Keeping Manchester Labour

Election time is obviously extremely busy for all Labour Councillors across Manchester. Every night is spent working on the local election. However, this time also gives us the opportunity to meet people face to face (apart from our surgeries and residents meetings) and listen to their views or problems. Its a great way to engage with people and to focus on what we need to do to meet their needs in the future.

If anyone has any comments about the local elections or would like to discuss any issues then please do not hesitate to contact us via this web-page.

Carnival Coming Up

Sunday , 24th June is guaranteed sunshine because that's the date for the next Crumpsall Carnival held as usual in Crumpsall Park . Councillor Richard Leese has been on the carnival committee from the very first carnival but it is not going to claim the credit for what is a genuinely community organised event . The City Council's Parks' staff also play their part along with the Council's North Manchester Regeneration team but the carnival simply wouldn't happen if it wasn't for the voluntary efforts of local residents like Tom ( also a survivor from the very first carnival ) , Bernie and Louise ( the pair with green hair ) , Dave , Steve , Chris and a few others . There's always room for more help and it's never too late , so if anybody's interested in getting involved e-mail Richard at r.leese@manchester.gov.uk and he will put you in touch with the committee

Labour Councils cost you less

Cllr Richard Leese , has said that the publishing of the 2007/08 council tax rates clearly show that Labour councils offer the best value for money."Labour councils cost local residents on average £262 per year less than Tory controlled councils and £201 less than Lib Dem councils."And thanks to Labour's consistent investment in local government, and prudent management of city council finances, the Council Tax rise in the City of Manchester will be the lowest rise in Greater Manchester for the eighth year running.In neighbouring Lib Dem controlled Stockport , the rise is close to double that of Manchester." The choice is clear . If you want excellent services and value for money from your local authority, vote Labour !

Labour Listen's

Every week all three Councillors or members of the Labour Party post leaflets through people's doors in a particular part of Crumpsall or Blackley Village. The leaflet has information on it stating when we will be in the area, and that if anyone has any problems the leaflet should be displayed in the window for us to see. We will then knock on the door and listen/help with any problems or issues.

Myself and Councillor Con Keegan met a number of residents who raised several concerns of a number of different natures. For obvious reasons I will not go into those concerns. However, 'Labour Listen's' allows local Councillors to meet people in their own homes and listen to any problems or issues of concern. We will always try to meet with local residents and try to do whatever we can to help.

Back home in Blackley Village

This Monday Con and I attended the quarterly meeting of the Blackley Village Local Plan steering group . I suspect even most residents in Blackley Village will be wondering what's that . The Council , Councillors and Blackley Village Residents Association [ BVRA ] have been working together for several years now , firstly to produce a regeneration plan for the village and secondly , through the steering group , to oversee its implimentation . Items for discussion on Monday included the reclamation work that is taking place on the Old Blackley Works site . This is causing some nuisance to local residents , and as Councillors we made sure both the contractors and the Council's Environmental Health department improved the quality of information provided to residents . Hopefully the work of removing foul smelling chemicals will be completed in the next week or so . Also discussed was the detailed planning application for developping unused land on the Avecia site . This is a key component of the regeneration plan so there will be a public drop-in and a special meeting of the steering group in April . Residents have 4 representatives on the steering group nominated by BVRA .

Manchester goes to parliament

One of the jobs of the Leader of the Council is to lobby parliament for the money and powers the city needs , so I have spent the last 2 days in London [ thankfully I'm now safely back in Manchester and civilisation ] talking to ministers , M.P s and members of the House of Lords on a range of issues including transport , worklessness and the proposed destination casino . Improving Crumpsall and the rest of Manchester means working effectively with National Goverment and that means talking to them . Our local M.P , Graham Stringer and other Manchester MPs , Tony Lloyd , Paul Goggins and Sir Gerald Kaufman help enormously in this work , as do Manchester based peers like Keith Bradley . Spending a couple of days there has allowed me to cram in literally dozens of meetings and being in Parliament also meant I bumped into a range of people it was useful to talk to about Manchester , including 5 cabinet ministers .

Daleks come to Manchester

On my way outside the town hall today I was surprised to bump into an old friend. As usual Manchester is attracting all sorts of people/machines to this great city.