(a) Greater Manchester Police and Crime Panel
Councillor Amanda Peers to answer questions, if any, on the business of the Greater Manchester Police and Crime Panel.
(b) Greater Manchester Combined Authority
The following councillors to answer questions (if any) on the business of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority:-
Greater Manchester Combined Authority - Councillor Elise Wilson
Greater Manchester Transport Committee - Councillor David Meller
Greater Manchester Waste Committee - Councillor Roy Driver
Minutes:
(a) Greater Manchester Police and Crime Panel
Councillor Gribbon referred to the recruitment of new police officers and suggested that the figures that had been previously quoted were not accurate due to existing officers being on periods of leave or not on active duty, and it was queried whether any further information could be provided in relation to the numbers of officers who were currently not in active service.
Councillor Peers responded that she appreciated the concerns expressed and that she would provide a written response that would be circulated to all members of the Council.
(b) Greater Manchester Combined Authority
Councillor Smart commented on the failure to secure an agreement between the Mayor of Greater Manchester and central government on a package of support for businesses impacted by the movement into Tier 2. The government had subsequently made an announcement on the financial support that would be offered and it was queried whether that funding would be sufficient to meet the needs of Greater Manchester’s economy, and if not what the size of the gap was.
The Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Devolution (Councillor Elise Wilson) responded that at this stage the full details of what the package amounted to were not available and discussions were taking place to fully establish this.
Councillor Smart further queried what the failure of these negotiations meant for the state of devolution across the United Kingdom, and in particular in Greater Manchester and whether the current arrangements were fit for purpose.
The Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Devolution (Councillor Elise Wilson) responded that Greater Manchester had made more progress with regard to devolution than many other regions in England and that she supported further devolution to Greater Manchester.
Finally, Councillor Smart asked whether the Leader of the Council would push for Greater Manchester to be included in a pilot so that relatives of care home residents were considered as key workers to enable them to gain access to regular testing which would allow them to see their relatives in these settings.
The Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Devolution (Councillor Elise Wilson) responded that she fully agreed with this proposal and that she would raise it at the Greater Manchester Covid Committee.
Councillor Hunter stated the Liberal Democrat Group had consistently opposed the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework because of the damage they feared it would do to the borough’s precious green spaces. Councillor Hunter further reported that Andrew Gwynne MP had recently put his name to a letter to the Leader of the Council, and asked whether he was right when he stated that “we can only imagine that you as a Leader do not have an adequate understanding of the site and the destruction this development will have to our shared border and beautiful countryside”.
The Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Devolution (Councillor Elise Wilson) responded that she understood why people wanted to protect the environment and the green belt, but that the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework was a proposal that sought to balance the need to deliver jobs homes and the protection of the environment. Councillor Wilson stated that all of these factors were important and needed to be delivered, but getting the balance right would be difficult.
Councillor Hunter further asked whether the Leader of the Council would take on board the additional comments in the letter co-signed by Andrew Gwynne MP where it was stated that “we ask you to think again to put the future of our boroughs first and protect our precious green belt for generations to come”.
The Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Devolution (Councillor Elise Wilson) stated that she was committed to the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework as it provided a positive step for Stockport to work together with its neighbours to deliver on jobs, housing and the environment. Councillor Wilson further stated that Andrew Gwynne was standing up for his constituents and what he believed was right.
Councillor Mike Hurleston asked for an update on the prospects of Manchester Airport and the exposure of the Council to risk in the lights of its past investments in the airport.
The Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Devolution (Councillor Elise Wilson) stated that the aviation industry and been disproportionality affected by the current crisis and that the airport was not projected to recover to pre-covid levels until 2023/24. Councillor Wilson noted that there were a number of initiatives that it was hoped would mitigate against some of the impacts of the current restrictions such as improvements in testing and reductions in quarantine times. Councillor Wilson confirmed that she would respond in writing with further details in relation to the investments made by the Council in Manchester Airport Group.
Councillor Hurleston further asked if he could be provided with an update on the economic prospects for Greater Manchester and what impact Covid-19 may have on economic growth projections and the dynamic between Manchester's City Centre and the region’s town centres.
The Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Devolution (Councillor Elise Wilson) stated that the Greater Manchester Combined Authority received an economic update report to each of its meetings that provided the most up to date information which she would be happy to share with members as soon as it became available.