Questions to The Executive for 2020
Councillor Bev Craig, Executive Member for Adult Health and Wellbeing, was asked a question
What are the rules on social distancing between established couples living in different households whilst in Tier 3?
Under social distancing guidance on the government website, it says established couples are not expected to social distance. Is this still true in tier 3?
Councillor Bev Craig replied:
In relation to the previous Tier 3 restrictions up to 5th November, the local Public Health Team have sought advice from the Council Legal Department:
"This is one of those cases where the Guidance is slightly at odds with the Regulations.
In Very High areas unless one of the exceptions from gathering applies, then they can only gather in public outdoor places which are free to access, or at botanical gardens, gardens of stately homes and castles (although we don't have many of them in Manchester) where a charge is made.
For example, if the one of the households is comprised of a single adult or a single adult with a person who was under 18 on the 12th June this year that adult can choose to be linked with another household (subject to a number of conditions) which is one of the exceptions in the Very High Regulations, so they could meet.
If any of the other exceptions applies, and there are too many to mention, then they can also meet"
2 December 2020
Councillor Luthfur Rahman, Executive Member for Skills, Culture and Leisure was asked the following question by Ian Swan:
To take down any statues or renaming places in our country is wrong, all we are doing is denying history, we can't change it. If you start this where does it end? The pyramids, the colosseum and many more iconic structures were built by slaves for the rich and a lot of those countries they are still making money off them today, who picks and chooses, you are going to end up causing a greater divide. Do you think Egypt will take the pyramids down? Wouldn’t we be better helping to stop slavery in the world today that is rife in some places? For every action there is a reaction
Councillor Luthfur Rahman replied:
Thank you for your question.
Work is now underway to scope a review which has been delayed due to COVID -19 recovery work. The City Council will be working with Manchester Histories to establish an advisory group which will include representatives from the Universities and plans to develop an Engagement and Interpretation Strategy to engage community partners, residents and visitors in the city’s public art, statues and memorials, identification of options to enable the public to access information about and engage with the content of works in the public realm. Manchester Histories will lead on this element, but within the framework of the wider review.
18 September 2020
Councillor Luthfur Rahman, Executive Member for Skills, Culture and Leisure was asked the following question by Pearl Hutton:
I would like to know since a mural of George Floyd was displayed for public viewing can anyone display murals now! Is the city centre a public space if so, can anyone who has different views also have a mural, if not then the council must not be seen to be favouring one race against the other! Also are we now glorifying criminals and political movements under the guise of Black Lives Matter!!
Councillor Luthfur Rahman replied:
Thank you for your question.
The George Floyd mural in Stevenson Square has sparked tremendous debate in the city with a weight of opinion both in favour of, and against the artwork.
We neither commissioned nor funded the mural. The Out House is an independent project that invites artists to paint public artworks in Stevenson Square, which often touch on a range of different issues and people in popular culture. For example, David Bowie was depicted in 2017 following his death and Arya Stark (of Game of Thrones) was featured at the height of the show's fame. These artworks change every few months.
As a global icon of the Black Lives Matter campaign, we understand that the mural of George Floyd will divide opinion. However, it is important that we as a city and as a society continue to have conversations around race and inequality - and that someone should not be treated differently or victimised because of the colour of their skin is always wrong.
We will not tolerate the type of hate that led to racist graffiti daubed on one of our city streets. We will always act immediately to remove any such graffiti.
This was a shocking and abhorrent act, which only goes to show that our society has some distance yet to travel in becoming truly free of discrimination.
And this act puts into sharp relief exactly why it is crucial that public artworks continue to represent the rich diversity of the people who live, work and play in this city.
It is our hope that when people see the mural of George Floyd they see not just the man, but begin to find out and understand why he has become a symbol of racial inequality around the world.
18 August 2020
Councillor Angeliki Stogia, Executive Member for Environment, Planning and Transport, was asked the following question:
Why am I not able to speak to a person about a bus gate fine of £90?
I'm a care worker for an agency, I'm currently suffering financially, I have had to leave my home because my mum has cancer who was caring for me too as I'm autistic, now I find out that I have a fine that I cannot afford and I will go to court. I'm working with patients with covid 19, my mental health is not good, I have no family members who can support me and I cannot afford the fine and was only taking the person who has given me a temporary home to Manchester Royal Infirmary with a Injury which can be checked with the NHS.
Please tell me what I can do?
Councillor Angeliki Stogia replied:
Thank you for your question.
A member of the Parking Team has tried to contact you on the mobile number you have provided with your enquiry, however the call could not be connected.
The officers from Parking Services are working from home in line with government advice, which is why you cannot contact them by telephone.
You can contact them by email at parking@manchester.gov.uk
You will need to make sure you include the PCN reference number or your vehicle registration number when you contact Parking Services.
14 May 2020
Councillor Carl Ollerhead, Executive Member for Finance and Human Resources, was asked the following question:
I have not received a business rates bill this year, can you advise.
Councillor Carl Ollerhead replied:
Thank you for getting in touch regarding your business rates bill for this year.
Ratepayers can access copy rate demands and many other details about their rate account 24 hours a day, 7 days a week using the Connect service.
Details can be found on Manchester City Council's website.
30 April 2020
Councillor Carl Ollerhead, Executive Member for Finance and Human Resources, was asked the following question:
Due to current situation the restaurant I work for is closed. Right at the moment I do not have any job. As our government said they will help us, can you please advise what my colleagues and I have to do?
Councillor Carl Ollerhead replied:
Thank you for getting in touch regarding your current circumstances. This is a very frustrating time in regards to the current and ongoing situation relating to COVID-19 and you may find our Coronavirus web pages of some interest to you.
You may like to access the Council's website regarding Benefits and Money, where you can get advice relating to claiming benefits.
31 March 2020
Councillor Angeliki Stogia, Executive Member for Environment, Planning & Transport, was asked the following question:
Parking and Enforcement - Hello, You like parking enforcement but how about helping those that travel by tram?
How many times is a tram blocked by cars?
The biggest blocking point is in front of TfGM at Piccadilly Place where cars regularly enter the yellow box or on the other side on London road affecting trams in and out of Piccadilly Station.
How about installing automatic cameras that cause more issues than bus lanes at 9pm!
Thanks
Councillor Angeliki Stogia replied:
Thank you for your question.
I share your frustration about the delays this causes to the users of the trams.
You may not be aware but outside of London, local authorities have no powers to enforce against moving traffic offences such as drivers who block yellow box junctions or ignore banned right turns. Enforcement outside London is a matter for the Police but, as you will appreciate, their resources are limited and they are unable to prioritise such work.
The Leader of Manchester City Council and leaders of other large cities across England have asked Government for the same powers as are enjoyed in London but so far, Government has refused to agree to the request. We are also working together with the Greater Manchester Mayor as well as the Mayor's Walking and Cycling Commissioner have also recently made a similar request to the Government.
I hope you appreciate therefore that I am keen to see proper enforcement undertaken and hope that we may soon have the necessary powers to enable this to happen.
Thank you for writing to the Council on this matter.
17 March 2020.
Councillor Luthfur Rahman Executive Member for Skills, Culture and Leisure was asked a question by Hans Mock, who lives in Manchester:
What steps has the council taken to be involved in the multi-million pound initiative spearheaded by the National Trust to develop viable strategies for the maintenance of local parks in the face of local authority cutbacks.
Councillor Luthfur Rahman replied:
The Future Parks Accelerator was launched in October 2018 with the aim of supporting a group of pioneers to work at pace for the following two years, to learn rapidly and build their capacity to lead for ambitious change both in their place and to benefit the rest of the UK. The opportunity to participate came just short of a year after Manchester had committed to a new 10 year strategy for Manchester's Parks that would see the focus move towards the delivery of four themes:
- Parks at the Heart of Neighbourhoods looks at the physical role of parks in neighbourhoods across the city, as well as their size, accessibility and character.
- Vibrant Parks, Vibrant Communities considers the use and activities that take place in parks to ensure they are a focus of community life, providing opportunities for exercise and sport, and a wide variety of events that can generate additional income for the benefit of parks.
- A Manchester Quality Standard sets out a good-quality standard for managing and maintaining parks.
- Productive Parks in Partnership describes ways to deliver park services in a more collaborative and fruitful manner with communities and local organisations, not just the Council.
From the outset of the new strategy we had identified the need to reshape and grow the Parks Team to ensure that we could deliver the ambition for the City’s Parks. This would see growth in the Parks Team as well as securing significant capital investment across the estate. The timescale of applications for the launch of the Future Parks Accelerator and the development of a reshaped and refocused team with a significant capital programme to deliver was given full consideration in terms of our available resources and we agreed not to apply in the first round of the Future Parks Accelerator.
We are keeping a very close eye on the Future Parks Accelerator pioneers and it is really clear that to sustain the future of our parks we need to find alternative business models, it is reassuring that many of the workstreams being promoted are already being progressed in Manchester.
12 February 2020