Manchester City Council Minutes Communities and Neighbourhoods Overview and Scrutiny Committee 14 December 2010 Communities and Neighbourhoods Overview and Scrutiny Committee

Minutes of the meeting held on 14 December 2010

Present: Councillor Flanagan - In the Chair Councillors, Bracegirdle, Helsby, Hennigan, Karney, Kirkpatrick, Lewis, Loughman, E. Newman, Morrison, O’Connor, Pritchard and Ryan.

Councillor Andrews, Executive Member for Neighbourhood Services Councillor N Murphy, Executive Member for Environment

Councillor Burns, Trustee of the Airport Community Trust and member of the Airport Consultative Committee

Wendy Sinfield, Airport Jon Bottomley, Manchester Airport, Joel Prittie, Transition City Manchester Dave Moutrey, Chief Executive of the Derek Purnell, Friends of Canal

Apologies: Councillor Barnes

CN/10/70 Minutes

Decision:

To approve minutes of the meeting held on 16 November 2010 as a correct record.

CN/10/71 Information and Overview Report

A report of the Governance and Scrutiny Support Unit was submitted providing information about future key decisions within the Committee’s remit. Members were asked to note the responses to the Committee’s previous recommendations.

The Committee discussed the work programme. A member informed the Committee that it had been announced since the previous meeting that the Private Finance Initiative (PFI) regeneration project would not go ahead. The Committee agreed to add an item to the work programme on what could be done for residents in Collyhurst affected by this.

A member asked for an urgent item to be added to the work programme on the impact that the Council’s financial settlement would have on areas within the Committee’s remit. Members noted that the City Treasurer was due to give an oral report to the Resources and Governance Overview and Scrutiny Committee in two days time, and requested that an additional report be provided at its next meeting on areas specific to the Committee’s remit.

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Manchester City Council Minutes Communities and Neighbourhoods Overview and Scrutiny Committee 14 December 2010

The Chair also informed the Committee that, at the request of a member, a visit to the City Library and John Rylands Library, would be organised.

Decision:

1. To add an item to the work programme on the impact of the Collyhurst PFI not receiving funding, and what could be done for the residents affected.

2. To request a report be submitted to the January meeting of the Committee on the impact that the financial settlement would have on areas within the Committee’s remit.

3. To visit City Library and John Rylands Library Deansgate.

CN/10/72 Impact of Manchester Airport on the Local Community

The Committee welcomed Wendy Sinfield and Jon Bottomley from Manchester Airport to the meeting. The Committee visited the Airport and surrounding areas in September to look at the impact that living near the airport has on the local area and learn about the ways the airport mitigates this impact. Ms Sinfield and Mr Bottomley gave a presentation to answer various questions the Committee had asked during the visit. The Committee also welcomed Councillor Burns, Trustee of the Airport Community Trust and member of the Airport Consultative Committee to the meeting.

Members had wanted to know more about the Manchester Airport Community Community Trust Fund (CTF), such as the proportion of groups in Manchester which received grants and how the decisions are made. Everyone is entitled to apply and the Airport gives advice on how to do so. The funding comes from fining aircrafts that infringe noise controls, on the principle that the “polluter pays”. These infringements are automatically detected and invoiced. Levels of noise produced by aircraft have steadily decreased, and the threshold at which fines are incurred has also been decreased. This means that the funds available are not also decreasing and the noise levels in the area continue to reduce.

The next meeting of the Trustees of the Community Trust takes place in January, and the deadline for applications had passed. The trust had awarded 976 grants so far, and expected to award its 1000th at the meeting. Manchester received the largest proportion of the grants, and received the second largest.

The Committee praised the range of organisations and commended the CTF. A member asked whether the figures for grants could be provided by ward rather than area. Ms Sinfield explained they did not collate them that way, but could provide individual addresses of the recipients.

A member asked about the decision process for grants. He informed the Committee that he knew of an organisation which was awarded a grant, but its other branches in different areas were turned down on the basis that one organisation can not receive more than one grant in two years. Councillor Burns clarified that if the subsequent

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Manchester City Council Minutes Communities and Neighbourhoods Overview and Scrutiny Committee 14 December 2010 applications are for grants specific to an area different to the original one, then they can make a separate application.

Ms Sinfield then explained the reasons behind the boundary by which eligibility for the Sound Insulation Grant Scheme is measured. At the site visit, members had asked if the scheme could be extended to cover three primary schools close to the airport. Because aircraft must fly into the wind and the usual direction of the wind, on average only about 20% of aircraft fly over Manchester to land, with the rest flying over . So far this year, this figure has been 32%, which is unprecedented. The boundary for eligibility is based on the noise contours caused by the aircraft and the schools fall outside of it. Ms Sinfield added in her experience, often teachers did not want double glazing because many preferred to keep the windows open.

A member asked how noise levels in Manchester compared to other areas. Ms Sinfield explained it was hard to compare due to the differences in the type and quantity of aircraft between airports, but that the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs published a list of the noise levels of airports. Members asked if they could be sent this.

The Committee thanked Ms Sinfield and Mr Bottomley for the presentation and for producing the information on the Community Trust Fund.

Decision:

To request that members of the Committee are provided with the list produced by the Department Environment Food and Rural Affairs comparing the noise levels of airports in the UK.

[Councillor Bracegirdle declared a personal interest in this item as a member of various community groups which had received grants from the Manchester Airport Community Trust Fund]

[Councillor Hennigan declared a personal interest as a member of sport club which had received a grant from the Manchester Airport Community Trust Fund]

CN/10/73 First Street : Proposed Cultural Facility

The Director of Neighbourhood Services gave the Executive Member for Arts and Leisure’s apologies for this item.

The Head of Strategic Cultural Projects introduced a report which had been submitted to the Executive on 24 November 2010. The Executive agreed to changes to the proposed developments to the relocation of the Library Theatre, and the report was submitted to the Committee to inform members of the developments. The Committee welcomed Dave Moutrey, the Chief Executive of the Cornerhouse to the meeting.

The crux of the changes to the developments were that the site that had been identified as the new of the Library Theatre was not suitable, and a new site had been identified to house the Library Theatre and the Cornerhouse. The new site

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Manchester City Council Minutes Communities and Neighbourhoods Overview and Scrutiny Committee 14 December 2010 would be an integrated cinema, gallery and theatre space on First Street. Following approval by the Executive, the proposals were now under consultation.

The Committee welcomed the changes to the development.

Decision:

To note the report.

[Councillor Morrison declared a personal interest as a member of the Management Board of the Cornerhouse Arts Centre]

CN/10/74 Manchester – A Certain Future Progress Report

The Head of Environmental Strategy introduced a report which provided an update on the progress being made on the implementation of Manchester – A Certain Future (MACF), the city’s climate change action plan. The report also included information on the ways in which the Council was approaching the concept of peak oil, which is the point at which the maximum rate of production of oil world wide is reached, following which production begins to fall. The Committee thought this topic warranted scrutiny following the suggestion of Joel Prittie from Transition City Manchester. The Committee welcomes Mr Prittie to the meeting.

Mr Prittie informed the Committee that the concept of peak oil was often misunderstood. He explained his aim was to raise awareness of the issue and informed the Committee of various resources they could access in order to learn more about it. The Executive Member for Environment told the Committee that there was no real consensus over when peak oil would occur, but it would form part of the Council’s approach to climate change in the future. The Chair asked if the recession would lead to a decrease in the use of oil, which the Executive Member for Environment confirmed. The Head of Environmental Strategy said it was the intention of the Council to develop a policy on peak oil as part of the review of MACF, which would include the involvement of local environmental groups.

The Head of Environmental Strategy informed the Committee that the number of organisations which had produced their own climate action plans was disappointing but confirmed they were continuing to put pressure on the 130 organisations who had committed to producing their own plans but had yet to do so. He told the Committee he was aware of a number of organisations which had produced plans which were awaiting approval.

Regarding appendix 1 of the report, which detailed the progress on key actions for 2010, a member asked if under Communications, Engagement and Learning informing the public of the environmental problems associated with having concrete instead of grass on domestic land could be included. The Head of Environmental Strategy and the Executive Member for Environment agreed that this could be included as part of the overall carbon literacy campaign.

CN/10/75 Local Development Framework: Core Strategy Publication

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Manchester City Council Minutes Communities and Neighbourhoods Overview and Scrutiny Committee 14 December 2010

A report of the Deputy Chief Executive (Regeneration) was submitted to the Committee which explained the process of developing and approving the Local Development Framework (LDF). The LDF will replace the Unitary Development Plan, and the key document of the LDF is the Core Strategy. The Committee were invited to comment on the report and the Core Strategy Publication prior to its submission to the Executive.

The Core Strategy is a document that sets out the overarching spatial framework for Manchester up to 2027. The document describes Manchester as it is today, and sets out the City Council’s vision for the city in 2027. It describes the planning policies that will be used to deliver this vision.

The report asked the Executive to approve the draft Core Strategy Publication for public consultation in January and February 2011, followed by submission to the Secretary of State for examination in public. The report also asked for the Executive to delegate to the Head of Planning in consultation with the Leader of the Council and the Executive Member for Environment the approval of any amendments prior to the start of the consultation and the approval for consultation of the Sustainability Appraisal report and Infrastructure Plan. The Committee agreed to endorse these recommendations.

Decision:

The Committee agreed to endorse the recommendations to the Executive as set out in the report.

CN/10/76 Update on Canals

The Head of Street Management gave members an oral update on issues that were raised concerning canals at the Committee’s October meeting. The Committee also welcomed Derek Purnell from Friends of Rochdale Canal, who had raised concerns regarding Rochdale Canal in the meeting.

In October the Committee asked the Head of Street Management to look into further improvements that could be made to Rochdale Canal. He informed the Committee that the water level of Rochdale Canal had dropped and debris had been taken out and the steel rods sticking out had been capped and filled with clay. The Street Management team met with British Waterways and they had agreed that from the 5 February 2011 the canal bed would be dropped and the stretch between locks 69 and 70 would be cleaned of fly tipped rubbish. This project would partly be carried out under community payback schemes.

The Head of Street Management informed the Committee that British Waterways was on target to become a registered charity as part of the Environment Agency. A consultation was to be conducted by Defra.

A member had asked in the October meeting whether improvements could be made to the towpath along Ashton Canal in Eastlands. A meeting between New East Manchester and Highways Services on Local Transport Plan was scheduled for

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Manchester City Council Minutes Communities and Neighbourhoods Overview and Scrutiny Committee 14 December 2010 January and the Head of Street Management intended to raise funding this improvement at this meeting.

Mr Purnell informed the Committee he was very pleased with the developments to Rochdale Canal and welcomed British Waterways becoming a charity.

The Committee thanked the Head of Street Management and his team for their work to improve Rochdale Canal and welcomed the developments and thanked Mr Purnell for providing his point of view.

Decision:

To note the report.

CN/10/77 Update on Enforcement of Dog Fouling

The Head of Street Management introduced a report which provided the Committee with an update on the work being undertaken in the city to address dog fouling. Manchester City Council introduced Dog Control Orders (DCOs) in 2007, which provide legal powers to deal with dog fouling and stray dogs and increased the fixed penalty notice to £80 from £50.

A member informed the Committee that he had seen a fundamental change in the way this problem is tackled by Manchester City Council and commended the work. The Council now took a professional approach which took into consideration the way people feel about their pets. Another member noted the success of micro chipping.

A member asked if there were any activities going on in schools to raise awareness among children. The Public Realm Manager said that some events at schools had been held where they had talked to children about how to respond to dogs without leads and the dangers of dogs. However, due to financial constraints they had been unable to conduct many of them more recently.

The Public Realm Manager informed the Committee that 150 £95 grants remained of the £69,000 of free services provided by the Dogs Trust, a dogs’ welfare charity, and that there were over 100 free micro chips still available.

A member noted that there had been significant reduction in dog fouling at Platt Fields since the incident in which a toddler lost 70% of her sight in one eye.

The Committee discussed whether there was a problem of irresponsible owners allowing their dogs unrestrained access in gated alleys. The Executive Member for Neighbourhood Services said this was not allowed, and when alleys are gated residents enter into an agreement with the Council to take responsibility for maintaining the alleys.

Decision:

To note the report.

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Manchester City Council Minutes Communities and Neighbourhoods Overview and Scrutiny Committee 14 December 2010 CN/10/78 Winter Resilience Plans

The Committee received a report of the Director of Neighbourhood Services which provided details of the preparations that schools and housing partners had made for severe winter conditions. At their meeting on October 19 the Winter Services Subgroup recommended that the Committee receive a list of all schools and housing partners which had not made adequate plans for severe winter conditions and to write letters to them encouraging them to do so. The report informed the Committee that all main Registered Housing Providers in the city had plans for dealing with severe winter conditions. The report provided a list of the schools that had secured grit bins and salt from Highways Services, those that had made their own arrangements for grit bins and salt and those that had not responded to enquiries.

A member asked if all grit bins were now in place across the city. The Highway Network Manager said the last 30 of the 180 bins in total across the city would be in place by the end of the week. The Executive Member for Neighbourhood Services explained the Winter Services Subgroup had wanted nine additional bins per ward, and funds had allowed for an additional four per ward. A member informed the Committee that the addition of four per ward had been welcomed by residents.

The Committee discussed individuals taking too much grit or selling it. A member suggested providing bins that in their design rationed the amount provided, but it was suggested by the Executive Member for Neighbourhood Services that the additional cost would not be worth the benefit. Another member suggested buying coloured grit so that residents would know it was the Council’s should someone try to sell it to them. The Executive Member for Neighbourhood Services said this would cost more and was unlikely to make a difference.

The Committee discussed the schools that had not responded to enquiries about their preparations for winter. A member was concerned that not responding did not equate to not preparing, and emphasised that the Committee should not write letters making accusations without ensuring they are correct. The Committee agreed that the intention of the letters would be to offer further help. The Executive Member for Neighbourhood Services pointed out that the enquiries were made through one officer in Children’s Services so were not exhaustive. He also asked the Committee to agree to notify the Local Authority appointed governor at each school of the letter, which the Committee agreed.

Decision:

To write to the schools in Appendix 3 of the report which have not responded to enquiries about their plans for severe weather conditions to offer assistance in making preparations for winter. To also notify the Local Government appointed governor of these letters.

[Councillor E Newman declared a personal interest in this item as Chair of Willow Park Housing Trust]

CN/10/74 Business and Budget Planning 2011 - 14

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Manchester City Council Minutes Communities and Neighbourhoods Overview and Scrutiny Committee 14 December 2010 The Head of Organisational Improvement and Service Inclusion introduced a report which outlined the business and budget planning process for 2011-14 and asked the Committee to select which business plans it wished to scrutinise at its January meeting.

Members were concerned that the business plans would not take into account the implementation of the financial settlement, which was announced the day before the meeting, because the cuts the Council were to make were unexpectedly large.

The Committee agreed to defer selecting business plans for scrutiny, and agreed to give the Chair the authority to consult with officers and determine a suitable approach to scrutinising business plans.

Decision:

1. To defer selecting business plans for scrutiny.

2. To authorise the Chair to consult with officers and determine a suitable approach to scrutinising business plans.

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