Questions to The Executive for 2024
Councillor Lee-Ann Igbon, Executive Member for Vibrant Neighbourhoods, was asked a question by Stephen Whitfield:
What has happened to The Survivor Tree sapling donated to Manchester in 2017 by the 9/11 Memorial Museum in New York after the Ariane Grande Concert bombing? It just seems to have disappeared.
Councillor Igbon replied:
A seedling from the Survivor Tree in New York was gifted to the city in 2017 after the attack at the Manchester Arena. As part of the design and construction of the Glade of Light memorial, the Council attempted to bring over the sapling with help from partners in the UK and the US. Due to disease risk, Government rules would not allow the import of the tree at the time.
The seedling is being cared for by a nursery in New York on behalf of the city.
21 June 2024
Councillor Garry Bridges was asked a question by a resident
I am interested in an explanation for why "Operation Vulcan" seems to target a practically irrelevant aspect of crime in Manchester when police chiefs in 2022 recognised 176 OCGs (Organized Crime Groups) and there has been a marked increase in Drug Offences, Possession of Weapons Offences, Sexual Offences and Violent Crimes (Ref: Manchester.Gov.UK, 2022). I have lived in Manchester for 21 years and I have never seen the city centre look so intimidating and antisocial, there are balaclava-wearing gangs roaming constantly and the smell of marijuana permeates the entirety of the gardens, with dealers offering £10 bags of spice while police officers stand 200 meters away (Yes, this is a real experience I have had). It just seems so counterintuitive to prioritise some people getting a fake Gucci bag over murder, knife crime and the like. I have reviewed the statistics closely and the 'total' crime has decreased from the year 2019/2020 to 2020/2021 but analysis shows the marked decrease is driven primarily by theft offences, I assume many of which are minor and non violent and I assume which coincide quite well with our lower standard of living due to inflation and rising costs so you know what, fair enough if they feel they need to rob a loaf of bread from ASDA. I'm not really sure who this will get through to or whether there'll even be a response but to be honest, the lack of awareness and the parading of 'better statistics' just seems like political double speak on a level that is assuming stupidity and a blind following from its 3 million onlookers. Thank you.
Councillor Garry Bridges replied:
Operation Vulcan is a partnership problem solving approach to high and repeat demand that involves a range of crime types.
Since November 2022 operation Vulcan has been targeting the organised crime groups that saw an area of Cheetham Hill become overrun with criminality of all types. This did include counterfeit goods but also drug supply, violence against women and girls, anti-social behaviour and car crime. The approach taken meant that within 9 months 33 organised crime groups had been tackled and sustained reductions were seen across all crime figures.
Following on from the success in Cheetham Hill Operation Vulcan moved to Piccadilly Gardens to target the drug dealing, anti-social behaviour, robbery and violence. Beginning in late 2023 the team have again been working with a large number of partners to problem solve the repeat and high demand. Using a range of policing and partnership tactics there has been a consistent decline in all crime types and a recent survey of business in the area suggests 85% are satisfied or very satisfied with the operational response.
Though the work continues, the improvements in Piccadilly Gardens are clear to see and GMP will work with MCC to make it a welcoming space that Manchester can be proud of.
16 May 2024