Item for discussion

To consider the outputs from the work with the Institute of Place Management and develop interim policy directions.

The Strategic Director (Development) reported that the work of the Subgroup presented an opportunity to demonstrate how the ‘Our Manchester’ approach worked, noting the importance of building local capacity in neighbourhoods to harness and progress this work by involving a range of partners and stakeholders, and that good practice and the lessons learnt to date should be implemented across all district centres. He stated that consideration needed to be given as to how this activity was to be corporately prioritised and resourced.

The Head of City Policy stated that Northenden provided a positive example of where local people and stakeholders had taken ownership of this activity to drive improvement in their neighbourhood. He further commented that the recent workshop had challenged many assumptions regarding what residents could influence in their locality and this was a very important and powerful message. The Chair commented that the benefits of what could be achieved via this approach needed to be made clear to residents and stakeholders so that they actively engaged with the process.

The Chair commented that it was important to understand the role of local Members and officers to facilitate and empower residents and other stakeholders to take ownership of this work by sharing information and assisting people to analyse and understand the data collected. She suggested that a training course should be designed and delivered to Neighbourhood Teams so that they could effectively communicate this area of work with residents and other stakeholders in a meaningful way.

The Chair further commented on the important function of markets, noting that this had been identified in a number of reports and work should be undertaken with Manchester Markets to support this work and recognise their key role in driving the local economy. The Executive Member for Housing and Regeneration acknowledged this comment and stated that she would be meeting with the Executive Member for Schools, Culture and Leisure to take this forward. 

The Chair stated that, following the benefits evidenced in Harpurhey, the Council should seek to use its influence to encourage public sector partners to locate to district centres. She further commented that consideration needed to be given to developing shared working spaces, including utilising the accommodation space above shops.

Dr Millington informed Members about a project called Area Based Collaborative Entrepreneurship (ABCE) Cities, which was taking place in partnership with the Council and linked into a network of other European cities.  He advised Members that this project would look at other district centres and areas for intervention.  The Chair confirmed that she would be attending the stakeholder group meetings for this project.

The Executive Member for Housing and Regeneration advised that consideration should be given as to what the Council could do in terms of visual signage and branding to clearly identify district centres.

Decisions

1.            To recommend that the good practice and lessons learnt from the work so far

 be shared and applied across all district centres.

2.            To recommend that a training course be designed and delivered to Neighbourhood Teams to enable them to engage with residents and stakeholders to support this activity.

3.            To recommend that the Council use its influence with a range of public sector partners to encourage them to locate their services into district centres.

4.            To recommend that the Executive Member for Housing and Regeneration and the Executive Member for Schools, Culture and Leisure discuss how Manchester Markets can contribute to this work, in recognition of the key role they play in driving the local economy.

5.       To recommend that consideration be given as to what the Council could   

           do in terms of visual signage and branding to clearly identify district

           centres.