Laying out her vision for the city for the first time as leader of Manchester city council, Bev Craig said social value should be an ‘approach that we all take’, starting with a Real Living Wage.
Manifesto of councillor tipped to replace Leese, leaked prior to election
In the leaked manifesto, Hulme councillor Ekua Bayunu pledges to tackle the climate emergency, rebalance the economy, prioritise healthcare alongside education, and reform the council if elected Manchester council leader.
Sir Richard Leese’s swan song was to commission a memorial to inequality
In response to recent news that Richard Leese is to stand down as leader of Manchester City Council, local disabled activist Brian Hilton shares his personal views on Sir Richard and his legacy.
Planning decisions in Manchester are feeding the fires of inequality and ignoring the housing crisis
The passing of two controversial building proposals in Manchester raises the question – who does the city’s development model serve? A land commission for Greater Manchester could provide answers to that question and point the way to a more equitable use of land in the future.
Community and the carnivalesque – thoughts on the Manchester bus driver picket line
The picket line outside Queens Road Depot exhibits camaraderie, community and the carnivalesque. Solidarity is undoubtedly strong in the communities supporting the bus drivers in their ‘fire and rehire’ industrial dispute with Go North West.
Why planning is political
Andrea Sandor explores how community-led developments are putting democracy at the heart of the planning process.
Guest article first published in Red Pepper.
Climate Emergency Manchester petition results in council agreeing to redefine committee’s role in scrutinising climate action
Climate Emergency Manchester lobbied Manchester City Council for a new, 7th scrutiny committee for climate and environment.
The Council instead proposed restructuring existing committees to redefine the role of the Neighbourhoods and Environment Scrutiny Committee.
‘Shudehill Shard’ monies should pay for social housing level rented homes, says Sir Richard Leese
Responding to a call from Piccadilly councillors, Manchester City Council leader Sir Richard Leese said it would be ‘entirely appropriate’ to use money made from the sale of land to build the infamous ‘Shudehill Shard’ for building social housing level rent homes in the ward.
Council gets personal in row over Central Retail Park
As expected, the redevelopment of the former Central Retail Park was approved by Manchester City Council’s executive. But it was not without drama, as terse words were exchanged between Labour councillors and the opposition Liberal Democrat representative.
Manchester’s New Ruins, Ten Years On
Ten years after publishing A Guide to the New Ruins of Great Britain, author Owen Hatherley reflects on the past decade of neoliberal development in Manchester and its impact on the city. Last weekend, a few items down on the headlines, below the pandemic and the protests and curfews in the US, was a story […]