Manchester City Council Services Online 24/7

It's NOW quicker and easier to get Manchester City Council services online 24 hours a day, 7-days a week on a computer, tablet or mobile phone at www.manchester.gov.uk'

Go on-line at Manchester.gov.uk and report problems such as:

• Dumped rubbish                                                          
• Graffiti                                                                                  
• Dog mess                                                                          
• Litter problems.

Request a service such as:

• Order a new bin. Get a new bin.
• Request help if the person is unable to put their own bin out on collection day.    
• Request a bulky item such as a mattress to be collected.

And pay council bills, business rates or set up a direct debit online.


Setting up a customer account

This allows Manchester residents to:

• See services, information, news and events in their neighbourhood.
• Check the progress of their requests and get email updates.
• Send online requests without having to give their details every time.
• Get a quicker service. Requests are fast-tracked to the right place.

International Women's Day fundraiser with Oxfam

We're now only 2 weeks away from our International Women's Day fundraiser with Oxfam.  We've got the evening all lined up with delicious food from The Manchester Tart Company, an experienced speaker from Oxfam to share inspirational stories about the work they do with women in communities in the UK and around the world, and some great raffle and auction prizes donated from local people and businesses.  I'll include a full list at the end of this mail.  All we need now to make the evening a huge success is for the women of the community to buy a ticket, and come together with your friends to enjoy the chat, bar and music. A great deal of time and effort has gone into the event so far, so make it count and don't miss out on what will be a great evening and a chance to make new friends in the area



Half of the funds raised from the raffle and auction, along with ticket sales will be going towards keeping the Residents Association running and allowing us to make more improvements to our neighbourhood, be it through planting projects or being able to put on free social events during the year - those decisions are yours, as this is all about bringing all your ideas to life.



So ladies, why not get in touch and come along on Saturday 9th from 7pm? Cricket Club, Whalley Range. Bring your neighbours and friends.  We need to make our sales in advance to be sure of numbers for catering, so please get in touch this week to buy your ticket. 



Please come along - it'll be a laugh and there's not even a taxi fare home! (and don't forget those prizes)



Looking forward to hearing from you.



Mandy Webber - on behalf of the committee. kingsbrookra@gmail.com



Raffle / Auction Prizes:



Power League - children's soccer party for 10

Power League - 1 week place on school holiday soccer camp

Signed Elbow T Shirt

Limited Edition designer Oxfam Bag - part of Bags of Attitude campaign (Photo attached)

Manchester Tart Company - meal for 2 delivered to your door

Wheelie Bin / Patio -Powerwash - Donated by Resident

2 Hours of home care donated by Bluebird Care (Manchester South)

Parlour (Beech Road) £20 voucher

Chocolates from Dunn's Chocolatier

Frosts - £20 meat voucher

Croma meal for 2 voucher

Panetone from Barbakan

Unicorn Hamper

Guys and Dolls - hair products and £5 voucher

Tea Hive - cup cakes

Bittersweet - jar of retro sweets

B & Q - TBA

Whalley Range Co Op - Bottle of Prosecco

Ginger's Comfort Emporium - Voucher for Melt - ice cream recipe book due out in Spring

James Patterson box set of 5 books - donated by resident

Sunflower jigsaw - donated by resident

Thorntons Chocolates - donated by resident

Save Fallowfield Library

Over 150 residents turned up on Saturday to display their passion for Fallowfield Library on National Library Day.

The Library is one of six that is proposed for closure in response to the unfair Tory led gov cuts imposed upon Manchester City Council.

 

The stars of the show of force were residents, community groups, pensioners and children, all voicing their opposition to this proposed closure. The Head of Libraries Neil Macinness could not have had a clearer message, to close this library will rip the heart out of the Fallowfield Community. 

 

Over 15 groups use the library on a regular basis ranging from  the Forever Young social group (youngest member 70) to the Friday night Bingo, the local schools and Fallowfield Youth Group.

The Library is a joint service centre with the NHS Public Health Board, generating an income in rent and service charges.

The library staff have increased the number of community events last year by a huge 120% while at the same time coming top of the Manchester Libraries for customer service (over 96% satisfaction).

 

The current proposals suggests that the opening hours for the remaining 13 libraries (if the 6 close) such as Didsbury should increase. This decision will cost £90,000, enough to save at least two neighbourhood libraries. I'm pretty sure that the good folk of Didsbury will share some of the burden in order to help save neighbourhood libraries in other Manchester communities.

 

 

Sign the petition at http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/save-fallowfield-library

 

Consultation meeting this Wednesday at Fallowfield Library from 5 until 7pm

Vote Tony for the Police Commissioner on Thursday Nov 15th

Message from Tony

The safety of our families lies at the top of people’s concerns. Crime and fear of crime affects us individually and our communities. So policing is fundamental to what type of community we want. The Police Commissioner must listen to the public in order to give it the voice it should have over major decisions affecting the police and the community. The whole police and criminal justice system must put cutting crime as the first priority. But we need to change our ways of working so that together the community, the police, the Councils, the Courts challenge those who believe nothing can be done to stop the vandal and the antisocial neighbour.

But this is made more difficult by reckless government cuts in policing. I will fight for proper resources for Greater Manchester where crime is still too high, and challenge the government to explain why we’ve had bigger cuts than low crime areas.
And when crime does take place we really can put the victim at the centre of the justice process and not the criminal, as often seems to be the case. But this is made more difficult by reckless government cuts in policing. I will fight for proper resources for Greater Manchester where crime is still too high, and challenge the government to explain why we’ve had bigger cuts than low crime areas.

http://tony4gtrmcr.co.uk/category/news/

Cotton Exchange project

This October artists are coming to the North West from Gujarat in India - weaver Shamji Vishram Siju and textile artist LOkesh Ghai.

The artists want to meet you. There will be free events organised led by young people who went and met the artists in India earlier this year:

“We were invited into the homes and studios of local artist and artisans. Each visit came with its own adventure, as two cultures came together under one roof.”

Gallery of Costume, Platt Hall, Rushome, Manchester M14 5LL

Friends and Family events: Saturdays 6th and 13th October, 1-4pm

Closing event: Wednesday 17 October, 5.00pm- 8.00pm

Combine learning with having fun!!!

        

 

Prince's Trust Team Fallowfield, Manchester Recruitment Drive
The Prince's Trust Team based in Fallowfield South Manchester are currently recruiting for their next Team programme which starts on October 1st.

It is a 12 week personal development programme aimed at equipping young people between the ages of 16-25 with the skills to help them progress into the employment market or make a successful return to education.
If you are aware of any young people who want to develop experience and skills that are helpful for the world of work do please pass on our details.
We can be contacted on 07590734137 or 0161 257 3963
or via email to
Natalie.Shannon@themanchestercollege.ac.uk
Glen.Hobbs@themanchestercollege.ac.uk
Hema.Govindji@themanchestercollege.ac.uk
Please read the attached information leaflet.

Welfare Reform - The Labour way

Over the last two weeks I have chaired two Policy Forums on the hot topic of welfare reform. The first at the North West Regional Labour Party Conference with Kate Green MP, Vice Chair of the NPF as well as Cllr Anne Duffield, Shadow Cabinet member for Trafford. And the second at the Blackley and Broughton Constituency Labour Party again with Cllr Anne Duffield. Both were well attended with 60 or so delegates at each one and drew out lively discussions and debate.

A number of key messages were common in both Forums;

1) The Labour Party needs to raise its political game on this, standing up for the most vulnerable while developing an alternative credible welfare vision.

2) Labour councils need to work together with housing providers to highlight the implications for tenants, looking at measures to mitigate some of the damage (“a challenge to say the least”)

3) A future Labour government needs to regulate rents to bring down the housing benefit bill and use revenue savings to increase the supply of affordable homes (build more houses).

4) Legislate to curtail the loan sharks introducing a maximum Annual Percentage Rate on credit.

5) Make work pay through a living wage and fair taxation.

As a Manchester councillor I have already seen a marked change in some of the issues being presented to me at advice bureaus and through correspondence. The re-assessment regime targeted at those constituents on disability benefits is throwing up some surprising and unjustified results. I would be amongst the first to support reform that made the welfare state active, providing a helping hand into work, training and education opportunities.. The evidence presented to me so far is a reformed system that has a nasty edge shaped by ideological dogma in pursuit of at least £18 billion of cuts.

Unfortunately “we ain't seen nothing yet” with the impending bedroom tax,(effecting 14,000 tenants in Manchester) localised and cut council tax benefit (50,000 Manchester residents) and the introduction of the Universal Credit.(64,000 Manchester residents)

In my ward alone 208 Tenants will be affected by the bedroom tax, many facing a reduction in income by as much as £25 per week. On top of this they face cuts in council tax benefits and having payments provided directly on a monthly basis rather than to housing providers on a fortnightly basis. When faced with a choice between providing for the family or paying bills, many will put their loved ones first creating a deteriorating cycle of debt.

Please do email me with your ideas on welfare reform or get in touch if you need support.