Not a good week for thousands of low income families across the country. I wrote in the Manchester Evening News on Monday of this week, April Fools Day, about two of the sweeping changes in the benefit system that came into force this week, the scrapping of Council Tax Benefit and the introduction of the bedroom tax for families in receipt of housing benefit who are supposedly under-occupying their property, i.e. have a spare bedroom.
The Strategic Education Partnership Board had its first meeting yesterday. I've talked frequently about the importance of education and skills to the city's future. Our economy is increasingly driven by knowledge, invention and innovation, and the majority of new jobs being created in the city-region require degree level or equivalent qualifications.
Although in some respects, lack of choices, and most definitely impossible choices. There is barely a day goes past when I don't get a letter or e-mail, see something on Twitter, read something in the press asking why, in the current economic climate, the City Council is spending money on A, B, or C rather than whatever it is the person concerned wants us to spend it on. It's a fair question.
Last Friday was Budget Council. It was a lively meeting with a fair few people exercising their right to protest but not I'm pleased to say in a way that interfered with the democratic process. There was a lot of debate at the end of which the Executive Budget proposals were approved with a number of amendments. The main amendment, that from the opposition was not passed, not least because senior officers advice to Council was that various parts of it were " unrealistic " and " unachievable ". In the meeting itself it was revealed that the proposed cut in spend on consultants was bigger than the spend on consultants - that doesn't quite add up.
Two gloriously sunny, warm Spring days, so what could be better for this week's Climate Week, and the dozens of events taking place around the city looking at mitigation and adaptation in response to global warming.
As promised; http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/46148
The unwelcome arrival of the EDL in Manchester has once again prompted a debate about freedom of speech and the right to peaceful demonstration.
i've just got back from the programme launch for this year's fourth Manchester International Festival. It is undoubtedly going to be the best yet but as I haven't downloaded a programme yet I'll leave any further comments until later and instead stick with the budget theme. A Blog is a blog not a Q & A but the last but one post, Fighting for Fairness, raised a few questions I thought it was worth commenting on. I won't respond to every point raised not least because many will be answered by actions over the next month or so.
The budget rightly continues to dominate Council business and will do so even after Budget Council on March 8th as a number of budget consultations will still be under way. One of the things that often comes up in consultation meetings, mainly from the far " left " is the suggestion that the Council should stand up to the Coalition Government and refuse to make their cuts. An attractive idea maybe to somebody shouting from the back of a meeting, but not one that bears much scrutiny. Implementation of this idea would require the Council to set a budget where expenditure exceeded income, i.e., one that didn't balance, one that was illegal.
The Council Executive met today to agree its budget recommendations to the full Council. The recommendations now go to Scrutiny and with any proposed amendments are considered by Finance Scrutiny on February 25th. They then go for debate and decision at a special budget Council meeting on March 8th, but even then the process is not over. A number of the budget proposals are subject to separate consultations. The one on Leisure, a non-statutory consultation, concludes on March 8th and is considered by the Council Executive on April 10th. The other statutory consultations on various aspects of the Adult and Children's Care proposals and on Libraries conclude in April and will be considered by the Executive early in May.
The blog of the leader of Manchester City Council, Councillor Richard Leese.