Welcome to AGMA’s first update – Your quarterly guide to all that we’ve been doing across Greater Manchester. Please circulate to relevant members of your council team.

AGMA and how we work
If you are new to AGMA or would simply like to know more about AGMA and how it works visit our website:
http://www.agma.gov.uk/

Skills and Employment
New Economy continues to manage the £52 Million Future Jobs Fund for the creation of 8,000 new jobs for young people and residents of deprived communities across Manchester. Job creation is centred on those roles with a strong community benefit. So far over 5,600 people have been placed into new jobs.

Economic Intelligence
New Economy monitors data to provide the Greater Manchester picture on the economy. The Manchester Monitor is a dashboard of Greater Manchester specific data and indicators designed to provide a monthly analytical snapshot of the economic wellbeing of the city region.

Evergreen
The European Investment Bank has chosen a consortium that consists of AGMA, CB Richard Ellis and Greater Manchester Pension Fund as preferred bidder to deliver its proposals for the North West Evergreen Fund.

Supported by Manchester City Council and local authorities across Cheshire, Cumbria and Lancashire, the vision for Evergreen is to kick-start a sustainable transformation of the North West of England. The proposals will underpin the North West's long term growth and stability through the prudent use of public and private funding. It’s hoped Evergreen will not only support the rejuvenation of commercial and industrial assets across the North West but also help sustain employment whilst creating new opportunities for communities the length and breadth of the region.

Greater Manchester Spatial Framework (GMSF)
Draft topic papers have been published covering the economy, town centres, and infrastructure. It incorporates the findings of studies into the future of town centres and large employment sites. A group representing all ten districts is working to ensure it addresses the issues raised before a draft Framework is produced in the new year.

For further information visit and click on GM Spatial Framework:
http://www.agma.gov.uk/commissions1/planning_housing_commission/index.html
 
Energy
Throughout 2011 individual districts will be working together to create a pipeline of opportunities for renewable, low carbon energy developments. To coincide with this work a programme aimed at training and up-skilling the planning sector in renewable and low carbon energy planning has been devised and is being delivered to planning professionals and councils until June 2011.

Local Investment Plan 2
Seminars have been held with Registered Social Landlords and private sector developers on the investment priorities for housing. LIP2 has developed into a 'prospectus' for investment in GM and will be reported to AGMAs Executive Board for approval. Early opportunities for implementing the plan have been identified in terms of new private rented sector housing, equity loans and new affordable housing as well as the development of a GM Homebuy product. Each work stream will be taken forward with a range of funding and investment sources being utilised.

Flood and Water Management
Using funding from DEFRA, consultants have now been commissioned to undertake the Surface Water Management Plan. This plan will provide a flood risk map for GM, indicating levels of risk and ‘hot spots’ where further assessment can be focused. DEFRA and Regional Flood Defence Committee funding has been used to create a flood risk coordinator post. A study on flood risk management capacity in GM is nearing completion and will recommend the arrangements that need to be put in place across GM for flood and water management in line with the new legislation.

NHS and the Task & Finish Group
In early 2010 the Association of GM Primary Care Trusts (AGMPCTs) presented to the AGMA Wider Leadership Team a financial overview for the health system in GM in the period to 2014. This led to a Task & Finish Group being constituted in Summer 2010.

The group has proposed a ‘transition programme’ over the next 12 to 18 months that will help AGMA realise opportunities and informs responses to the NHS White Paper, describing those tasks and actions required at a GM level.  We will play a key role in co-ordinating this work and overseeing discussions with Department of Health about Greater Manchester opportunities.

Air Quality
A recent presentation led by Kate Ardern, Director of Public Health (Wigan) recognised the contribution to health made by air quality. Further to endorsing the work of the GM Air Quality Group, officers will explore the development of an indicator for this work within the GM Strategy. There was also strong support for proposals to improve walking and cycling in Greater Manchester.
 
Minimum unit price
The Task and Finish Group is continuing to carry out more work with regard to the consideration of a minimum unit pricing for alcohol. Further work is required to understand and balance the enforcement implications against the benefits of the proposal
 
Given the scale of health and social harm caused by alcohol misuse across Greater Manchester the Commission sought further support from other areas regionally and nationally that included Cheshire & Merseyside. It has agreed to continue its show of strong support for a national minimum unit price for alcohol.