The Resources and Governance Scrutiny Committee are scheduled to meet to discuss Manchester City Council's connections with the Greater Manchester Integrated Care System, the council's workforce strategy, and the annual property report. Also to be discussed is the review of the capital investment programme in the context of current forecast spend and market conditions. The committee will also review and approve the minutes from their previous meeting.

Review of Capital Investment Programme

The committee are scheduled to discuss the council's capital investment programme, considering the current forecast spend and prevailing market conditions. The report pack includes a recommendation that the committee note the contents of the report.

The report pack notes that the council's current capital programme includes over 200 projects involving new builds, refurbishments, and highways. It says that capital projects are exposed to changes in the prices of materials and labour, and that while these increases could previously be managed through project contingency budgets, since the COVID 19 pandemic construction inflation has been significant and, whilst it has slowed down, it has not reversed.

The report pack also notes that the council's Capital Finance Requirement¹ (CFR) was forecast to be £2.3bn by 2025/26, and that the net cost of financing this level remains below 6% of the council's net revenue budget.

The report pack states that the resources available for further investment beyond that in the current approved programme is bounded by external grants and contributions, the value of any capital receipts that the council receives from disposing of assets, and the capacity of the revenue budget to fund capital financing costs.

The report pack also notes several risks to the delivery of the existing approved programme, including further increases in construction costs and interest rates remaining higher for longer. It says that schemes such as Victoria North, This City, and particularly the refurbishment of the Town Hall building are complex with intertwined and dependent workstreams, as well as significant risk of discovery once the project starts on site.

The report pack includes a table showing the current forecast for the approved capital programme:

The report pack also includes a table showing the draft funding for the programme:

The report pack notes that in 2016 when the council embarked on the current capital programme, which include the significant refurbishments of the Leisure estate, the Town Hall, and Aviva Studios, a fixed annual capital financing budget was set aside, so as to insulate the day-to-day revenue budget from the increasing levels of borrowing required to deliver this programme.

The report pack states that additional borrowing will only be considered if there are no other funding sources available and the project is of critical importance, and that the impact on the council's revenue budget will form part of the decision making.

Tim Seagrave, Commercial Finance Lead, is listed as a contact officer for this report.

Manchester City Council Connections with the Greater Manchester Integrated Care System

The committee are scheduled to receive an update on Manchester City Council's connections with the Greater Manchester Integrated Care System² (GM ICS). The report pack includes a recommendation that the committee note and comment on the content of the report.

The report pack states that the report provides an update on the 10-Year Health Plan for England, NHS Reforms, NHS GM's response and implications for the Manchester Health and Care system. This includes the proposed NHS GM Operating Model, the role of Place Based Partnerships and translation of these arrangements in Manchester. The report then goes on to set out the latest GM and local financial position.

The report pack notes that the 10-Year Health Plan for England, was published on 3 July and sets out the government's vision for the radical transformation of the Health Service: moving care closer to communities, embracing digital and Artificial Intelligence, and prioritising health and prevention.

The report pack states that the plan is built around three core shifts to transform the NHS:

• From hospital to community
• From analogue to digital
• From sickness to prevention

The report pack notes that Greater Manchester was specifically referenced within the Plan in the context of the UK's first Prevention Demonstrator, the main delivery vehicle of which will be GM's Live Programme.

The report pack states that NHS GM has taken to reform has been underpinned by the following principles:

• Commitment to delivering an operating model for NHS GM in line with the model ICB blueprint, build on strong partnerships, local needs and a shared ambition for population health improvement
• Retention to the footprint aligned with GMCA (supported by the Integrated Care Partnership) and not merging with any other ICBs
• A reaffirmed commitment to 10 places aligned with local authorities, bringing system partners together locally
• Commitment to the vision for Greater Manchester and the 6 missions as outlined in the ICP strategy
• Commitment to the Sustainability Plan and the 'three shifts'
• NHS GM accountability for the £8.5bn of health spend across Greater Manchester
• The aim to influence the wider public sector spend across Greater Manchester by working in partnership with colleagues from across a range of services
• Senior oversight Progress overseen by a Task and Finish Group, chaired by NHS GM's chair, Sir Richard Leese with membership from senior leaders representing providers, Place and staff alongside our chief officers

The report pack notes that the Manchester Partnership Board (MPB) has operated in various forms for a number of years to improve the health and wellbeing of residents in Manchester, before its formal establishment as a subcommittee of the ICB in July 2022.

The report pack states that the two overarching priorities set by MPB for the City's health and care system are to:

• Improve physical and mental health and wellbeing, prevent ill-health and address health inequalities, so that people live longer in good health, wherever they are in the city;
• Improve access to health and care services, so that people can access the right care, at the right time, in the right place, in the right way.

The report pack notes that the ICB set the 2025/26 budget for the Manchester locality at £189 million.

Tom Hinchcliffe, Deputy Place-based Lead, NHS GM (Manchester), Leigh Latham, Associate Director of Planning, NHS GM (Manchester Locality) and Damien Heakin, Associate Director of Finance, NHS GM (Manchester Locality) are listed as contact officers for this report.

Workforce Strategy

The committee are scheduled to receive a progress report in respect of the council's Workforce Strategy, Good Work in a Great City 2023-26, with a specific focus on impact of the strategy, workforce equality and inclusion and management and leadership capacity. The report pack includes a recommendation that the committee consider and comment on the information in the report.

The report pack notes that Manchester City Council's Workforce Strategy 2023–2026 sets out a bold and ambitious vision for Good Work in a Great City Council. It responds to ongoing challenges in Manchester and in local government—such as funding pressures, service demands, and competition for talent—by focusing on building a resilient, inclusive, and high-performing workforce.

The report pack states that the strategy aims to ensure the council is an employer of choice, with the right people, skills, and culture to deliver excellent services to Manchester's residents, and is based around five strategic priorities:

1. Attract, develop and retain diverse talent
2. Be an inclusive employer that reflects the communities we serve
3. Foster a healthy, engaged, and thriving workforce
4. Develop world-class leaders and managers
5. Build a high-performing workforce delivering great services

The report pack notes that the last 12 months has seen several workforce related successes which include:

• Awarded the best Organisational Development Programme for the Staff Survey at the PPMA (Public Services People Managers Association) Awards
• 69.4 % engagement rate in the 2024 Staff Survey
• The 2025 Awards for Excellence Event received 1619 nominations.
• Finalists in the Henpicked Menopause Awards for Best Trained Workforce
• Achieved Gold Carbon Literacy Status with over 50% trained in Zero Carbon
• Shortlisted for Best Approach to Diversity & Inclusion at the Investors in People Awards
• Accredited as a Good Employer by the Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter
• Accredited as a Real Living Wage Employer
• Disability Confident Leader Status
• Best Large Employer for Health & Wellbeing at the Good Employment Charter Awards (July 2025)

The report pack also notes key challenges including:

• Recruitment & Retention
• Embedding Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
• Disciplinaries
• Performance Development
• Line Manager Capacity, Capability and Confidence

The report pack states that the 2024 Staff Survey results reflect a positive organisational culture, with 93% of employees expressing pride in working for the council and 88% recommending it as a great place to work.

The report pack notes that the Council has successfully delivered 26 out of 27 recommendations from the Race Review action plan, spanning key areas such as communications, leadership, and policy.

The report pack states that the Council has successfully retained its status as a Disability Confident Leader - the highest level of recognition within the UK Government's Disability Confident Scheme.

The report pack states that the Council is committed to becoming trauma-informed workforce, through a series of targeted initiatives.

Mark Bennett, Director of Human Resources, Organisation Development & Transformation, Suzanne Grimshaw, Strategic Head of Organisation Development & Transformation and Michael Salmon, Head of Organisation Development & Transformation are listed as contact officers for this report.

Annual Property Report 2025

The committee are scheduled to receive an update on property activity since the last Annual Property Report to Resources and Governance Scrutiny Committee in September 2024. The report pack includes a recommendation that the committee consider and comment on the information set out in the report.

The report pack notes that Manchester City Council maintains a diverse portfolio of properties, including assets held to support the delivery of Council Services (the Operational Estate), assets that are let to tenants to provide an income to the Council (the Investment Estate), and assets held to support regeneration and development in the city (the Development Estate).

The report pack states that the core priorities of the Development Team and the Estates and Facilities Service are to support a thriving and sustainable city, that is highly skilled, progressive and equitable, by driving effective place making and economic growth; achieving the right mix of good quality and affordable housing for Manchester residents; delivering a connected, liveable and low carbon city; maximising skills and social value contributions from contracts through effective contract management; and ensuring safe, efficient use of the Council's assets.

The report pack notes that the total capital receipts pipeline is currently estimated to generate £150m.

The report pack states that the development and adoption of the 5-year Strategic Asset Management Plan (SAMP) for 2022-27, and the establishment of an asset review resource focusing on the key priority areas set out in the plan, has allowed significant progress to be made in implementing a new asset-led approach.

The report pack notes that the Estates and Facilities Service are leading the delivery of a significant project to design and replace the wired and wireless networks across the Council estate, and that this critical project has delivered new network and wireless infrastructure to over 130 buildings.

The report pack states that the Facilities Management (FM) team have successfully managed 23,466 FM helpdesk activities, of which 10,417 were reactive repairs, and that 98% of the reactive repairs have been completed within the agreed time frames.

The report pack notes that the Public Realm CCTV surveillance operation has been instrumental in 102 arrests by Greater Manchester Police and undertaken 40,392 camera checks at strategic locations including; the Glade of Light, the Cenotaph in St Peters Square, across Heaton Park and various environmental cameras.

The report pack states that the Asset Management Programme (AMP) provides a structured and strategic approach to maintaining and enhancing our public buildings through a planned schedule of capital repairs and asset replacements, and that the team is currently mid-way through a three-year maintenance programme, with a financial commitment of £15 million per annum.

The report pack notes that a Zero Carbon Estate Programme has been established to oversee the delivery of a wide range of energy efficiency and low-carbon energy generation measures across the estate.

David Lynch, Director of Development, Jared Allen, Director of Capital Programmes, Corporate Estate and Facilities, Richard Munns, Head of Corporate Estates and Facilities and Oliver Jones-Orrells, Assistant Director of Development are listed as contact officers for this report.

Overview Report

Councillor Andrew Simcock, Chair of Resources and Governance Scrutiny Committee and Audit Committee, and the committee are scheduled to receive an overview report from the Governance and Scrutiny Support Unit. The report provides a recommendations monitor, details of key decisions that fall within the committee's remit, and the committee's work programme. The report pack includes a recommendation that the committee discuss and note the information provided and agree the work programme.

The report pack contains a table monitoring previous recommendations:

The report pack also includes an extract of the most recent Register of Key Decisions, published on 29 September 2025, containing details of the decisions under the committee's remit:

The report pack includes the committee's work programme for the coming months:

Thursday 9 October 2025, 2.00pm

• Connections with the Greater Manchester Integrated Care System
• Capital Budget and Financing
• Annual Property Report
• Workforce Strategy
• Overview Report

Thursday 6 November 2025, 2.00pm

• Register of Significant Partnerships
• Income and Governance Arrangements of the Parking Enforcement Service
• Sales, Fees and Charges
• Housing Repairs and Maintenance Contract
• Overview Report

Thursday 4 December 2025, 2.00pm

• Autumn Statement Update
• 2026/27 Budget incl. Corporate Services Directorate
• Setting of the Council Tax base and Business Rates shares
• Housing Revenue Account 2026/27 to 2027/28
• Our Town Hall Project Progress Update
• Overview Report

Thursday 8 January 2026, 2.00pm

• Revenue Budget Update and Provisional Local Government Finance Settlement 2026/27
• Commercial Activity
• Annual Governance Statement Update
• Overview Report

Thursday 5 February 2026, 2.00pm

• 2026/27 Budget, incl. Corporate Core Directorate
• Changes in Electoral Reform
• Housing Revenue Account 2026/27 to 2027/28
• Overview Report

BUDGET Monday 23 February 2026, 10.00am

• The Council's Budget 2026/27
• Overview Report

Thursday 5 March 2026, 2.00pm

• ICT and Digital Strategy Update
• Digital Skills and Talent Management
• Our Transformation and Next Steps
• Manchester Energy Network Business Plan
• Progress Made with Council Motions
• Overview Report

Charlotte Lynch, Governance and Scrutiny Team Leader, is listed as the contact officer for this report.