To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 3 December 2024.

Decision: To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 3 December 2024.

Report of the Director of Public Health.

This report provides a summary of progress of work to support delivery of Manchester’s age friendly strategy Manchester: a city for life 2023-2028. 

The committee considered a report of the Director of Public Health which detailed the progress of work to support delivery of Manchester’s age friendly strategy Manchester: a city for life 2023-2028.

Key points and themes within the report included:

• The background to the strategy, which was launched in November 2023;
• The themes included in the strategy:
  • Being heard and age equality
  • Age-friendly neighbourhoods whether we can all age in place
  • Age-friendly services that support us to age well
  • Age-friendly work, skills and money
• Recruitment to the Age Friendly Manchester Board;
• Work to increase older peoples voice, visibility and involvement;
• Digital inclusion;
• Connecting with the most marginalised older residents;
• Contributions to the North Manchester General Hospital Strategy;
• The LGBTQ+ Majority Extra Care Housing Scheme;
• Social Connections projects in Crumpsall, Cheetham and Gorton; and
• Promotion of Pension Credit and entitlements.

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

• Barriers in recruiting representatives from Asian, South East Asian, African Caribbean communities and from North and East Manchester to the Age Friendly Board;
• The metrics used to measure success of the social connections mapping work in Crumpsall, Cheetham Hill and Gorton and whether this would be used to inform a citywide implementation of the programme;
• How many eligible residents were not claiming pension credit, and what work was being done to reach these people;
• How healthcare provisions helped to ensure reach with older people through this work;
• How walking route mapping work with Manchester Metropolitan University would be used;
• What influence the Council had in ensuring that footpaths were fit-for-purpose and suitable for older people;
• Commending the Age Friendly Manchester Board’s manifesto video, and querying how widely this was being shared; and
• Thanking officers for a recent older persons’ event held in Newton Heath library.

Introducing the report, the Director of Public Health explained that the age friendly strategy was launched in 2023 with delivery beginning in January 2024. She stated that the report provided an update on progress of this work to ensure that older people had a voice and that equality was addressed through the delivery of age-friendly services and work, skills and income.

Representatives from the Age Friendly Manchester Board, Winning Hearts and Minds and Wythenshawe Good Neighbours attended the meeting and provided an overview of their work to the committee. The committee also considered the Age Friendly Manchester Board’s manifesto ‘They Call Us Baby Boomers’ which was presented through video.

In response to members’ queries, the Programme Lead explained that significant outreach work was undertaken with groups and networks in the Asian, South East Asian, African and Afro-Caribbean communities and through the Council’s Neighbourhood teams and the voluntary sector. She stated that the Board was made  up of diverse representatives but there remained an ambition for greater representation particularly from the disabled community and different areas of the city. Members were advised that the Board had two representatives from a Black Caribbean background, one from the South Asian community and one representative of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.

Report of the Strategic Director (Neighbourhoods).

Further to the motion agreed by Full Council on 12July 2023, this report provides an update on gaining the Local Authority of Sanctuary accreditation and the strategy for people seeking sanctuary which has been developed as part of the accreditation process. This report also provides the committee with an update on the support provided to migrants arriving and living in Manchester, including the challenges experienced and positive impacts for the city. 

The committee considered a report of the Strategic Director (Neighbourhoods) which provided an update on gaining the Local Authority of Sanctuary accreditation, the strategy for people seeking sanctuary which was developed as part of the accreditation process and an update on the support provided to migrants arriving and living in Manchester.

Key points and themes within the report included:

• The Council passed a motion in July 2023 to become a Local Authority of Sanctuary, which was awarded in October 2024, and continues to support a number of people who are seeking sanctuary in the city;
• The Asylum Service, consisting of both contingency hotel and dispersed property accommodation, is provided by Serco on behalf of the Home Office. The Council does not manage or commission this service;
• Support available under the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS) and the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP);
• Support for Ukrainian nationals;
• Support for Chagossians;
• Support for Hong Kong British Nationals (overseas);
• The work and role of the Regional Strategic Migration Partnership (RSMP);
• Support provided by the Home Office to those seeking asylum in Manchester; and
• The introduction of eVisas as a record of immigration status and the Council’s role in raising awareness of this change.

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

·       Recognising Manchester’s long record of being a city of sanctuary;

·       What support the Council provided to residents who needed to move onto an eVisa;

·       How the Council monitored the support provided to those in asylum contingency accommodation ran by Serco, and what mechanisms were in place to address concerns;

·       The improvements that the Council would like to form part of the Home Office’s future contract for asylum accommodation;

·       How many people in Manchester were required to transition onto an eVisa;

·       The number of Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) in Manchester operated by Serco;

·       The deadline for people to transfer onto an eVisa;

·       How the Housing service supported those arriving in Manchester;

·       If the Council owed a Homelessness duty to those sleeping outside of the Town Hall;

·       Whether there were plans to hold job search drop-in sessions in libraries outside of Harpurhey;

·       How the Council identified and understood the culturally appropriate needs of those in asylum accommodation;

·       Whether information and guidance on the introduction of eVisas could be shared through Serco;

·       What support was provided to those coming to Manchester from other countries not referenced in the report;

·       How the 18-month extension of visas for Ukrainian nationals will be implemented and whether the Council had capacity to support this; and

·       If the voluntary sector was involved in helping Afghan residents gain skills and work experience.

The Statutory Deputy Leader introduced the report and stated that Manchester had always been a safe and welcoming city, with an array of faith and community groups supporting those seeking sanctuary. She explained the process to becoming an accredited Local Authority of Sanctuary and that this provided the opportunity for the Council to recognise and reflect on the support already offered.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

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 received a report of the Governance and Scrutiny Support Unit which provided responses to previous recommendations, details of key decisions that fell within the Committee’s remit and any items for information previously requested by the Committee.

Decision: That the report be noted.