Minutes of the Council Meeting 12 October 2011

Manchester City Council Minutes City Council Meeting 12 October 2011

Minutes of the Meeting of the City Council held on Wednesday 12 October 2011

Present: The Right Worshipful, The Lord Mayor Councillor Harry Lyons – in the Chair

Councillors: Akbar, Ali, Amesbury, Andrews, Austin, Barrett, J. Battle, R. Battle, Boyes, Burns, Carmody, Chamberlain, Chappel, Chohan, Clayton, Cookson, Cooley, Cooper, Cox, Craig, Curley, Di Mauro, Eakins, Ellison, Evans, Fairweather, Fender, Flanagan, Fletcher-Hackwood, Glover, Grant, Green, Hackett, Hassan, Hennigan, Hitchen, Hughes, Hyde, Jones, Judge, Karney, Keegan, Keller, Khan, Kirkpatrick, Leese, Lewis, Longsden, Lone, M. Murphy, N. Murphy, P. Murphy, S. Murphy, E. Newman, S. Newman, O’Callaghan, Barbara O'Neil, Brian O’Neil, Paul, Pearcey, Peel, Priest, Pritchard, Rahman, Ramsbottom, Rawlins, Razaq, Reeves, Reid, Richards, Royle, Ryan, Sandiford, Shannon, Shaw, Siddiqi, Simcock, Smith, Strong, Tavernor, Taylor, Trotman, Walters, and Wheale

Honorary Alderman: Peter Morrison

CC/11/70 Urgent Business

The Chair informed the Council that he had consented to the minutes of the meeting of the Audit Committee held on 29 September being submitted for consideration as urgent business.

CC/11/71 Filming of the Proceedings

The Council gave permission for the proceedings to be filmed.

CC/11/72 World Health Organisation Network of Age Friendly Cities

The Lord Mayor announced that the 1st International Conference on Age-Friendly Cities had been held in Dublin in September and that Councillor Sue Cooley attended this conference on behalf of the Council. At the conference Councillor Cooley had signed the “Dublin Declaration of Age-Friendly Cities and Communities” on behalf of the Council. In 2010 Manchester became a member of the World Health Organisation’s Network of Age Friendly Cities and Manchester’s recognition by the World Health Organisation as the only age-friendly city in the UK was seen as a tribute to the excellent work of the Valuing Older People Team in the Council. The Council passed on its thanks to the Team for what they have achieved.

CC/11/73 Former Councillor Anne Carroll

The Lord Mayor reported the recent death of former councillor Anne Carroll.

The Council recalled that Anne Carroll had been elected in May 1987 to represent the Northenden Ward as a Conservative Councillor, and had served until May 1991.

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She had served on the Art Galleries, Housing, Neighbourhood Services and Leisure Services Committees and their Subcommittees.

The Council and those present at its meeting then observed a period of silence in his memory.

CC/11/74 Minutes

The minutes of the Special Meeting of the Council and of the Ordinary Meeting of the Council on 13 July 2011 were both approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

CC/11/75 Proceedings of the Executive

The proceedings of the Executive on 27 July 2011 and 14 September 2011 were submitted. The Council considered the following recommendations –

Capital Programme – Proposed Increases

To approve increases in the capital budget as follows: 1. Corporate Services – Land adjacent to Macintosh Mill: to increase the capital budget by £350,000 in 2011/12 funded from the Capital Fund. 2. Chief Executive’s Regeneration – Access Improvements for Disabled People at Various Locations: to increase the capital budget by £70,000 in 2011/12 funded from City Council resources. 3. Neighbourhood Services – Alley Gates: to increase the capital budget by £300,000 in 2011/12 funded from City Council resources. 4. Chief Executive’s Regeneration – Relocation of Gen Probe: to increase the capital budget by £250,000 in 2011/12, funded from ABG reserve. 5. Neighbourhood Services – CCTV Bus Lane and Parking Cameras: to increase the capital budget by £150,000 in 2011/12, funded from revenue. 6. Children’s Services - Beaver Road Adaptations: to increase the capital budget by £100,000 in 2011/12, funded from revenue. 7. Chief Executive’s Regeneration – Spinningfields: to increase the capital budget by £650,000 in 2011/12, funded from City Council resources.

Decisions

1. To note the proceedings of the Executive.

2. To approve increases in the capital budget for the following: • Corporate Services – Land adjacent to Macintosh Mill: to increase the capital budget by £350,000 in 2011/12 funded from the Capital Fund; • Chief Executive’s Regeneration – Access Improvements for Disabled People at Various Locations: to increase the capital budget by £70,000 in 2011/12 funded from City Council resources; • Neighbourhood Services – Alley Gates: to increase the capital budget by £300,000 in 2011/12 funded from City Council resources;

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• Chief Executive’s Regeneration – Relocation of Gen Probe: to increase the capital budget by £250,000 in 2011/12, funded from ABG reserve; • Neighbourhood Services – CCTV Bus Lane and Parking Cameras: to increase the capital budget by £150,000 in 2011/12, funded from revenue. • Children’s Services - Beaver Road Adaptations: to increase the capital budget by £100,000 in 2011/12, funded from revenue; • Chief Executive’s Regeneration – Spinningfields: to increase the capital budget by £650,000 in 2011/12, funded from City Council resources.

(Councillor Trotman declared a personal interest in item Exe/11/092, Councillors Barrett, Brian O’Neil and E Newman each declared a personal interest in item Exe/11/100, Councillor Flanagan declared a personal interest in item Exe/11/106)

CC/11/76 Questions to Executive Members

The Executive Member for the Environment, Councillor Nigel Murphy, responded to a question from Councillor Jones regarding licensing of Houses in Multiple Occupation.

The Executive Member for the Neighbourhood Services, Councillor Paul Andrews, responded to a question from Councillor Jones regarding traffic lights at the junction of Mauldeth Road, Wilmslow Road and Mauldeth Road West.

CC/11/77 Overview and Scrutiny Committees

The minutes of the following meetings were submitted -

Children and Young People – 19 July and 6 September 2011 Citizenship and Inclusion – 20 July and 7 September 2011 Communities and Neighbourhoods – 22 July and 6 September 2011 Economy, Employment and Skills – 20 July and 7 September 2011 Health and Well-being – 21 July and 8 September 2011 The Chair of the Committee, Councillor E Newman, reported to Council on the steps taken by the Committee to refer to the Secretary of State for Health the decisions of NHS Manchester to close the Walk-in Centres in Ancoats, Withington, and at the Wythenshawe Forum. Resources and Governance – 21 July and 8 September 2011

Decision

To receive the minutes.

(Councillor Jones declared a personal interest in item CI/11/44)

CC/11/78 Committee Minutes

The Minutes of the following meetings were submitted -

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Constitutional and Nomination Committee on 3 October 2011 Audit Committee – 29 September 2011 Licensing and Appeals Committee – 30 August and 3 October 2011 Licensing Committee – 30 August 2011 Personnel Committee – 27 July and 14 September 2011 Planning and Highways Committee – 28 July, 18 August and 15 September 2011 Wythenshawe Area Committee – 26 July and 22 September 2011

Decision

To receive the minutes.

(Councillor Burns declared a prejudicial interest in item PH/11/38)

CC/11/79 Review of Parliamentary Constituencies

A report of the Chief Executive was submitted regarding the Boundary Commission for England's (BCE) review of parliamentary boundaries. The BCE was conducting its sixth general review of parliamentary constituencies in England following the enactment of the Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Act. The Act provided that the number of constituencies in the United Kingdom should be 600, a reduction of 50 from the current number of 650. The Act also provided that the number of constituencies in each of the four nations of the UK should be allocated to each nation in proportion to their registered electorate in December 2010. That gave:

Nation Electorate Current Allocation New Allocation Reduction England 38,332,557* 533 500(+2) 31 North Ireland 1,190,635 18 16 2 Scotland 3,873,387** 59 50(+2) 7 Wales 2,281,596 40 30 10

* excluding the electorate of the two Isle of Wight constituencies (110,924). ** excluding the electorate of Orkney and Shetland (33,755) and the Western Isles (21,837) constituencies.

In all but the two Isle of Wight constituencies, Orkney and Shetland, and the Western Isles, the electorate of any constituency had to be no less than 72,810 and no more than 80,473.

The report explained how the constraints had been applied to constituencies across the North West and in Greater Manchester. In applying these constraints, the effect of the BCE proposals on the existing constituencies in Manchester resulted in nine Manchester wards changing to a different constituency, affecting 27% of the electorate in Manchester. The proposed changes were:

Blackley And Broughton gains Moston and Miles Platting & Newton Heath from Manchester Central and loses Charlestown to Middleton. The Salford wards of Broughton and Kersal remain in the seat.

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Manchester Central loses Moston and Miles Platting & Newton Heath to Blackley and Broughton and Ardwick and Moss Side to Manchester Gorton, but gains 4 Salford wards from Salford and Eccles – Irwell Riverside, Langworthy, Ordsall, and Weaste & Seedley

Manchester Gorton gains Ardwick and Moss Side from Manchester Central and loses Fallowfield and Whalley Range to Manchester Withington

Manchester Withington gains Fallowfield and Whalley Range from Manchester Gorton, and loses Didsbury East and Didsbury West to Wythenshawe

Wythenshawe gains Didsbury East and Didsbury West, and loses the Trafford Wards of Brooklands and Priory to Altrincham and Sale (Sale Moor remains in the Wythenshawe seat)

Middleton contains 6 Rochdale wards currently in Heywood and Middleton, and 2 Oldham wards currently in Oldham West and Royton, as well as Charlestown ward.

The report explained that at present the electorate number fell within the necessary range in three of the five existing Manchester constituencies. In the two that were outside the range, Manchester Central was above and Blackley & Broughton was below. However, if the Moston ward was moved from Manchester Central to Blackley & Broughton then these two would also come within the required range. This minimum change option would also restore Moston’s local ties with North Manchester.

The report explained the BCE’s consultation arrangements for the proposals and the Council’s opportunity to respond to the proposed changes. The Constitutional and Nomination Committee had considered the report on 3 October and the minutes of that meeting set out the Committee’s view that the minimum change option was preferred over the BCE proposals which would break many local ties. However, the committee had noted that the BCE had asked that when putting forward alternative proposals respondents should address the consequential effects on other constituencies. In putting forward the minimum change alternative there would be a need to consider the consequential effects on other constituencies in Greater Manchester and possibly the North West so as not to prejudice the achievement of the statutory criteria in those other areas.

The Committee had proposed that the Council:

1. respond to the Boundary Commission for England proposing that the only change to Manchester constituencies be the transfer of Moston Ward from Manchester Central to Blackley & Broughton, so as to bring the electorate of those two constituencies within the necessary range;

2. authorise the Chief Executive to address the consequential effects on other constituencies arising from this counter proposal, so as to demonstrate that

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the achievement of the statutory criteria would not be prejudiced in other areas; and

3. authorise the Chief Executive to then respond to the BCE by 5 December 2011.

Decisions

1. To respond to the Boundary Commission for England proposing that the only change to Manchester constituencies be the transfer of Moston Ward from Manchester Central to Blackley & Broughton, so as to bring the electorate of those two constituencies within the necessary range;

2. To authorise the Chief Executive to address the consequential effects on other constituencies arising from this counter proposal, so as to demonstrate that the achievement of the statutory criteria would not be prejudiced in other areas; and

3. To authorise the Chief Executive to then respond to the BCE by 5 December 2011.

CC/11/80 Key Decisions Exempted from Call-in

The report of the City Solicitor was submitted.

Decision

To note the report.

CC/11/81 Motion - Responding to the Riots

Motion made and seconded:

This Council condemns:

The rioting that took place in Manchester city centre on Tuesday 9 August 2011 as unjustified acts of criminality.

This Council Notes:

1. The damaging impact caused to residents and businesses, but that the clean up which took place the following day demonstrated the true spirit of the people of Manchester.

2. The difficult job faced by the police and other emergency services who put themselves at risk to protect lives and property.

3. The arrest of over 322 people connected with the riots in Manchester.

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4. The hugely popular ‘I Love Mcr' campaign initiated by Marketing Manchester, that helps to restore business confidence and promote the city.

This Council Resolves:

1. To support the action taken by the Deputy Prime Minister to establish a grassroots Communities and Victims Panel to listen to the views of those affected by the riots.

2. To congratulate the Courts in Manchester for their swift response in dealing with those arrested and convicted, and to support a riot payback scheme using restorative justice to make offenders be confronted by those that their offending harmed.

3. To support the Greater Manchester Police in learning lessons from these riots, and in particular that it underlines the need for a fully operational police station to continue to be based in the city centre.

4. To welcome the swift response from Government after the riots of a Recovery Fund and High Street Support Fund of £30m nationally to assist local authorities and help businesses in the aftermath of the riots.

5. That eviction from social housing should only be considered by the Council as a last resort.

Amendment moved and seconded:

Amend to read:

This Council condemns:

The rioting that took place in Manchester city centre on Tuesday 9 August 2011 as unjustified acts of criminality.

This Council notes:

The damaging impact caused to residents and businesses, but that the clean up which took place the following day demonstrated the true spirit of the people of Manchester.

The difficult job faced by the police and other emergency services who put themselves at risk to protect lives and property, and the work done by Council officers to support those efforts. The arrest of over 322 people connected with the riots in Manchester.

The hugely popular and increasingly imitated ‘I love Manchester’ campaign initiated by Marketing Manchester, the City Council and the Arndale Centre, and the three week campaign co-ordinated by the Council that restored public confidence, levels of business and promoted the city.

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That the City Council worked with the Communities and Victims Panel to arrange their visit to the city on September 19th and Council members and officers were among those giving evidence to the Panel.

Council resolves:

To congratulate the Courts in Manchester for their swift response in dealing with those arrested and convicted, and to support a riot payback scheme using restorative justice to make offenders be confronted by those that their offending harmed.

To support Greater Manchester Police in learning lessons from these riots, including those from Salford and elsewhere which demonstrate that having a police station in the City Centre made no material difference to how the riots were handled from the control centre in Sedgeley Park.

To welcome, following the telephone conversation between the Leader of the Council and the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, the swift response from Government after the riots of a Recovery Fund and High Street Support Fund of £30m nationally to assist local authorities and help businesses in the aftermath of the riots.

That the City Council and social landlord partners should fully utilise the civil powers at their disposal to protect communities and the city at large.

Resolution:

The amendment, having been put and voted upon, the Lord Mayor declared that it was CARRIED.

The motion, as amended, was put as the substantive motion and the Lord Mayor declared that it was CARRIED.

Decision:

This Council condemns:

The rioting that took place in Manchester city centre on Tuesday 9 August 2011 as unjustified acts of criminality.

This Council notes:

The damaging impact caused to residents and businesses, but that the clean up which took place the following day demonstrated the true spirit of the people of Manchester.

The difficult job faced by the police and other emergency services who put themselves at risk to protect lives and property, and the work done by Council officers to support those efforts.

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The arrest of over 322 people connected with the riots in Manchester.

Council resolves:

That the City Council and social landlord partners should fully utilise the civil powers at their disposal to protect communities and the city at large.

CC/11/82 Motion – Bin Collections

Motion made and seconded:

Council notes:

1. the ongoing problems with the fortnightly bin collections and the communal bin systems;

2. that the streets of Manchester are currently filthy.

Council further notes that the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government has announced that £250m will be made available for Councils to return to a weekly bin collection.

Council resolves to ask the Officers to prepare a report on the Secretary of State's proposals for consideration at the next Executive meeting.

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Amendment moved and seconded:

Delete all after Council notes and replace with

1. That Residents of Manchester have a weekly bin collection.

2. That Residents of Manchester are now recycling more than ever before.

3. Council would like to thank Manchester Residents for working with us during the transition to the new collection scheme.

4. That as a consequence of LibDem / Tory cuts most services have had to undergo major reorganisation, and that Neighbourhood Delivery Teams will start to be in place by the end of this month with the capacity to address all local waste and street scene issues.

Council believes that if the Government, having imposed horrendous cuts on Manchester, now has more money for local services, then it should be local areas that decide what the priorities are for spending it on and not a Minister in Whitehall.

Resolution:

The amendment, having been put and voted upon, the Lord Mayor declared that it was CARRIED.

The motion, as amended, was put as the substantive motion and the Lord Mayor declared that it was CARRIED.

Decision:

Council notes:

1. That Residents of Manchester have a weekly bin collection.

2. That Residents of Manchester are now recycling more than ever before.

3. Council would like to thank Manchester Residents for working with us during the transition to the new collection scheme.

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CC/11/83 Motion – Loan Sharks

Motion made and seconded:

Council:

Notes and welcomes the UK-wide campaign to end ‘legal loan sharking’.

Believes that the lack of access to affordable credit is socially and economically damaging. Unaffordable credit is causing a myriad of unwanted effects such as poorer diets, colder homes, rent, council tax and utility arrears, depression (which impacts on job seeking behaviour) and poor health.

Further notes that unaffordable credit is extracting wealth from the most deprived communities.

Believes it is the responsibility of all levels of government to try to ensure affordable credit for all, and therefore pledges to use best practice to promote financial literacy and affordable lending. This will help to ensure that wealth stays in the local economy. We also pledge to promote credit unions in Manchester, community based organisations offering access to affordable credit and promoting saving.

Calls on the government to introduce caps on the total lending rates that can be charged for providing credit.

Calls on the government to give local authorities the power to veto licences for high street credit agencies where they could have negative economic or social impacts on communities.

Resolution:

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

Decision:

Council:

Notes and welcomes the UK-wide campaign to end ‘legal loan sharking’.

Further notes that unaffordable credit is extracting wealth from the most deprived communities.

Page 11 Manchester City Council Minutes City Council Meeting 12 October 2011 economy. We also pledge to promote credit unions in Manchester, community based organisations offering access to affordable credit and promoting saving.

Calls on the government to introduce caps on the total lending rates that can be charged for providing credit.

Calls on the government to give local authorities the power to veto licences for high street credit agencies where they could have negative economic or social impacts on communities.

CC/11/84 Motion – Thank You Manchester

Motion made and seconded:

Council gives a wholehearted vote of thanks to the men and women who protected our City and restored order to Manchester during and following the criminal disturbances in August.

Council asks the Chief Executive to make arrangements to invite public services, partner organisations, magistrates, businesses and retail organisations, residents, faith groups, "the clean up” volunteers and the many other individuals and groups to the Town Hall so a formal thank you and an appreciation can be given by the Lord Mayor and Members of the City Council to the people who played such an important part in our City when needed.

Resolution:

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

Decision:

Council gives a wholehearted vote of thanks to the men and women who protected our City and restored order to Manchester during and following the criminal disturbances in August.

CC/11/85 Motion - Fire Control Centres

Motion made and seconded:

Council notes the complete failure of the previous Government's policy of forced regionalisation of England's Fire Control Centres, closing 46 local centres to be

Page 12 Manchester City Council Minutes City Council Meeting 12 October 2011 replaced by 9 super-centres. Nearly £500 million has been wasted without answering a single emergency call nor mobilising a single fire engine.

Council endorses the recent report of the Public Accounts Committee which found the project to be one of the worst failures it has seen and expressed astonishment that no-one has been held to account for this scandalous waste of money.

Council further notes that in October 2005 the Liberal Democrat Group on Greater Manchester's Fire & Rescue Authority tabled a motion expressing that the Authority was "alarmed at the escalating costs of the Regional Control Centres and calls on the Government to halt the project for an independent enquiry into the public funding" and "we believe that the location of the North West Control Centre should be determined by locally elected members and senior fire officers with local knowledge and experience, rather than by faceless civil servants in London”.

This Council believes that, instead of claiming civil servants kept him in the dark, Lord Prescott and successive Labour CLG Fire Ministers should apologise and take responsibility for the appalling mess they created.

Council believes that the people of Manchester are entitled to have their fire emergency calls answered by the most efficient and effective Control centre possible. Council therefore resolves to mandate its Fire Authority members to continue to work with the Chief Fire Officer to deliver a modern, reformed Control Centre for Greater Manchester's residents and to ensure that all future options are examined carefully to make certain they provide value for money.

Amendment moved and seconded:

Delete paragraphs 1, 2, 3, and 4. Add

Council notes that it has not considered the previous government’s proposal to regionalise fire control centres nor the recent report of the Public Accounts Committee and so is not in a position to comment on either.

The City Council welcomes the work done by the Labour led Fire and Rescue Authority in securing £37m for investment in communications for the authority.

Resolution

The amendment, having been put and voted upon, the Lord Mayor declared that it was CARRIED.

The motion, as amended, was put as the substantive motion and the Lord Mayor declared that it was CARRIED.

Decision

Page 13 Manchester City Council Minutes City Council Meeting 12 October 2011 with the Chief Fire Officer to deliver a modern, reformed Control Centre for Greater Manchester's residents and to ensure that all future options are examined carefully to make certain they provide value for money.

The City Council welcomes the work done by the Labour led Fire and Rescue Authority in securing £37m for investment in communications for the authority.

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