new school development and Manchester Active was involved in site management arrangements to ensure that a local sports development plan could be implemented  ...  view the full minutes text for item 18.

Report of the Strategic Director (Neighbourhoods)

This report provides the Committee with an update on the library strategy and to present future plans.

The Committee considered a report of the Strategic Director (Neighbourhoods) which provided an update on the Library Strategy and presented future plans.

Key points and themes within the report included:

• Providing an introduction and background;
• How the Library Strategy was delivered in 2023 and how it would be delivered in future;
• How the library service contributed to the Council’s priorities;
• How the libraries performed in 2023;
• The range of services provided across the city;
• Engagement with children, young people and businesses;
• How libraries supported health and wellbeing; and
• A response to the Sanderson Review of Public Libraries.

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

• Recognising the important contributions of library volunteers;
• Requesting that the Avenue Library and Learning Centre in Blackley open for longer;
• Acknowledging that many libraries were fulfilling those functions of the state that the government had failed to do since 2010;
• What challenges could face the library sector if the Conservative Party won the next General Election;
• How the introduction of new Open Plus technology increased opening hours; and
• How cybersecurity was addressed, particularly given the breach at the British Library in 2023.

In introducing the item, the Executive Member for Skills, Employment and Leisure took the opportunity to thank the Council’s officers and partners for their work, particularly in the context of 14 years of government austerity, and he encouraged members and residents to recognise the Council’s achievements.

The Deputy Executive Member for Skills, Employment and Leisure also expressed thanks to library staff and stated that libraries were the heart of Manchester’s communities and helped to improve the lives of residents. She highlighted the different services which Manchester’s libraries offered, such as addressing period poverty through the Package for Val scheme, which she stated demonstrated how libraries positively impacted the lives of residents. She also highlighted the Council’s continued investment, such as the opening of three new libraries in Gorton, Abraham Moss and Northenden.

The Head of Libraries, Galleries, Culture and Youth, Play and Participation Services explained that 2024 was a special year for Manchester’s libraries as it marked the 90-year anniversary of Central Library’s original opening in 1934 and the 10-year anniversary of it reopening. 

Videos about Central Library and Newton Heath Library were also played to the committee.

In response to a query regarding the potential challenges facing the library sector in the future, the Executive Member for Skills, Employment and Leisure stated that there would be a significant funding challenge across local government which libraries would not be immune to. He stated that there was a possibility in changes in technology and library usage but explained that the Libraries Strategy addressed these issues. The Head of Libraries, Galleries, Culture and Youth, Play and Participation Services stated that usage of libraries was close to pre-pandemic levels and that officers continued to make libraries welcoming and accessible through extended opening hours and the use of Open Plus technology.

The committee was informed that many libraries had certain  ...  view the full minutes text for item 19.

Report of the Strategic Director (Neighbourhoods)

This report provides the Committee with an update on the Council’s digital inclusion work, since the last report to scrutiny in March 2023. This includes the development and implementation of the Digital Inclusion Action Plan.

The committee considered a report of the Strategic Director (Neighbourhoods) which provided an update on the Council’s digital inclusion work, since the last report to the committee in March 2023.

Key points and themes within the report included:

• Proving an introduction to the Manchester Digital Strategy 2021-2026: Doing Digital Together;
• Digital inclusion work aligns with the priorities of the region, the city, and the Council;
• How digital inclusion work contributed to the Council’s strategies;
• The development and implementation of the Digital Inclusion Action Plan;
• How the digital inclusion programme was funded;
• Future priorities and projects; and
• Breakdowns of areas in the city where digital exclusion was highest.

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

• Querying if the Council’s Digital Inclusion team was working with any other LGBT+ community organisations in addition to George House Trust to help them improve their digital offer to service users;
• Whether any consideration had been given to co-designing the Council’s online systems with users;
• Whether there was any scope to work with internet service providers on the rollout of Gigabit capable broadband;
• What other markers were used to identify hotspot areas of digital exclusion;
• The importance mesh networks which would provide free internet to communities, and the need to pilot these in Manchester;
• Poor internet connectivity in Manchester’s libraries;
• Suggesting that the Council donates free dongles to residents rather than SIM cards; and
• Issues with accessing healthcare and GP appointments in an increasingly digital world.

The Executive Member for Skills, Employment and Leisure informed the committee that since the last Digital Inclusion Update, he had given evidence to a House of Lords Select Committee on digital inclusion and that this committee had been impressed by Manchester’s work in tackling this issue. He also informed the committee that the Council had developed a Digital Exclusion Index with data from several sources to understand the level of digital skills in the city. He stated that there were currently around 12 hotspot areas where support was focused. 

The Deputy Executive Member for Skills, Employment and Leisure explained that focus was placed on inclusion with digital channels as a vehicle for this. She commented that those digitally excluded often faced other kinds of exclusion and disadvantage and were disproportionately affected. She stated that a USwitch report in July 2023 found that Manchester was the most digitally inclusive city in the UK, which meant that there were more organisations and community groups offering digital skills support per capita than anywhere else in the country. It was stated that the Digital Inclusion Steering Group influenced the work undertaken with partners, such as third-sector organisations; the NHS; education; social media and public affairs companies; Microsoft; and local technology start-ups.

The Libraries and Archives Lead stated that libraries played a key role in providing internet access and support to residents and that there had been a focus over the previous 12 months on supporting VCSE organisations to embed digital inclusion support, which would continue. 

In response  ...  view the full minutes text for item 20.

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.