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.

The Bedroom Tax, The Nasty Party is back

Just received the latest update in regards to those Fallowfield Tenants that will be effected by the so called "bedroom tax".
 208 City South Tenants will be at the sharp end of these Tory led government welfare reforms. 148 losing £14 a week in benefits and 65 losing 25%.

Due to the shortage of affordable housing moving, downsizing and swapping will be a challenge to say the least. As Labour Councillors we will do all we can to mitigate the damage, it is clear that the Nasty Party of Politics is back with bells on.

Whalley Range Cricket Club opens £25,000 practice nets complex



Whalley Range CC officially opened its £25,000 state of the arts practice nets complex on Sunday 8 July, the latest element of its ambitious plans for the club.

The two-bay nets complex, plus bowling machine, was funded with £10,000 each from Manchester city council and the England and Wales Cricket Trust, plus donations from Manchester Airport Community Trust Fund and members and friends of the cricket club.

"The nets have already proved their worth this miserable summer, allowing us to practice when everywhere else on the ground is wet,” said Mike Hill, head junior coach. “And the players – from U11 starters to 1st team regulars – have improved their skills no end.”


Fallowfield councillor Mike Amesbury commented: “The cricket section is just part of a community club offering sport to local residents, including tennis and softball, and we are delighted to support the club’s ambitions.” Cricket Development officer Paul McGuffog added: “The city council have a keen focus on all sports in Manchester, and cricket participation in Manchester is increasing, through clubs like Whalley Range CC, and elsewhere.”

Bobby Denning, Cricket Development Manager for Lancashire Cricket Board, said: “The strength of the county championship winning Lancashire side is built on a platform of strong local clubs with their roots in the community, and the LCB is committed to strengthening facilities throughout the region. Whalley Range CC is a clubmark and focus club, which through this investment, has the capacity to produce better cricketers playing to a higher standard.”





Note to editors:



Whalley Range CC was founded in the 1850s, and has played at Kingsbrook Road since 1921. It has three senior teams in the Manchester & District Cricket Association, a Midweek XI and Sunday Friendly XI, plus junior teams from U9s to U18s. It has 110 junior members, 24 of whom represented City of Manchester district teams, and two have represented Lancashire at U13s and U14s. The 1st XI played in the prestigious Lancashire Cup this season.



For more details, please contact Mike Hill on 07894 961530.



Pic caption: L-R Cllr Mike Amesbury, Whalley Range CC chairman Dave Rushforth, head junior coach Mike Hill holding memorial plaque, LCB’s Bobby Denning, Manchester cricket development officer Paul McGuffog

New Kitchens, Windows, Bathrooms and Doors - Decent Homes for Fallowfield

As a consequence of the the previous Labour governments decent homes programme, tenants in the Fallowfield area ( and City South patch ) continue to see improvements to their homes and neighbourhoods. Below is the latest update that I have received as one of the Directors of the City South Housing Trust. Cllr Mike Amesbury.
Summary of Headline Achievements at 31st June 2012


New PVCu windows fitted to 3631 homes and

Aluminium in 484 multi-storey homes


New kitchens at 3591 homes


2578 properties partially rewired


New bathrooms at 3682 homes


3420 external doors replaced


1080 properties fully rewired


New energy efficient condensing boilers or storage heaters

installed in 2744 homes


Loft insulation installed or upgraded in 1967 homes


External work (roofs, gutters, brickwork as required) to 935 homes


Cladding and roofing work complete at 8 multi storey blocks covering 484 multi-storey homes and under way at a further 3

Insulating cladding and roofing complete at 213

After a number of attempts to improve the trading activity of the Twisted Public House in  Fallowfield,  these premises are letting our community down. I and my Labour colleagues want to see a thriving Fallowfield Centre, that provides safe and entertaining bars that are good neighbours to local residents. Twisted is not one of them, I have therefore submitted to letter below to revoke it's license.

"I concur with Greater Manchester Police, colleagues and residents in my objection to the continued trading of the Twisted Public House in the Fallowfield Ward.

Despite the intervention of key stakeholders such as the police and environmental health, the licensee has failed to improve matters having little regard for customers and the neighbouring communities.

Twisted is poorly run and managed, not helped by an absentee landlord and unsupported staff.

The premises are unclean both within the building as well as the outside grounds, health and hygiene are not familiar concepts associated with Twisted.

Customers have been seen on the roof, often intoxicated and are clearly a risk to the themselves and others.

The police have made numerous visits in relation to ASB and criminal activity.


Twisted should have it's license revoked because it contributes to crime and disorder in the Fallowfield Ward.

It is detrimental to the health and public safety of young people.

The licensee is not a fit and responsible person to discharge his operating duties under the Licensing Act".

 

Over £4 million secured for Alexandra Park

Manchester has more Green Flag award winning parks than any other authority in the country. One park that has required some real care and attention is Alexandra Park on the edge of Fallowfield ward.
Cllr David Royle stated" Working together with my Labour colleagues and the people's panel we were able to shape a community owned bid to the lottery and press our council into providing match funding. This is fantastic news for the local community and the city"

The £2.2 million from the HLF will be matched by funding from the Council creating a project that will bring major physical improvements to the Park alongside a programme of community activities.
The coming months will see preparation for the Capital Works which should begin around October 2012 and last around 15 months.
Applications have also been made to Sport England and other sports bodies which focus on transforming the sports facilities in the Park.

Housing improvements continue under
Manchester Labour
As part of the previous Labour Government's decent housing pledge, work continues in Fallowfield to transform City South Housing for Tenant's.
Councillor David Royle stated " This £92 million programme would not have happened without the last Labour government. It is about more than bricks and mortar with environmental improvements as well as employment initiatives as part of the programme. One of the first acts of this Tory led government was to drastically cut investment in social and affordable housing, I am determined to stand up to this injustice while pressing for much needed resources".