Welcome to the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) & the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities (AGMA) fourth quarterly newsletter. Your overview of the key work going on across Greater Manchester.


If you are new to the GMCA and AGMA or would simply like to know more about us and how it works visit our web site:

http://www.agma.gov.uk/

Greater Manchester welcomes Community Budget pilot

Greater Manchester has welcomed news that it has been selected by the Government  as one of
only four Whole Place Community Budget pilots in the country.

The pilot represents a unique opportunity for Greater Manchester and the Government to work together to reform public services - ensuring the best value for money for public spending. The Greater Manchester pilot will focus on tackling dependency on public services and supporting economic growth.

Senior officials from Greater Manchester and Whitehall will now work together in 2012 to explore in detail how these ideas will be implemented, with the intention that lessons will be learned that can be applied nationally.

Transport funding update

 Government has recently confirmed funding for several transport schemes in Greater Manchester, including the £54m Cross City Bus scheme, Rochdale's new transport interchange and increase in parking provision at Horwich Parkway Rail Station.  Rochdale's new £11.5 million transport interchange will be the first in Europe with integrated hydropower generation.

Airport City Enterprise Zone

 Details of the Enterprise Zone based on Manchester Airport have been submitted to Government. The Government announced in March 2011, as part of their policy to create 21 new Enterprise Zones across England, that Manchester Airport City would be one of four vanguard Zones. Details of the areas proposed to be included in the zone can be found in this report to the GMCA

GM Skills and Employment Partnership

 The Partnership has now been officially launched. It is an initiative led by New Economy, which aims to boost GM’s employment and skill levels. At the heart of the partnership is an intelligence-driven approach; providing expert analysis to identify where demand is not currently being met and to predict future market trends. It will ensure that providers are able to fully understand and address market demand. It supports the provision of demand-led education, training and employment across the conurbation.

 Deal for Cities

 The Deputy Prime Minister announced on 8 December 2011 a ‘New Deal for Cities’; aimed at agreeing devolution of powers and more flexibility over funding arrangements in proportion to evidence of local leadership and potential for growth.

 More details on the Government’s announcement are available here; and on Greater Manchester’s engagement in this dialogue here.

 What Can a Mayor do for Your City?

 The GMCA has responded to a Government Consultation on proposals for elected mayors in the 12 largest English cities; including the Manchester City Council area. They agreed that building on the 25 year history of voluntary collaboration in Greater Manchester, with the recent establishment of the GM Combined Authority (GMCA) and the LEP, was the best way to make the right contribution to creating the conditions for growth and public sector reform; rather than creating a new form of governance within the City of Manchester local authority area only.

Strengthening Links between a Sustainable Economy and Natural Environment

 A consultation will take place early in the New Year on the formation of a GM Local Nature Partnership (LNP). The concept of LNP's was introduced in the Natural Environment White Paper, as an opportunity to improve the connection between Natural Environment, the Green Economy, Skills, Tourism, Landowners and with Health and Well Being.

 To learn more about the consultation contact p.woods@agma.gov.uk or LNP@redroseforest.co.uk

Connected - Powering Greater Manchester's Low Carbon Future

 The GM Energy Plan was approved by the Combined Authority in November, the plan aims to take a high level accessible overview of information, research and projects, to help plan and inform GM's future energy priorities. The plan will be launched in early 2012.

 To learn more contact Sarah.Davies@oldham.gov.uk 

DataGM

 ‘DataGM’, an open online data store of public sector data about Greater Manchester, has been shortlisted for an award at the Public Sector Digital Awards 2011.  ‘DataGM’ has been shortlisted in the category of 'Best example of digital transformation' which recognises best practice examples of the digital transformation of a public service and how it is delivered to the citizen.

Refuse Project Sweeps Up

 Five councils (Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Rochdale and Wigan) in AGMA have been given a refuse boost with a procurement project jointly tendered for 50 refuse compaction vehicles which has saved them around £648,000.  Around £42 million worth of vehicles are likely to be procured via the framework until 2015.  The local economy has been boosted as the chassis, body and bin lifts were awarded to three locally based suppliers. 

Greater Manchester’s waste plans approved

 Greater Manchester’s Joint Waste Development Plan Document sets out a plan for minimising and managing future waste and will be formally adopted following approval from the Planning Inspectorate.   The document identifies locations for future waste management facilities and a suite of waste planning policies.

By working collaboratively to produce a joint plan, the ten councils have estimated that they have saved over £8 million in its production.

The ‘Grey to Green’ Project

 The ‘Grey-to-Green’ Project aims to address false perceptions of the area by encouraging local people, including people from difficult-to-reach communities, to record the wildlife on their doorstep and to contrast this with memories of the sites industrial past. The aim is to foster a sense of pride in local Natural Heritage.  The total value of the Project award is for approximately £500,000 over three years the bulk from the the Heritage Lottery Fund, beginning in April 2012.

Select Committee Inquiry into Housing

The Communities and Local Government Select Committee of the House of Commons is currently undertaking an inquiry into the financing of new housing supply. Given the relevance of these issues Greater Manchester submitted detailed evidence to the inquiry in October. Cllr Paul Andrews represented the Planning and Housing Commission at a Committee session on the 19^th December.

Further information on the inquiry, including a written transcript of the session, is available from the Committee’s web pages: http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/communities-and-local-government-committee/inquiries/financing-of-new-housing-supply/



For further information on Planning & Housing Commission click here

Domestic Violence

 Greater Manchester ran a winter campaign to raise awareness of the problem and encourage reporting to the Police and partners. A Candlelit Vigil took place on Friday 25th November outside Bridgewater Hall in Manchester and a “16 days of action” campaign ran until 10th December.

 Improving Public Confidence (IPC)

 Final data from a GMAC evaluation of the seasonal Safe4Summer campaign (focused on keeping young people safe over the summer holidays period) shows that a 13% reduction in recorded antisocial behaviour was achieved by partners over the campaign period compared to previous year’s figures. The Safe4Summer website can be found at www.safe4summer.com.

For further information on the work of the Public Protection Commission please click here 

Public Service Reform Exemplar

As part of the Whole Place Community Budget the Commission will provide oversight and challenge to Health & Social Care Public Service Reform Exemplar projects. The aim of these is to generate step changes in relation to the integration of services; personalized care & choice for individuals; technology supporting care at home; and the quality & consistency of care across hospitals, general practice, social care and community services.