To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 11 January 2024.

Decision

To approve the minutes of the Environment and Climate Change Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 11 January 2024 as a correct record.

The Committee considered the report of the Deputy Chief Executive and City Treasurer that described 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 were delivered next year. 

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

The Executive Member for Finance and Resources stated that the Government’s approach to the Local Government Settlement had been chaotic and only announced just before Christmas. He said the final announcement when announced had resulted in a cut of 84% in the Services Grant and this equated to a £6.1m cut for Manchester. He stated that this had resulted in an outcry from Local Authorities and MPs from all political parties. He stated that this situation needed to be understood in the context of fourteen years of austerity and Government funding cuts and unfunded pressures such as inflation and population growth.  

The Executive Member for Finance and Resources added that the Government then swiftly announced an additional £500m for Social Care, however Local Authorities were still facing a £4bn budget gap nationally, resulting in a number of Local Authorities serving a Section 144 notice and it was anticipated that more would follow.

The Executive Member for Finance and Resources commented that despite this Manchester had set a balanced budget and had been achieved through diligent planning and management that had witnessed the strategic investment in preventative initiatives; using financial reserves prudently and investment in activities that were important for Manchester residents, such as libraries; leisure centres; parks and green spaces and the Climate Change Action Plan.

The Executive Member for Finance and Resources stated that although Manchester had been able to deliver a balanced budget this year, the Council’s financial position is expected to become even more challenging. The projected budget gap, even after using reserves for 25/26 was £29m in 2025/26 and rising to £41m by 2026/27, adding that since 2010 the Council has had to make £443m.

The Executive Member for Finance and Resources concluded by stating that the Government had continually failed to listen to Local Authorities.

Some of the key points that arose from the Committee’s discussions were:

·         The financial situation imposed on Manchester continued to be bleak, noting that the report clearly articulated the scale of the challenge the Council faced to deliver services for Manchester residents; and

·         Was there a possibility that Manchester  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

Report of the Strategic Director (Neighbourhoods)

This report provides an update on the implementation and the delivery of the Parks Climate Change Action Plan since the last report to the Environment and Climate Change Scrutiny Committee on 9 March 2023.

The Committee considered the report of the Strategic Director (Neighbourhoods) that provided an update on the implementation and the delivery of the Parks Climate Change Action Plan (CCAP) since the last report to the Environment and Climate Change Scrutiny Committee on 9 March 2023.

Key points and themes in the report included:

·         Providing an introduction and background;

·         Describing that the Parks CCAP went live on 1 April 2023;

·         Describing process against the actions; and

·         Conclusions and next steps.

Some of the key points that arose from the Committee’s discussions were:

·         The need for the Council to use all available levers to influence other owners of green space to adopt a similar approach to their management of green space and public realm;

·         Consideration needed to be given to improving access and connectivity between parks;

·         All projects and schemes to increase cycling and active travel should be actively promoted across the parks estate;

·         ‘Walk and wheel’ in parks was important and should be promoted in parks, with appropriate consideration given to access;

·         Had consideration been given to installing recycling bins in parks;

·         What was the approach to grass cutting in parks, noting the conflict that could arise between different users and their expectations regarding the use and purpose of green space, particularly the attempts to promote and encourage biodiversity;

·         The starting point for drafting any park plan should be the wishes and ambitions of local residents, especially in regard to increasing biodiversity;

·         The approach to grass cutting and the promotion of biodiversity needed to be established for each individual park and these plans needed to be available and communicated to residents so as to manage expectations;

·         What was the approach to Single Use Plastics for events held in parks;

·         Discussing of lighting in parks;

·         Noting that parks and green spaces often were subject to flooding due to adjacent grey infrastructure; and

·         Was consideration been given to installing electric vehicle charging points in parks. 

The Executive Member for Vibrant Neighbourhoods stated that there was an ongoing commitment from the service to deliver this work, noting that addressing climate change was now a priority for all Directorates across the Council. She stated that as a result of continued budget pressures the parks service had lost a significant number of staff over the previous years. She said that a business case was being developed for additional staffing resources and she thanked the staff working across the teams for their continued hard work on behalf of the residents of the city.

The Parks Lead said that the establishment of the Parks Climate Change Action Plan was a mechanism that could be used to influence partners and other stakeholders across the city. She described that this Plan had also been shared, along with the learning from this approach with colleges across Greater Manchester.

The Parks Lead said that opportunities for a wider role out of the Bee Network Cycle Hire scheme across all parks were being explored as this would support the call for increased sustainable travel.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

Report of the Strategic Director (Neighbourhoods)

This report provides an update on the progress of delivering Manchester’s Park Strategy and an overview of the approach to develop a refreshed delivery plan to guide the future investment, upkeep and activation of Manchester’s Parks.

The Committee considered the report of the Strategic Director (Neighbourhoods) that provided an update on the progress of delivering Manchester’s Park Strategy and an overview of the approach to develop a refreshed delivery plan to guide the future investment, upkeep and activation of Manchester’s Parks.

Key points and themes in the report included:

·         Providing an introduction and background;

·         Describing the 4 key themes of the ten-year strategy for Manchester’s Parks that was launched in December 2017;

·         Noting the impact of the pandemic and the value of parks;

·         Data and information on the event and activity programme;

·         Budget related data;

·         Describing progress to date against the 4 key themes;

·         Information relating to the Parks Development Programme (PDP);

·         Discussion of the new challenges and opportunities;

·         Describing the new delivery plan, titled “Our Parks, Our Plan” (2024 – 2027);

·         Delivery of the plan, noting that where linkages existed to other relevant strategies such as the Council’s Climate Change Action Plan, a joint approach to delivery and monitoring would take place; and

·         Next steps.

Some of the key points that arose from the Committee’s discussions were:

·         Thanking the staff working across the parks teams;

·         Tennis courts and charging, and had consideration been given to maximising access in deprived areas;

·         Reiterating the importance of female safety in parks;

·         Noting the work of Friends of Parks Groups and adding that consultation needed to be undertaken with the wider community;

·         Noting the information provided in regard to mowing; and

·         How were sites for ‘pocket parks’ identified.

The Director of Neighbourhood Delivery stated that Manchester was working with children’s charity, the UK committee for UNICEF (UNICEF UK) to become a Child Friendly City. He stated that consultation with children and young people and the Youth Council had confirmed that Place and parks were an important priority as part of a safe, secure and healthy city. He stated that this feedback had helped shape the emerging Our Parks, Our Plan.

The Parks Lead commented that each headline action of the Our Parks, Our Plan would have a number of associated sub actions and that all key stakeholders would be consulted with as this is progressed, noting the importance of capturing all voices.

The Parks Lead said that the charging model applied to tennis courts provided revenue to maintain these facilities. She said that the app used to book these courts enabled accurate monitoring and analysis of use. She said that affordability had been considered and off peak times were available.

The Parks Lead said that female safety in parks was understood and acknowledged. She said that all relevant national guidance and best practice surrounding this issue was applied. She commented that the work and actions surrounding female safety in parks had been audited and scrutinised by the Safety of Women and Girls Steering Group.

The Executive Member for Vibrant Neighbourhoods stated that community safety in parks was taken very seriously, adding that the Council was a White Ribbon accredited organisation. She added that a pilot project  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.

Report of the Strategic Director (Neighbourhoods) 

This report provides an overview of Bereavement Services Climate Change Action Plan (CCAP). The report provides the background to the development of the plan, how this aligns with wider ambition of the Council, along with an overview of the action plan

The Committee considered the report of the Strategic Director (Neighbourhoods) that provided an overview of the Bereavement Services Climate Change Action Plan (CCAP). The report provided the background to the development of the plan, how this aligned with wider ambitions of the Council, along with an overview of the action plan.

Key points and themes in the report included:

·         Providing an introduction and background;

·         An overview of the Bereavement Services CCAP;

·         Describing the actions identified in each workstream of the CCAP; and

·         Conclusions and next steps.

Some of the key points that arose from the Committee’s discussions were:

·         What was the capacity for woodland burials;

·         Supporting the aspiration for Southern Cemetery to be considered as a nature reserve;

·         Welcoming the establishment of individual biodiversity plans and this model should be adopted across all parks;

·         Travel plans and accessibility to sites, noting the issue of parking on neighbouring streets; and

·         Had there been any consideration given to alternative sustainable methods of burial.

The Strategic Lead stated that the Parks Climate Change Action Plan had been used as a template to develop the Cemetery and Crematorium Climate Change Action Plan. She recognised and paid tribute to all the staff who had been involved in developing the plan for their dedication and effort. She said that the Plan was not a static document but rather a live and dynamic plan that would be reviewed and updated appropriately.

The Bereavement Services Manager stated that currently there were two locations to facilitate woodland burials and capacity existed at these sites. She commented that if these sites reached their capacity appropriate alternative locations would be identified.

The Bereavement Services Manager acknowledged the comments expressed regarding the impact on-street parking had on neighbouring streets. She stated that there was a lot of available onsite parking at Southern Cemetery and that conversations were ongoing with local Neighbourhood Teams and the private operator of the crematorium to seek solutions to address issues of inappropriate parking.

The Executive Member for Vibrant Neighbourhoods acknowledged the issue of car parking and the detrimental impact and disruption this could have on neighbourhoods. She said the establishment of travel plans would assist in addressing such issues, however she noted that this would need to be done sensitively.

The Bereavement Services Manager welcomed the support from the Committee for Southern Cemetery to be considered as a nature reserve. The Director of Neighbourhood Delivery reiterated the importance of this to act as a green corridor to support biodiversity.

The Bereavement Services Manager informed the Committee that alternatives to burials and cremations were considered, however this was in the very early stages.

The Chair thanked officers for accommodating a recent visit by Members to Blackley Crematorium. She said that this had been very informative. The Bereavement Services Manager stated that she would accommodate visits to other sites should Members request this.

The Chair concluded this item of business by recognising this pioneering Cemetery and Crematorium Climate Change Action Plan, adding that no other Council had done this  ...  view the full minutes text for item 11.

Report of the Governance and Scrutiny Support Unit

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

The report of the Governance and Scrutiny Support Unit which contained key decisions within the Committee’s remit and responses to previous recommendations was submitted for comment. Members were also invited to agree the Committee’s future work programme.

The Chair informed the Committee that since the Overview Report had been published, she had agreed to remove the items on Sustainable Food and Zero Carbon Culture from the March meeting. She stated that work was in progress to develop the work programme for the new municipal year and encouraged Members to contact her with any specific topics that they would like included on the work programme.

Decision

The Committee notes the report and agrees the work programme, noting the comments above.