Minutes of the Council Meeting on 12 July 2006

City Council

Minutes of a meeting of the Council held on 12 July 2006

Present: The Right Worshipful, The Lord Mayor Councillor James Ashley (In the Chair)

Councillors Ali, Andrews, S. Ashley, Barnes, Barrett, Battle, Bethell, Bhatti, Boyes, Brandy, Bridges, Burns, Cameron, Carmody, Carroll, Chohan, Chowdhury, Clayton, Commons, Cooley, Cooper, Cowan, Cowell, Cox, Curley, Dobson, Donaldson, Evans, Fairweather, Fender, Firth, Flanagan, Gallagher, Grant, Green, Hackett, Hall, Harrison, Hassan, Helsby, Hitchen, Hobin, Isherwood, Jones, Judge, Kane, Karney, Keegan, Keller, A. Khan, M. Khan, Leech, Leese, Lewis, Longsden, Loughman, Lyons, McCulley, Morrison, M. Murphy, N. Murphy, P. Murphy, S. Murphy, E. Newman, S. Newman, O’Callaghan, Brian O’Neil, Pagel, Parkinson, Pearcey, Priest, Pritchard, Ramsbottom, Risby, Royle, Sandiford, Shannon, Shaw, Siddiqi, Jeff Smith, John Smith, Smitheman, Stevens, Swannick, Trotman, Walters, Watson, Wheale, and Whitmore.

Honorary Aldermen Dame Kathleen Ollerenshaw and Ken Franklin

Also Present by invitation : Colonel Sir John Timmins, Lord Lieutenant of Greater Manchester

CC/06/61 Urgent Business

The Lord Mayor reported that he had agreed to the Minutes of the Constitutional and Nomination Committee held earlier that morning being submitted and considered as urgent business.

CC/06/62 Welcome

The Lord Mayor welcomed the Lord Lieutenant of Greater Manchester to the meeting and also a group of pupils from St John’s Primary School in Chorlton.

CC/06/63 Sir Richard Leese

On behalf of the whole Council The Lord Mayor extended congratulations and led a standing ovation to the Leader of the Council upon the conferment of the honour of knighthood for services to local government.

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The Lord Mayor also reported that he had written to congratulate three other Manchester residents who had received honours - Alan Grafton, MBE., Arthur Allen Bodgers MBE and Mrs Ruth Bannister MBE.

CC/06/64 Dame Kathleen Ollerenshaw

The Lord Mayor welcomed Honorary Alderman Dame Kathleen Ollerenshaw to the meeting. He informed the Council that Dame Kathleen was this year celebrating 50 years association with the work of the City Council since her first election as Councillor for the Rusholme Ward in 1956; 50 years in which she had been a remarkable ambassador for the City of Manchester both at home and abroad and had been recognised with civic and national honours for her many achievements.

To mark this special event he invited Dame Kathleen to come forward to receive a memento to mark the occasion.

Dame Kathleen then addressed the Council.

CC/06/65 Energy Awards

The Lord Mayor reported that Alison Hartley from Manchester Housing had been chosen by the North West region to receive an award for her outstanding work in energy conservation. Alison won this award for Manchester out of the 42 Authorities representing the North West. At the same occasion Brian Sexton from Manchester Housing was presented with only the second ever Maddock Lifetime Achievement Award for his enthusiasm in Housing and Energy over many years.

The Lord Mayor then presented them each with their awards.

CC/06/66 Charter Mark Award

The Lord Mayor also reported that the Contracting Services Team in the Adult Services Department had been successful in being awarded the Charter Mark and he presented the award to members of the management team.

CC/06/67 Terrorist attacks in Mumbai

The Lord Mayor referred to the horror of the terrorist atrocity in Mumbai on 11 th July which had claimed 183 lives and injured over 700, and informed the Council that on behalf of the City he had sent a letter of condolence to the Governor of the State of Maharashtra.

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CC/06/68 Death of Sir Robert Calderwood

With regret the Lord Mayor reported the death on 29 May of Sir Robert Calderwood at the age of 74. The Council recalled that Sir Robert served the Council with distinction as its Town Clerk and Chief Executive from 1974 until 1980 when he was appointed Chief Executive of Strathclyde Regional Council. The members of the Council, guests, and visitors to the meeting observed a respectful period of silence to his memory.

CC/06/69 Minutes

Decision

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 17 th May 2006. The Minutes were then signed by the Lord Mayor.

CC/06/70 Levenshulme Neighbourhood Centre

Motion moved –

This Council notes that the Levenshulme Neighbourhood Centre is due to close it’s doors in July due to the unacceptable dangerous state of the building. Despite efforts over a long period of time to keep the building open for community use it now seems the building is in such a dangerous state that it can no longer remain open for community use at all. Council instructs the Chief Executive to urgently bring forward a report on community provision in Levenshulme and to ensure that premises are available where the Levenshulme community are able to have community use especially for young people and in particular babies and toddlers given that these facilities will cease when the centre is no longer available for use.

A Procedural motion was then made to suspend Procedural Rule 13 to enable the motion to be referred to the Community Regeneration Overview and Scrutiny Committee for consideration, at which meeting local community representatives would be able to address the Committee.

The procedural motion being put, the Council divided –

For the Procedural Motion (56) Councillors Andrews, Barrett, Barnes, Battle, Brandy, Burns, Carmody, Carroll, Cooley, Cooper, Cowell, Cox, Curley, Evans, Fairweather, Fender, Flanagan, Green, Hackett, Harrison, Hitchen, Hobin, Judge, Kane, Karney, Keegan, Keller, A. Khan, M. Khan, Leese, Longsden, Loughman, Lyons, McCulley, Morrison, M. Murphy, N. Murphy, P Murphy, S. Murphy, E. Newman, S. Newman, O’Callaghan, Brian O’Neil, Pagel, Priest, Pritchard Royle, Siddiqi, Jeff Smith, John Smith, Smitheman, Stevens, Swannick, Trotman, Walters and Watson.

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Against the Procedural Motion (30) Councillors Ali, S. Ashley, Bethell, Bhatti, Boyes, Bridges, Cameron, Chohan, Chowdhury, Clayton, Commons, Cowan, Dobson, Donaldson, Gallagher, Grant, Hall, Helsby, Isherwood, Jones, Leech, Lewis, Parkinson, Pearcey, Ramsbottom, Sandiford, Shannon, Shaw, Wheale and Whitmore.

Abstention: The Lord Mayor (1)

The Lord Mayor declared that the procedural Motion was CARRIED.

Motion made and seconded

To refer the motion to the Community Regeneration Overview and Scrutiny Committee for consideration, at which local community representatives would be able to address the Committee.

The Lord Mayor declared that the Motion was CARRIED.

Decision

To refer the motion to the Community Regeneration Overview and Scrutiny Committee for consideration, at which meeting local community representatives would be able to address the Committee.

CC/06/71 Proceedings of the Executive

The Leader of the Council moved the recommendations of the Executive (Minutes EXE/06/106 and 107) relating to the Council’s Capital Budget.

Decision

1. To note the minutes of the Executive on 31 May and 28 June 2006.

2. To make a formal determination that the following items the amounts shown below are applicable for the financial year ended 31 March 2006 -

(a) expenditure for capital purposes, which is to be reimbursed by another person, has been capitalised - £114.387m (£98.185m government grant, £16.202m external contributions). (b) supported borrowing has been used as authorisation either to capitalise expenditure or to enter into or vary a credit arrangement - £46.219m. (c) usable capital receipts have been applied to meet expenditure for capital purposes - £39.690m. (d) an amount not less than the minimum revenue provision has been set aside from the revenue account as a provision for credit liabilities - £19.623m.

3. To approve the following increases in the Capital Budget -

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Chief Executives – Cornerhouse Redevelopment: To increase the capital budget in 2006/07 for site acquisition and relocation/disturbance costs funded from the Capital Fund and to delegate to the City Treasurer, in consultation with the Executive Member for Finance and Human Resources, authority to determine the precise amount of the project.

Corporate Services – Strategic Acquisitions: To approve an increase in the capital budget by £2,000,000 in 2006/07 for investment either in direct purchase or through a Joint Venture Partner in the Victoria area, funded from the Capital Fund, and to delegate detailed approval to the Chief Executive and City Treasurer, in consultation with the Executive Member for Finance and Human Resources.

Councillor Burns declared a personal interest in Minute EXE/06/114 as an honorary member of the Irish World Heritage Centre. Councilro Commons declared a personal interest in Minutes EXE/06/91 and EXE/06/92 as a supporter of Moss Care Housing Ltd Councillor Cox declared a prejudicial interest in Minute EXE/06/101 and withdrew from the meeting during consideration of this item Councillor Judge declared a personal and prejudicial interest in Minute EXE/06/78 as an employee of GMPTE and withdrew from the meeting during consideration of this item Councillor Leese declared a prejudicial interest in respect of part of Minute EXE/06/106 as a director of the Manchester Ship Canal Company and withdrew from the meeting during consideration of that part of the item Councillor P. Murphy declared a personal interest in Minute EXE/06103 as a season ticket holder at Manchester City Football Club Councillor Pagel declared a personal interest in Minute EXE/06/114 as a member of IWAC Councillor Shannon declared a prejudicial interest in Minutes EXE/06/91;92 and 93 as a Board Member of Mosscare Councillor Jeff Smith declared a prejudicial interest in Minute EXE/06/104 and withdrew from the meeting during consideration of this item Councillor Walters declared a prejudicial interest in Minutes EXE/06/91;92 and 93 as a Board Member of Mosscare

CC/06/72 Questions to Executive Members

In accordance with Procedural Rule 22 Councillor Swannick responded to a question from Councillor Donaldson regarding on-street residents’ parking arrangements in Lane End Road, Burnage.

CC/06/73 Minutes of Overview and Scrutiny Committees

Council noted the Minutes of the following meetings –

Children and Young People – 23 May and 20 June 2006 Community Regeneration – 24 May 2006 Finance and General Purposes – 25 May and 22 June 2006 Health and Well-being – 25 May and 22 June 2006 Physical Environment – 23 May and 20 June 2006

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Social Strategy – 24 May and 21 June 2006

Councillor Risby declared a prejudicial interest in relation to Minute SS/06/28 and withdrew during consideration of this item

CC/06/74 Minutes of Committees of the Council

The Minutes of the following meetings were submitted –

Audit Committee – 1 and 29 June 2006 Employee Appeals Committee – 30 June 2006 Constitutional and Nomination Committee – 12 July 2006 (to be tabled) Licensing and Appeals Committee – 5 June 2006 Planning & Highways Committee – 1 June and 29 June 2006 Wythenshawe Area Committee – 25 May and 22 June

Decision

1. To approve the recommendations of the Constitutional and Nomination Committee on 12 July, 2006, subject to the addition of the appointment of Councillor Andrews as an alternate member of the Mersey Valley Joint Committee.

2. To agree to the amendment of Part 3 of the Council Constitution to increase the membership of the Social Strategy Overview and Scrutiny Committee from 12 to 13 members.

3. To agree that Procedural Rule 25 be suspended insofar as the above recommendations amend decisions taken by the Council within the past six months.

4. To note the minutes of the other meetings which were acting under delegated powers.

CC/06/75 Business of Joint Authorities

No questions were raised in accordance with Procedural Rule 24 on the business of Greater Manchester Fire and Civil Defence Authority, Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority, Greater Manchester Police Authority, and Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority.

CC/06/76 Manchester’s Sustainable Community Strategy 2006- 2015

The Council considered a report of the Chief Executive on the outcome of consultation on the Community Strategy and the concept of a Manchester Agreement

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Decision

1. To approve the draft Community Strategy as amended to reflect the outcome of consultation.

2. To note that in the light of feedback so far, discussion have been initiated with residents and other stakeholders on the concept of a Mancunian Agreement and to request the Chief Executive to submit a further report to Council on the outcome of those discussions.

3. To endorse the proposals to review the Manchester Partnership.

CC/06/77 Standards Committee – appointment of independent member

A report of the City Solicitor was submitted together with recommendations from the Constitutional and Nomination Committee proposing the appointment of an independent member to serve on the Standards Committee.

Decision

To appoint Mrs Elizabeth Carmichael as an independent member of the Standards Committee for a term of office expiring in May 2008.

CC/06/78 St George’s Day

Motion made and seconded –

Council congratulates the Manchester St George’s Day Committee and all who helped in organising and supporting the splendid parade held on 23 April 2006. The Manchester St George’s Day Committee actively involved many local community organisations in the parade and the following events which reflected the diversity of our city. The Manchester St George’s Day Committee can rightly claim to be the biggest event held in England on St George’s Day. Council calls on :- 1. The Chief Executive to report to the Executive on the City’s commitment to supporting, developing and encouraging community-led festivals, events and parades throughout the year, and the City Council continues to support and assist the Manchester St George’s Parade Committee in organising next year’s community celebrations. 2. The Government to note the success of the St George’s Day Parade in Manchester and consider making St George’s Day a future National Holiday to create a special day of community celebrations throughout the country.

Decision

Council congratulates the Manchester St George’s Day Committee and all who helped in organising and supporting the splendid parade held on 23 April 2006. The

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Manchester St George’s Day Committee actively involved many local community organisations in the parade and the following events which reflected the diversity of our city. The Manchester St Georges’ Day Committee can rightly claim to be the biggest event held in England on St George’s Day. Council calls on :- 1. The Chief Executive to report to the Executive on the City’s commitment to supporting, developing and encouraging community-led festivals, events and parades throughout the year, and the City Council continues to support and assist the Manchester St George’s Parade Committee in organising next year’s community celebrations. 2. The Government to note the success of the St George’s Day Parade in Manchester and consider making St George’s Day a future National Holiday to create a special day of community celebrations throughout the country.

CC/06/79 North Manchester General Hospital

Motion made and seconded –

This Council demands that the current level of health care provision at North Manchester General Hospital is enhanced to meet the needs of both North Manchester residents and the wider catchment area that it serves as set out in Option 1 of the Healthy Futures and Making it Better Consultation documents. We call for the general medical, surgical, in-patient services, day care, out-patients and A&E services to be strengthened, as the North Manchester site will have to respond to the service changes elsewhere in the conurbation. In particular we welcome the news that the commitment to transfer primary and secondary children’s hospital services from Booth Hall to North Manchester has been supported. The Chief Executive is requested to send a copy of this resolution to the Project Director of Health Future for circulation to the joint committee of the PCTs Executive who will make a decision. This Council will support community residents, patient groups and the local press in their campaign to back this option.

Decision

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Councillors Commons and Jones declared a personal interest in this item as members of a primary care trust Councillor Domaldson declared an employment related personal interest in this item Councillor Karney declared a prejudicial interest in this item as an employee of the National Health Service and withdrew from the meeting during its consideration

CC/06/80 Chair

At this point in the meeting the Lord Mayor retired.

Councillor Evans, Deputy Lord Mayor - in the Chair

CC/06/81 Metrolink

Motion made and seconded –

Council notes 1. The recent completion of the M60 improvements in South Manchester at a cost of £140M 2. The completion in 2005 of the Central Park transport interchange in North Manchester at a cost of £36.5M and the completion of other substantial civil engineering works in connection with Metrolink 3. That funding for Metrolink extension has been repeatedly promised by Labour ministers including the Prime Minister since 1997 4. That the Metrolink scheme has been unconscionably delayed by the Government and may become contingent on introducing congestion charging in Manchester Council expresses strong concern at the Government’s failure to give priority to public transport schemes in Manchester such as Metrolink and demands swift, full and unconditional funding for completion of the scheme before Parliament rises for its summer recess. Council believes 1. That Transport Innovation Fund money should be made available to bring Metrolink to Manchester with ‘no strings attached’. What is needed to reduce traffic congestion in Manchester is the ‘carrot’ of decent public transport, including Metrolink, not the ‘stick’ of congestion charging. Only when we have a fully integrated public transport network in Manchester will commuters and other travellers be tempted from their cars and onto the trams and buses. It is time that the Government made public their intentions on Metrolink in Manchester. 2. If the Government refuses to fund any extensions to Metrolink in a very short timescale, then Council asks the PTA to examine the three and one-half lines to Oldham and Rochdale, Manchester Airport, Ashton-under-Lyne and East Didsbury, to see whether some or all of them can be built in a manner that is self-financing.

First amendment moved and seconded –

To remove all after paragraph 4 and replace by:

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Council welcomes the Government’s long overdue announcement that a start can at last be made on Metrolink light rail extensions to Oldham, Rochdale, Droylsden and Chorlton. It notes that the funding now available for phase 3a will only enable a “Little Bang” to be procured. Council further notes that a successful bid to the Transport Innovation Fund next year will be necessary to procure phase 3b and complete the phase three extensions, including the lines to Wythenshawe and East Didsbury. Council believes that Transport Innovation Fund money should be made available to bring Metrolink to Manchester with no strings attached. What is needed to reduce traffic congestion in Manchester is the 'carrot' of decent public transport, including Metrolink, not the 'stick' of congestion charging. Only when we have a fully integrated public transport network in Manchester will commuters and other travellers be tempted from their cars and onto the trams and buses.”

Second amendment moved and seconded –

To delete all after “Council notes” and replace with

1. Council welcomes the announcement last week by the Secretary of State for Transport releasing the balance of the £520m originally earmarked for Metrolink allowing us to start the construction process. 2. Council places on record, its thanks to our citizens, our businesses, our full- time MPs, the MEN and other media for the fantastic campaign they have run with us to get Metrolink back on track. 3. Council notes that this allows us to start the procurement process for Metrolink ‘Big Bang’ 12 months ahead of submission of our Transport Innovation Fund submission, saving at least 18 months on the overall procurement timetable. 4. Council affirms its total commitment to delivering all 3½ Metrolink lines and resolves to do all it can to ensure a successful TIF bid.

Third amendment moved and seconded -

To add to the second amendment –

5. Council welcomes the Secretary of State for Transport’s announcement on Metrolink which will allow procurement of the Wythenshawe line to begin. Council resolves to do everything in its power to secure funding through Transport Innovation Fund to ensure delivery of the Wythenshawe line in its entirety at the end of the procurement process.

The First Amendment being put the Lord Mayor declared that it was LOST.

The Second Amendment being put the Lord Mayor declared that it had been CARRIED.

The Third Amendment was then put and the Lord Mayor declared that it also was CARRIED.

The Second Amendment as amended by the addition of the Third Amendment was then put as the substantive motion and was approved.

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Decision

2. Council places on record, its thanks to our citizens, our businesses, our full-time MPs, the Manchester Evening News and other media for the fantastic campaign they have run with us to get Metrolink back on track.

3. Council notes that this allows us to start the procurement process for Metrolink ‘Big Bang’ 12 months ahead of submission of our Transport Innovation Fund submission, saving at least 18 months on the overall procurement timetable.

4. Council affirms its total commitment to delivering all 3½ Metrolink lines and resolves to do all it can to ensure a successful TIF bid.

Councillor Judge declared a personal and prejudicial interest in this item as an employee of GMPTE and withdrew from the meeting during the discussion and voting thereon

CC/06/82 Greenest City

Motion moved and seconded –

This City Council reaffirms its aspiration to turn Manchester into Britain’s Greenest City. However, we note that one major impediment to our progress towards our ‘Greenest City’ aim is the presumption in Government planning guidance that – a. gardens of properties are classified as ‘previously developed’ or ‘brownfield’ sites when looking at planning applications b. planning applications for ‘previously developed’ or ‘brownfield’ sites will be approved. As a result of planning approvals based on these presumptions Manchester is losing beautiful, green and environmentally important gardens. Over-development in parts of the city is now ruining our ‘greenest city’ aspirations. This City Council therefore calls on Manchester MPs to support parliamentary moves from MPs of all parties to reclassify gardens as greenbelt as opposed to brownfield or ‘developed’ land for planning purposes. This City Council also resolves to lobby Government ministers directly to remove the presumption of ‘approval’ for planning applications affecting gardens.

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Amendment moved and seconded –

Delete everything after “turn Manchester into Britain’s Greenest City” and replace with -

We note that a) There are concerns in some parts of the city with over-development including inappropriate development on gardens. (b) In Manchester our current development plan and Development Guide 2 have been used successfully to resist this inappropriate development and this will be further strengthened shortly when Development Guide 2 is incorporated as supplementary planning guidance into the local development framework (c) Green Belt designation is a strategic policy designed to prevent the coalescence of settlements and it would be ludicrously impractical to try and apply it to gardens in a dense, urban area. However, Council would welcome stricter powers of control and resolves - (a) To request Government to clarify its position on redevelopment of existing houses in gardens areas in respect of its commitment to creating (and maintaining) sustainable neighbourhoods. (b) To agree that the Executive Member for Environment and Planning will investigate and report back on whether or not the City Council can exercise more rigorous control under existing guidance. This City Council reaffirms its aspiration to turn Manchester into Britain’s Greenest City.

The amendment being put the Lord Mayor declared that it had been CARRIED.

The amendment was then put and adopted as the substantive motion.

Decision

This City Council reaffirms its aspiration to turn Manchester into Britain’s Greenest City. We note that - a) There are concerns in some parts of the city with over-development including inappropriate development on gardens. (b) In Manchester our current development plan and Development Guide 2 have been used successfully to resist this inappropriate development and this will be further strengthened shortly when Development Guide 2 is incorporated as supplementary planning guidance into the local development framework (c) Green Belt designation is a strategic policy designed to prevent the coalescence of settlements and it would be ludicrously impractical to try and apply it to gardens in a dense, urban area. However, Council would welcome stricter powers of control and resolves - (a) To request Government to clarify its position on redevelopment of existing houses in gardens areas in respect of its commitment to creating (and maintaining) sustainable neighbourhoods. (b) To agree that the Executive Member for Environment and Planning will investigate and report back on whether or not the City Council can exercise more rigorous control under existing guidance.

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This City Council reaffirms its aspiration to turn Manchester into Britain’s Greenest City.

City Solicitor Lord Mayor

Chair of the meeting of the Council

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