The Communities and Equalities Scrutiny Committee met on Wednesday 1 July 2026 to discuss the extension of the City Centre Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) and child-led approaches to community safety. The committee endorsed the proposal to extend the PSPO for a further three years, with amendments to its scope and area of application. They also noted a report detailing how the voices of young people are being heard and influencing the work of Manchester's Community Safety Partnership.

City Centre Public Spaces Protection Order

The committee endorsed the proposal to extend the Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) for the City Centre for a further three years. The order, which addresses anti-social behaviour, will now cover the entirety of the Deansgate and Piccadilly Wards. The review of the existing PSPO led to the removal of prohibitions related to nitrous oxide and syringes, as these are now covered by national legislation or other enforcement methods.

During the discussion, Councillor Dave Rawson questioned the evidence of the PSPO's success and why begging and aggressive street begging were not included in the proposed order. Head of Compliance, Enforcement and Community Safety, Samantha Stabler, explained that a PSPO is one of several tools used to address specific issues and that the consultation responses indicated it remained a useful measure. She clarified that while begging was not included, other more appropriate tools were available, as a PSPO sanction of a fixed penalty notice was not considered suitable for individuals experiencing homelessness. She also noted that a city-wide alcohol PSPO already covered all areas.

The committee also discussed the emerging trend of unauthorised filming without consent, which often causes distress and invites hateful comments online. While consideration was given to including this in the PSPO, it was deemed more appropriate to use existing powers such as Community Protection Orders and Warnings. The need for potential lobbying for additional powers was acknowledged if this approach proved insufficient.

Deputy Leader Councillor Bridges emphasised that the PSPO's aim is to influence behaviour change and that a balance between engagement and sanctions is crucial. He suggested that committee members undertake visits with Council Enforcement Officers to better understand their work, a proposal endorsed by the Chair.

Child-led approaches in Community Safety

The committee received a report detailing how Manchester's Community Safety Partnership (CSP) ensures the voices of young people are heard and influence its work, particularly in relation to serious violence. The report highlighted the impact of child-led approaches, recognised through the UNICEF Child Friendly City programme, and provided examples of children influencing policy, practice, and partnership approaches to anti-social behaviour and serious violence.

A video presentation showcased child-led initiatives, including work with young people during the Bonfire campaign. A statement from Kelly Brown, founder of the Merosworld Foundation, was read, detailing her charity's work in schools, colleges, and prisons to educate about the consequences of knife crime.

Key discussion points included the need for future reports to analyse racism, Islamophobia, antisemitism, and disability-related harassment experienced by children. Concerns were raised about anti-social behaviour in Piccadilly Gardens at the end of school terms and the need for a Greater Manchester-wide response. The impact of social media and social isolation on young people was also highlighted.

Councillor Wakefield, Chair of the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee, inquired about how feedback is provided to young people to demonstrate the influence of their views. Samantha Stabler explained various mechanisms for feedback, including the annual Safeguarding celebration event and engagement through street-based vox pops. The Deputy Leader noted Manchester's recognition as a UNICEF Child Friendly City and the outstanding rating for its Children's services.

The Chair requested that future reports include updates on social media, performance data (including intersectional data), partners' responses to young people's voices, and how feedback is communicated. She also suggested inviting children and young people to future meetings to share their experiences.

Annual Public Sector Equality Duty Update

The committee reviewed the updated annual Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED) report for 2025-26, which includes information on the framework for monitoring the impact of the council's 2024-28 equality objectives. The report indicated positive progress against equality objectives, including increased representation in the WorkWell programme and a growing number of employees completing PSED training.

Discussion points included measures to monitor workforce equity, address gender and ethnicity pay gaps, and ensure the recruitment of disabled staff into senior positions. The absence of specific reference to the socio-economic duty was noted, and the committee inquired about consultation with the Irish Traveller community. The need to embed equity of access across all council strategies and policies was emphasised.

The Strategic Head of Human Resources outlined activities to support staff progression, including internal job fairs and modernised recruitment processes. The Director of Equality and Engagement confirmed the adoption of the socio-economic duty and acknowledged the need for more specific work with Irish Travellers. Equality Impact Assessments (EIAs) were highlighted as a tool to understand the impact of decisions on different groups, with examples provided of policies influenced by EIAs, such as increased access to swimming sessions for women and LGBTQ+ individuals.

The Deputy Leader mentioned a separate report on the Real Living Wage considered by the Economy Scrutiny Committee, which would be circulated. The Chair reflected on Manchester's history of addressing inequalities and encouraged engagement with the Making Manchester Fairer Programme, underpinned by an understanding of socio-economic determinants of health. The City Solicitor assured the committee that equalities are embedded at the Corporate Management Team level.

Overview Report

The committee received the monthly Overview Report, which included the recommendations monitor, key decisions, and the committee's work programme. The committee noted the report and agreed to the work programme. There were no outstanding recommendations from previous meetings. Key decisions noted included those relating to the Manchester PlayZones Programme, homelessness services, and the City Centre Public Spaces Protection Order.