After another fantastic season (despite all our economic worries), the Christmas markets are gone and cleansing staff are busy hosing down Albert Square and the other market sites ready for the quiet of Christmas and the boisterousness of the New Year.
No not the Daphne du Maurier novel but a street in Crumpsall. Meet this morning with my colleague Councillors, officers from Private Sector Housing and Highways, and Groundwork to discuss an environmental improvement scheme for Rebecca Street and Balfour Street, part of the Crumpsall Green Neighbourhood Renewal Area.
The polls are now closed for the great Transport Innovation Fund referendum but not yet counted
A later start today, at least as far as formal meetings go, with a trip to Salford Quays for a Central Salford Urban Regeneration Company Board meeting. Still lots of activity taking place across the URC area and just as with East Manchester it is vitally important to maintain momentum through the downturn.
Probably make a good pub quiz question as to who coined the campaign slogan " The economy, Stupid " although if it was being done now it might be the other way round - the stupid economy.
Still recovering from a very early start yesterday, the 6.02 a.m. train to London, first for a Centre for Cities Board meeting, where not surprisingly the main topic of discussion was the impact of the economic downturn on our cities and what the prospects there are for the short and long term future.
Because this is the Council's website even as Leader of the Council I'm not allowed to discuss the biggest local matter of the moment, Greater Manchester's Transport Innovation proposals and the referendum currently underway. It's a matter that the City Council has a very clear view of, with support on a cross-party basis, but I'm now not allowed to explain why we came to that view, so I will have to refer you to the various Council minutes available on this site, or for a more up-to-date assessment tune into Channel M at 6pm this evening where I am allowed to talk about TIF.
8.00 a.m. and a meeting at Government Office North West which I'm attending as Chair of the Regional Housing Group. The meeting is chaired by Deborah McLaughlin, currently Director of Housing in Manchester, but here acting as Regional Director of the Homes and Communities Agency, a role she formally takes up on December 1st, and the purpose is to see what we can do in the field of housing to address our current economic woes.
It has been a busy and in many ways a productive week, but what ever it is I think I've been doing this week for the benefit of Manchester, it is put into perspective by the horrific murder of two young children in our midst.
First up this morning is a meeting with Edward Pysden, newly appointed interim Chair of the Board of Manchester Airport Group. Manchester Airport, whatever ones views on the very real environmental issues around aviation, is a key element in the economy not only of the city but the whole of the North of England. High fuel prices and the credit crunch are having an impact on airlines like every other retail business, but I am confident that Manchester Airport (alongside other airports in MAG) is sufficiently robust and well-run to weather the economic storm.
The blog of the leader of Manchester City Council, Councillor Richard Leese.