The report of the Chief Executive is enclosed.

The Executive considered a report of the Chief Executive which provided an update on key areas of progress against the Our Manchester Strategy – Forward to 2025 which reset Manchester’s priorities for the next five years to ensure the Council could still achieve the city’s ambition set out in the Our Manchester Strategy 2016 – 2025.

The Deputy Leader (Finance) advised that work to transform Albert Square into a world class public space, increasing its size by around 20%, had got underway as part of the Our Town Hall project.  The changes involved the closure of two sides of the square to traffic with the former road space incorporated as part of the pedestrianised public space.  The first phase, focused on the area outside the existing square, had been brought forward and would now be completed next year, two years ahead of the original schedule, to minimise the impact on surrounding businesses and ensure they can benefit from its traffic-free environment more quickly, supporting their recovery from the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Deputy Leader (Human Resources) advised that Manchester Art Gallery had reported that its visitor numbers were back up to pre-pandemic levels.  Since re-opening in May this year, the gallery has welcomed almost 200,000 visitors despite social distancing measures in place to limit the number of visitors in the building at any one time.  Taking into account the galleries reduced opening hours, this figure was equivalent to visitor numbers at the gallery before the first Covid-19 lockdown was imposed in March 2020.  In addition he advised that the Grayson’s Art Club exhibition, curated by artist Grayson Perry, had spearheaded the re-opening and had been a major factor in attracting people back through the gallery’s doors.

In relation to homelessness, the Deputy Leader (Human Resources) reported that the Council’s extended accommodation offer would run throughout the winter months from early December to 31 March and would include space for 50 individuals with en-suite rooms in a former hotel outside the city centre. These bed spaces would be targeted at people who have been identified by partners and outreach teams as having high priority need, and who have been on the streets for a long time and meet the criteria as set by the Homelessness Partnership.  In addition to this, there would be 50 bed spaces provided in a hotel close to the city centre. These bed spaces would only be activated during prolonged cold weather, when the temperature was forecasted to drop below zero, and would offer secure and Covid-safe spaces with support services in place to help people until they could move into more permanent accommodation.  There would also be access to 186 -A Bed Every Night - spaces jointly funded by Manchester City Council and Greater Manchester Combined Authority, plus 30 additional spaces in a hotel in Fallowfield which was now an annual council scheme for people sleeping rough

The Deputy Leader (Human Resources) also commented on the recent allegations of racism in cricket by Azeem Rafiq and stated that there was no place for racism in any sport and as Manchester was the sports capital of England, the city should be proud of its diversity and stand in support of those subjected to racism.

The Executive Member for Health and Care reported on dedicated Covid advice helpline which had been launched in Manchester last month to help support the ongoing push for vaccinations.  People were able to ring the number, for free, to speak with clinical professionals about the Covid-19 vaccine and any concerns they have, or simply to get advice on how to book an  appointment.  It was also reported that for people whose first language wasn’t English, a translation service was available to ensure that no communities were left without advice.

The Leader reported that the Council had been successful in receiving a levelling up bid of £19.8m for the Culture In The City scheme, as part of the first round of awards made under the Government’s Levelling Up Fund.  The project was focused around two different locations in the city centre’s creative district. It would see the Upper and Lower Campfield Market buildings, which were both listed but in need of renovation and refurbishment, brought back into life as an affordable tech hub with more than 1,000 workspaces.  Culture In The City would also see investment in three railway arches on Whitworth Street which would be converted to create a creative talent development centre for arts venue HOME, providing affordable co-working areas, a free rehearsal space and creative skills training for young people.

The Leader commented that it was disappointing that the bid for Withington Town Centre had not been successful, however there was a strong community partnership and the Council would continue to work with this partnership to get improvements for the town centre.  He also commented that in the two years since Government had started making commitments around levelling up, it had been noted by Conservative MP’s from the north that very little progress had been made for a genuine levelling up agenda.

Decision

The Executive note the report.